SUNDAY MORNING LINKS

• John Smoltz speaks candidly about his time in Boston.
• Maine High School Scores HERE at MBR.ORG.
• The Maine Black Bears were up by 16 at halftime and ended up losing to Albany 20 – 16.
• The Lewiston MAINEiacs beat Drakkar 4 – 1 Saturday to sweep the home series Saturday at the Colisee.
• We spoke with Herm Edwards and Greg Gumbel yesterday about the Pats/Jets game, you can listen right here.
  
• The Boston Red Sox handled the Baltimore Orioles 11 – 5 Saturday, to drop their magic number to 9.
• Bruins GM Peter Chirelli discusses the Phil Kessel trade. Kessel denies ever wanting to leave Boston.
• The Chase for The Cup begins today in New Hampshire for the Sylvania 300..check out local coverage from Green White Checkers

Wednesday Morning Quick Hits

(File Photo-CMSB-Courtesy Pierre's Exchange St)

Sitting in on the Morning Jab with Shoe and Jeff this morning, joined by Sea Dogs manager Arnie Beyeler, I suggest you listen right here.

• The Red Sox lost a tough one last night 4-2 in 13 innings. Evan Longoria is staking his claim to Gary Gaetti's spot at third base on "The All-Time Red Sox-Killer Team" with a home-run off the chosen one Daniel Bard in the eight to tie it, and launched a 2-run walk-off facing Takashi Saito to win it. They go at it again tonight, with pregame starting at 6:20 PM on The Big Jab.
• The Sea Dogs lost a high-scoring affair against Altoona last night 12-6.
• A great article on Pats special teams coach Scott O'Brien.

TUESDAY MORNING QUICK HITTERS

Matt Hunwick gets extension

• Maine Football gets in some summer practice.
• The Portland Sea Dogs slammed the New Britain Rock Cats 19 – 1. The top three batters for Portland: Reddick, Khoury and Jimenez went a combined 9-for-16, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 11 RS

• 1998-99 Maine Black Bears Men’s Hockey NCAA Champions held a Golf Tournament Monday.

• The Maine Red Claws will announce their new head coach today a 1PM. Stay Tuned to The CMSB for breaking news all day.

• John Smoltz was cruising..until the 5th inning in which he allowed 3 HRs costing the Red Sox another game losing to the Texas Rangers 6 – 3.  This is the 1st time in 2009 that the Red Sox have lost 3 games in a row.

FRIDAY MORNING QUICK HITTERS

Houlton's Nikki Eastman pitches during all star action on Thursday (Courtesy Bangor Daily News)

• High School All Star action around the State yesterday..PPH and BDN
• The Portland Sea Dogs losing streak continues as they drop another game to the Connecticut Defenders 7 - 2
• John Smoltz made his 1st start of the year for the Boston Red Sox, and it did not turn out quite the way he planned. The Nationals beat the Sox 9 - 3
• The Boston Celtics used the 58th overall pick to choose Lester Hudson, a high scoring guard from University of Tennessee-Martin

Smoltz is Pitching for Red Sox Thursday

John Smoltz was on the Dan Patrick Show today (which I listened to on 96.3 The Big Jab) and finally nailed down a time for his Red Sox debut.

When Patrick asked Smoltz when his first start was going to be he replied...

"Probably Tuesday or Wednesday," said Smoltz. "It depends on some variables, and I have to make another start (in the minors) before then."

So it looks like the Red Sox phase in the Hall of Fame career will begin Tuesday or Wednesday in Washington against the Nationals.

Update 4:08 PM: Amalie Benjamin from the Boston Globe has just tweeted that Smoltz is pitching Thursday against the Nats.

MONDAY MORNING QUICK HITTERS

2009 Maine Hall of Fame inductees (Courtesy Bangor Daily News)

• Aaron Bates ties the Sea Dogs franchise record with 28 RBI's in a month in the Sea Dogs 6 - 4 win over the Connecticut Defenders
• The Maine Sports Hall of Fame has 9 new inductees.
• John Smoltz has his 3rd rehab start for the Greenville Drive
• The Boston Red Sox slammed the Toronto Blue Jays 8 - 2 Sunday at the Skydome. Jon Lester had 12 strikeouts, the most by a Red Sox lefty since Bruce Hurst
• Boston College Baseball team played 43 innings over 3 days, finally bowed out of the 2009 College World Series prelim tournement.

Wednesday Morning Quick Hitters

John Smoltz after his rehab start with the Portland Sea Dogs (CMSB/Pierre's of Exchange St)

• John Smoltz made his 2nd rehab start, this time for The Portland Sea Dogs in Manchester, NH. Oh yeah, there was a game too..Aaron Bates blasted his 5th HR in the 5 - 1 win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
• Maine High School scores HERE
• Cue King type music....TOM BRADY IS ON THE FIELD AGAIN!!
• Jon Lester was not his usual self once again and Big Papi was dropped to 6th in the lineup as the Boston Red Sox lost to the Minnesota Twins 5 - 2.
• Kevin Garnett has knee surgery.

John Smoltz Sea Dogs Rehab Post Game Press Conference

Here is the audio from John Smoltz's Sea Dogs Post Game Press Conference

Here is Portland Sea Dogs Manager Arnie Beyeler after Smoltz start
Here is Portland Sea Dogs Catcher Mark Wagner talking about catching John Smoltz

Thursday Morning Quick Hitters

The Maineiacs season is officially over, after being swept out of the first round of the playoffs. Drummondville beat Lewiston by a combined score of 38-9. That may actually be a record.

The Celtics fell to the Orlando Magic 84-82 with Kevin Garnett still playing restricted minutes. Big night from the perimeter for Orlando, hitting 10 three’s.

UMaine AD, Blake James up for the same position at a school in Florida.

John Smoltz took the mound for the first time yesterday, throwing a fastball-only 40 pitch session. The next session is planned for Friday.

Bill Belichick and staff attended the UConn Pro Day yesterday.

Don’t forget…Full coverage of UMaine Pro Day today on thecmsb.com…Plus, Matty will be on The Big Jab later this evening to break it all down.