The Official Boston Sports Thread

It was reported today that the Patriots have re-signed FB Heath Evans to a two-year contract with financial terms not immediately disclosed. Evans was due to become a free agent on March 2.

 

In Bruins news, the team has agreed to a multi-year extension with LW Marco Sturm. By team policy, the terms of the deal were not disclosed. Sturm, acquired from the San Jose Sharks last season in the Joe Thornton trade, has scored 20 goals and registered 11 assists in 54 games this season.

Also, RW Glen Murray was placed on injured reserve with a groin injury, and G Joey MacDonald was claimed off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings.

 

The BC men's basketball team ended the three-game losing streak that knocked them out of first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference today with a 59-54 win at Conte Forum over the Clemson Tigers. Jared Dudley recorded a double-double (23 points, 11 rebounds) to lead the Eagles, and Sean Marshall and Tyrese Rice added 18 and 14 points respectively to account for all but 4 of the points the team scored. Being the final home game of the season, seniors Dudley, Marshall, and reserve guard Tyler Neville were honored in the Senior Day ceremony before the game. The Eagles end the regular season a week from tomorrow afternoon at Georgia Tech.

 

Things could get very interesting at the Sox' minor league complex in Ft. Myers tomorrow, as coach Brad Mills told the Herald's Jeff Horrigan that Daisuke Matsuzaka could pitch batting practice to a group consisting of Wily Mo Peña, Julio Lugo...and "Big Papi" himself, David Ortiz. Stay tuned!

 

In what came as a surprise to all in Ft. Myers, Manny Ramirez showed up at the Sox' minor league complex early this morning, three days earlier than what was previously announced. He was due to have his physical later this morning, but it was not known if he would participate in today's workout.

 

Daisuke Matsuzaka had his second session of spring training against live hitters today and, as had been suggested yesterday, he faced David Ortiz, Wily Mo Peña, and Julio Lugo, as well as Manny Ramirez (who had arrived @ spring training just this morning), Alex Ochoa, Alex Cora, and Dustin Pedroia. Dice-K threw 54 pitches (including a couple of pitchouts), and the only shot resembling a hit was a solid grounder between first base and second base by "Big Papi" (which the Globe's Gordon Edes said would've probably been an out had the overshift been on). Ramirez looked at 3 pitches but did not swing at any (Edes suggested that Ramirez, as often happens in batting practice, was merely tracking the pitches instead of trying to hit them). Matsuzaka was occasionally high on some pitches, but the hitters were generally impressed with his movement and velocity. Doug Mirabelli caught the session. A beaming Dice-K left the mound after pitching to Ochoa to a round of applause, during which Jason Varitek, who was sitting on a water cooler at the time, stood up and waved to the crowd as though the applause was for him, cracking up Matsuzaka.

 

The Red Sox have released their starting lineup for tomorrow night's Grapefruit League opener at City of Palms Park against the Minnesota Twins:

1. Julio Lugo, SS
2. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Jason Varitek, C
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. Wily Mo Peña, RF
7. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
8. David Murphy, LF
9. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF

Starting Pitcher: Curt Schilling

 

On the day of the NHL's trading deadline, the Bruins made a couple of deals, first sending D Paul Mara to the New York Rangers for D Aaron Ward, then acquiring D Dennis Wideman from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for RW Brad Boyes.

 

I'm so glad that baseball is finally back! I hate the period in between the football and baseball seasons. The thing I'm looking forward to the most is seeing Dice-K pitch. I haven't caught any of the news footage of him but I've heard some of the players who faced him in BP talk about him and they all said that he was lights out!

 

Massachusetts native Bill O'Brien, who has spent the last 2 seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Duke University, has been hired by the Patriots as an offensive assistant.

 

Last night's spring training opener against the Twins ended in a 4-4 tie after 10 innings, but, other than a 3-run homer that Julian Tavarez gave up to Joe Mauer, the pitching looked pretty good. Curt Schilling was his efficient self, needing only 19 pitches to get through 2 innings of work, and the only other run given up was an unearned run by Joel Piniero. Defensively, Alex Ochoa, playing right field, threw a couple of runners out, one trying to stretch a single to a double, and one trying to score on a sacrifice fly. Offensively, Jacoby Ellsbury had a 2-run single with the bases loaded.

 

In Celtics news, the team announced that Wally Sczerbiak will have season-ending surgery on his problematic left ankle.

 

In Patriots news, the team has offered CB Randall Gay, a restricted free agent this year, a one-year, $1.3M contract. This is a second-round tender contract, which is a feature of the new collective bargaining agreement, meaning any team wishing to sign Gay must surrender a second-round draft pick to the Patriots if the Patriots decide not to match the offer. This is a smart move by the Patriots, as giving Gay a low-tender offer would've essentially made Gay an unrestricted free agent, as Gay came into the league as an undrafted free agent (compensation for a low-tender player matches the round the player was originally drafted in).

 

As expected, on the first day of free agency in the NFL, the Patriots released RB Corey Dillon, and the current rumor has the New York Jets trying to land him.

TE Daniel Graham was due to meet with Denver Broncos officials today, and ESPN Radio reported that the two sides had reached a deal, but Graham's representatives told the Herald's John Tomase that they hadn't even discussed numbers with the Broncos...welcome to free agency in the NFL, where one outlet's report leads to a denial in another's!

The Patriots officially re-signed FB Heath Evans and OL Billy Yates, who was to become a restricted free agent before agreeing to the extension with the Patriots.

 

Daisuke Matsuzaka was greeted by a solid double down the left field line by Boston College right fielder Johnny Ayers (who also happens to be the punter on the football team), but then settled down to pitch 2 scoreless innings, allowing just the one hit and striking out 3 while not walking anybody. Dice-K threw 19 of 25 pitches for strikes, and his breaking stuff looked strong in the outing. The Red Sox won the 7-inning game 9-1.

The Patriots, according to multiple reports, appear about ready to make a big splash in the free agent market by signing one of the best defensive players available, Baltimore Ravens LB Adalius Thomas, who recorded 11 sacks and 64 tackles last season on one of the best defenses in the NFL. The 6'2", 270 lb. Thomas is listed as an outside linebacker, but has the versatility to play inside, and even play end in a 4-3 set, while having the agility to cover running backs and tight ends in the passing game, which would shore up a weakness that was exposed in the AFC Championship Game against the Colts. Thomas was due to visit Gillette Stadium today, and a deal could be finalized as soon as the end of the weekend.

 

Reports on the two major Boston newspaper sites now have the Adalius Thomas deal as done (undisclosed contract, though the Patriots plan to issue a statement later), and also report that the Patriots have signed TE Kyle Brady (2 years, $5.3M, $2M signing bonus) as well as RB Sammy Morris (undisclosed). A rumor posted by Mike Reiss @ Boston.com has the Patriots now setting their sights on Miami Dolphins restricted free agent WR Wes Welker, who was given a second-round tender offer by the Dolphins on the eve of free agency.

 

Follow-up on yesterday's free agent frenzy:

The NFL Network reported Adalius Thomas' deal as 5 years, $37.5M, with $24M of that due in the first 3 years. EDIT...for a look at what A.T. is capable of, check out this fan-made "highlight reel" on Google Video (set to Crossfade's "Cold").

Miami Dolphins restricted free agent WR Wes Welker has reportedly been offered 7 years, $38M, and the offer may contain a "poison pill". Welker was reportedly due to visit Foxboro today, and could sign the offer sheet by the end of the day.

 

The Boston College men's basketball team, after a 74-60 loss @ Georgia Tech to end the regular season today, is the #4 seed in this week's ACC Tournament in Tampa and will play on Friday afternoon against the winner of Wednesday's game between Maryland and Miami.

Selection Sunday, the announcement of the 65-team field for the NCAA tournament, is one week from tonight.

 

The Patriots are now involved in a hot rumor around Oakland Raiders "problem child" WR Randy Moss...stay tuned!

In other Patriots news, LB Don Davis has announced his retirement.

SI's Peter King has posted the full details of Adalius Thomas' contract. It includes a $12M signing bonus, an $8M option bonus due in '08 but applied for cap reasons in equal $2M amounts over the final 4 years, a $900K base salary for '07, and $107K annually if he participates in the Patriots' offseason conditioning program. His cap number will be $3.4M for this season.

 

SI's Peter King is reporting that the Patriots have agreed to a deal to acquire WR Wes Welker from the Miami Dolphins for draft picks in the second and seventh rounds. It is likely that the Patriots already have a long-term deal worked out with Welker, although it hasn't been announced yet, and it is now likely that it will be less than the 7 years, $38M that was in the reported proposed offer sheet.

 

Missed this from the Globe yesterday, but Mike Reiss reported that LB Tedy Bruschi will be back in 2007 for his 12th season.

 

Adam Schefter of the NFL Network reports that WR Wes Welker will receive a 5-year, $18.1M contract that includes $9M in guaranteed money, and that the Patriots were scheduled to meet with Philadelphia Eagles free agent WR Donte' Stallworth. Stallworth may be another potential "problem child", however, as Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that Stallworth has entered the NFL's substance-abuse program.

An update on the Red Sox will come later in the day, as Daisuke Matsuzaka is due to start today's game in Jupiter, FL against the Florida Marlins, which will be his first contest of the spring facing major-league hitters.

In Celtics news, Al Jefferson was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging 23.5 points and 14.5 rebounds per game last week.

In BC basketball news, Jared Dudley was named to the All-ACC first team. In another area college basketball story, UMass forward Stephane Lasme was named Player of the Year in the Atlantic 10 conference.

 

Daisuke Matsuzaka ran into trouble in the second inning of today's game against the Marlins by walking Joe Borchard and giving up a ground-rule double to John Gall with 2 out, but got out of it by striking out Scott Seabol to end the inning. All told, Dice-K gave up 2 hits (the other coming in the first inning on a Dan Uggla single) and just the lone walk while striking out 3 in his 3 innings of work. He threw 47 pitches in the outing, 31 of them for strikes. The Sox wound up winning the game 14-6 in 10 innings. Dice-K's next start is due on Sunday at City of Palms Park against the division rival Baltimore Orioles.

In Patriots news, free agent LB Tully Banta-Cain has signed with the San Francisco 49ers. Also, the Patriots have re-signed special teams captain LB Larry Izzo.

In BC basketball news, senior forward Jared Dudley was named the Atlantic Coast Conference's Player of the Year.

 

Minor-league shortstop Ed Rogers hit a walk-off grand slam off of New York Mets reliever Ambiorix Burgos to give the Red Sox a 9-5 spring training win today at City of Palms Park.

In Patriots news, TE Daniel Graham has signed a 5-year, $30M contract with the Denver Broncos.

 

According to the Boston Globe's Names column, quoting a Brazilian site, Patriots QB Tom Brady has a regular "Babygate" brewing, as it now appears that Brady's current galpal, Gisele Bundchen, is also pregnant by him.