R.A. Dickey silences Red Sox's bats, Blue Jays avoid sweep

The Boston Red Sox were no match for R.A. Dickey’s signature knuckleball on Sunday at the Rogers Centre.

Dickey surrendered just one run off five hits in 6 1/3 innings of work as the Toronto Blue Jays pummeled the Red Sox, 7-1, to avoid a three-game sweep. He retired the first five batters of the game and had a streak of 10 straight outs later in the contest. On the day that Dickey bobbleheads were given out to fans in attendance, the right-hander was able to make the Red Sox’s batters bobble at the place, striking out six in a dominant performance.

Jon Lester was a hard-luck loser, pitching seven strong innings of four-run baseball. The Red Sox’s bullpen imploded in the bottom of the eighth. Andrew Miller allowed three runs in just 2/3 inning, giving the Blue Jays plenty of insurance to close the game out.

A lack of run support for Lester has been banal in the 2014 season. The Red Sox have scored a mere 13 runs in six starts by Lester. The southpaw has posted a solid 3.10 ERA on the young season, but has a mediocre 2-4 record to show for his efforts.

The Red Sox could have climbed back to the .500 mark had they defeated Blue Jays. With a loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday, the Red Sox are now 0-6 in games that would have evened their record on the year. 

Mike Napoli Dislocates Finger; Red Sox Drop Series Opener in Chicago

Mike Napoli cringes on second base as he looks at his dislocated finger. (NESN screenshot, via Boston.com)

When it rains, it pours for the Boston Red Sox on the injury front.

The Red Sox entered Tuesday’s series opener against the White Sox in Chicago with Shane Victorino and Will Middlebrooks already on the 15-day disabled list. Dustin Pedroia (wrist) and Koji Uehara (shoulder) have been nursing injuries of their own.

Mike Napoli became the latest starter to fall victim to the injury bug, jamming his left finger into the second base bag after recording his first stolen base of the year. Napoli, the team leader in home runs (3) and RBI (9), was pinch-run for by Pedroia, who was not expected to return to game action until Wednesday.

Replays showed Napoli’s ringer finger out of place, forcing the slugger out of the game as Mike Carp took over the duties at first base. The Red Sox announced that Napoli suffered a dislocated finger, but X-Rays were negative.

The White Sox went off to win in dramatic fashion, scoring the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth via a throwing error by Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts to walk off with a 2-1 victory in front of their home crowd. 

Koji Uehara Expected Back for Series Against White Sox

Koji Uehara was unavailable to pitch against the New York Yankees, but the closer is likely to be ready for the series against the Chicago White Sox. (Bob DeChiara/ USA Today Sports)

After being sidelined for the four-game series over the weekend in the Bronx against the New York Yankees with shoulder soreness, Koji Uehara is expected to rejoin the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday for the start of their three-game set against the Chicago White Sox.

Uehara underwent an MRI on Monday at Massachusetts General Hospital that revealed no structural damage in his right shoulder, likely meaning the 37-year-old will avoid a stint on the disabled list. The right-hander is projected to be available in Chicago as the Red Sox continue their road trip.

“He was really able to generate good arm speed. He’s moving past some of the concerns, mentally, that he had,” manager John Farrell told reporters, via WEEI.com. “During the time he was throwing, he felt better than he actually expected…We’re hopeful and expecting him to return to us in Chicago. We’d still like to get him off a mound in a bullpen session or get him back in a game, but today overall was very good news regarding Koji.”

Uehara has been flawless in his five one-inning relief appearances this season, allowing no runs and giving up just three hits. The Red Sox’s closer has recorded both save opportunities, striking out seven batters in five-innings pitched in 2014.   

Red Sox Manager John Farrell: 'Hard to Have Faith' in Replay

John Farrell became the first manager to get ejected for arguing a replay decision after getting tossed by first base umpire Bob Davidson in the fourth-inning of Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Yankees. (Adam Hunger/ USA Today Sports)

MLB’s newly instituted replay system was expected to have some growing pains in its inaugural season in 2014. However, the system has done more harm than good early on, providing the league with more headaches for disputed calls than ever before.

The Boston Red Sox have been victimized by the replay system in each of their past two games, both losses against the archrival New York Yankees.

In Saturday’s contest, Red Sox manager John Farrell asked umpires to review a call at second base, where the Yankees’ Dean Anna was ruled safe on a play that replay showed he was undoubtedly out. The call stood after video review, though. After the game, MLB admitted the call should have been overturned.

On Sunday night, Farrell was ejected after arguing a call in the fourth inning that was reviewed on replay after umpires reversed their original ruling on what would have been an inning-ending double play.

Initially, Yankees' Francisco Cervelli was properly called out at first after he grounded to Red Sox third baseman Ryan Roberts, who threw to second to force out Kelly Johnson, before Red Sox second baseman Jonathan Herrera fired it over to first baseman Mike Napoli in what should have ended the inning.

"On the heels of yesterday and today, this is a tough pill to swallow,” Farrell told MLB.com’s Ian Browne. “It's extremely difficult to have any faith in the system, the process that's being used."

The reversal gave the Yankees a run on a call that was clearly correct before the umpires reviewed and wrongly overturned it. This run proved to be the difference for the Yankees in a 3-2 victory. Lacking conclusive evidence even after review, Farrell was justly furious after the call was upturned.

"We felt that it was clear that the replay was inconclusive," Farrell said, via Jason Mastrodonato of MassLive.com. "The frustrating part is when this was rolled out and explained to us, particularly on the throw received by the first baseman, we were instructed that when the ball enters the glove, not that it has to hit the back of the glove, is where the out is deemed complete.”

"At the same time, any angle that we looked at, you couldn't tell if the foot was on the bag behind Mike Napoli's leg. Where this became conclusive is a hard pill to swallow."

Former manager and current MLB executive Tony La Russa implores Farrell to give the new system time to fix its initial bugs.

"One thing I'd say to John -- and I'd love to talk to him because I have great respect for him -- is that, in fairness to the process, we need to keep working at it," said La Russa, via Jayson Stark of ESPN.com. "I don't know what the period of time is, whether it's a month or six weeks or whatever it is, but we all have learned from what we've seen.” 

Paul Pierce vs. LeBron James Head-to-Head Analysis

Paul Pierce and the Brooklyn Nets defeated LeBron James and the Miami Heat, 88-87, Tuesday night in South Beach. The win completed a four-game season-sweep for the Nets at the hands of the defending champion Heat. The victory helped Pierce edge LeBron yet again, calling into question the head-to-head results between the two forwards in their storied careers. So, how has the Pierce vs. LeBron rivalry played out over the years?...

Regular Season History: Paul Pierce vs LeBron James

Paul Pierce leads the overall head-to-head matchup versus LeBron James, 19-15, according to Basketball Reference.

Below lists each season in which Pierce and LeBron squared off and the series result from that year. This list only includes games in which both forwards were playing. The parenthesis show the number of games in which the specified player won (and lost) against the other opponent. For example, Pierce won the 2003-2004 season-series versus LeBron three games to one.

Season                                       Winner                                             Loser                   

2003-2004                            Pierce, Celtics (3-1)                 LeBron, Cavs

2004-2005                            LeBron, Cavs (2-1)                   Pierce, Celtics

2005-2006                            LeBron, Cavs (3-0)                   Pierce, Celtics

2006-2007                            LeBron, Cavs (1-0)                   Pierce, Celtics

2007-2008                            LeBron, Cavs (2-1)                   Pierce, Celtics

2008-2009                            (Split season-series, 2-2)

2009-2010                            Pierce, Celtics (2-1)                  LeBron, Cavs

2010-2011                            Pierce, Celtics (3-1)                  LeBron, HEAT

2011-2012                            Pierce, Celtics (2-0)                  LeBron, HEAT

2012-2013                            LeBron, HEAT (2-1)                  Pierce, Celtics

2013-2014                            Pierce, NETS (4-0)                    LeBron, HEAT

Player Statistics, provided by Basketball Reference

Player	G	W	L	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P%	FT%	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
Paul Pierce	34	19	15	38.4	7.1	16.5	.430	.378	.856	6.0	4.2	1.1	0.4	2.9	3.4	22.0
LeBron James	34	15	19	41.4	10.4	21.3	.488	.317	.753	6.8	6.4	2.0	1.1	3.3	2.5	30.1

Playoff History: Paul Pierce vs LeBron James

Year              Round                                       Winner     Loser

2008             East. Conf. Semi-Finals            Pierce, Celtics (4-3)                     LeBron, Cavs

2010             East. Conf. Semi-Finals            Pierce, Celtics (4-2)                     LeBron, Cavs

2011             East. Conf. Semi-Finals            LeBron, HEAT (4-1)                     Pierce, Celtics

2012             East. Conf. Finals                     LeBron, HEAT (4-3)                     Pierce, Celtics

·     As it reads above, Pierce has collected two series' wins, while LeBron has recorded two series' victories as well. (LeBron has a 13-12 edge in overall wins in the four playoff series')

Paul Pierce looks to dribble past LeBron James. (Frank Franklin II/AP)

Further review on the four series' played between Pierce and LeBron:

2008: Celtics, the No. 1 seed, defeated the Cavs, the No. 4 seed, in seven games.

2010: Celtics, the No. 4 seed, upset the Cavs, the No. 1 seed, in six games.

2011: HEAT, the No. 2 seed, defeated the Celtics, the No. 3 seed, in five games.

2012: HEAT, the No. 2 seed, defeated the Celtics, the No. 4 seed, in seven games.

New England Patriots' Offseason Analysis: Secondary

With the 2014 NFL Draft roughly a month away, here is a quick review of the Patriots’ offseason activity, focusing on the changes in the secondary. 

Key Additions

Darrelle Revis

The Patriots made a big free agent splash by signing Revis to a one-year, $12 million contract, just hours after the five-time Pro Bowl cornerback was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The deal also includes a team option for the 2015 season (this option year will almost certainly not be picked up), consisting of a $7.5 million base salary with a $12 million roster bonus and $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses.

After one season in Tampa Bay, Revis Island will now be located in Foxborough, MA. (USA TODAY Sports Images)

The Patriots acted quickly upon the release of Revis from the Buccaneers, who were unable to complete a trade with either the Cleveland Browns or the Oakland Raiders, the two interested parties in acquiring Revis. Once the “Revis Island Sweepstakes” switched from a trade bargaining operation to a free agent bidding war, the Patriots became the “logical” choice for Revis.

"It's basically about just winning," Revis said after joining the Patriots, via ESPN.com. "I weighed my options and I just wanted to win.”"I felt like this is the right place. What better organization than the New England Patriots to be a part of?"

Revis will be utilized as the lockdown press defender against the opposing team’s top receiver. The eight-year veteran earned three first-team All Pro honors (2009, 2010 and 2011) and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 after finishing the year with 72 total tackles and six interceptions, then as a member of the New York Jets.

            While not posting a stellar season statistically, Revis still was named to the Pro Bowl in 2013, despite playing in an unfamiliar zone defense as he recovered from his ACL surgery from a year prior.

Brandon Browner

The Patriots were not finished bolstering their secondary after inking Revis to a contract. Complementing Revis in a potentially ferocious secondary, will be Brandon Browner.

The former member of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, Browner is known for his raw, imposing physicality that is unmatched by any cornerback in the NFL. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Browner is a superb tackler against the run and in the open field.

There is some major baggage that comes with Browner, however. He was suspended indefinitely by the NFL in December for multiple violations of the NFL’s policies on performance-enhancing substances, denying him a chance to play during the Seahawks’ title run. Browner will complete the suspension by sitting out the first four games of the 2014 season.

Will Brandon Browner revive his career in New England? (Lindsey Wasson/SeattlePi.com)

Diminishing speed is a major concern as well for the former Canadian Football League player. He will likely lose any foot race to wide receivers with above-average speed. It should also be noted that Browner was supplanted by Walter Thurmond and Byron Maxwell in the Seahawks’ secondary last season.

One thing to watch for is whether Browner will be switched out of his usual spot as the right cornerback and moved into strong safety, a position that is currently of weakness for the Patriots. 

Key Departures 

Aqib Talib

Talib defected to the rival Denver Broncos at the start of free agency. While terms of the deal were initially said to be a six-year, $57 million contract, Talib joined the Broncos on what is essentially a three-year, $27 million agreement. Mike Klis of The Denver Post highlighted the details of Talib’s contract:

“That last three years were what the industry often refers to as phony money because rarely do players collect the back-end of such contracts. This is really a three-year, $27 million contract. Still, $9 million a year isn’t bad.”

Aqib Talib introduced as a member of the Denver Broncos. (John Lebya/ Denver Post)

Steve Gregory

Gregory was a cap casualty at the start of the offseason. The strong safety was scheduled to earn $2.25 million in base salary in 2014 and in total the Patriots will save $2.85 million on their cap by releasing him.

Gregory’s release hinges Duron Harmon as the next-man-up on the depth chart at safety. Harmon, drafted in the third round in 2013 by New England, started three games as a rookie while Gregory nursed a broken thumb. Overall, he played in 36.9 percent of the defensive snaps last season, recording 31 tackles and two interceptions.

Other Notables

(Re)Signing Patrick Chung

In an odd and debatable move, the Patriots elected to bring back Patrick Chung. A second round pick of the Patriots in 2009, Chung spent four seasons in New England, before bolting to the Philadelphia Eagles on a three-year, $30 million contract via free agency. Chung lasted just one year into the deal, before being cut at the end of the season. He was unable to force a single turnover last season, looking lost in the Eagles’ secondary.

Even with history in the Patriots’ defensive system, Chung will presumably need an impressive showing in training camp to make the roster.

Cutting Adrian Wilson

            In a decision that came to the shock of little, the Patriots cut Adrian Wilson. The five-time Pro Bowl safety signed a three-year, $15 million deal last offseason. However, he was placed on season-ending injured reserve at the end of last year’s preseason. The 34-year-old never played a single snap for the Patriots.

John Lackey Shuts Down Rangers as Red Sox Halt Three-Game Skid

Suffering a sweep in the home opening-series at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers was not a reason to panic for the Boston Red Sox. Nor was their 2-4 start to a 162-game season. Yet, the Red Sox needed a pick-me-up to avoid their first four-game losing streak since closing the infamous 2012 season with eight consecutive losses.

John Lackey provided the necessary boost in a dominating outing last night versus the Texas Rangers.

Lackey tossed seven solid innings in Monday’s victory, allowing just one unearned run and five hits as the Red Sox snapped their three-game losing streak. The right-hander has two wins in two starts in the 2014 season after silencing the Rangers’ hitters in the same manner in which he stymied the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, which helped the Red Sox attain the series victory at Camden Yards.

  Accuracy was at a premium for Lackey, who threw 17 first-pitch strikes to the 27 batters he faced. He threw 95 pitches, 65 for strikes, commanding his fastball (69 percent for strikes) and his off-speed pitches, consisting of curveballs and sliders (67 percent for strikes), with precision.

“I definitely want to pound the strike zone,” Lackey said, via WEEI.com. “I want them to know that I’m going to throw strikes. If you’re going to get me, you better get me quick [in the count] because I’m coming after you for sure.”

Pitching on the same mound that he stood on for the World Series clincher versus the St. Louis Cardinals, Lackey was able to use his aggressive approach on the hill to throttle the opposing batters.

With a 3.41 and 2.77 ERA in the 2013 regular season and playoffs, respectively, Lackey was arguably the most reliable No. 3 starter in the league. Lackey resurgence came a season after leading the MLB with a dreadful 6.41 ERA.

“He's reshaped himself, he's reshaped his approach to the game,” manager John Farrell said, per CSNNE.com. “He set out to change a perception that was formed over the first couple of years here and he had to do it first by his performance on the field. Coming back from Tommy John surgery, putting himself in great physical condition, he's the one who was at the root of that turnaround.”

After two prolific starts out of the gate, Lackey is on to pace to reestablish his status as an ace in the MLB in 2014.

New England Patriots' Offseason Analysis: Wide Receiver

With the 2014 NFL Draft just over a month away, here is a quick review of the Patriots’ offseason, beginning with an analysis of the wide receiver position.

Key Moves:

Re-Signing Julian Edelman

After checking out the free agent market, Julian Edelman ultimately decided to return to New England, where he has spent the first five years of his career. Edelman had a coming-out-party in 2013, leading the Patriots with 105 receptions for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns. The Patriots rewarded his breakout season with a four-year deal with a base salary of $17 million overall and $6 million guaranteed. Edelman got the long-term security he was seeking in free agency from the Patriots, making his decision to stay in New England, rather than defect to his hometown San Francisco 49ers, much easier.

"You know, I got to go home and see the Niners, and I grew up a huge Niners fan,” Edelman said, via ESPNBoston.com. “But being in New England the last five years, that's just home, I mean, that's just home for me right now and just the way the mentality of the team, how everything's done -- the scheme, the players, the locker room, the fans."

A year after Tom Brady saw Wes Welker leave via free agency, the Patriots made sure to keep the QB’s go-to wideout from this past season. Injuries were a concern with Edelman throughout his first four seasons as the wideout played in just 48 of a possible 64 games. But after the versatile slot WR suited up for all 16 regular-season contests and both playoff games in 2013, New England felt safe to lock up Edelman for the next four seasons.

Julian Edelman returns to the Patriots, a season after emerging as the focal point of the offense. (David Silverman/AP)

 

Adding WR Brandon LaFell

The Patriots signed Brandon LaFell, formerly of the Carolina Panthers, to a three-year, $9 million contract in March to add experience to their wide receiver corps. The fifth-year WR started all 16 regular-season games in 2013 and finished with a career-high 49 catches for 627 yards and five touchdowns. LaFell had a particularly strong game versus the Patriots in the “Monday Night Football” clash, registering a season-high seven receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers' 24-20 upset win in Week 11.

LaFell is an inside/outside receiver that has excellent size for the position. His blocking skills were praised by his former coach Ron Rivera, who also gushed about the wideout’s intelligence and versatility. The reviews for LaFell are not all kind, however. According to Dan Bompei of Bleacher Reporter, two-front office executives were highly critical of LaFell and his shortcomings, one asserting LaFell isn't a starting-caliber player, with the other referring to the WR as “stiff” and “mechanical” with inconsistent hands.

Brandon LaFell is the newest member of the Patriots' wide receiver core. (Al Bello/ Getty Images)

There is no telling how productive LaFell will be in New England. The wideout has posted three straight seasons of between 600 and 700 yards. However, his lack of big playmaking ability could make him an afterthought in New England. LaFell will have to prove himself in training camp.

Key Question Marks

How will Second-Year WR’s fare in 2014?

The Patriots will need Aaron Dobson to build on his success from his rookie season. The 59^th overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft, Dobson hauled in 37 passes for 519 yards and four touchdowns last season. Injuries limited Dobson to 12 games, however, and health will be a critical determinant for his role in the offense for the upcoming season. Unfortunately for Dobson, he underwent surgery in March to treat a stress fracture in his left foot and will not be ready to participate in the Patriots’ offseason activities beginning in May.

Undrafted wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins was a pleasant surprise for the Patriots in 2013, recording 32 receptions for 466 yards and four touchdowns. He was also hampered by nagging injuries, and just like Dobson, appeared in 12 contests last year. Thompkins had some big moments last season, most notably hauling in the game-winning TD versus the New Orleans Saints, but he also was inconsistent catching the ball and looked lost on routes at various points of the year.

Will Aaron Dobson (left) and Kenbrell Thompkins (right) become a formidable WR tandem in 2014? (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Fourth-round wideout Josh Boyce was an afterthought in the offense in his rookie season. He struggled to find playing time behind the other receivers on the club. He saw his most action via special-teams as a result. Boyce had nine catches for 121 yards in 2013.

Will Danny Amendola produce more in his second season in New England?

 Danny Amendola had a rocky start to his Patriot-career. After signing a five-year, $28.5 million contract last offseason, Amendola was only able to muster 54 receptions for just 633 yards and a mere two touchdowns. He disappeared in the AFC Championship loss to the Denver Broncos, capping off an underwhelming first season in New England.

The Patriots explored trade options for Amendola, before eventually deciding to hold onto the sixth-year receiver. Injuries have plagued Amendola, who has yet to record a 1,000 yard season in his career.

Danny Amendola did not live up to expectations in his first season with the Patriots. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

With Rob Gronkowski likely sidelined for roughly half of the 2014 season, Amendola needs to be a bigger factor in the offense. Edelman shouldered the majority of the load last season, but the Patriots cannot rely solely on him, given his injury history. At the bare minimum, Amendola needs to be a strong locker room presence for the young wide receivers in the Patriots’ offense.

Other Notables

Emmanuel Sanders, who the Patriots signed to a one-year, $2.5 million offer sheet last offseason, before the Pittsburgh Steelers ultimately decided to match the Patriots’ offer and hold onto their restricted WR for one last year, signed with the Broncos in March. The deal is worth $15 million over three years. Sanders, who caught a career-best 67 receptions in 2013, will be used to fill the void in the Broncos’ offense left by Eric Decker, who departed to the New York Jets via free agency.

The Patriots had interest in Steve Smith following his release from the Panthers, but the wideout opted to sign with the rival Baltimore Ravens on a three-year, $11.5 million contract. Before Smith landed a deal with Baltimore, he had a visit set up with the Patriots.