Buchholz Impressive in Season Debut

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The Boston Red Sox opened up the 2nd half of the 09' season with one of the more interesting wins of the season. Why was this game so interesting? Well, it showcased the season debut of Clay Buchholz. The young righthander was just a third of an inning away from getting an official "Quality Start". He went 5 2/3 innings, allowing only 1 run on 4 hits. He did walk 3 while striking out 3 batters. By no means was he dominant, but there's no doubt he did pitch well, and deserves additional starts in the bigs. Unfortunately for him, it looks like he's headed directly back to Pawtucket.

The question I keep asking myself is, why did the Red Sox pitch Clay Buchholz tonight? In my mind, there are only two questions:

1. The Sox are showcasing Buchholz, especially to the Toronto Blue Jays, in the hopes of increasing his trade value.

2. The Sox want to see how he pitches at the big league level after spending the first half of the season dominating AAA batters.

If the Red Sox are looking to use Buchholz as trade bait, then they better get a top notch player in return. I'm talking either Roy Halladay or Victor Martinez. Of course it would take more, possibly much more, than Clay to get either player. I've said it all along that Buchholz would be the guy I use as trade bait. Not Michael Bowden, Not Justin Masterson and certainly not the closer of the future Daniel Bard. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not naive enough to think a MLB organization is going to decide to trade, or not trade, for Buchholz based on one start.

If the Red Sox wanted to see him at the big league level to determine if they could trade Brad Penny, than I think the answer is yes. He pitched well, and certainly could slot into the rotation for the remainder of the season if need be. The problem with trading Brad Penny is that the rate of return is so much less than for Buchholz. I guess we'll have to wait and see what the Sox are going to do.

Clay Buchholz's start was not the only story of the game, or day. Mike Lowell returned to the lineup and went 2 for 4 in his first game since June 27th. That is a positive sign for a team that needs depth at the corner infield positions. With the return of Lowell, and now Jed Lowrie, it looks like that depth has been shored up. Lowrie will see action at both shortstop and third base as he eases back into form. The final news of the day, was Sox designating Julio Lugo for assignment. This one must have hurt Theo Epstein. He fell in love years ago with the perpetually underachieving Lugo and now stands to lose the $13 million remaining on his contract. If lucky, Theo will be able to trade Lugo for a fringe prospect while assuming most, if not all, of the contract. If there's one knock on Theo Epstein, it's his penchant for falling in love with players and then signing them as a free agent for more money than they're worth. I see you there JD Drew.

Brace, Patriots get deal done

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Looks like Ron Brace doesn't have to worry about a contract anymore.

Brace, a 2nd-round draft pick (No. 40 overall) by the New England Patriots, signed a four-year deal, according to Christopher L. Gasper of the Boston Globe. 

Brace, a nose tackle out of Boston College, definitely adds more beef up front on the defensive line with his 6-foot-3, 330-pound frame.

In college, Brace was known for his physical play and relentless pursuit of the ball carrier. He's a guy that can't be moved by one player; he's a guy that commands a constant double team. 

Imagine the difficulties offenses will have if they have to try to block both Brace and starter Vince Wilfork?

With those two big bodies in front, good luck running into the teeth of the defense if they are paired side by side in goal-line or short-yardage situations.

Brace has the skill, desire and smarts to have a long and productive career in the NFL, not to mention a chance to win on a consistent basis with mastermind Bill Belichick leading the charge.

Fan Fanatic Sports would like to congratulate Brace on his new contact with the best franchise in professional football.

Tough Titan: Training Camp getting closer

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Nothing has really changed for Ryan Durand since last week.

He's still training, going to the gym and then heading home to relax.

Right now, there's no football on his plate.

But his mindset is going to change real soon and then it'll be football all the time, in hopes of making the Tennessee Titans as a 7th-round rookie draft pick.

"The last week before (he flies back to Tennessee for Training Camp which officially starts on July 31) I'll start thinking about it," said Durand, who played his college football at Syracuse University.

But Durand knows the time to turn on the football switch is right around the corner.

"I'm definitely trying to be in the best shape I can be in," he said. "I'm preparing for the worst and hoping for the best ... that's the way I always do it."

At his house, Durand has his football bible -- a notebook filled with information that he took down during team meetings. 

"I haven't looked at it too much," Durand said.

Inside that notebook are tips and the fine details of the plays he'll need to know about for his offensive line assignments.

"Those are the little details you have to know," Durand said.

The feeling of being drafted into the National Football League has obviously worn off the offensive guard, however.

"I'm very realistic with people and say, 'Yes, it's exciting but I haven't made the team yet,'" Durand said.

But Durand is already visualizing what will help him make the Titans.

"I'm going to go out every day and try to get better, try to show the coaches that I've got something to offer to keep me around," Durand said.

Regardless of where he goes, Durand always stays motivated because of that giant chip on his shoulder.

"Why change what got me here?," he said. "I guess that's the way I take on adversity. I take it on with a chip on my shoulder. That's the way I've always approached things."

Let's set the record straight on mid-majors

By Brendan Hall
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

All the hoopla about that Xavier kid dunking on LeBron has me thinking once again about this aberration I came across a while back.

Listen, I'm not taking a dig at Antonio Williams' credentials. When you've got experience scouting the NBA, you know what you're talking about when it comes to evaluating talent. Your words bear more merit than, say, chuckleheads like Skip Bayless or Jay Mariotti.

But where Williams, and a majority of the media, go wrong is in blanketly labeling any basketball team outside the six "power" conferences as a "mid-major". If anything, the fact that a kid from Xavier dunked on LeBron should show the masses that Xavier is a Top 25 program. Just look at their last three coaches -- Skip Prosser (1994-2001), Thad Matta (01-04) and Sean Miller (04-09) -- and remember that this team has been to two Elite Eights and three Sweet Sixteens since 2004. This is a program.

Yet some refuse to classify them as so, chalking it up to rolls of the dice and "good coaching". I fear Memphis will now be shed in a similar light, despite having one of the best young basketball minds in Josh Pastner.

The use of the term "mid-major" can be maddening, because its perspective is different amongst the eye of each beholder. Some people get it right, and count many basketball schools amongst its "major" category. Historically, because of such limited roster spots, basketball offers the most parity of any of the four major college sports. Many talented players slip through the cracks for reasons unknown -- see Elgin Baylor, Nate Archibald, Earl Monroe, Bill Bradley, etc.

Other writers -- primarily, the ones working for recruiting services -- seem to think any school not in one of the six BCS conferences is squabbling amongst the commonfolk for breadcrumbs. These are also the same people who think Alex Oriakhi is from New Hampshire, and every BC High kid lives in Dorchester.

Two years ago, when Rivals.com sent a mid-season award trophy to Xavier's athletic department for being the "best mid-major school", XU promptly refused to accept it. And rightfully so. How can you call Xavier, which has sent nine guys to the NBA in the last 15 years, a mid-major; and South Florida -- which might be one of the ten worst programs in Division 1 -- a high-major, strictly because they play in the Big East and XU is in the A-10?

South Florida might be the Dubai of college athletics (scrap of the Earth a decade ago, Deity in 2009), but they still out and out tank in basketball. You can make the same case about other "power conference" schools who haven't made a dent since the Clinton presidency.

I have a novel suggestion. If you have demonstrated a consistently competitive team at a high level, like Gonzaga or Memphis, then you are not a mid-major. If you’ve competed for a national title in the last 25 years, despite playing in a terrible conference – see: Louisville circa 1980’s, UNLV and Utah in the 90’s – and you haven't gone to shambles, then you’re still a high-major. Period. I don’t care if you play in Mid-Wach D. I actually have a whole argument on why the A-10 is not a mid-major, but that’s for a different day. Right now, let's set the record straight on mid-majors.

The following are examples of what AREN'T "mid-majors": Gonzaga, UNLV, Xavier, Memphis, BYU, Fresno State, Houston, UAB, Dayton, Utah, UMass, UTEP, New Mexico, George Washington, Rhode Island, Nevada, Saint Louis, Charlotte.

The following are examples of what ARE "mid-majors": Central Florida, George Mason, Rice, Davidson, Winthrop, Boston University, Southern Miss, New Mexico St., Siena, Manhattan, Oral Roberts, Butler, Creighton, Drake, Pacific, Wichita St., Holy Cross.

The following ought to be considered "mid-majors", because they are run like one: DePaul, Rutgers, St. John’s, Georgia, Northwestern, Nebraska.

Get the idea?

As for South Florida...the Bulls have made some splashes on the recruiting trail in the Northeast (see: South Kent), but the jury's still out.

I, for one, am not sold. Not until somebody dunks on Vince Carter.

Bicycle Frauds Hit the Streets

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's the middle of the summer and that means the Tour De France is currently in progress. No one really cares, and but that's not why I bring it up. I am writing a very short blog because the Tour De France brings out the biggest frauds of the year.

Have you noticed all the out of shape guys with skin tight spandex on the road with their bikes the past few weeks? I have, and can't stand having to slow down and move over while their bloated bodies pretend they're bike enthusiasts. This is the ONLY time they dust their bikes off and actually hit the road. As if it's not bad enough we have to pretend Lance Armstrong and every other bicyclist isn't cheating, we have to inconvenienced by these two week wannabes.

Ah, I feel much better for now. My doctor does say I need to express myself and my anger a little better.

Enjoy the race, Frauds!

Advantage American League ... again!!!

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

What a great All-Star Game.

The best and brightest stars came out and put on a show -- some clutch hitting, great pitching and exceptional defense (Carl Crawford robbing a homer in left field was just amazing!).

And to top it off the American League, with another All-Star Game win, secured home-field advantage in the World Series.

Nice! 

Especially if you're an American League fan who roots for the Red Sox, Yankees or Rays -- just a few teams who actually have a shot at winning the whole thing.

But I'm still confused as to why people still want to complain about the All-Star Game, a game now that puts an emphasis on winning and rewards the team with home-field advantage in the World Series.

What's the big deal with that? Every other All-Star game --football, basketball, hockey, etc. -- is just a goof-around session which is done to simply entertain. There's no defense played in any one of those other games, but in baseball there's no taking it easy. The managers manage to win the game and what's so bad about that?

Do you like the All-Star Game format, rewarding the winning league with home-field advantage in the World Series? Or what do you think should be done?

Go ahead, let me hear you!

Competition for WEEI? I am already a 98.5 Sports Hub Fan!

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

There was a gigantic shake up in the radio community of Boston yesterday. Without getting too much into the details, it looks like the radio frequency of 98.5 will become The Sports Hub. This will signify the very first FM Sports Talk radio station in Boston.

It's hard to say if this new station can take on the 800 guerrilla in the city, hello 850 WEEI, but it's good to see someone try. I am very happy The Toucher & Rich Show will be moving from the soon to be defunct WBCN to the 6-10 AM slot of The Sports Hub. I can't wait to listen to T&R without the disruption of music. The problem is who will be manning the station the rest of the day? I can't wait to listen to T&R without the disruption of music.

Well it looks like Mike Felger and Gary Tangauy will be hosting their own shows as well. I am a HUGE Felger fan, and have been hoping he got his own show on WEEI. He was the fill in co host of the Dennis & Callahan show last week and I loved every minute of it. He's a guy who's not afraid of ticking people off, and is a born contrarian like me. It looks like Felgy will be going head to head with The Big Show, which is barely listenable thanks in part to Glenn Ordway and Pete Shepherd. OK, enough of the Felger love show.

As for Tanguay, I don't watch CSN much, so I can't say anything about him. It looks like he'll be manning the midday show against Dale & Holley. I have to say that I am very much looking forward to this station. I can't wait and hope it does well. Of course, I will be doing my best to get this website associated with "The Sports Hub".

Potential Lineup:

Morning Drive - Toucher & Rich

Midday - Gary Tanguay

Afternoon Drive - Michael Felger

What do you think? Will you give the new sportstalk station a chance?

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