#RedSox MASH Unit Rolls On:Youk Done for 2010 Season

According to NESN's Tom Caron via Twitter, Terry Francona confirmed today that Kevin Youkilis is done for the season. He will be having surgery Friday, and the timetable for 2011 looks pretty good. So they have that going for them, which is nice.

Youk Named #RedSox MVP

Kevin Youkilis has been selected as the 2009 winner of the Thomas A. Yawkey Memorial Award as Red Sox Most Valuable Player in voting done by the Boston Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

The two-time All-Star hit .305 (150-for-491) with 27 homers, 94 RBI and 99 runs scored in 2009 while splitting time in the field between first base and third base. He finished second in the American League in on-base percentage (.413) and OPS (.961) and fifth in slugging (.548). Youkilis played more than half of his games at first base and becomes the club’s first MVP at that position since Mo Vaughn in 1996.

The Boston Chapter, BBWAA also announced Tuesday that Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman has been selected as Major League Baseball Executive of the Year.

Tickets for the January 14 dinner, to be held at the Westin Waterfront Hotel in Boston, are available for $150 each by sending a check to Boston Chapter-BBWAA, PO Box 7346, Nashua NH, 03060.

---RED SOX COMMUNICATIONS---

Youk up for the Clemente Award

BOSTON RED SOX NOMINATE KEVIN YOUKILIS FOR THE
2009 ROBERTO CLEMENTE AWARD PRESENTED BY CHEVY

Fans Have Opportunity to Vote Online for the National Winner of Prestigious Award

Kevin Youkilis today was named the Boston Red Sox’ nominee for the 2009 Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy. He is one of 30 Major League Club nominees for the national 2009 Roberto Clemente Award, which is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who combines exceptional performance on the baseball field with devoted work in the community.

Tomorrow will mark the eighth annual Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by Major League Baseball to honor the legacy of Roberto Clemente. Fans are encouraged to participate in the selection of the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy. From September 2 through October 4, 2009, fans can log on to www.chevy.com/clemente and vote for one of the 30 Club nominees.

The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy, is part of Chevy’s official sponsorship of Major League Baseball, and recognizes those players who best represent the game of baseball through sportsmanship, community involvement and positive contributions to their teams. The award is named for Clemente, a 12-time All-Star and Hall of Famer who died on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. This award perpetuates Clemente’s legacy and character by recognizing current-day players who truly understand the value of helping others.

Over the past two years, Kevin Youkilis and his charity, Hits for Kids, have impacted the lives of over 1,000 children and raised nearly $2 million through charitable events and programs. Kevin has partnered with organizations on issues that are close to his heart such as premature child-birth, early childhood literacy and teen suicide prevention.

In the spring, Kevin and Hits for Kids partnered with the March of Dimes to raise over $20,000 to fund research to prevent premature childbirth. He joined with Raising a Reader Massachusetts to raise over $125,000 to help provide low income families with the tools and resources they need to encourage literacy from an early age. Kevin also teamed up this year with the Riverside Trauma Center to raise money and awareness about teen suicide prevention with their “Striking Out Teenage Suicide” event. This event was created after a Boston suburb lost five high school students to suicide in five years. In an effort to make a difference, Kevin spoke to an audience of family and friends who had lost loved ones and shared his personal story of losing several friends to suicide.

Since 2006 Kevin has welcomed children to Fenway Park through his ticket program, “Youk’s Kids”. Kevin purchases 10 tickets to one game per month during the regular season and provides the tickets to children from area non-profit organizations. Not only do the kids get to enjoy a Red Sox game, but they also get to meet Kevin prior to batting practice and Kevin spends time with them posing for photos and signing autographs.

In the offseason, Youkilis continues to be an active leader in the community, hosting pizza dinners for children from local reading groups, trick or treating on Halloween at a local children’s hospital, spending every Christmas morning visiting patients at Boston Children’s Hospital, and participating in events to support the Red Sox Foundation, the team’s official charity.

“Being a pro athlete in Boston, kids automatically look up to you,” said Youkilis. “I try to tell them that you have to work to achieve your life’s goals and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. You can do anything you put your mind to.”

Kevin will be recognized as the Red Sox’ nominee for the 2009 Roberto Clemente Award during a ceremony before the game on Tuesday, September 8, 2009.

There have been 13 Baseball Hall of Famers who have won the Roberto Clemente Award, including Willie Mays, Brooks Robinson, Al kaline, Willie Stargell, Lou Brock, Rod Carew, Phil Niekro, Cal Ripken, Jr, Gary Carter, Ozzie Smith, Kirby Puckett, and Tony Gwynn. Youk would be Red Sox player to win the award as a member of the team.

The winner of the fan poll will receive one vote among those cast by the official selection panel, which includes Vera Clemente, wife of the late Hall of Famer, and Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. Participating fans automatically will be registered for a chance to win a trip to Game Three of the 2009 World Series, where the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy will be announced. MLB celebrates Roberto Clemente Day as part of its broader “MLB Going Beyond” platform, an initiative that strives to integrate community service and the importance of giving back.

Courtesy:Boston Red Sox Communicatons

Wednesday Links

It's hump day, and it's also the first day of school for my 8 year old son. Hallelujah!

• The Sea Dogs knocked off the Mets behind a strong pitching performance from Felix Doubront.The Sea Dogs are now 4.5 games behind New Britain for the final playoff spot.
  
• The Red Sox once again beat the White Sox, and Jacoby Ellsbury finally beat Tommy Harper's single season stolen base record.
• Billy Wagner was acquired yesterday, I took a look yesterday at who might be going down (or going away) to make room.
  
• Kevin Youkilis just made some waves in an article by Dan Shaughnessy, his biggest quote being “When people ask me, ‘What do you love about Boston?’ I say, ‘From 7 o’clock until the last pitch is thrown.’ That’s the best time in the world. I love it. I love playing on the field." He then added,"I see negative stuff all the time, that bothers me. If I don’t comment, people are going to get mad at me. But I’m just going to ‘no comment’ about certain things. If people don’t like it, they don’t like it. People know me. I have good intentions, I do good things in the community. But I’ve heard more and more crap from people, [they] talk to my wife and talk to my people and say stuff, and I’m like, ‘You know what? I’m sick of it.’ ’

Who is the AL MVP?

Although there is still about a month and half left in the season, it is time to start up the MVP debate in the American League. Last season Dustin Pedroia struck a blow for all short people when he took home the trophy (even though he has a little difficulty with the high-inside fastball). This season the list of candidates has been whittled down by injury, ineffectiveness, and the like, but let's make a list anyways, because, let's face it, lists are fun.

QUALIFIERS
Team must be in legitimate playoff contention. Player needs to be having a good all-around year, and cannot be just a DH. One player per team.

Texas-Michael Young, 3rd Baseman

Getting a .320 average with 20 home runs and 55 RBI's from a corner infielder is usually a good thing, but it is even better when you realize that Young had to switch positions to accommodate the promotion of Elvis Andrus. He has had only 7 errors at the hot corner this year, so he has not been as big a liability in the field as many thought. If Texas can keep it together and make the playoffs, he deserves some recognition.

LA Angels-Kendry Morales, 1st Baseman

So that's why Bill Stoneman refused to trade Morales for all those years? Morales has the power numbers (26 homers 79 RBI's) a decent average (.303) and a solid glove (.994 fielding percentage in 937 innings played). With the Andre Dawson-like decline of Vlad Guerrero (thanks Olympic Stadium turf), Morales and Bobby Abreu have been anchoring the Angels line-up since the injury to Torii Hunter. I give the nod to Morales here, as he has been able to fill in quite capably for the departed Mark Teixeira (more on him later).

Detroit Tigers-Miguel Cabrera, 1st Baseman

In a line-up that's been as anemic as Tiki Barber, Cabrera has done everything the Tigers are paying him to do (somewhere JD Drew is laughing heartily). A .334 average, 24 homeruns and 72 RBI's with virtually no protection gives him a good lead, and he has improved his play at first base since making the switch across the diamond, posting a .993 fielding percentage with 7 errors. If Detroit makes the playoffs, I have to give the MVP award to Miggy, striking a blow for fat guys everywhere.

Chicago White Sox- Take Your Pick
Minnesota Twins-Joe Mauer

This is what I find interesting. The Minnesota Twins, currently 5 games back in the Central, have a legitimate candidate in Joe Mauer, who is among the league leaders in everything offensive, plus he catches, but they just cannot seem to get untracked (2 wins against Texas not withstanding). The White Sox, who have been back and forth with the Tigers for the last few weeks (and with Jake Peavy primed to enter the rotation), don't have one guy you can single out. Jermain Dye has the home runs, but the batting average isn't that high. AJ Pierzynski has good numbers, but does anyone want to vote that guy as the MVP of anything?(Jim Rome is raising his hand and screaming "Yes, I will vote for him!!! It will make a great correspondent piece for Jim Rome is Burning!!!") It will be interesting to see if anyone emerges from the ChiSox in the final month, as they could be a team that gives everyone else fits in the playoffs, assuming they make it, and they may not have a top 5 in the MVP voting.

Boston Red Sox-Kevin Youkilis, 1st base and 3rd base (and a forgettable stretch in left)

If the Red Sox make the playoffs and Youkilis isn't in the top 3 of the voting, there should be a congressional investigation that would make Rafael Palmeiro hide under a table. He has hit .310 with 20 home runs and 66 RBI's, all the while changing sides of the diamond nightly to accommodate team needs. He has been the most consistent bat on the Red Sox this season, and I shudder to think where they would be without his ability to play third in light of Mike Lowell's hip issues.

New York Yankees-Derek Jeter, Shortstop

Somewhere followers of Bill James and believers in Zone rating are googling my name and heading to my house with pitchforks and torches, but hear me out. First off the reason I don't have Mark Teixeira as the Yankee rep is simple, when A-Rod wasn't in the lineup, he was not able to carry this team. Jeter has been consistent since the season started, and his defense, much maligned by the stat gang, is actually not that bad this year. This from "Gritty and Clutch"-
Statistically-inclined analysts get a lot of flack for their abuse of the quintessential Yankee regarding his defense, so when the chance comes to acquiesce, we should probably take it. G&C predominately uses UZR as it's defensive measurement, but Dewan plus/minus agrees on this point as well: Derek Jeter has steadily improved at defense the last two years and is now playing the best of his career.

Jeter has 6 errors and an fp of .986. Not sterling (John or otherwise), but still better than shortstops Orlando Cabrera (18 errors) Jason Bartlett (12 errors) and Adam Everett (12 errors) all three of whom are consistently mentioned by fans as shortstops with good gloves. Oh, and add in the fact he has been the Yankees lead-off hitter this year, his .330 average, 15 homers, and 20 stolen bases, and baseball scribes could have a chance to write the wrong of 2006, when Justin Morneau beat out the more deserving Jeter.

Tampa Bay Rays-Carl Crawford, Outfielder

Another team that just cannot find any consistency, and seems to be suffering the after-effects of a season where everything went right. After a down year last season, Crawford has come back with a .322 average, 12 homers, 58 RBI's, and 54 stolen bases. He has 3 errors and 5 assists from the outfield, but his speed can help keep balls out of the gap and keep doubles from being triples and singles from being doubles (it also covers up BJ Upton lolly-gagging in the outfield, but I digress). He would be an outside the box selection, but if Tampa went on a late season run, Crawford would have to get some consideration.

Those are my thoughts, and I know many are going to be angry about the Teixeira slight, who would YOU pick as the AL MVP?

Hit Like A Girl-Canadian Edition, Eh?

I’m currently in the woods in Nova Scotia, frantically scratching various parts of my body (No, not like that sickos). There are an overwhelming amount of mosquitoes here. My boyfriend endearingly calls my ailment the “Scotia Scratch,” but I think that’s only because he’s not writhing around begging for the tube of After Bite. The locals keep telling me in that cute Canadian accent, “This summer is worse than usual!” Lovely, eh?

Hockey is a year-round sport here. Every morning when I turn on the TV, it’s hockey. Interviews with hockey players, summer leagues, junior leagues, old replays, and the like made me realize how a country could love a sport so much. It has actually been somewhat pleasant, and it almost made me forget about the Red Sox, and the fact that we’re fighting for the wildcard. Oh, and the fact that when I turn my phone back on I’m going to be hit with a barrage of text messages from my father reminding me that the Red Sox lost to the Yankees 4 times in a row.

Maybe Dice-K was right, The Red Sox need to jump on that Japanese training regime.

I feel like I’m watching the Red Sox apocalypse. No one can hit, we have two pitchers, and the hitters that we do have are either getting hurt or suspended. And I’m not going to let Wednesday nights game against the Tigers cheer me up either. The Red Sox are like an abusive spouse. Right when you think things are getting better, BAM, they start up another losing streak and leave you with a black-eye. My high school softball team played better than the Red Sox have been since the All-Star break, keeping in mind I used to field low throws to first with my shins instead of my glove.

But you know what? I’m going to take Youkilis’ storming of the mound as a sign of good times to come. Seriously, all good things start with some kind of storming. It says, “I’m not screwing around anymore.” I’ve also heard that storming is especially effective when a Jewish man is behind it.

I’m not kidding. I see this as a good omen. I don’t care that this little mishap has one of our best players suspended for five games. The Red Sox have been playing like a bunch of little-leaguers who are cranky because it’s naptime. Tito can say that they’re keeping their heads up as much as he wants, but I don’t buy it. When you lose two series in a row to your two rivals, your heads are about as low as they’re going to get. And let’s admit it, Boston fans are not easy to please. Sox players know that fans around the nation are grumbling. Our collective screaming is probably so loud that they can hear it in Fenway Park.

So I say bravo! Go Jewkilis, go. We all needed to see a little passion, and what better way to show it than by throwing your helmet at a pitcher before tackling him to the ground. Boo-yah, baby.

But while I wait for things to look up, I’m going to be watching hockey. Canada has the right idea, eh?

Samantha Lewis is the author of "Hit Like a Girl". She is the Creative Director of Northshore Editorial in Salem, MA and can be followed on Twitter.

WEDNESDAY MORNING LINKS

John Farrell apparently had something to say to Jim Leyland

• The Maine Teams are ousted from various youth tournaments…Bangor Daily…Portland Press.
• The Portland Sea Dogs winning streak was halted at 6 games, losing to the Altoona Curve 10 – 3.
• Tom Brady looks to start Thursday for the Patriots against the E-A-G-L-E-S.
• Junichi Tazawa kept his composure, after a rough 1st inning and a Kevin Youkilis and Robert Porcello battle, going 5 strong to help the Sox to a 7 – 5 win over the Tigers at Fenway.

WEDNESDAY MORNING QUICK HITTERS

Mark Recchi scores the 1st goal of the game 2:09 into the 1st(Courtesy Boston.com)

• Junichi Tazawa scattered 4 hits over 6 innings as the Portland Sea Dogs beat the New York Yankees AA Affiliate Trenton Thunder 4 - 1 Tuesday in Trenton. Sea Dogs OF Aaron Bates reached base safely in his 21st straight game.
• The University of Maine Black Bears Women's Hockey Team add 2 players to roster.
• Maine High School Sports results here from the Portland Press Herald.
• The Boston Bruins forced a Game 7 against the Carolina Hurricanes. Mark Recchi and Steve Montador scored 2 goals in the 1st 5:09 of the opening period to start the ball rolling to a 4 - 2 win over Carolina. All news was not great for the Bruins, Marc Savard left the game at the 6:12 mark of the 3rd Period when he had a leg/thigh collision with Carolina's Chad LaRose. Claude Julien said Savard will be ready for Game 7 Thursday Night.
• The Boston Celtics, who looked down and out of gas midway through the 3rd quarter trailing the Orlando Magic by as much as 20, staged a comeback for the ages. Stephon Marbury and Eddie House ignited the comeback, culminating in a free throw contest at the end of regulation leading the Boston Celtics to beat the Orlando Magic 92 - 88 to take a 3 - 2 lead in the series.
• The Boston Red Sox finished off a night of comebacks with one of its own. JD Drew started the Sox 9th with a single, and Jason Veritek drove him home with a gap shot double, putting the Sox up for good with a 4 - 3 win over the California Angels. Jonathan Papelbon finished things off for his 9th save of the season!
• The Boston Red Sox placed Kevin Youkilis on the 15 Day DL with an oblique strain.

Monday Morning Quick Hitters

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LEWISTON SUN JOURNAL

The Lewiston MAINEiacs dropped another hard fought game to the Shawinigan Cataractes 4 - 2 Sunday at the Colisee.

The University of Maine Softball team swept a pair of games on Sunday, beating Youngstown State 12 - 5 in the day game and Yale 4 - 3 in the nightcap!

The Maine Black Bears Men's Hockey team has an opponent for round 1 of the Hockey East playoffs and it is the Boston University Terriers. BU will host the best of 3 series starting Friday night at Agganis Arena in Boston.

The Walking Wounded continues for the Boston Celtics as Big Baby goes down with an ankle sprain in a 86 - 79 loss to the Orlando Magic Sunday at the Garden. In addition to Big Baby Davis going down during the game, The Celts were without Rajon Rondo, KG, Scal and Tony Allen.

The road has not been kind to the Boston Bruins the last few days. Manny Fernandez may have played the poorest game by a Boston goaltender Sunday, as the Bruins drop a rough and tumble game against the Rangers 4 - 3.

Kevin Youkilis hit his 2nd home run of the WBC as the USA handled Venezuela 15 - 6.

Yahoo Sports is reporting Jon Lester signed a 5 year extension, the team is denying any such deal has been struck.

Sox Sign Youk to Long Term Deal

Peter Gammons and Tony Massarotti are both reporting that the Red Sox have reached an agreement with first baseman Kevin Youkilis on a 4-year, $41 million extension. THe deal reportedly also includes a $13 million club option for a fifth year in 2013. The Sox locked up AL MVP Dusitn Pedroia with a 6-year, $40.5 extension earlier this season, and speculation exists that closer Jonathan Papelbon could also receive a deal.

While many will certainly say this a good deal for Boston, and yes he is relatively cheap given the contracts being tossed around, but there are reasons to raise an eye to this deal.

Youk will be 30 come the start of next year, meaning he will be 32, at the point when many MLBers are on the back end of their prime, and only half way through the deal. No reason to think he won't start to decline when he will still be owed $20-$30 million. On top of that, while Youkilis had a great 2008 (.312/.390/.569), it was, relative to his other full seasons with Boston, an aberration of sorts. In his previous two seasons he hit a combined 29 home runs, failed to hit .290 and finished 10th and 16th in OPS among MLB first basemen. This was mostly due to his numbers dropping significantly in the second half, and there is no way to know if this was a career year and he will return to his 2006/2007 numbers. Youkilis was still arbitration eligible so Boston could have waited another year to see whether or not 2008 was in fact an aberration or a sign of things to come.

Not a bad deal, but one that did not need to be made.