Boston Red Sox

We all remember how it ended.

There was the flatly refused contract offer after the 2003 season. There were the protracted flirtations between the Red Sox and Alex Rodriguez. And there was a frustrated phone call to sports talk radio from Nomar Garciaparra’s honeymoon, of all places.

Tim Wakefield has probably been one of the most successful starting pitchers ever for the Boston Red Sox, maybe behind Cy Young and Roger Clemens.

The 1995 AL Comeback Player of the Year has been a mainstay on the Red Sox roster since '95. He has accepted every role that the Red Sox has given him wholeheartedly. If the manager said something like "Hey, Timmy, I need you to be in the 'pen for about two months", Wakefield would respond with "Sure, no problem skip."

The 2010 schedule won't be officially announced until sometime in September, but the Associated Press has obtained at least a portion of the schedule, including the date of the first outdoor game in Minneapolis in twenty eight seasons.

Target Field is set to open on April 12, 2010 when the Minnesota Twins take on the Boston Red Sox. This was released:

Target Field has a target date.

It was gut check time for the Red Sox on Wednesday at Baltimore.

They were coming off an embarrassing loss that featured the Sox bulletproof bullpen to blow a nine run lead.

Piled on top of that was the fact that the Sox infielders thought there were three outs in the eighth inning and ran into the dugout.

Tim Wakefield has been good, if not great, for the Boston Red Sox. He has stepped up big when it matters the most and I give him all the props in the world.

He is an excellent pitcher with an excellent story. However, he is no All Star.

The All-Star Game is reserved for the 33 best players in the American League. Tim Wakefield is not one of them. However, we will likely get voted in by the managers/players for his feel good story.

Tim Wakefield has been a fixture with the Red Sox for so long, his presence with the pitching staff has been a given year-in and year-out. After two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992 and '93, Wakefield left for greener pastures.

Ironically, after guys like Wakefield, but especially Barry Bonds, left Pittsburgh, the team has had a losing record every year, and this year the Pirates are still in search of that elusive winning season.

In the world we live in, we get a lot of choices to make. What do you prefer: Burger King or McDonald's? iPod’s or Zune’s? Xbox 360, Wii or PS3? Two percent or whole milk?

Ok, I’m kidding about the last one.

In just his fourth season as the Red Sox closer, Jonathan Papelbon has already made a place for himself in the Boston record book.

With his 20th save in 22 chances Wednesday, Papelbon became the club’s all-time saves leader as he notched No. 133.

Starting in 2006—when he recorded 35 saves (the third highest total ever for a rookie closer)—Papelbon has steam-rolled past his predecessors, continually moving up the team's all-time saves list.

After blowing a nine-run lead Tuesday night, the Red Sox showed the Orioles how it feels as Boston rallied in the ninth inning Wednesday to win 6-5.

Baltimore starter Brad Bergesen pitched lights-out through eight innings. The rookie held Boston to just one run on four hits, no walks, and six strikeouts. He left the game with a 5-1 lead.