Yawkey League Stars Drop Dominican National All Stras 8-5!

2008 YBL All Stars

YAWKEY ALL STARS DROP DOMINICAN NATIONAL STARS 8 – 5

The Yawkey All Stars came to Jim Rice Field on Friday July 11th to face off against an arsenal of College aged players who are either members of the Dominican national All Star Team or are attending college in the US. This seemed like a tough challenge and much work was done to develop a team that would not only compete, but defeat our guests. The YBL Stars responded to a 2-0 defecit and won 8-5 in a 9 inning game.

Hundereds of fans jammed into Jim Rice Field in Lower Roxbury for this classic! A tremendous atmousphere of music and baseball celebration lingered thru the night. I had an opportunity to be at the World Classic Games between Dominican Republic & other teams at Disney Wide World of Sports two springs ago. Last nights game atmousphere mirrored the great high pitched tone that was set at the World Classic.

Max Waxman of the South Boston Saints gave up a first inning homer to “Third Star of the Game” Audi Acosta. Acosta of New York City was 4 for 5 on the night with a homer, double, single and 3RBI. Audi was also tremendous digging ‘em out at first base. He made some tremendous stretches to save outs for the Dominican Team.

The YBL Stars responded in the 3rd with a huge five run stanza. Led by a tremendous line shot homer over the score board at Rice for three runs by Connor Reinfurt. Connor proved in this game why he is the leading RBI man in the YBL (21) in 2008. The McKay Club & UMass product was Player of the Game. The Manchester native now a Dot Rat was 3 for 4 with 4RBI.

Randy “No Hit” Casey of the Cambridge Spinners came in to pitch in the 4th. He was not treated nicely – 2 unearned runs scored. But, Randy held on in his two inning stint for the victory. He was allowed 3 hits and struck out 3. Casey was chosen “Second Star of the Night” for his efforts.

Scot Rogers did a tremendous job to shut down the Dominican Team in the 8th 7 9th for as nifty save. Rogers allowed 2 hits and struck out 2 for the save.

The PLAY OF THE GAME and maybe the play of the year came in the sixth inning. Talal Saleh of Medford Mad Dogs was on the bump and the Dominican team was attempting to tie it up. They had already scored on big run to close the gap to 6-5. The Dominican catcher Louis Caceres was at the dish with one out. His mate Acosta was on third. Caceres another New Yorker smashed a line drive to jack Owens of the McKay Club in right field. Owens threw a gem to Reinfurt at the cut off position. Rob Linn blocked the plate perfectly and was able to untangle and tag Acosta for the inning ending double play!

Many “regular YBL All Stars” opted out of last night’s festivities for one reason or another. It was nice to see a new breed of All Star emerge and win for this great organization. Congratulations to Buddy Lewis and his Committee for putting together a great team and a tremendous concept.

The game was taped to air on Comcast Ch 12 in Boston and Brookline. If you can not see it on TV you may buy a DVD of the game. Instructions are posted in the COMCAST compartment on the YBL webpage: http://www.yawkeybaseball.com/

Thanks go out to Dave Treska for all the hassles he went thru in developing this line up of All Stars. Also, congratulations to the YBL coaching staff led by manager – Mike Freire, Dave Hanley, Jon Tenney and Dan Chapman.

What a night for Yawkey baseball in the heart of Boston’s Inner City!

Batteries

Dominican: Rivera, Montero (3), Pimentel (5), Cruz (7) and Caceres

Yawkey League: Waxman, Saleh (2), Casey (4), Tupper (6), Rogers (7) and Doyle & Linn (5)

WP: Randy Casey
LP: Juan Rivera
S: Scott Rogers

HR: Dominican – Audri Acosta (2 run HR to LF) 1st.
Yawkey League – Conner Reinfurt (3 run HR to LF) 3rd.

Player of Game: Connor Reinfurt (McKay Club Beacons)
2nd Star: Randy Casey (Cambridge Spinners)
3rd Star: Audri Acosta (Dominican Nationals and NYC)

Thanks for Your Support!

A Dream Come True!

YES - That is the Boston Baseball Head with BOTH World Series Trophies!

The Vice President of Red Sox Nation broke the news last week. 19 year old Jared Carrabis was elected Massachusetts Governor of Red Sox Nation. Jared ran 3rd to Jerry Remy & Rob Crawford in the Presidential Race last year. He says that - he has worn a Red Sox jersey every day for 4 years. I hope it is a different one.

Jared was installed in a ceremony before Tuesday night's Sox Game at Fenway Park. All the best to this young man as he serves his neighbors on the Red Sox nation Board.

I gather from Rob Crawford that many friends and family took the time to vote for me. In fact, i was in the top 10 of 350 folks who registered to run for Governor of Massachusetts Sox nation. many thanks to all who voted. it was great fun and I look forward to continuing my mission in baseball.

A TOTAL UNADULTERATED JACK ASS!

Robert Donald Correia

Red Sox Nation is in disgrace over the idiot and his pals who attacked a group of folks with NY Plates in Falmouth over the weekend. I am sure this kid is not a real bad guy - but he took IT TOO FAR.

I am sick and tired of the BS between Yankee and Sox Fans.

We who LOVE Baseball are tired of the negative Yankees/Sox SUCK crap.

I watched as much of the game tonight (Sox loss in 10 innings) as I could before I went to work. There was not one fan who pitched a pitch. There was not one fan who hit a pitch. There was not one fan who made an error or hit the RBI to win the game in the bottom of the 10th.

Fans should cheer. Fans must be aware that this is all for fun and it should never be taken to the point where you assault and batter an innocent person because of your passion for "YOUR" TEAM.

Be careful Red Sox Nation and those who have jumped on this "band wagon" for the short term. The evil force who take baseball and the game beyond its boundaries are a disgrace to the purity of the Game. I am sick at heart to see young punks use "sports and teams" to express their perfunctory aggressions outm on others. Shame on you and those who support IT!

Our Red Sox Team and its management could care less about your riotous actions. The players deplore your ignorant support.

REAL BASEBALL FANS hate what you stand for and express. Go away.....leave the sport we love alone. All of us will be better off for your departure from Red Sox Nation!

The Baseball Head Junkets to Houston, TX

Boston Baseball Head Takes Houston By Storm

I just returned from a 6 day -- 5 night stay in the deep south. Houston Texas and the Houston Astros were my destination for 5 great baseball games. I seemed to bring the Astros some luck. They won the Thursday game June 26 over their Texas counterparts - Texas Rangers. The 'stros took 2 of 3 from the Red Sox during their exciting weekend series. I also saw the LA Dodgers game and the Astros prevailed in that encounter.

The Sox lost 2 one run games while at Minute Maid Park - that set off a 5 game losing streak. It also dumped them out of 1st place in the AL East - 3 games back of the icy hot Tampa Bay Rays.

Minute Maid Park is a gem of a ball yard. It is KEWL! 72 degrees inside while it is in the mid to high 90's out of doors and very humid. The customary ball park fare is enhanced by wide comfortable concourses - many rest rooms and 24oz cans of your favorite domestic and imported amber colored beverages.

Parking is cheap on week days. I paid $5 across from the Stadium on Thrusday (July 26). The price went to $15 - $30 for prime spots for the Sox games. But the price was relaxed for the Dodgers' game to $7 and $10 in many lots on Monday.

There are two tremendous Sports Bars across the street from Minute Maid. One is the B.U.S AKA the Bar at Union Station and the Home Plate Sports Bar. Home Plate sports quality memorabilia and pub grub. The B.U.S. is a converted ware house that is humming before and after the games with young Houstonians and visitors.

Astro Fans were friendly to Red Sox fans. In fact they went out of their way to be nice to me on many occasions. I met dozens of great folks from all over America, who speak well of our home town and their sports teams. The only negatives I hit were many comments about the Pat's and Spy Gate! They think the Pat's are a shady team -- go figure -- we are close to Cowboy Country!

I will post more pics (I took 514) later on the Blog. If you have an opportunity to visit this modern metropolis and its sports facilities jump on it. I had a ball and will return again someday!

Where were YOU on July 4, 1983?

Dave Righetti strikes out Red Sox - Hall of Famer - Wade Boggs for the 2nd time in the game to garner his No Hitter on July 4, 1983!

The Boston Baseball Head WAS at the Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1983 for one of the wildest and greatest baseball games he ever saw. A trip to the Big Apple was planned for my Christopher Columbus HS - JV Baseball Team and many local "Dot Rats" during the July 4th Holiday. It was in the mid to high 90's & extremely humid all of the 5 days we spent touring New York.

The trip included visits to all the landmarks: St. Patrick's Cathedral; The Rockets at Radio City Music Hall; The World Trade Center & Empire State Building; a ride on the Staten island Ferry; the Museum of Natural History; AstroLand @ Conney Island; dinner at Momma Leone's and of course the Sox v Yankee games on July 3 & 4th.

The Sox led by Yaz ( the last HR I saw him hit) Dewey home runs defeated the Yankees in a Friday night game. They also defeated the Yanks in the middle game of the series on Saturday (we did not have tickets). Boston was looking for a 4th of July Sweep of the dreaded and hated Yankees on their home turf.

The Stadium was packed with a mix of Sox & Yankee fans -- 41,000 strong for the Fourth of July game on Sunday. Dave Righetti was on the hill for New York. I was there and so were 39 others from Boston. I am sure millions say they were there! BUT - WE WERE! A special day in his and my baseball life unfolded before our eyes. Al Hurt played the National Anthem on his trumpet and a multi wing fly over of Blue Angels opened the event. Jolten Joe DiMaggio tossed out the first pitch!!! If you have ever been to the Stadium -- every game is a main Event! That day was just something very- very special!

The Sox lineup included guys like: Jerry Remy leading off; Jim Rice; Dwight Evans and Tony Armas. The Sox were loaded with solid hitters and Righetti was in a tough spot. He reacted well and K'd 8 entrout to his no no. It was Yankee Cap Day - everyone got a NY Lid as they filed into the Stadium. I sat on mine all game and stupidly threw it away (it was dated).

Below is a great retrospective article I found on the No Hitter and the atmosphere at the Greatest Ball Parks ever built on July 4, 1983:

A No-Hit Fourth for Dave Righetti
By Eric Compton DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

(Originally published on July 5, 1983)

Six days ago, Dave Righetti had a career total of 61 starts and no shutouts. As of 4:46 yesterday afternoon, he had 63 starts and two shutouts. And, more importantly, a no-hitter.

Righetti became the first Yankee pitcher in 27 years to pitch a no-hitter yesterday, as he dominated the Red Sox in a 4-0 masterpiece viewed by a holiday crowd of 41,077 at the Stadium. Righetti's no-no was the first by a Yankee since Don Larsen had his perfecto against the Dodgers in the 1956 World Series, and the first in regular season since Allie Reynolds performed the feat against the Red Sox in September of 1951. It also was the first by a lefthander in Yankee Stadium. And, to add another first, it was the first no-hitter in the majors since Nolan Ryan tossed his fifth, against the Dodgers Sept. 26, 1981, in the Astrodome.

Not since Larsen's no-hitter had any pitcher been unhittable in the Stadium. Some, though, have come close. A bid by another young lefty, Boston's Billy Rohr, lasted until there were two outs in the ninth in the Yanks' home opener in 1967. Righetti, who struck out nine and walked four, was determined not to blow his chance.

"We had gotten a couple of runs in the eighth so I didn't have to worry about giving up a walk and then a homer and have the game tied," Righetti (10-3) said. "I was just going to let it all hang out. I wanted to keep their guys off base before the big guys like (Jim) Rice and Tony (Armas) got a chance."

He needn't have worried. Jeff Newman led off the ninth by working out a walk, bringing up Glenn Hoffman. "He broke up a no-hitter on me in the seventh inning two years ago," Righetti said. "I knew he'd be trying to go to left with the ball so I tried to keep it down and in on him and hope we'd get a grounder."

Righetti got his grounder, and it should have been a double play. But Andre Robertson's relay to first pulled Don Mattingly's foot ever so slightly off the bag, and instead of two out and nobody on, Righetti had to battle a one-on, one-out situation with the top of the Sox order coming up.
"After that first grounder, I told the guys, 'Relax, you'll get another one,'" Righetti said. "And then they did get another."

Righetti induced Jerry Remy to bounce to Robertson at second, moving the runner to second and moving Righetti just one out from immortality. His battle plan to the red-hot Wade Boggs was to throw nothing but hard stuff.

"If I'm going to lose it at that point, It's going to be off my best pitch," Righetti said. "I was going to throw hard fastballs, then a slider."

The plan worked to perfection. Boggs, who entered the game with a .361 average, worked the count to 2-2 and then went down on a slider. "He's a great hitter but I don't think he was looking for a slider there," Righetti said.

Butch Wynegar agreed. "You want him to hit your best pitch," the Yankee catcher said, "and I thought if he got fastball he could hit a flare to left. So we went with a slider."

Righetti and Wynegar knew from the start that there was something special in Righetti's left arm. The southpaw blew the Sox away in the early innings, striking out seven in the first three innings. He got a break in the fourth when Boggs hit a hard shot right at center fielder Dave Winfield and a bigger break in the sixth when Hoffman's bloop to short left held up long enough for Roy Smalley to get under it.

"I thought when that hit the bat, it was trouble," Smalley said, "but then when I got back on the grass, I knew I had a chance."

Righetti walked Rice in the seventh but induced Armas to ground sharply into a double play, and then Steve Kemp gave him an extra bit of help by climbing into the right-field seats to snare Dwight Evans' foul pop leading off the eighth. He made it through that inning, and then had to sit nearly 20 minutes while his teammates put together a two-run rally that broke the game open.
"I was sitting there thinking, 'Geez, let's go, let's get it over with one or the other,'" Righetti said. "I was anxious, pumped up, and I wanted it over with."

He did, in dramatic fashion, and the crowd erupted as Wynegar sprinted from behind the plate in a leap reminiscent of Yogi Berra's leap into Larsen's arms in 1956.

"I didn't know what to do. I wanted to cry," Righetti said. "But then I saw Butch coming and I thought he would kill me."

As it turned out, Wynegar hit him harder than the Red Sox had.

Ray Sweep Sox for SECOND Time in a Row!

Rays 7, Red Sox 6

Stinging Rays

Sox Squander Lead -- Are Swept by Tampa Bay

By Gordon Edes
Globe Staff / July 3, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - For three straight nights, it was easy to forget that this is still a place with a fish tank in center field, as opposed to the next stop on the Red Sox' itinerary, the one with the hallowed monuments.

No one has yet to be awarded the World Series trophy by the Fourth of July. Sox fans need only recall 2006, when Boston led the Yankees by four games on the Fourth and not only failed to win the division, but missed the postseason altogether. More recently, the four leading playoff contenders in the National League on the Fourth last season - the Mets, Brewers, Padres, and Dodgers - all failed to qualify for the tournament.

Still, the Tampa Bay Rays, the team that doesn't have a single player leading the American League in dangling chads on the All-Star ballot, served notice yet again to the Sox that they are a team not to be taken lightly, especially under the big Trop.

Before a cowbell-waving sellout crowd of 36,048, Boston was swept by the Rays, losing its fifth straight game, 7-6, despite four extra-base hits by Dustin Pedroia, who had a home run, triple, and two doubles in becoming the first Sox second baseman to pull off that feat, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The Rays are 20 games over .500 for the first time in franchise history (52-32). Last season after 84 games, they were 18 under .500. The Sox, who began this trip in first place, head to the Bronx 3 1/2 games behind the Rays, closer Jonathan Papelbon never getting out of the bullpen after vowing that some scores still needed to be settled after last month's brawl.

"They took it to us," said manager Terry Francona, whose team has not beaten the Rays in six tries under a Teflon sky this season. "They beat us three games in a row. We came here to win, and we didn't do a very good job."

The Rays, trailing, 4-1, scored six times in the seventh, reliever Manny Delcarmen's failure to cover first base on an infield hit touching off an avalanche of base runners. "When you see me out in the field that much," said Francona, who made three trips to the mound to change pitchers that inning, while the Rays sent 11 men to the plate, "you know something's not going right.

Delcarmen had given up a leadoff double to Jason Bartlett, who stole third. The Sox reliever then broke belatedly from the mound when Akinori Iwamura hit a ground ball to the right of first baseman Kevin Youkilis.

Schill Should Go To Hall!

Curt -- That SOCK fits nice in the Baseball Hall of Fame!

Many thanks for the great summers in Boston. Also, thanks for what you do off the field to help those in need!

Operation today -- ends your days in a Boston uniform. We were blessed to have you play your last games for Red Sox Nation.