Editors' Picks: Most Notable Sports Moment of 2012

Your group of local patch editors weighs in on the standout sports moments of the year.

Editor's Note: The following is part of a special "end-of-the-year" series in which local editors from your nearby Patch towns highlight their favorites in various topics.   Jonathan Friedman - Editor, Attleboro-Seekonk Patch From my earliest days through college, I was a competitive swimmer. I was never good enough to be an Olympian, but I have a tremendous respect for those who are. And every four years, it is exciting to see swimming in the spotlight. Special kudos go to Michael Phelps, who looked like he had lost his magic when he didn't even win a medal in his first individual event, the 400 IM (first time since 2000 that had happened), but then regained it later in the week with spectacular wins in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly, while…

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Bobby Valentine Fired; Do You Agree With the Call?

The Boston Red Sox fired Valentine after an unsuccessful year at Fenway Park.

The Boston Red Sox have fired manager Bobby Valentine after the team experienced the worst season in decades. In fact, the 69-93 record was the team’s worst since 1965 and the first time the team has finished last in the American League East in more than a decade. Valentine’s one season at the helm was full of losses and run-ins with players. Valentine, who led the New York Mets to the World Series in 2000, followed Terry Francona, a fan favorite who was dismissed a year ago after taking the team to two World Series titles. We want to hear from you: Do you agree with the call? Was Valentine to blame for this year's horrible record? Who or what kind of manager would you like to see at Fenway Park? 

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Patch Book Club: 'The Teammates'

With the recent death of Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky, you can find out more about the man by reading David Halberstam's "The Teammates."

When you go to a bookstore, you can find "The Teammates" in the sports section, but the book about four Boston Red Sox could very easily be in the relationship aisle. With the death of Johnny Pesky last week, Bobby Doerr is the last of the four great friends and teammates still alive today. Doerr and Pesky were together at Fenway Park, both in wheelchairs, as the Red Sox celebrated the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park in April. Both Ted Williams and Dom DiMaggio proceeded their life-long friends in death. But in the "The Teammates," they will be four young baseball players coming from humble roots on the West Coast to find fame on the East Coast, while wearing Boston Red Sox uniforms in the golden days of the 1930-40s. If you want to know …

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Muscato's Musings

Tales From The Shovel Town

None of this is Good

  There is that column in the Boston Herald; it is called, “Inside Track.”  It is written by Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa.  It is sort of a gossip column.  Occasionally, the column includes a segment titled, “Tales From The Naked City.” It is fun reading – all tawdry and tightly packed and sexy and scintillating and relating all sorts of conduct in Boston, and by Boston area people, that is variously bad, amusing, and shocking.  Most of the players in the dramas are fairly well known and powerful. Ms. Fee and Ms. Raposa don’t name names though.   They keep the not so innocent anonymous.  The columnists do, however, provide just enough of a description to get many thinking that they might have it figured out who is being described.  Just …

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Fenway Park Takes us Back in Time

A trip to Fenway Park gets the memories flowing.

  It's really not about the actual structure. Truth be told, the place looks every bit of its 100 years. After nine innings, your body is a crooked mess. Unless you are under 5 feet 5 inches and weigh less than 140 pounds, you are going to be very uncomfortable for three or so hours. It costs a fortune to attend a game these days. Hot dogs come with a loan application to purchase them. You know not to even try to drive there. Still, Fenway Park is what it is. With all its warts, it's ours. After all, Fenway is a place where memories live on. How many things is our lives are still even standing 100 years later? Places like that are few and far between. In a way, Fenway is really our own fountain of youth, a place where we go to remember …

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All-Time Boston Red Sox Team: Who's On? Who's Out?

What choices for the all-time Boston Red Sox team do you agree with and what ones do you disagree with? Leave us your comments.

With the Boston Red Sox getting ready for opening day and celebrating the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park, there is going to be a lot of opportunity to look back at the all-time greats to wear their uniform. The Red Sox are running a voting contest at bostonredsox.com, but we're jumping the gun here with an all-time team before the season even starts. The only rule on this team is that you have to have compiled the stats as a Red Sox player and other teams you played on doesn't factor in. Ladies and gentlemen, your all-time Red Sox team: Catcher-Carlton Fisk. Jason Varitek is going to get a lot of votes in the Red Sox poll, but Fisk clearly was a much better hitter in Boston and equally defensively. For his Red Sox career, Fisk hit .284 …

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Biggest Boston Sports Event of 2011? Patch Editors Announce Their Picks

As we say hello to 2012, Patch editors are looking back at the events of 2011.

What is our best Boston sports event in 2011? Here's a clue they are named after an animal and are a wicked cool bunch. Usually, our editors are the ones asking the questions for the New Year's weekend, but we're turning the tables a bit. We've been asked for our top picks in movies, books, songs, person of the year, event of the year and best Boston sports moment. In round three, we give our top Boston Sporting event of 2011. After reading ours, please share yours with us in the comment section. Kelly Glista, Norwood Patch Editor-The Bruins winning the Stanley Cup, no contest. It shifted the attention of fans who were previously unexcited about hockey, it gave the already loyal fans a renewed hope, and was celebrated with one of the …

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Question of the Day

Question of the Day: Bobby Valentine

How do you feel about Bobby Valentine as the new Red Sox manager?

The Boston Red Sox officially announced this week that they had hired Bobby Valentine as the new manager of the club. Valentine had previously managed for the Texas Rangers and the New York Mets, where he took that team to the World Series in 2000. After managing the Mets, Valentine managed in Japan before becoming a commenator on ESPN. Emotions have been mixed and there have already been reports that some Red Sox players are unhappy with the signing. How do you feel about Bobby Valentine as the new Red Sox manager?

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Muscato's Musings

Analyzing the 2011 Red Sox Meltdown

And Let's Put Things In Perspective

This should be fun.   Uplifting.  Here in the heart of Red Sox Country. The World Series begins tonight.    I am not a big follower of Major League Baseball.  Nor of the Boston Red Sox.  Yes, I know, this is a sort of heresy in these parts.  It’s not a total heresy – for total heresy consists of rooting against the Red Sox and for the Yankees.  In fact, it wasn’t until the September Sox meltdown was complete, and they didn’t qualify for the playoffs, that I understood what an absolute mess of a collapse these guys had authored.  I mean, really, the team lost 20 of 27 games in September – the worst September team plummet in Major League Baseball history.  Sure, I root for the Red Sox, and when the team is in the playoffs, my spirits are …

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Question of the Day

Question of the Day: State of the Red Sox

First Terry Francona, now Theo Epstein? How are you feeling about the Red Sox these days?

We ask Easton Patch readers a different question every weekday at noon. Questions could range from local decisions made by officials, to state issues, to national politics and entertainment. Whatever it is, we want to know what EASTON thinks! To answer, use our comments section below. As if the September collapse wasn't punishment enough for Red Sox Nation, two of its leaders are now reportedly gone. Red Sox manager Terry Francona "left" his post with the team on Oct. 1 after eight seasons and two World Series titles with Boston. Yesterday, ESPN reported general manager Theo Epstein agreed to a five-year contract with the Chicago Cubs and all that stands in the way of the "Boy Wonder" leaving Boston are the two clubs (Sox and Cubs) working…

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