Ramirez Returns To Dodgers After Failed Drug-Test

After serving a 50-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s drug policy, Manny Ramirez is set to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers as the Dodgers face the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Friday night.

The 36-year-old former Red Sox slugger had a high level of artificial testosterone in his body after an early season drug test which caused the MLB to suspend Ramirez for 50-games.  Ramirez was hitting .348 with six HR’s and 20 RBI’s before the suspension but the Dodgers survived without Manny in the lineup as they hold a 7.5 game lead in the NL West.

L.A. re-signed Manny after trading for the slugger at the trading deadline in 2008.  General Manger Ned Colletti had hoped that re-signing the slugger would bring good fortune to the proud franchise but the move seemed to have backfired when Ramirez was suspended. Ironically enough, however, Ramirez will return to a talented Dodgers lineup to only make them better and with Manny being Manny the Dodgers are the go-to favorites to win the National League pennant.

(AP Photo)

                                          Starbury Most Likely Done In Boston

According to the Boston Globe, Stephon Marbury has stated that he doesn’t expect to be returning to the Boston Celtics next season after receiving a one-year, $1.3 million contract offer.

Marbury worked out a buyout last season from the New York Knicks in order to come play for the C’s but was a disapointment in Boston averaging 3.8 points and 3.3 assists a game. Danny Ainge and the C’s took a risk on Starbury and although the troubled star didn’t cause any distractions, he didn’t play well enough to earn a better contract from the Green.  Full Story.

                                    Boston Calls Full-Court Press On Wallace

When trying to obtain a talented veteran, the Boston Celtics have a track record of throwing the whole kitchen sink at their sought after free agent. When Danny Ainge landed both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to construct the Big 3 with Paul Pierce, the three amigos went to Reggie Miller in hopes of adding the sharp shooting veteran to their already talented roster.

The C’s were unsuccessful in wooing Miller out of retirement, probably to his regret, but that doesn’t stop Danny Ainge and the Celtics from trying again by sending a full-court press at Rasheed Wallace in trying to court him to Boston.

Wallace is a free agent and according to the Boston Globe and ESPN, the C’s have offered him a two-year deal at the mid-level exception which is $5.8 million.  With Wallace being good friends with Garnett and the Celtics need for a big man who can shoot, it seems like a perfect fit.

With a strong veteran presence in the locker room, Wallace will not be a problem emotionally and with his play still strong, it seems like a win win situation for both parties. However, “Sheed” has made it clear that he is in no rush to jump to any decision regarding his future in the NBA.

So Celtics fans are forced to wait and wonder what the talented but controversial Rasheed Wallace decides to do.

                                 Recchi Stays On With B’s For Another Season

After leaving the Tampa Bay Lightning to join the Boston Bruins in the middle of the 2008-2009 season, Mark Recchi liked what he saw in a team that was on the rise.

Recchi wanted a shot at winning a Stanley Cup but unfortunately came short in his quest. But the NHL’s sixth active leading goal scorer decided that he wanted to give it one more go around with the Black and Gold in hopes of landing another Lord Stanley’s Cup.

The 41-year-old agreed in principle to a one-year deal with the Bruins, opting to play one more season instead of retiring.  Recchi has won three Stanley Cups with his last coming with Carolina in 2006.

                        Papelbon And Red Sox Return The Favor To Baltimore

Mothers day miracle anyone?

It’s deja vu all over again as this time around, the Boston Red Sox came from behind at Camden Yards to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 6-5.  In this year’s miracle, the Red Sox had striking similarities to a 2007 comeback against the Orioles on Mothers day at Fenway Park.

Julio Lugo drove in the winning run,  Josh Beckett was taken off the hook for a loss, and the Sox scored four runs in the final inning to eventually win. All three of these happened in each comeback contest.  After being stunned by the O’s one day earlier, the Red Sox returned the favor to their American League East foe by scoring four runs in the top of the ninth, topped off by a two-run pinch-hit RBI single by Rocco Baldelli, to pull even at five a piece.

It took two innings for the Sox to take the lead for good as Lugo singled in the game-winning run and Jonathan Papelbon recorded his 133rd save in a Red Sox uniform, to break the Sox all-time mark for saves, and deliver Boston with the come from behind victory over the Orioles.    

The Red Sox improved to 6-1 over the O’s in 2009 and 22-9 against American League East opponents.  Ramon Ramirez registered his fifth victory in a Sox uniform as Danys Baez took the loss for the O’s.  Boston now returns to Fenway Park to face the Seattle Mariners as Tim Wakefield squares off against Felix Hernandez.

(AP Photo)

                          Sox Third-Basemen Experiencing Tightness In His Hip

We all remember the Mike Lowell of the 2008 American League playoffs.  We cringed everytime he swung the bat and everytime he made a play at third.

And so did he.

After having hip surgery in the offseason, Mike Lowell returned to his usual self early on in the 2009 season.  But recently, the Red Sox third basemen was on a skid at the plate, dropping to a .282 batting average and hitting a meager .206 in the month of June.  Lowell recently started to feel discomfort and tightness in his surgically repaired right hip causing the Boston favorite to start only two games in the past 13 days.  

Lowell is eligibile to return from the disabled list on the last day before the All-Star break which most likely means the right-hander will return on July 17, the first Red Sox game after the Summer Classic.  Terry Francona and the Sox hope that an extended lay-off will be exactly what the doctor and Mike Lowell ordered.

                                  B’s Lock Up Young Talent For The Long-Term

The Boston Bruins signed Byron Bitz to a multi-year extension on Wednesday as the 24-year-old Bitz became a free agent on this first day of July.

Bitz played in 35 games for the Bruins this past season, scoring just four goals and three assists, but the big forward was a dynamic force in the playoffs and fans can remember him for his opening goal at the TD Banknorth Garden in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Details on the extension have yet to be released.

                                        O’s Stun Red Sox At Camden Yards

Many Red Sox fans were hoping that Tuesday night’s came would not be called off due to rain.  Well with a 10-1 lead going into a lengthy rain delay, you would’ve been crazy to have thought otherwise, but now Sox fans may be wishing that Mother Nature held on with her finest for the remainder of the evening.

The Baltimore Orioles rallied with five runs in the seventh and eighth to cap off a miraculous comeback and stun Terry Francona and the Boston Red Sox.  John Smoltz started the game but was pulled after a lengthy rain delay.  Smoltz went four innings allowing one run on three hits but was followed by Justin Masterson who allowed five runs in two innings of work.  It didn’t get much better for the Red Sox bullpen as Hideki Okajimi allowed four runs in the seventh and Takashi Saito allowed one run in the eighth to take the loss for Boston.

The local nine came out of the gates firing on all cylinders with two runs in each of the first two innings capped off by a five run fourth.  But the Sox bats cooled down after the rain and the O’s heated up to complete the largest comeback in Baltimore history.

Boston will look to bounce back on Wednesday, the first day of July, and take the series from Baltimore.  Josh Beckett takes the mound for Boston as the Sox ace looks to keep up the winning in July as the Sox went 18-8 in the month of June.

(AP Photo)

Major League Baseball’s All-Star game is fast approaching as the summer classic is set to take place at Busch Stadium in St. Louis this year on July 14.

For the American League, the top vote getters for each position include Kevin Youkilis, Ian Kinsler, Evan Longoria, Derek Jeter, Joe Mauer, Jason Bay, Ichiro Suzuki, and Josh Hamilton.  Dustin Pedroia trials his former Arizona State counterpart Kinsler by 7,000 votes as balloting for the All-Star game ends on July 2.  Mike Lowell is in third place at third base as Jason Varitek trails Minnesota’s Mauer by more than one million votes at catcher.

Jacoby Ellsbury is sixth on the ballot for American League outfielders so Red Sox fans it’s not to late to vote for your favorite Red Sox players.  Click here for a full story on the Sox and click to find out how to cast your vote and remember folks, you can vote up to 25 times and every vote counts.

                             Red Sox Owner Has Wedding Reception At Fenway

Red Sox owner John Henry married Linda Pizzuti yesterday on his 164-foot yacht and had the reception on the outfield grass of Fenway Park.

Henry will be twice the age of Pizzuti’s when he turns 60 in September.  Red Sox nation would like to offer their best wishes to Mr. & Mrs. John Henry. Full Story.

                                         Sox Silence The Orioles In Baltimore

I think Terry Francona found a niche for J.D. Drew at the leadoff spot in Boston’s lineup as the Boston right-fielder came within a double of hitting for the cycle on Monday night as Drew went 3-for-5 with two RBI’s and two runs.  

Drew provided all the help Boston left-hander Jon Lester would need as Lester was dealing at Camden Yards, going seven shutout innings while striking out eight O’s batters.  Lester didn’t allow a base runner past second the whole game as the 25-year-old threw 108 pitches.

Jonathan Papelbon recorded his 19th save of the season with a single out in the ninth in which Jason Bay made a diving catch on to preserve the shutout.  With Mike Lowell recieving treatment on his right hip, Mark Kotsay filled in for the missing Lowell by going 2-for-4 on the evening.

John Smoltz takes the mound on Tuesday for his second start in a Red Sox uniform as he takes on Rich Hill of the Orioles.

(AP Photo)

                   What Are Boston’s Options When Dealing With Bay’s Contract?

A) Re-sign Bay To A Long-Term Contract Before The Playoffs

B) Re-sign Bay To A Long-Term Contact In the Off-Season

C) Let Bay Walk and Take Our Chances In Free Agency (Matt Holliday?)

D) Trade Clay Buchholz To The Dodgers For Manny Ramirez

Leave your comments and answers…

                                        Red Sox Lose A Nail-Bitter In Atlanta

The Boston Red Sox were unable to complete a series sweep of the Atlanta Braves on Sunday as rookie pitcher, Tommy Hanson, led the Braves to a 2-1 victory over the Red Sox at Turner Field.

Hanson pitched six innings of scoreless ball and recieved help from Chipper Jones and Garrett Anderson in the form of the long ball as the two solo homeruns were all that Atlanta would need in game three of their series with Boston.

Brad Penny was on the mound for Boston as the hefty righthander continued his success, even while recording a loss, as Penny (6-3) threw six innings of two-run ball while striking out two but giving up the two solo-blasts.  

David Ortiz continued his hitting pace as the Boston slugger has registered at least one hit in six of his last seven games.  Big Papi went 1-for-4 on the afternoon against Atlanta. Jason Varitek drove in the only run for Boston with an RBI single in the ninth inning to bring home Kevin Youkilis.  

The Red Sox head to Baltimore on Monday with the local nine squaring off against the Orioles at Camden Yards.  Jon Lester will be on the hill for Boston facing Jason Berken of the O’s.

(AP Photo)

The Boston Bruins decided to select a forward with their 25th pick in the first round.  Jordon Caron possesses both speed, size, and ability from the forward position as the 6-foot-2-inch forward scored 36 goals and 67 points in 56 games last season for Rimouski Oceanic team in the Quebec league.

For the full story. 

Boston’s 42-year-old Tim Wakefield went six scoreless to make his case for the All-Star game while beating the Atlanta Braves 1-0 on a Saturday afternoon at Turner Field.

Wakefield in his 382nd start in a Red Sox uniform joined Roger Clemens for the most wins in Boston Red Sox history.  Mark Kotsay drove in the only run of the ball game in the sixth inning with a single to plate Kevin Youkilis as Jonathan Papelbon and the Sox finished off the Braves in the ninth to win the fourth straight game against  the Braves.

Brad Penny takes the mound against the Braves, looking to complete the sweep against Garrett Olson.