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Sox Booth is an insiders’ look at the Boston Red Sox brought to you by the people who travel, speak, and interact with the players on an everyday basis. Sox Booth will give you perspective and insight that you won’t find anywhere else, including exclusive pre- and post-game audio, Q&A sessions with the Sox Broadcasters, twitter feeds, opinion blogs, and analysis of the day-to-day developments surrounding the Red Sox and Major League Baseball. We would love to hear from you, so send us an email at soxbooth@weei.com.
Quick Hits
September 30, 2009 at 2:16 am ET
Playoffs? Yes, Please!!!
By Jon "Bernie" Albanese

The Rangers JUST lost to the Angels 5-2, sealing the Red Sox’ spot in the 2009 MLB Playoffs!  Some of the Red Sox players have decided to come back to the clubhouse to celebrate…here’s the audio from the late-night festivities:

 1am 9/30/09 Mike Lowell Post-Clinch Wild Card Sound

1am 9/30/09 Dustin Pedroia Post-Clinch Wild Card Sound

1am 9/30/09 Jason Bay Post-Clinch Wild Card Sound

1am 9/30/09 Tim Wakefield #1 - showing our character

1am 9/30/09 Tim Wakefield #2 - organization-improved team

1am 9/30/09 Tim Wakefield #3 - this never gets old.

 

Just over a month ago, someone who emailed Sox Booth invited the guys to visit their home state of South Dakota.  I decided to get them more information by applying for a South Dakota visitor’s guide.  A few days ago, guess what came in the mail??

Look, we're going to go somewhere...

Look, we're going to go somewhere...

...right THERE in South Dakota!!

...right THERE in South Dakota!!

 

Now, let’s go get that World Series!!

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September 27, 2009 at 12:36 pm ET
It’s time for the Switch!
By Jon Rish

We here at Red Sox Radio have been looking forward to this for quite some time. In the 2nd inning Dave O’Brien will be heading next door to join John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman will slide over to call the 2nd with Joe Castiglione. We’re still trying to figure out who gets the better end of the deal. Stay tuned!

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September 16, 2009 at 4:55 pm ET
Japan’s “Knuckleball Princess”
By Jon "Bernie" Albanese

Picture being a kid… growing up watching baseball and playing little league, having dreams of one day pitching in the big leagues.  Very few people get to say that they fulfill this dream.  Let me introduce you to a very special ball player, who did just that.

Meet 17 year old Eri Yoshida, Japan’s first female professional baseball player to play in a men’s league.   Growing up in Yokahoma,  Eri began playing “rubber ball baseball” in second grade. She continued playing into junior high, where she played at first base. Eri started playing hardball in high school where she got so good, pro scouts took notice.  After working hard and perfecting her sidearm knuckleball delivery, The “Kobe 9 Cruise” of the Kansai Independent League drafted Eri as the 7th round draft pick (out of 27 total players).

In March of this year, Eri made her pro baseball debut at the Kyosera Dome in Osaka, where she was brought in during the ninth. She walked her first batter, then struck out the next she faced.  Not a bad way to open up a pro ball career.

eri-chan

Ed Demling (pictured above with Eri) met up with Joe Castiglione in Japan during the ‘08 Red Sox season opening series vs. the A’s.  Born in Boston and growing up in Easton, MA, he has been working as a translator/interpreter in Japan for over 10 years.  He is working on Eri’s first trip to Fenway Park, where Eri hopes to meet her inspiration, Tim Wakefield.  In the meantime, Ed caught up with Eri at a recent Kobe 9 Cruise game at Skymark Stadium…below is the audio of that interview (translated by Ed Demling, English voice of Eri provided by Rei Hashimoto).

Eri “Knuckleball Princess” Yoshida Interview

I’m sure that Eri has already inspired many in Japan to go after their dreams.  Eri is a star in Japan… and I hope that Red Sox Nation is now aware of the Knuckleball Princess.  Keep it up, Eri!

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Full Count Blog
Red Sox claim former Mariners pitcher
November 20, 2009 2:37pm
The Red Sox have claimed right-handed pitcher Robert Manuel off waivers from the Seattle Mariners, putting their 40-man roster at 32 players. The deadline for setting teams’ 40-man rosters is at midnight Friday. The Sox aren’t expected to make any more additions before the deadline. Manuel, 26, made his Major League debut with the Cincinnati Reds [...]
Chasing Jason Bay
November 20, 2009 2:10pm
Now that the exclusive negotiating period has come and gone for the Red Sox, the reality of who will be bidding for Jason Bay’s services starts to get clearer. Before we get to those teams who are, and aren’t, interested in entering the fray, one thing that should be noted as this process unfolds is that [...]
Lucchino: ‘We’d love to have [Bay] back’
November 19, 2009 4:55pm
Speaking at an event to honor Red Sox principal owner John Henry, who received the Woodrow Wilson Award for corporate sponsorship, team president/CEO Larry Lucchino expressed his organization’s desire to re-sign Jason Bay. “Very much so,” Lucchino said when asked if the Red Sox wanted the outfielder back. “We’d love to have him back. He’s in [...]
Report: Giants not likely to pursue Bay
November 19, 2009 4:47pm
According to report from the San Francisco Chronicle, Giants’ general manager Brian Sabean said that his team isn’t likely to pursue premier free agent outfielders Jason Bay or Matt Holliday. The Giants were thought to be one of the teams who would be making a play for Bay’s services. Henry Schulman writes in his blog entry: [...]
Curt Schilling on The Big Show: Never Count Out the Yankees
November 19, 2009 2:21pm
Former Boston Red Sox Curt Schilling appeared on The Big Show on Thursday afternoon to discuss the futures of Jason Bay, Adrian Gonzalez, Alex Gonzalez and other Red Sox news. If you happened to miss the interview, simply visit the Big Show audio on demand page after the show. Here are some highlights from the [...]
WEEI.com Red Sox Articles
The Pitch: The Case Jason Bay's Agent Is Making To MLB Teams
November 13, 2009 6:11pm

Jason Bay’s agent did not attend the GM Meetings in Chicago this week. No need.<>

Joe Urbon, who is the free-agent outfielder’s representative with CAA, had already had enough constructive conversations with major-league clubs about their interest in his client, and about Bay’s potential value to them, that a trip to the Windy City was unnecessary.<>

Three Men Who Could Help Shape the Red Sox' Offseason
November 11, 2009 4:57am

Jed Hoyer has moved on to San Diego, but the GM could still have a big impact on the Red Sox' fortunes. (AP)CHICAGO — Theo Epstein issued the first defining words of the offseason in a secluded corner of the downstairs lobby at the O’Hare International Airport Hilton Tuesday.<>

The Day the Red Sox' World Started To Change
November 10, 2009 1:07am

Jason Varitek will have to accept a reduced role and a reduced salary to stay with the Sox. (AP)CHICAGO — The lobby-standing was all too familiar. Other elements in the initial day of the general managers meetings at the O’Hare International Airport Hilton, however, offered a reminder that times are a changing.<>

Why Adrian Gonzalez May Remain Off Limits to Sox
November 8, 2009 11:52pm

Adrian Gonzalez would seem to be a great fit in Boston, but don't expect to see him here anytime soon. (AP)The line of thinking seemed natural. <> <>

For the Sox, Hermida a Lottery Ticket Worth Playing
November 5, 2009 11:41pm

Jeremy Hermida now hopes to fulfill his potential in a Red Sox uniform. (AP)To the Marlins, Jeremy Hermida’s 2009 disappointment rendered the outfielder an unaffordable luxury.<>

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