I’ll have the new uniform pictures to you in minutes…just uploading them now!

“The Voice”

Ok, I’ll admit it.  I was a little scared when I heard we were going to have some new uniforms this season.  You see, I’m a bit of a baseball traditionalist.

But being the nosy Front Office person that I am, I managed to get a sneak-peek of the new uniforms, prior to their official unveiling tomorrow (Thursday).

And I have to say, I’m pretty excited about the road uniform in particular.  For reference, the picture to the left is of Kevin Youkilis rounding the bases in a 2007 road uniform.

Some lucky Red Sox Nation citizens will be the first to see the uniforms, which will be modeled by Manny Delcarmen, and Terry Francona.  The Red Sox Nation citizens were chosen at random from a drawing held earlier this week.  Just one more reason if you aren’t a citizen of Red Sox Nation, you should probably look into it for this year.  Ok, sorry about that gratuitous plug, but it’s               Mike Ivins/Boston Red Sox                                           true..there are a lot of cool  .                                                                              benefits/perks to the program. 

Also in attendance at the event will be Red Sox Nation President Jerry Remy, and Red Sox Hall of Famer Jim Rice.

Note: While I’m tempted to go off on it now, I’ll leave my “how the heck is Jim Rice not in the Baseball Hall of Fame?” rant for another day…

The unveiling event starts at 6pm (open by invitation only).  This means you will probably get a chance to see the new uniforms on the news tomorrow night (for those living in our local market).  For those of you living outside of the area, you can always check back here, or on redsox.com for the pics. 

So, my question for all of you is this…

If you had the ability to make a new Sox uniform, or change the existing ones, what would they look like?

Also, there will be “design changes” to our team logos.  I’ve seen these changes as well, and can confidently say, you have nothing to worry about there.

I’ll be sure to post photos of the new uniforms and redesigned logos as soon as I can, so stay tuned!

All the best from a very busy Front Office,

“The Voice”

PS – According to reports, CC Sabathia is headed to the Yankees in a 7-year, $160 million deal.  And as great as a pitcher as he has been, I still feel really good about our team, and especially the way we have been grooming our young pitchers.

“The Big I” comes through again!  Here’s our first glimpse of Tazawa as a member of the Red Sox.

Mike Ivins/Boston Red Sox

I’m happy to report that we have just announced the signing of Japanese righthander Junichi Tazawa.

Now, granted, for many of you this probably comes as no surprise, as it had been reported that we were the leading contenders to land the young (he’s 22years old) pitcher, but nonetheless, it is great to see us continuing to scour the globe for the best possible talent.

Tazawa was introduced today at a 3pm press conference.

Sayonara from the Front Office!

“The Voice”

PS – For everything you ever wanted to know about Tazawa…see our Press Release below:

 

For Immediate Release

December 4, 2008

 

RED SOX AGREE TO TERMS WITH RIGHTHANDED PITCHER JUNICHI TAZAWA

ON THREE-YEAR CONTRACT

 

BOSTON, MA–The Boston Red Sox today announced that the club has signed righthanded pitcher Junichi Tazawa to a three-year major league contract extending through the 2011 season. No further terms were disclosed.  

 

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

 

The 22-year-old joins the Red Sox organization after a four-year amateur career with the Nippon Oil ENEOS of the Japan Industrial League. With the addition of Tazawa, Boston now has 39 players on its major league roster.

 

This past season, Tazawa was 13-1 with 5 saves and a 0.80 ERA in 21 games/11 starts. He struck out 114 batters and walked just 15 over 113.0 innings pitched. In November he led the ENEOS to the semifinals of the league’s corporate championship and in his last start of the competition, a quarterfinals match-up in Osaka on the 21^st, Tazawa allowed just four hits and struck out 10 in a complete-game shutout, one of four during the 2008 campaign.  

 

In September, Tazawa helped Nippon Oil win the 32-team Intercity Baseball Tournament for the first time in 13 years. He appeared in all five of the ENEOS’ games from September 1-9, and earned the event’s Most Valuable Player award going 4-0 with one save and a 1.27 ERA. He tossed 8.0 innings or more with double-digit strikeouts in each of his first two tournament appearances, including a complete-game, five-hit effort on September 4.

 

Overall, the righthander fanned 10 or more batters on four occasions in 2008, and earned MVP honors in the Sports Nippon Tournament after a career-high 18-strikeout performance in a quarterfinals start on March 23.

 

The Yokohama native spent each of the previous three seasons with Nippon Oil after making his Japan Industrial League debut in 2005. Tazawa graduated high school from the Yokohama College of Commerce and was a member of the 2003 team that played in the Koshien Tournament, though he did not appear in a game.

 

— RED SOX —

 

 

Hot off the presses…courtesy of your friendly neighborhood photographer (the Big I)

       Mike Ivins/Boston Red Sox

First of all, this picture is ripe for a caption contest.  A penny for your caption (minus the penny of course)…

No, but seriously, I would love to hear what your caption for this photo would be…the possibilties are endless.  Secondly, you won’t find this photo anywhere else (at least for a while.  This was just taken, downloaded, and uploaded in record time).  Bravo, Big I, Bravo…

I have to admit, when I think of Dustin signing his extension, I picture him sitting down at a desk, signing the contract, while quoting Lauren from the Hills (season 1, episode 1),

“This is my chance to make it all happen, in the one city, where they say dreams come true.”

No, really…I could actually picture him saying this.

And although, this doesn’t really qualify as another “piece of hardware” that Pedroia can add to his mantle following his MVP, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger season, I still gotta think he’s pretty happy about this one.

Earlier today, we announced that we inked Dustin to a new six year extension that will keep him in a Red Sox uniform through the 2014 season, with a club option to keep him with the team for the 2015 season as well.

How do I feel about this?  As a fan?  As a member of the Front Office?  As a baseball enthusiast?

So good!  So good!  So good!!!

Dustin plays the game hard every single day.  You can tell he’s giving his all on every pitch and on every single ball that comes his way.  He’s gritty, he’s scrappy, he’s (plenty) confident, and his spirit is infectious.

We’ve gone through many secondbasemen in recent Red Sox history.  Now, thanks to some great scouting, player development, and a heck of a lot of hard work and determination on Dustin’s part, we can take a deep sigh of relief in knowing that it will be one position we won’t have to worry about for quite some time.

Congratulations, Dustin on a well deserved extension!  I’m so glad we’ll all have front row seats to six more years of the “lasers show.”

All the best from a very happy Front Office,

“The Voice of the Nation”

I know, I know…inquiring minds want to know what’s going on with Tek and Tazawa and all the rest, but unfortunately, I have no official news on either of those fronts today.

I can report however, that I successfully avoided binge-drinking the Hood Golden Egg Nog this year (a first for me – thank you very much).  I did unfortunately, subsequently over-compensate with increased quanities of Apple Pie and ice cream.  The way I think I’m going to justify it to myself is that I just have more fatty tissue to keep me warm during the cold winter months.  Too much information??

But seriously, I do have some very exciting news…

Tickets for the 2009 season are going on sale!

I’ve included the full release here below, but in case you’re on your way out, and just want the headline, here goes: Tickets go on sale Saturday, December 13 at 10 a.m.!

Now, while Red Sox tickets obviously make a great holiday gift, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that we’re also doing something brand new that same weekend.  On Sunday, December 14th, we’re hosting the Inaugural Great Fenway Park Yard Sale! 
For any fanatics out there in Red Sox Nation (I know I have at least 14 in my immediate family alone) you can find all sorts of unique items ranging from authentic bricks from Fenway Park to other assorted items and furnishings previously in the ballpark.

So, if you want to be able to attend the Great Fenway Park Yard Sale, or the ever-popular  Christmas at Fenway Event (which takes place on Saturday the 13th), you can begin registering for your chance to attend, by visiting redsox.com at noon tomorrow!  Registration ends at noon on Monday, December 8.

If you’re in the Boston area, I would definitely recommend registering.  If you’re not in the Boston area (and I know that’s a lot of you), be sure to get online, or on the phones on Saturday the 13th, for your chance to purchase tickets for the 2009 season!

Also, be sure to stay tuned…I have a feeling there are many more announcements to come!  And yours truly will be happy to give you the latest!

All the best from a very thankful Front Office,

“The Voice”

PS – See below if you want to learn more about the aforementioned events.

 

For Immediate Release

December 2, 2008      

 

TICKETS FOR SELECT 2009 RED SOX HOME GAMES

AND POPULAR “SOX PAX” GO ON SALE DECEMBER 13

Fans Invited to Enjoy a Weekend of Events including 6th Annual Christmas at Fenway Presented By Stop And Shop and Inaugural Great Fenway Park Yard Sale

Online Registration for the chance to attend Christmas at Fenway and the Great Fenway Park Yard Sale starts December 3

 

BOSTON, MA – Tickets for the 2009 season will go on sale on December 13, 2008 both online at RedSox.com and at the 6^th Annual Christmas at Fenway presented by Stop and Shop, which will be held the same day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Fenway Park.  Fans who go online or attend the event will have the first shot at purchasing 2009 tickets through the always popular “Sox Pax”, which are four-game ticket packages with a variety of seat options, or by electing from 15 games in April and May.  Tickets will continue to be on sale as long as supplies last.

 

As in the past several years, due to the ongoing Year VIII Fenway Park Improvements, the Red Sox are unable to accommodate a large number of fans at the ballpark.  Single-game ticket sales will primarily be handled online at www.redsox.com beginning at 10:00 a.m. on December 13^th.  Fans who do not have internet access or who require ADA accessible seating may also call 1-877-REDSOX9.  Hearing impaired fans may call the Red Sox TTY line at (617) 226-6644.

 

In addition, the first-ever Great Fenway Park Yard Sale will take place the following day on Sunday, December 14^th from 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m.  The Yard Sale will give fans the opportunity to purchase Red Sox memorabilia, collectibles and souvenirs that can become their own cherished keepsakes and unique holiday presents.  The selection of items will include physical parts of the ballpark such as authentic Fenway Park bricks and signage along with other items such as game-worn paraphernalia, game programs and other miscellaneous items.  Additionally, fans attending the Yard Sale on Sunday will be given a unique online code that will guarantee them the ability to purchase tickets for the 2009 season online at www.redsox.com.

 

The online registration processes for both events will begin at noon tomorrow, Wednesday, December 3, 2008, and will continue through noon on Monday, December 8, 2008 on RedSox.com.  Fans must register for each event individually and selections will be made separately for Saturday and Sunday event admittance; however, a selection of Yard Sale items will be available for sale on Saturday for fans selected to attend Christmas at Fenway presented by Stop and Shop.

 

For both events, the attendees will be selected and contacted from a pool of registrants and winners will be invited to come to Fenway during a selected time frame.  Each winner will be sent an email confirmation, which includes their pre-selected arrival time.  This confirmation must be presented at check-in with a photo ID for admittance to Fenway Park.

 

Christmas at Fenway presented by Stop and Shop will give randomly selected fans a chance to enjoy the festivities at the ballpark and a guaranteed opportunity to purchase tickets for the 2009 season.  The list of ten different “Sox Pax” available for sale, all of which feature at least one game against the Rays or the Yankees, is attached.  The single games that are available for sale include the Rays games on April 8 and 9, the Orioles games on April 17, 18 and 19, the Twins games on April 21 and 22, the Indians games on May 6 and 7, the Rays games on May 8, 9 and 10 and the games against the Blue Jays on May 19, 20 and 21.  There is a maximum limit of two Sox Pax packages per customer of up to four tickets per package for a total of 32 tickets.  Fans can also purchase a maximum of eight tickets from the single game sales with any combination of games.

 

The inaugural Great Fenway Park Yard Sale will take place in the Third Base Concourse and Absolut Clubhouse.  On Saturday, fans who attend Christmas at Fenway presented by Stop and Shop will have an opportunity to view and purchase a selection of items, including authentic Fenway Park bricks and other miscellaneous furniture and items that previously resided in the ballpark.  On Sunday, a full complement of Yard Sale items will be available for sale.  Fans will be able to purchase a shopping bag, which will include two authentic Fenway Park bricks.  They will then be invited to fill the bag to capacity with items that fit in the bag such as game programs, pictures, schedules, etc, subject to availability.  Large items such as completely intact ballpark seats, authentic jerseys and bats, large posters and signage and other high-value items will be sold separately.

  

–RED SOX–

 

RED SOX ACQUIRE RIGHTHANDED PITCHER RAMON RAMIREZ FROM

KANSAS CITY ROYALS FOR OUTFIELDER COCO CRISP

 

BOSTON, MA–The Red Sox today acquired righthanded pitcher Ramon Ramirez from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for outfielder Coco Crisp.

 

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

 

The 27-year-old spent the entire 2008 season with the Royals, going 3-2 with one save and a 2.64 ERA. He ranked among American League relievers with 21 holds (T7^th), 71.2 innings (11^th), 70 strikeouts (13^th) and 71 appearances (10^th), the 10^th-highest total in Royals history.  

 

He limited righthanded opponents to a .153 batting average, lowest in the A.L. and third in the majors among pitchers with at least 50 games. Only the Cubs’ Carlos Marmol (.103) and Philadelphia’s Brad Lidge (.105) ranked higher. In his career he has held righties to a .198 clip with an OPS of .586. He has a 2.14 ERA with 97 strikeouts and 44 walks in 105.0 career innings outside of Coors Field. In 2008, Ramirez was one of just three A.L. relievers with at least 70 strikeouts, 70 appearances and an ERA under 3.00, joined by Los Angeles’ Francisco Rodriguez and Chicago’s Matt Thornton.

 

Ramirez is 9-7 with one save, a 3.62 ERA and 146 strikeouts in 156.2 innings in 154 major league relief outings with Colorado and Kansas City. He made his major league debut with the Rockies in 2006, going 4-3 with a 3.46 ERA. He placed among National League rookie relievers in strikeouts (4^th, 61), games (T6^th, 61) and innings (T6^th, 67.2). He was limited by two stints on the disabled list in 2007, spending most of the season with Triple-A Colorado Springs where he went 4-0 with a 2.28 ERA in 25 games. The righthander did make 22 appearances at the major league level, going 2-2 with a 8.31 ERA. Ramirez was originally signed by the Texas Rangers as a non-drafted free agent in 1996.  

 

Crisp batted .283 with 7 home runs and 41 RBI in 118 games for the Red Sox in 2008. He stole 20 or more bases in each of his three seasons with Boston and had a 80.5 % success rate, second all-time among Red Sox players with at least 75 attempts. Overall, he batted .271 with 21 homers and 137 RBI in 368 games with Boston.

 

RAMON RAMIREZ–2008 AND MAJOR LEAGUE CAREER STATS

 

Team                          W-L    ERA   G         GS       SV       IP        H         R         ER      BB       SO

2008–Royals             3-2       2.64     71        0          1          71.2     57        23        21        31        70

ML Career                   9-7       3.62     154      0          1          156.2   136      67        63        64        146

 

 

— RED SOX —

Congrats to AL MVP Winner, Dustin Pedroia!!! 

(and also to 3rd place finisher, Kevin Yoouuuuuuukilis!)

Tim Correira/Boston Red Sox

It’s been 13 years since the Red Sox player last won the American League MVP.  And this year’s winner could not be any more of a polar opposite from “Big Mo.”

Whether you call him Dustin, Petey, Pedie, or simply the Destroyah, one thing is certain.  His flashy glove work, his infectious personality, his “just watch me” spirit, and his “lazers” as he likes to call them, not only won him a Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger, but now the American League MVP!

Congrats to Youk as well for a well-deserved 3rd place finish!  Moving across the diamond all season, and hitting in all areas of the lineup, he maintained a steady approach at the plate and on the field.

Now…as we pause briefly to pat ourselves on the back for drafting and developing both of these fine young talents, let’s get back to the Hot Stove!

One word…Teixiera…do you want him?  Yes?  No?  Why?

I’m looking forward to hearing the responses…

Team “freezes” ticket prices!

I realize this may not catch as many headlines as what we’re going to do about Jason Varitek, or possible free agent moves, but I think it does signal something very important.

As a member of the Front Office, it means that I can take a great deal of pride in the organization I work for.  Could we have raised ticket prices again this year?  Sure.  But we didn’t.  And I think that’s pretty cool.

To me it signifies that our owners and those in the position to make this kind of call have not made the disastrous mistake that so many owners in other organizations and have made throughout sports history.  That is, becoming detached…arrogant…greedy.  They realized that a lot of fans are struggling out there; that the economy is not so hot right now, and we need to make sure that we do not pile it on and make matters worse for struggling families.

The great organizations know how to make money (to keep their team competitive) and yet hold the line when their conscience speaks up.  As for us, I know this offseason, a lot of money will continue to be spent to improve our team and our beloved Fenway Park.  In fact, renovations to the park are already well underway.  And if you ask me, reinvesting in the team and the ballpark is the way to run an organization.  It may cost a boatload of money, but at least you’re spending it on things that will benefit the fans.

I won’t continue to toot our horn too much on this, because I know we still do have the highest ticket prices in baseball.  But I just wanted to say that I’m proud and happy that we made the right decision.

By the way, tickets will be first available starting December 13 (as part of our annual Christmas at Fenway event).

All the best from a very active Front Office,

“The Voice of the Nation”

PS – I’m so glad to see that so many have been posting comments to the previous entries.  Please continue to do so!  Or, if you’re a little shy, you can always email me directly at insider@redsox.com

 PPS – I’m sorry the best picture I could come up with for this post was of Arnold Schwarzenegger from that horible “Batman and Robin” movie.  If anyone has any more creative suggestions, please let me know…I’d be more than happy to change it.

Hello Red Sox Nation…If there is anyone out there, who still doubts that Dustin Pedroia is a bonafide star, a clutch hitter, and a gritty defensive player… who still questions whether a 5 foot nothin’ 2nd year player can be a standout on a major league team…today is your answer.

Yes he can.

Today, Pedroia was awarded the American League Gold Glove for his outstanding play at second base.

And count me among those who think that he can do it again next year…

Yes he can.

So I hope you all join me in congratulating Dustin today on a very well deserved accomplishment. 

Not only was he outstanding in the field this year, but he was also equally great on the offensive end of things.

And I think that ought to be reflected in the AL MVP voting later this month.

Can he win that too?

Yes he can.

(in my opinion anyhow…)

All the best from a very busy Front Office,

“The Voice of the Nation”

PS – My hot stove question for all of you today…Rank the following areas in order of importance this offseason (Starting Pitching, Catching, Outfield, RBI production, Defense, Bullpen, short stop)

So, I’m not sure how many of your jobs include dressing up for Halloween, but ours certainly encourages such behavior…

So far I’ve seen a prisoner, a winking, moose-hunting veep candidate, a little kid (complete with PJs and a Teddy bear), Carmen Sandiego, 3 contestants from Double Dare, a brace-wearing Tom Brady, Billy Madison, Mr. T, the Tin Man, Dorothy, the Queen of England, Steve Urkel, a non-licensed Plumber, and of course a grown man in a gorilla suit (not the one you’re thinking of…)

Anyhow, a very Happy Halloween to all!  And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a belated congratulations to the Phillies and all their fans!

All the best from inside a very festive Front Office,

“The Voice of the Nation”

PS – On the baseball front, Tek filed for free agency today…what do you all think of the chances he’s in a Sox uniform next year?  And if you think he should stay, what kind of contract do you think we should offer him (dollar figures and number of years)?

PPS – We picked up Wakefield’s contract option for the 2009 season.  One decision down…quite a few to go!