Category: Dailies
Van Every called up!
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 —
The Big I’s “Best of the Rest”
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
Let’s Play two!
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.
Dave Roberts in the House (Park)!!!
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 9th 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
1st Inning: “Stay Fair” – Fisk, 1975
2nd Inning: “Back to Foulke” – Final Out, 2004
3rd Inning: “Impossible Dream” – Lonborg Final Out, 1967
4th Inning: “Bloody Sock” – Schilling, Game 6, 2004
5th Inning: “Henderson HR” – ALCS, 1986
6th Inning: “Pedro’s Six” – ALDS, 1999
7th Inning: “Ortiz Walks Off Again!” – Game 5, 2004
8th Inning: ” It’s Over” – Papelbon Last Strike, 2007
9th Inning: “Brunansky’s Diving Catch” – October 1990
Pumpsie tonight!
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!
Mike Ivins/Boston Red Sox
Best,
“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 50th 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 50th 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 8th 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.
Photos! Photos! Photos!
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
Day Game!
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I LOVE day games. We’ve got the 2-time MVP of the World Baseball Classic starting for us this afternoon (as our 3rd starter! This only reinforces my giddiness about our pitching staff this year.
Predictions?? How many innings for Daisuke? How many Ks?
I’m having some trouble uploading photos onto my blog, so hopefully I can get that fixed in time to get you some good behind-the-scenes shots from Opening Week.
Keep checking back!
As for the happenings in the office right now…well, all of the TVs are set to NESN which is playing some sort of Chuck Norris bodybuilding infomercial. I don’t know how that’s relevant to anything, but I just looked up and notice that I was surrounded by a bunch of Chuck Norris’s…
All the best from the Front Office,
“The Voice of the Nation”
PS – I should mention that prior to Chuck Norris, there was a great infomercial for Jack LaLanne’s Power Juicer. He’s mighty convincing…
Dance of the Southpaws
Getting ready for tonight’s game, we have lefty Jon Lester vs. very tough Tampa Bay lefty Scott Kazmir.
Let’s hope Lester can match Beckett’s performance from last night and that our offense continues to work the Tampa Bay staff!
Anybody have predictions for tonight’s game? Score? HRs? Ks for Lester???
Let’s try this again…
Looking out the windows of the Front Office it almost seems (dare I say it…) sunny outside!
I’m sure it’s not going to be your picture-perfect warm Opening Day, but so far it looks like we’ll have good enough weather to get the game in – which certainly wasn’t the case yesterday.
So, as we look forward to seeing Josh Beckett take the hill today, I have a nice shot from the Big I to share with all of you. If you click on this link here, you can see it and actually make it your desktop background if you’d like.
It’s a photo of the sunrise from yesterday morning (over Fenway Park).
All the best from a much calmer Front Office,
“The Voice of the Nation”
PS – I hope some of you were able to attend the Red Sox Foundation’s Welcome Home Dinner last night. It was a riot, and the players seemed to be in great spirits!
Opening Day Postponed…
ahhh…I can hardly wait one more day, but it looks like we’ll have to. While we hoped that the weather (rain) would hold off, unfortunately the forecast looks to dire to start a game today.
So today’s game (our Season Opener) will now be played tomorrow (Tuesday) at 4:05pm.
Here’s the official team release:
Monday, April 6, 2009
TODAY’S RED SOX OPENING DAY GAME POSTPONED
Game To Be Made Up on Tuesday, April 7 at 4:05 p.m.
BOSTON, MA – Today’s Red Sox 2009 Opening Day game at Fenway Park has been postponed due to the forecast of heavy rain throughout the afternoon and evening. The game is rescheduled for Tuesday, April 7, at 4:05 p.m. to better accommodate fans who must reschedule. Opening Day festivities now will take place on Tuesday. Gates will open at 2:05 p.m.
The forecast provided by the Red Sox weather service, Meteorlogix, indicates heavy rain, strong winds and possible thunderstorms will begin during the early afternoon hours and continue throughout the evening.
“After consulting with our weather service and other professional meteorologists, it became apparent it would be extremely unlikely, if not impossible, that we could get a complete game in today so the decision was made to postpone until Tuesday,” said Larry Lucchino, President/CEO. “Our fans look forward to this unofficial Red Sox Nation holiday each year, and we want to make sure that they are able to enjoy the full experience including both the special pregame ceremonies and a full nine innings of play. We reserved an alternate rain date for tomorrow for just such adverse circumstances as present themselves today.”
It marks the first Red Sox home-opening postponement since 2003, when the game was called because of rain.
Tickets for Monday’s opener will be good on Tuesday, April 7.
NESN, WEEI and SBN (WWDJ 1150 AM) will carry the rescheduled 4:05 pm game.
The Red Sox and Rays are scheduled to play the second game of the series on Wednesday at 7:10 pm at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox Foundation Welcome Home Dinner Presented By Covidien will take place as scheduled at the House of Blues Boston. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 6:00 p.m.
— RED SOX —
Red Sox Insider Blog 