Wounded Soldiers Returning To Battle

Carl Crawford is making strides in his rehab, working hard to get ready for what we hope is a strong second half. Fellow OF Jacoby ellsbury is also moving towards a return, surely improving the BoSox offense when he does.

Melancon Murking Minor-Leaguers

RP Mark Melancon, who was demoted to Triple-A Pawtucket after a dissapointing start, has been mowing down Minor League hitters in May. If Melcancon gets his confidence back and becomes what Red Sox brass thought he would be, Boston’s bullpen will be much more formidable.

The Evolution of Daniel Bard

Former closer-in-waiting Daniel Bard is adjusting well to his new role as a starter. If Bard continues to improve, he could be one of the best 5th starters in baseball by the end of the season. He certainly has the talent.

Middlebrooks Finding His Role

Much ado has been made about how to play both Youk and Middlebrooks effectively. If Bobby Valentine can use his experience and skill as a manager to properly position these guys for succes, the Sox lineup could be the scariest in the AL once Ellsbury and/or Crawford return.

Our fan photo of the day comes from fellow Chowdahead Derek. Here is what he submitted to us:

“This picture is from the 1st football season I got to watch with my daughter as I was deployed to Afghanistan for the previous season.”

Awesome photo Derek – Thank you for your service!

Become “Wicked Famous” like the Chowdaheadz above who sent us this great fan photo. CLICK HERE to submit your photo for our blog. ]]> http://blog.chowdaheadz.com/2012/05/18/army-dad-watches-pats-game-with-daughter/feed/ 0 http://blog.chowdaheadz.com/2012/05/18/the-old-boston-celtics-built-on-experience-poise-under-pressure/ http://blog.chowdaheadz.com/2012/05/18/the-old-boston-celtics-built-on-experience-poise-under-pressure/#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 01:07:47 +0000 Brendan http://blog.chowdaheadz.com/?p=5276  

The Celtics’ age is a topic much discussed. At the beginning of the post-lockout 2011-2012 season, Boston fans asked “How are they going to compete if they are so old?”. As the 2012 NBA Playoffs roll on, the conversation seems to sound more like “How are they so good despite their age?” This Boston Celtics team has shown a level of poise and confidence that their inexperienced opponents lack in high-pressure playoff games. But even with the Big 3′s legendary resume, most folks are surprised by how well Boston is playing. The C’s seem to be finding their swagger in the postseason after a rocky start to the 2011-2012 campaign. While Boston cruised through much of the 66 game schedule looking like a squad that would sneak into the playoffs only to promptly exit, Doc Rivers’ team has wowed NBA fans with their playoff performance. With 2011-2012 likely being the last run for Garnett, Pierce and Allen together, the cagy veteran trio known as the Big 3 is giving it their all. This Celtic team looks as confident as ever. Knowing full well that this may be the final shot, The Truth, KG and Ray-Ray have become hyper-focused basketball machines that defy age. No matter what sticky situation Boston finds itself in, one of these guys (or all three) have been there before. Couple the wisdom of the Veteran core with the spark added by fresher faces like Brandon Bass and Avery Bradley and you’ve got yourself a true trophy threat. And don’t forget about the team’s triple-double turbo-charger, PG Rajon Rondo who adds a huge youthful boost. If the Celtics can stay healthy during the duration of the grueling and lengthy NBA playoff stretch, there is no reason why we shouldn’t see an 18th NBA Championship banner hanging at the TD Garden soon.

Injuries to Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury left a major void in the Red Sox outfield to begin the 2012 campaign. The Sox struggled, getting off to a sub-par start that left fans up in arms. Enter Daniel Nava, who has shined during his most recent Big League stint, helping the Red Sox get back on track. Faithful Sox fans will recall Nava showed some real promise when he was brought up to the bigs in 2010 (he hit a Grand Slam on the first Major League pitch he ever saw) but he was sent back to Pawtucket because there simply wasn’t room for him on the roster. Coming into 2012, Boston’s outfield looked pretty crowded so Nava was barely on anybody’s radar. But injuries happen, spots open up and new guys emerge. Nava has gone 7 for 12 with 1 HR and 6 RBI in 5 games since being called up from Triple A on May 10. As of May 15 the Sox are riding a 4 game win streak. Boston is obviously in need of outfield help with 2 wounded superstars sitting in the dugout for an unknown amount of time. So, could the 29-year-old Nava be the Red Sox’s saving grace? Who knows, only time will tell. But Nava say Nava!

On June 5, 2012 Charlie, our resident photo critic, will select 1 lucky photographer who will Win 3 Chowdaheadz T-Shirts of their choosing!

**IMPORTANT RULES**

- You MUST FOLLOW us on Instagram (username: chowdaheadz) to be eligble.

- SHARE your Instagram post w/ us in a tweet that mentions @Chowdaheadz or Email photos@chowdaheadz.com

- Finalists/Runners up will be featured in our Blog and Email Newsletter, so even if you don’t win the Prize this time, you could still become wicked famous

DEADLINE: MIDNIGHT JUNE 5

]]> http://blog.chowdaheadz.com/2012/05/15/chowdaheadz-instagram-contest-win-three-free-t-shirts/feed/ 0 http://blog.chowdaheadz.com/2012/05/14/welker-stands-pat/ http://blog.chowdaheadz.com/2012/05/14/welker-stands-pat/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 23:49:05 +0000 Brendan http://blog.chowdaheadz.com/?p=5220

Wes Welker is showing once again that he is a true Patriot. Welker defused the tension surrounding his contract situation by declaring that he has “9.5 million” reasons not to hold out in order to force a new deal. This number of course refers to the Franchise tag for 2012-2013 that he has not yet signed.  Welker did appear on ESPN’s Sportscenter last month to voice his frustrations (Welker speculated that Belichick was probably too wrapped up in “draft mode” to deal with his contract situation in April) but things now appear to be OK in Foxborough. While Wes Welker would certainly prefer a long-term contract, he is a devout Belichickian pupil. Welker will show up for work on time & play even harder to earn his cash rather than hold out and risk a sloppy season a la Chris Johnson in 2011. The New England Patriots rarely dish out big deals to anyone, but it seems inevitable that Welker (554 catches in five seasons with New England) has a serious payday coming from the Pats…even if it has to wait until 2013. It’s good to see Welker staying patient and humble in an era where many NFL players hold out & risk hurting their performance to force the issue. Wes is a class act and one of the all-time great Pats receivers.

Josh Beckett is an anomaly. Never has a player been both so loved and so hated during his time in Boston. Sure, guys like Roger Clemens and Johnny Damon were heroes turned villains because they skipped town to play for the Yankees, but there has never been a player that was so polarizing DURING his stay at Fenway. Beckett is one of the greatest postseason pitchers of all time, winning 2 World Series trophies (including the 2007 Red Sox win in which Beckett was the ALCS MVP). So it seems strange to see him booed off the mound at America’s most beloved ballpark. Of course Beckett’s behavior in late 2011- early 2012 has been less than commendable…but let’s try to find a silver lining in the Josh Beckett cloud before it starts raining Budweiser… Lest we forget, Beckett was arguably the best pitcher in the AL during the first half of 2011. At the 2011 All-Star break, Beckett was holding opponents to a Major League best .178 batting average with the second lowest ERA in the American League (2.12). Perhaps the “Texas Tough Guy”, as he is known to sarcastic Beckett-bashers, simply gave up halfway through 2011 and started crushing chicken and beer in the clubhouse instead of focusing on his game. Or maybe Beckett was living this lifestyle all along and it never would have been an issue if the team hadn’t flunked out in September. No one would defend ingesting fried poultry during games or golfing when you’re supposedly too hurt to pitch, but would Red Sox Nation REALLY be THAT upset about Beckett’s behavior if the team was winning? The 2011 collapse was a result of many factors, Josh Beckett’s slumping performance being just one of them. The same could be said about the club’s rocky 2012 start. Watching Beckett get booed off the mound at Fenway after Golf Gate was pretty depressing, but as the adage goes, baseball season is a marathon not a sprint. If this were a round of golf, the Red Sox would be on the the 3rd hole out of 18. Can Beckett right the ship in time to save the round? Nobody knows. However, if fans keep a level head, stay patient and watch the season unfold they may see a brighter side of Josh Beckett. Many Sox supporters would like to chase the Texas Tough Guy out of town, but his massive contract ($17mil/season through 2014), age (31) and attitude (must I elaborate?) make him unattractive trade bait. So grit your teeth and bare it, Red Sox fans. Keep telling yourself that the Josh Beckett of early 2011 is going reemerge eventually. After all, it was only a year ago that he was befuddling hitters with All-Star stuff.

Kevin Garnett is playing like a man possessed in the 2012 NBA Playoffs. At age 35, KG is still scoring, grabbing key rebounds and playing ferocious D in the paint. Boston basketball fans are familiar Kevin Garnett’s storied spirit and drive, but the future Hall of Famer looks especially fired up in what could potentially be his final season. So vicious has been KG’s postseason play that Atlanta Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. called Garnett the “dirtiest guy in the league“. While Celtics fans would prefer words like “gritty” or “tough” to describe Garnett’s playing style, everyone can agree that number 5 is going extra hard this season. KG is in the final year of his contract so this could very well be his last hurrah. With the future of the Big 3 shrouded in uncertainty, 2012 is probably KG’s final legitimate shot at more silverware, so he will be running in high gear. And don’t expect KG to apologize to the Atlanta Hawks – or anyone else who tries to get in Garnett’s way.

SHOP CELTICS GEAR

No matter what happens in the 2012 season, Kevin Youkilis will go down as a historic player in the Red Sox organization. However, the rapid emergence of Will Middlebrooks (above) has put Youkilis’ future with the club in jeopardy. Before coming up to the bigs, Middlebrooks was widely regarded as the number one prospect in the Red Sox farm system. The 23-year-old has done incredibly well filling in for the injured Youk, meaning Boston brass will have some tough decisions to make when Youkilis returns.

Middlebrooks has made a serious splash upon entering the big leagues (.435 with 3 HR and 9 RBI in less than 5 games). The youngster left Tuesday night’s clash against Kansas City in the 2nd after tweaking his hamstring, but his injury appears to be minor. Given Youk’s recent durability issues, many believe that Middlebrooks’ ascent could lead to Kevin’s exit. There are rumblings that Middlebrooks could move to the outfield when Youkilis returns, but some think the wunderkind could steal the starting job. That could force Youk into a utility role or even to be traded. No one is sure how the new Red Sox regime will handle this situation, but it sure is causing a stir. Regardless of the outcome, having to chose between a proven vet and an up-and-coming young star seems like a great problem for Bobby Valentine to have.

It may be puzzling for some Pats fans to see Matt Light, longtime anchor of the Patriots Offensive line, decide to call it quits in the prime of his playing career. Light, who played 11 NFL seasons (all with New England) has said that he wanted to walk away while he is still “upright” to enjoy an active life with his young family. Player health has been a red hot issue in the NFL lately, especially following the outbreak of Bounty Gate mania and the tragic ending to Junior Seau’s life. As we move ahead in the modern NFL era, do not be surprised if you start to see more guys end their careers early.Mounting evidence about the long-term impact of football on a player’s body and brain has created a culture change in the NFL. When you factor in the health risks, it is easy to see why a big man like Matt Light would want to hang ‘em up early. The NFL’s large lineman are especially known to have shortened, painful lives after football because their bodies have deteriorated under the burden of so much weight. Plus, all football players face a high risk of concussion every time they step on the field. So, it may be best to get out of the game before the game forces you out. Perhaps other players will follow Light’s lead and make the tough decision to leave the NFL while they are still healthy. After all that he has accomplished it makes sense for the former 2nd round pick out of Purdue to quit while he is ahead. Light appeared in 5 Superbowls with the Patriots, winning 3 of them. As a leader of Brady’s Bouncers, number 72 was a staple on one of the NFL’s all-time great O-Line units for over a decade. Pats fans should remember Light as a tough, technically sound blocker who protected Brady’s blind side for many years.  Congrats to Matt Light on a long, storied career with the New England Patriots!