Back with some more great shots from this past week…including Captain Phillips’ emotional Ceremonial First Pitch!  Phillips, who actually met his wife at Fenway Park was invited to throw out the pitch by Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner.

Cindy Loo/Boston Red Sox

Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox

Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox

Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox

Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox

Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox

After a great outing last night, Michael Bowden has been sent back down to get some more work in and make room for Julio Lugo’s return.  I’m sure most of you know that this is a necessity as we badly needed another infielder (or risk Youk playing shortstop).  So hopefully Lugo’s back to full health and is ready to continue the hitting stroke that made him one of the hottest hitters in Spring Training!

For Immediate Release

April 27, 2009

RED SOX ACTIVATE SHORTSTOP JULIO LUGO FROM 15-DAY DISABLED LIST;

OPTION RHP MICHAEL BOWDEN TO PAWTUCKET

BOSTON, MA–The Boston Red Sox today activated shortstop Julio Lugo from the 15-day disabled list. Following last night’s game, right-handed pitcher Michael Bowden was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket.

The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

Lugo, 33, was placed on the disabled list April 4, retroactive to March 27, after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.  The shortstop suffered the injury in the first inning of a spring training contest against the New York Yankees on March 13.  Following a four-game stint in extended spring training, Lugo went 4-for-17 with one double, two walks, one run scored and five strikeouts over four rehab starts with Triple-A Pawtucket beginning April 22. He will be active for tonight’s game in Cleveland.

The right-handed hitter batted .268 with one home run and 22 RBI over 82 games, 79 at shortstop, for Boston in 2008 before being sidelined for the remainder of the season with a strained left quad.

Bowden, 22, was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket prior to yesterday’s game against the New York Yankees.  The right-hander threw two perfect innings of relief, fanning two batters, to help Boston to a 4-1 win at Fenway Park.

—RED SOX—

For Immediate Release

April 26, 2009

RED SOX RECALL RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER MICHAEL BOWDEN FROM TRIPLE- A PAWTUCKET;

OPTION INFIELDER GIL VELAZQUEZ TO PAWTUCKET

BOSTON, MA–The Boston Red Sox today recalled right-handed pitcher Michael Bowden from Triple-A Pawtucket of the International League.  Following last night’s game, the club optioned infielder Gil Velazquez to Pawtucket.

Bowden will wear #64 and be in the bullpen for tonight’s 8:05 p.m. contest vs. the New York Yankees at Fenway Park.

The announcements were made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

Bowden, 22, is 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA (1 ER/14.0 IP) in three starts for the PawSox this season.  He has recorded 15 strikeouts compared to five walks while holding opponents to a .189 mark (10-for-53).

Selected by Boston in the supplemental round (club’s fifth pick) of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Bowden made his Major League debut with the Red Sox in a start on August 30, 2008.  The right-hander earned the win in his only Big League outing, yielding two runs on seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts over 5.0 innings (3.60 ERA) vs. the Chicago White Sox.  In 2008, Bowden also combined to go 9-7 with a 2.62 ERA (42 ER/144.1 IP) in 26 appearances (25 starts) between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket.

In 85 career minor league games (82 starts) over parts of five seasons in the Boston organization, Bowden is 30-19 with a 3.07 ERA (143 ER/419.2 IP), 404 strikeouts and 111 walks.

Velazquez, 29, was selected to Boston’s Major League roster from Pawtucket on April 13 and has played in five games with the Red Sox, making three appearances at shortstop and two at third base while going 0-for-2 at the plate.  In his four games with Pawtucket this season, he went 4-for-18 (.222).

— RED SOX —

Enjoy this beautious shot from the Big I!  Here’s hoping for a repeat performance tonight!!!

For Immediate Release

April 24, 2009

RED SOX ACTIVATE OUTFIELDER JONATHAN VAN EVERY FROM 15-DAY DISABLED LIST

BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox today activated outfielder Jonathan Van Every from the 15-day disabled list. Van Every, who will wear number 30, will be active for tonight’s game against New York.

The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

Van Every, 29, had been on the disabled list since April 4 (retroactive to March 27) with a right ankle sprain. He went 2-for-6 with a two-out, game-tying, ninth inning grand slam in his lone rehab appearance, a start at centerfield in Triple-A Pawtucket’s 8-7 win over Rochester on Wednesday.

The lefthanded hitter made his major league debut over three stints with the Red Sox last year, batting .235 with five RBI in 11 games, but spent the majority of the season with Pawtucket, posting a .263 average, 26 round trippers and 70 RBI in 119 games. He was originally signed by the Red Sox as a free agent on December 1, 2007 after spending the first seven years of his professional career in Cleveland’s minor league system.

— RED SOX —

Here’s the newest edition of the Big I’s Best of the Rest photos from this past week.  Enjoy!

Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox

Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox

Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox

With yesterday’s rainout, we’re now slated to play two games today versus the Minnesota Twins.

I’ll have more updates as soon as I have them.

Old (well, not really so old) hero Dave Roberts will be at Fenway today!  And weather permitting, he will be throwing out the Ceremonial First Pitch for tonight’s game!!!  How long do you think the standing ovation will last?  I’m interested to hear your guesses…

Anyhow, here’s the official team release announcing his involvement tonight as part of our new Memorable Moments campaign…

For Immediate Release

April 21, 2009

BOSTON RED SOX TO DEBUT “MOMENTS” CAMPAIGN WITH DAVE ROBERTS’ “THE STEAL”

Fans invited to go to www.redsoxnation.com to vote on their favorite Red Sox moment – top fan vote getter will be made into a commercial

BOSTON (April 21, 2009) – The Boston Red Sox, in collaboration with Boston-based Conover Tuttle Pace, have created the “Moments” campaign that will debut during tonight’s game with the Minnesota Twins on NESN.  The multiplatform campaign includes television ads, online content, and fan-voting, and will celebrate some of the most amazing moments in Red Sox history both on and off the field.  

The campaign will invite Red Sox fans to go to www.redsoxnation.com and vote through May 27 on one of nine defining moments in “Our Nation’s History” – Red Sox Nation.  The top vote getter, based on fan voting, will be made into a “Moments” commercial that will debut on Red Sox Nation Day, June 16.

To celebrate the debut and formally kickoff the “Moments” campaign, former Red Sox outfielder Dave Roberts will be honored, weather permitting, during tonight’s pre-game ceremony when the spot will be played on the Fenway Park videoboard.  Roberts will also throw out a Ceremonial First Pitch.

The campaign will launch with what is considered one of the most memorable and defining plays in Red Sox history – Dave Roberts’ “The Steal” in the 9^th inning of Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS against the New York Yankees. The ad is a collection of Boston fans, manager Terry Francona, Celtics forward Paul Pierce, journalist Mike Barnicle, the Dropkick Murphy’s, and Harvard Law School’s Charles Ogletree talking about their feelings before and after “The Steal.” Footage of the moment includes the reactions of Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera and Catcher Jorge Posada.

“The ‘Moments’ campaign allows us to engage our fans beyond the game, encouraging them to enjoy the ads and go online to cast a vote for their top choice.   Knowing that we have the most passionate fans in all of sports, we anticipate the selection process will spur healthy and spirited debate throughout Red Sox Nation,” said Sam Kennedy, Red Sox Chief Sales and Marketing Officer.  “We will also make unique web content available especially for Red Sox Nation citizens, and hope this will continue to expand and highlight the benefits of the fan program.”

Working in partnership with Red Sox Productions, CTP has created four additional spots as part of the “Moments” campaign that will air on NESN telecasts during the voting period.  The spots will feature Joe Torre, Bobby Orr, Lenny Clarke, Dennis Leary, Jim Rice, Luis Tiant, Dwight Evans, and a number of other celebrities.

“The Red Sox have so many great moments in their history, the process of narrowing it down to nine additional moments was excruciating, but we had several factors that posed challenges and limitations.  We needed footage of the Moment to produce the spot and to post online for Red Sox fans to view and vote – that basically eliminated some moments from consideration,” said Grant Pace, Executive Creative Director, Conover Tuttle Pace. “I’m sure there will be fans that think there should be other Red Sox Moments that should have made the cut and that’s why we are encouraging them to vote and share their thoughts.”

The creative direction illustrates the devotion and passion of Red Sox fans by highlighting a Great Moment in the team’s rich and glorious past and showing in dramatic detail how Red Sox Nation experiences these events.  Each spot captures where people were, whom they were with, and the shared emotion of what being a member of Red Sox Nation is all about.  The creative execution is played out across a number of media platforms, including broadcast and online. The campaign is designed to encourage fans to view the moments, interviews and vote for the Red Sox Greatest Moment at www.redsoxnation.com.

Greatest Moments In Red Sox Nation History

1^st Inning:       “Stay Fair” – Fisk, 1975

2^nd Inning:      “Back to Foulke” – Final Out, 2004

3^rd Inning:      “Impossible Dream” – Lonborg Final Out, 1967

4^th Inning:      “Bloody Sock” – Schilling, Game 6, 2004

5^th Inning:      “Henderson HR” – ALCS, 1986

6^th Inning:      “Pedro’s Six” – ALDS, 1999

7^th Inning:      “Ortiz Walks Off Again!” – Game 5, 2004

8^th Inning:      ” It’s Over” – Papelbon Last Strike, 2007

9^th Inning:      “Brunansky’s Diving Catch” – October 1990

This was just released and I thought I’d keep you all in the loop!  And the Big I was kind enough to take this photo of Pumpsie just about an hour ago while he was taking a tour of the ballpark.  Enjoy!

“The Voice of the Nation”

For Immediate Release

April 17, 2009

RED SOX TO HONOR PUMPSIE GREEN DURING JACKIE ROBINSON DAY CEREMONIES

Green to deliver First Pitch to commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of his debut with the ballclub;

Jackie Robinson Scholars will also be recognized as part of ceremonies

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox will honor former infielder Elijah Jerry ‘Pumpsie’ Green on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of his breaking the color barrier for the ballclub in 1959, and as part of the club’s annual Jackie Robinson Day ceremonies.  Green will deliver the Ceremonial First Pitch before the Red Sox vs. Orioles game at Fenway Park on Friday, April 17, 2009.

“On behalf of John Henry, Tom Werner, and the entire Red Sox organization, I want to express our sincere pleasure in welcoming Pumpsie Green back to Fenway Park where he made history 50 years ago,” said Larry Lucchino, President/CEO.  “The legacy of players like Pumpsie Green and Jackie Robinson is evidenced by the presence of the diversity of players like Jim Rice, Mo Vaughn, Dave Roberts and David Ortiz as part of the Red Sox’ more recent history.  As fans and as an organization we owe both Pumpsie Green and Jackie Robinson a debt of gratitude for their courageous contributions to the game and to society.” 

Green’s debut with the Red Sox was on July 21, 1959 against the Chicago White Sox at Old Comiskey Park in Chicago when he came into the game in the top of the 8^th inning as a pinch runner for Vic Wertz who was pinch hitting for shortstop Don Buddin.  Green stayed in the game defensively for the bottom of the inning and played shortstop.  Green’s Fenway Park debut was on August 4, 1959 against the Kansas City Athletics when he started the game in the leadoff spot and played second base.

During four years in a Red Sox uniform, Green batted .244 in 327 games with 12 home runs and 69 RBI along with an on-base percentage of .353.  He was traded to the New York Mets at the end of the 1962 season and played 29 games for the Mets in 1963 before retiring from baseball.

The Red Sox also honored four Jackie Robinson scholars, sponsored by the Jackie Robinson Foundation and the Red Sox Foundation, as part of the ceremonies.  The scholars who were recognized in a pre-game ceremony on the field are: Titciana Barros (Boston College), Adriana Lee (Rutgers University), Shakeela Najjar (Boston University) and Danielle Whiteman (Boston College).  Each Jackie Robinson Scholar receives up to $7,500 a year in direct support and becomes an active member in the Jackie Robinson Foundation’s unique Education and Leadership Development Program, which includes professional mentoring and and assistance for summer internships and permanent employment.

Jackie Robinson Day ceremonies are held annually throughout Major League Baseball to commemorate the date (April 15, 1947) on which Robinson debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first African-American ballplayer to don a Major League uniform and integrate baseball.  This year, every player throughout baseball wore the number ’42’ on April 15 to honor Robinson for his contributions to the game and his leadership on issues of civil and human rights.

Big thanks to Steve and the rest of our IT crew for fixing whatever was wrong with our picture uploading-thingy over here.  He explained the details to me, but I’m certainly no tekkie (sp?), so it came off sounding like one of Charlie Brown’s teachers.

Anyhow…here are the Big I’s “Best of the Rest” for Week One!  Check back each Wednesday for his photos of the week! (heck, you can change your computer wallpaper each week if you’d like – I know the Big I would appreciate it!)

Enjoy!

“The Voice of the Nation”

Mike Ivins/Boston Red Sox

Mike Ivins/Boston Red Sox

Mike Ivins/Boston Red Sox