Month: February 2009

The Celtics appears poised to put the final pieces of their roster in place by the end of this week, after signing Mikki Moore yesterday, and with Stephon Marbury finally agreeing to a buyout from the New York Knicks. Marbury is expected to sign with the Celtics as early as Friday, when he will clear waivers.

Steve Bulpett looks at the pending addition of Marbury, and the signing of Moore, and what the two players will bring to the Celtics roster. Marc J. Spears has more on Marbury, who hasn’t played in a regular season game since January of 2008. Jeff Goodman also says that the signs all point to Marbury signing here on Friday. Robert Lee has Rajon Rondo and KG expressing support of a Marbury signing.

Jessica Camerato introduces us to Mikki Moore. Scott Souza has the Celtics adding some size with Moore. Jeff Howe looks at Rajon Rondo stepping up his game in the absence of Kevin Garnett. Robert Lee looks at how the other Celtics are stepping up their games with KG out. Pat Gilroy has more on Rondo’s increased production.

Bulpett’s notebook has Brian Scalabrine being sent home to be checked after suffering a neck strain on a hard foul in Denver on Monday night. Check CelticsLinks.com for more on Marbury coming to Boston – plenty of New Yorkers have an opinion on this one…

Bruins

The Bruins snapped out of their recent slump long enough to record a 6-1 trouncing of the Florida Panthers last night. Steve Conroy has three third period goals giving the Bruins the final cushion. Kevin Paul Dupont has the Panthers providing a needed elixir for the Bruins woes. Joe Haggerty has rookie Byron Bitz sparking the offense. Bud Barth has Bitz and pieces adding up for the Bruins.

Mick Colageo has more on Bitz contributing two goals to the Bruins cause. Mike Loftus has Bitz showing a nose for the net. Barbara Matson has more on crowd favorite Bitz.

Dupont’s notebook has Michael Ryder returning to action for the Bruins. Conroy’s notebook has Ryder providing a boost for the offense with his return. Colageo’s notebook checks in with former Bruin Nick Boynton, who reflects on his time in Boston. Barth’s notebook says that it is probably not a coincidence that the offense struggled with Ryder out.

Red Sox

Searching for a story in the dog days of spring training, John Tomase says that we shouldn’t dismiss the idea that the Yankees could still swoop in and sign Manny Ramirez. Equally bored, Dan Shaughnessy checks in with Mike Lowell about the hurt the third baseman felt during the club’s pursuit of Mark Teixeira. Rob Bradford says that J.D. Drew is not about to let Boston change him. Joe McDonald says that newcomers find adjusting to the Red Sox clubhouse to be an easy process.

Sean McAdam has David Ortiz gearing up for the World Baseball Classic. Bob Hohler reports that a 2007 arrest of an Ortiz friend for identity theft was aided by MLB. Maureen Mullen has Papi getting his power back. McDonald has Ortiz taking aim at cars beyond the fence in batting practice.

McAdam has Josh Bard again trying to learn to catch the knuckleball of Tim Wakefield. Alex Speier says that Hideki Okajima could be with the Sox through 2012. Dan Lamothe goes through candidates for the title of most hated Red Sox player ever.

Tomase’s notebook has Ortiz putting on a show in batting practice. Benjamin’s notebook has more on Bard catching Wakefield.

Patriots

Karen Guregian says that Clay Matthews Jr looks like a good fit for the Patriots. Mike Reiss reports on Viking assistant Chad O’Shea appearing to be in line to be the new receivers coach for the Patriots. Christopher Price has more on O’Shea, who has only been with the Vikings for a month. Guregian has running back Fred Taylor meeting with the Patriots. Adam Smartschan has some notes from the combine. Chris Warner has more on day four of the combine.

The Celtics had no trouble at all with the Denver Nuggets last night, cruising to a 114-76 thrashing in the mile high city. Ray Allen had 26 points and Paul Pierce 22 in the win, which moved the Celtics to 3-1 on the current road trip.

Marc J. Spears has the Celtics feeling at home in Denver, and handing the Nuggets their second largest home loss ever in franchise history. Steve Bulpett has the Celtics coming into this one looking for payback for an earlier loss to the Nuggets.

Despite his agent saying last night that he hadn’t made a decision yet, it appears Mikki Moore will be joining the Celtics. Bulpett reports that Moore will take  a physical today and could play tomorrow night against the Clippers. He also says that when Moore signs, the team will no longer be leaving the “porch light” on for Joe Smith. Jessica Camerato looks at where the Celtics stand in the new East. Check CelticsLinks.com for more out-of-town stories and blog posts.

Spears’ notebook has additional information the potential addition of Moore today. Bulpett’s notebook has Brian Scalabrine having to leave the game last night after a hard foul from Johan Petro.

Red Sox

Gerry Callahan says that the Red Sox have moved on from Manny Ramirez. Now, if only nitwit sports radio hosts in the mornings, afternoons and (especially) the evenings could do the same…

John Tomase has Brad Penny getting as much advice as he can from John Smoltz. Joe Haggerty says Penny feels like he has something to prove this year. Maureen Mullen has Penny on track to start the season in the rotation for the Red Sox. Jeff Goldberg has Penny feeling 100%. Joe McDonald has Penny and Jonathan Papelbon getting their throwing in yesterday.

Dan Shaughnessy says that you’d like J.D. Drew if you’d just give him a chance. Lenny Megliola has Mike Lowell in a key role for the Red Sox.  Amalie Benjamin has Lars Anderson and other Red Sox youngsters soaking up all they can from the experienced big-leaguers. Joe McDonald has Chris Carter hoping to find a home with the Red Sox. He also has Johnny Pesky forecasting a bright future for Jacoby Ellsbury.

Tomase has Jon Lester pitching for the Jimmy Fund. McDonald has more on Lester’s role as chairman in the Rally Against Cancer this season.  SouthCoastToday.com has set up a bracket-style tournament of All-time Red Sox greats.  

Tomase’s notebook has the catchers in camp having a friendly competition. Benjamin’s notebook has more on Penny’s throwing session yesterday.

Bruins

Fluto Shinzawa has Peter Chiarelli looking to make a trade to strengthen his club. Mike Loftus has more on what the Bruins GM is looking for. Mick Colageo says that the recent slump by the Bruins isn’t changing Chiarelli’s focus.

Joe Donahue on the BSMW Power Play says that there is no reason for Bruins fans to panic. Stephen Harris has the Bruins starting a crucial homestand tonight.

Patriots

Mike Reiss has Tully Banta-Cain thrilled to be back with the Patriots. Chris Price runs down the top five storylines from the combine. Karen Guregian has more stories from the combine.  Chad Garner has BC’s Ron Brace thinking 1st round. Jim Donaldson says that Tom Brady’s declaration of this health won’t hurt the trade market for Matt Cassel.

PatriotsDaily.com has three combine updates from Chris Warner:

Combine Day One

Combine Day Two

Combine Day Three

Playing their first full game without Kevin Garnett yesterday, the Celtics got an offensive bump from point guard Rajon Rondo, who lit up two-time league MVP Steve Nash for a career high 32 points to go along with 10 assists in a 128-108 Celtics win in Phoenix. Ray Allen added 31 points for the green, who stepped up their running game in KG’s absence.

Frank Dell’Apa has the Celtics turning this one into a runaway in the final quarter. Steve Bulpett has Rondo celebrating his 23rd birthday in a unique way yesterday. Jessica Camerato has a revised version of the big three dominating the Suns.

Tim Weisberg wonders if Mikki Moore can help the Celtics. Check out blog links and out of town stories at CelticsLinks.com.

The Globe notebook has the Celtics offering a contract to center Mikki Moore, who was waived by the Kings  Feb. 19th. Bulpett’s notebook has Doc Rivers still concerned about getting Ray Allen and Paul Pierce their rest in Garnett’s absence.

Bruins

Fluto Shinzawa and Stephen Harris have the Bruins dropping another one, this time 4-3 to the Tampa Bay Lightning, in a game they should’ve won. Joe Haggerty has the Bruins showing progress in the loss.

Shinzawa’s notebook has the Bruins feeling the loss of Marco Sturm on the power play. Harris’ notebook has Phil Kessel finally breaking his scoring drought last night.

Patriots/Combine

Christopher Price has Bill Belichick talking at the combine about the changing nature of the NFL. Christopher L. Gasper has Belichick talking about his former co-workers spread around the league. There was only one guy he didn’t mention. (hint, his last name is Mangini.) Karen Guregian has more from Belichick, who didn’t want to talk about Matt Cassel and Tom Brady.

One subject that Belichick discussed was how veteran coaches like Mike Martz and Jim Haslett haven’t been able to find jobs yet and that he felt that they should be in the league. Ron Borges says that if Belichick thinks so highly of them, why hasn’t he given them a job? Especially Martz as the Patriots have an opening at offensive coordinator. Borges accuses Belichick of being cheap and putting Bill O’Brien in the play-calling role simply because it would cost much less than if the team hired Martz.

John Tomase has Randy Moss speaking on a number of topics, including his hopes for a reunion with Tom Brady this season. Gasper says that the Patriots might be interested in an Outside linebacker in this year’s draft. Price has a look at BC defensive tackle B.J. Raji who is expected to go high in the draft. John Connolly looks at the health of Northeastern tight end Brian Mandeville, who was sent home from the combine with a heart valve ailment and urged to retire by doctors.  Guregian’s notebook ponders how much Fred Taylor might have left in the tank.

Red Sox

Nick Cafardo says that  Takashi Saito could turn out to be a great signing for the Red Sox. Maureen Mullen has Michael Bowden hoping to stand out this spring. Jon Couture reviews the Yankee Years. Dan Lamothe has the heat getting turned on David Ortiz on the steroid issue. Haggerty has Jon Lester hoping to play his whole career in Boston.

Amalie Benjamin has Kevin Youkilis still getting in some time at third. Tomase looks at how Youkilis has developed the ability to hit for power as his career has gone on. Alex Speier has Jason Varitek looking at the future of Red Sox catching.

Tomase’s notebook has Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla talking about Dustin Pedroia.