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UConn Football links

DC's still answering questions in his mailbag [Desmond Conner - Hartford Courant]

UConn staying put in Big East, guess so [Lee Lewis - The Republican-American]

UConn to learn from USC process [Mike Anthony - Hartford Courant]

UConn staff hiring process [Mike Anthony - Hartford Courant]

Jim Calhoun recognized by Connecticut Bar Association [Mike Anthony - Hartford Courant]

Jim Calhoun at Middletown Price Chopper Tuesday [Mike Anthony - Hartford Courant]

Meet Roscoe Smith [UConn Huskies Basketball]

UConn men closing in on hires [CT Post]

Destination Red Sox Nation is our look at how the minor league teams of the Boston Red Sox fare each night. Game story and box score links as well as links to team rosters, team stats and league standings are after the jump.

With the Boston Red Sox taking three players with ties to LSU in the MLB Draft last week, I decided to reach out to Kris over at Saturday Night Slant to get his take on them.

So before we get to Kris' thoughts on Anthony Ranuado, Garin Cecchini and Lucas LeBlanc, I just like to thank him for him for his time.

In last week's Major League Baseball amateur draft, the Red Sox selected three players with ties to LSU. I'm glad to help out Sox and Dawgs with my take on these three players.

The first Tiger selected was right hander Anthony Ranaudo who was selected in the first compensation round with the 39th overall pick. Ranaudo enjoyed a dominant sophomore campaign going 12-3 with a 3.04 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 124.1 innings pitched. Following that season, many projected Ranaudo to be a Top five pick in the 2010 draft. He was set to be the rock of LSU's pitching staff and a team leader. However, 2010 did not go as planned. Very early in the season, Ranaudo complained of elbow soreness in his right elbow. LSU was very cautious with him, working him slowly back into action. However upon his return, he could never regain his 2009 form. Finally at the end of the season, especially in the SEC Tournament, Ranaudo looked like his old self.

Ranaudo is your classic power pitcher. He throws very hard with a fastball in the mid 90s, and he also throws a very nice curve that can be an out pitch. He has struggled at times with his control throughout his career. Standing 6'7", he often has trouble getting the ball down in the strike zone. He is a rhythm pitcher that really competes on the mound. When he's in his rhythm, he can be un-hittable. Ranaudo still has the same stuff that caused many to project him as one of the top picks in the draft. It's just a matter of consistency for him. I think the Red Sox got a tremendous value pick with Ranaudo at #39 overall.

In the fourth round, the Sox selected infielder Garin Cecchini from Barbe High School in Lake Charles, LA. Cecchini has signed a letter of intent to play at LSU. Cecchini is listed in some places as a shortstop, but he projects much better as a corner infielder, probably at third base. He has the power to be a legit corner infield prospect.

He injured his knee this spring and missed several months. Without that injury, he may have been drafted even higher. It sounds like he is going to play summer ball prior to negotiating with Boston, and that might impact what they offer him. It also delays negotiations until August, so they'll have to come to an agreement quickly. Obviously, my readers hope that Cecchini never suits up for the Red Sox but instead shows up to Baton Rouge this fall. He reportedly has a high asking price but if forced to guess, I'd say that Cecchini will sign.

The Red Sox took another LSU signee in outfielder Lucas Leblanc in the 11th round out of Delgado Community College. The athletic outfielder stands 6'3" 200 pounds. He hit .420 with 17 doubles, 7 triples, and 11 homers and 67 RBIs in 57 games for Delgado this season. At LSU, Leblanc could slide right into a starting outfield spot if he shows up. At his draft position, most LSU folks consider Leblanc to be a coin flip to sign with Boston.

Tuesday, June 15^th @ 7:10 PM

Ian Kennedy, RHP (3-3, 3.17) vs Clay Buchholz, RHP (8-4, 2.52)

TV: NESN,  MLB.tv

Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Game Day Audio

Wednesday, June 16^th @ 7:10 PM

Rodrigo Lopez, RHP (2-5, 4.45) vs Jon Lester, LHP (7-2, 3.18)

TV: NESN, MLB.tv

Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Game Day Audio

Thursday, June 17^th @ 6:10 PM

Dan Haren, RHP (7-4, 4.61) vs John Lackey, RHP (7-3, 4.54)

TV: NESN, MLB.tv

Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Game Day Audio

Unless a major miracle occurs, it's quite likely that we won't be seeing any Boston Red Sox players in the starting lineup at the 2010 MLB All-Star Game in Anaheim on July 13th.

With the latest totals coming out today, we only find Dustin Pedroia near the top in voting at second base and he trails Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees by roughly 800,000 votes. Last week, Pedroia trailed Cano by around 568,000 votes.

First baseman Kevin Youkilis is in 4th place and trails leader Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins by roughly 760,000 votes. Third baseman Adrian Beltre is in 4th as well and is around 1.5 million votes behind Evan Longoria. Catcher Victor Martinez is in 3rd but has no chance of catching leader Joe Mauer of the Twins as he is 1.65 million votes behind. Same goes for designated hitter David Ortiz, who sits in 4th, as he trails leader Vladimir Guerrero of the Texas Rangers by 1.2 million votes

None of the Red Sox outfielders are in the top 15 of the voting.

So fans of Red Sox Nation, it's time to vote Red Sox across the 2010 MLB All-Star Game Ballot. You're allowed 25 votes per email address so go to yahoo or gmail and make multiple emails up and then vote. Let's make a push to get at least one Red Sox starter in the All-Star Game.

A full look at the voting totals after the jump.

There was plenty of buzz around Fenway Park on Sunday afternoon especially with Daniel Nava's historic grand slam on Saturday. And to top it off, the Boston Red Sox were looking for a three-game sweep of the struggling Philadelphia Phillies.

But the Red Sox ran into Cole Hamels who's had good success against them in his career and earlier this season. Hamels was strong for seven innings as he used his nasty cutter to keep the Red Sox hitters at bay. The only run they were able to get off of Hamels came off the bat of Adrian Beltre, who belted a solo shot into the Green Monster.

This season has been a strange one for Tim Wakefield. He started in the rotation, then was sent to the bullpen, but injuries to Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka have him back in the rotation. For the most part when he's in the rotation he's pitched well but when it goes bad for him, it's usually just one bad inning that does him in.

And that's exactly what happened to Wake on Sunday afternoon.

Although he allowed the Phillies to load the bases in the 1st inning with no outs, he was able to work himself out of that jam. His problem inning though was the 4th inning when the Phillies broke open the game with four runs.

After striking out Chase Utley, he gave up a double to Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth followed an RBI single. A few moments later, Werth was crossing home plate on a home run off the bat of Raul Ibanez. Another double, this time by Ben Francisco, and an RBI single by Juan Castro followed as the scoreboard now read Phillies 4 Red Sox 1.

The Red Sox rallied for two runs in the 9th but it wasn't enough as Brad Lidge was able to close it.

And oh by the way, Wakefield joined another exclusive club on Sunday afternoon. With his 7 1/3 innings, he moved past 3,000 innings pitched in his career, making him just the third active pitcher to do it. Jaime Moyer of the Phillies and Andy Pettitte of the New York Yankees are the others.

The Red Sox are off today and return to action tomorrow night when the Arizona Diamondbacks come to the Fens for a three-game set. Clay Buchholz will toe the rubber for the Red Sox and he'll be opposed by Ian Kennedy.

For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal and WEEI websites.

And if you must check out the enemy papers, head over to the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Inquirer websites.

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UConn Football links

DC answered a few questions in his mailbag [Desmond Conner - Hartford Courant]

UConn Women's Basketball links

Rebecca Lobo and Geno Auriemma From Hall of Fame Induction [John Altavilla - Hartford Courant]

Under-18 National Team roster finalized [Jim Fuller - New Haven Register]

Destination Red Sox Nation is our look at how the minor league teams of the Boston Red Sox fare each night. Game story and box score links as well as links to team rosters, team stats and league standings are after the jump.

Philadelphia Phillies @ Boston Red Sox 1:35 p.m. Fenway Park – Boston, MA SP: Joe Blanton vs Daisuke Matsuzaka TV: NESN, MLB.tv Radio: Red Sox Radio Network

Afternoon Red Sox Delight - 6/13 [SOX & Dawgs]

After Daniel Nava made history yesterday afternoon, the Boston Red Sox will look for the sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies at Fenway Park this afternoon.

This afternoon's game will start at 1:35 p.m. and will be shown on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Phillies television market, you can catch the game on myPHL17. If you can't catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2010 Red Sox radio network.

With Daisuke Matsuzaka being scratched late from his start yesterday, skipper Terry Francona will need his veteran Tim Wakefield to eat some innings this afternoon on the bump. In 13 games (nine starts) in 2010, Wake is 2-4 with a 5.48 ERA. Wake has made one start against the Phillies this season, picking up the win after throwing eight scoreless innings back on 5/23. He's made ten appearances (eight starts) against the Phillies in his career and is 4-1 with a 2.68 ERA and one save.

Cole Hamels has made 12 starts for the Phillies this season and sports a 5-5 record with a 3.98 ERA. He's made one start against the Red Sox this season, picking up the win back on 5/21 when he allowed one run over seven innings.  He's made just two career interleague starts against the Red Sox and is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA. He's never faced the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Keep reading for lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and pregame links.