Red Sox – PaulHadsall.com

Jon Lester (Photo credit: Keith Allison)

Trade deadline day: This had better be Oakland’s year

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Paul

The Oakland Athletics are certainly making all the moves to build a powerhouse playoff rotation this year, aren’t they?

Not content with picking up Jeff Samardzjia (and Jason Hammel) from the Cubs to go along with Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir, Oakland has reportedly sent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to the Boston Red Sox for Jon Lester (and Jonny Gomes.)

I’m pretty sure this will be the biggest “star power” deal of the day, but I agree with Fangraphs’ Dave Cameron that it will have far less of an impact for Oakland than the earlier Samardzjia trade.

Boston got the best possible return they could imagine for Lester, considering he’s a two month rental. And who knows, maybe they aren’t teasing their fan base – maybe they really will re-sign him during the off-season. (We can all be sure Lester won’t be staying in Oakland after October.)

Meanwhile, Baltimore is said to be interested in Bartolo Colon and Washington has reportedly inquired about Daniel Murphy. I expect both will still be Mets after 4 p.m. today, but you never know what might happen.

Autographed Sean Coyle photo from my collection

Autographs, Baseball, Uncategorized

Autograph of the Week: Sean Coyle

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Paul

For a variety of reasons, I’m less into collecting autographs than I was a few years ago. Where I once used to bring a binder of cards try to get signed to every game, this year I haven’t brought anything to more than half of the games I’ve been to see.

Monday was one of those days, but I was hanging out with my friend Bart while he tried to finish getting the last few autographs he wanted from players on the Portland Sea Dogs. He had an extra copy of this photo of Sean Coyle for me, so I got the Sea Dogs’ infielder to sign it while I was there.

Coyle, 22, was named to replace Mookie Betts on the U.S. team for the All-Star Futures Game this week. He’s hitting .347 with 10 home runs, 40 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 55 games at the Double-A level this year.

My friend has taken to calling the 5-foot-8 Coyle “Little Dustin” because he reminds him of Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

That’s almost certainly an unfair comparison, but the Red Sox seem to have an awful lot of young players coming along for their fans to be excited about considering that their on-field success has kept them from having early-round draft picks in recent years.

You can follow Paul’s Random Baseball Stuff on Facebook or Google+, see my photos on Flickr and Instagram, and follow @Paul_Hadsall on Twitter, where I talk about about a variety of things in addition to baseball.

Baseball, Uncategorized

Boston’s Will Middlebrooks supports Rally Against Cancer

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Paul

Will Middlebrooks (Photo courtesy Dana-Farber)

Boston Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks will be the 2014 Jimmy Fund Rally Against Cancer (SM) spokesplayer, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund announced today.

“We are thrilled that Will Middlebrooks continues to lend his support to Rally Against Cancer with the Jimmy Fund and to our adult and pediatric patients at Dana-Farber,” said Suzanne Fountain, director of the Jimmy Fund. “Thanks to the support of Red Sox players like Will, the Red Sox organization, and the Rally Against Cancer teams of Red Sox Nation, we continue to make strides against cancer.”

The Rally Against Cancer, sponsored by Fan Band, encourages Red Sox fans to partner with their workplaces or schools. At participating businesses or schools, workers or students can donate $5 to be able to “Dress for Sox-cess” by wearing Boston Red Sox gear to work or school on Friday, April 4, when the Sox take on the Milwaukee Brewers at Fenway Park for their home opener. The top fundraising workplace and school (K-12, college, or university) are each eligible for a visit from Middlebrooks, if located within two-hour travel distance from Boston.

All teams that raise $5,000 or more (workplace or school) will be entered to win a visit from Middlebrooks, and the team with the largest number of participants will receive a visit from the 2013 World Series trophy. The full contest rules are posted at RallyAgainstCancer.org.

In eight years, Rally Against Cancer has raised more $3.5 million to support the fight against cancer at Dana-Farber. This year,event organizers hope to raise $525,000.

To start or join a rally team at your workplace or school, visit RallyAgainstCancer.org,

Autographs, Baseball, Uncategorized

A few items for Red Sox fans & autograph collectors

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Paul

Jason Varitek takes batting practice at Citi Field in 2009 prior to the second game of an exhibition series that unofficially opened the new stadium (Photo credit: Paul Hadsall) — Jason Varitek takes batting practice at Citi Field in 2009 prior to the second game of an exhibition series that unofficially opened the new stadium *(Photo credit: Paul Hadsall)*

Sure Shot Promotions will be participating in private signing sessions with Boston Red Sox World Series champs Dustin Pedroia and Jason Varitek next month.

If you need anything signed by Pedroia, the price is $199; inscriptions are an additional $50 and are limited to 10 characters. Items must be sent in by April 21st.

Varitek’s autograph will run $69 on baseballs and flat items up to 16″ x 20″; bats, jerseys, caps, equipment and larger flat items will cost $89. Inscriptions, limited to 10 characters, are an additional $30. Items must be sent by April 1st.

For more information and to place orders, email mike@sureshotpromotions.com or call 781-754-0063.

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Autographs, Baseball, Uncategorized

Red Sox players & prospects help raise money for the Jimmy Fund

Posted on December 27, 2013 by Paul

January’s almost here, so that mean’s it’s time for Boston Red Sox players and prospects to help raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund.

The Jimmy Fund’s New Stars for Young Stars IX is scheduled for Saturday, January 11th, from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Jillian’s Boston. Appearing players are subject to change, but the planned lineup includes new Red Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski; pitchers Drake Britton and Rubby De La Rosa, who both spent time in the Boston bull pen in 2013, and top prospects Blake Swihart (#5 in the Red Sox system, according to Baseball America) and Mookie Betts (#7 in the Red Sox system, according to Baseball America).

Autographed Drake Britton 2011 Topps Pro Debut baseball card from my collection

Advance tickets are $89 per person and include buffet lunch and one autograph from all attending players. VIP tickets are $250 per person and include and include one of the first 30 spots in line, one autograph from all attending Red Sox players for the ticketholder and one guest, a Red Sox Jersey, lunch buffet, one guest ticket and one autograph from each player for guests.

For more information, visit jimmyfund.org/new-stars or call 1-800-52-JIMMY.

You can follow Paul’s Random Baseball Stuff on Facebook or Google+, see my photos on Flickr and Instagram, and follow @PaulsRandomStuf on Twitter, where I talk about about a variety of things in addition to baseball.