Welcome to Tuesday’s Morning Mashup, where we will get you caught up on what’s going on in the sports world and beyond.

BASEBALL: It was moving day for the Red Sox, and they stopped packing long enough to discuss the long offseason that began a little too early for everyone’s liking. Manager Terry Francona and GM Theo Epstein held a press conference to discuss a number of topics. Jason Bay talked about his future as a free agent. Josh Beckett wants to see Jason Varitek return. Boston’s coaches will interview for managerial openings. There’s much more at our Full Count blog.

Rob Bradford analyzes each player’s future (story to be posted shortly). Kirk Minihane has a Red Sox report card.

In the last division series to be finished, the Rockies blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning (Sound familiar?) and fell to the Phillies, 5-4. It was a rough couple of days in Denver. In Sunday night’s Game 3, there were more blown calls by the umpires that affected the outcome in the Phillies’ one-run win.

The Cubs filed for bankruptcy as part of their plan to be sold by the Tribune Co. to the family of billionaire Joe Ricketts.

FOOTBALL: Bill Belichick and Tom Brady made appearances on WEEI on Monday to talk about Sunday’s 20-17 loss to the Broncos. From the locker room, Sammy Morris said the offense’s problems can be fixed. Left tackle Matt Light was spotted on crutches in the area of the locker room.

Chris Price his a look back at the game he calls Upon Further Review. Steve DeOssie has his Week 5 Patriots report card. Joe Zarbano presents his NFL power rankings, with the Patriots dropping out of the top 10.

It was worth staying up for the end of the Dolphins-Jets game last night, as the teams played an entertaining and surprisingly high-scoring fourth quarter. Miami scored in the final seconds for a 31-27 victory.

Adam Schefter hinted about this during his appearance on the Dennis & Callahan show Friday: Browns coach Eric Mangini is being investigated by the NFL concerning an incident in which Mangini allegedly made rookie running back James Davis practice without pads — against players who were wearing pads. Davis is out for the season with a shoulder injury.

Rush Limbaugh’s interest in being an NFL owner does not sit well with some.

HOCKEY: The Bruins ended their season-opening five-game homestand by dropping a 4-3 decision to the Avalanche. In his Three Things We Learned, Joe Haggerty examines the defenseless B’s.

The Blackhawks tied an NHL record by rallying from a 5-0 deficit to beat the Flames in overtime, 6-5.

According to a soon-to-be-released book, the owners of the Oilers and Maple Leafs discussed trading their entire teams in 1980, just as the Wayne Gretzky era was beginning in Edmonton.

BASKETBALL: Jessica Camerato has a piece on birthday boy Paul Pierce, who isn’t showing his age (32). Kevin Garnett threw one down at practice Monday, another step in his return to form.

At his team’s tipoff luncheon Thursday, University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino claimed he was having a great year despite the recent controversy surrounding his adulterous behavior.

“Don’t succumb to being a critic,” he told his supporters. “Don’t become part of that negative environment that just knocks and constantly says things that tear things down. Build things up. That’s what positive people do.”

Two days later, two of his players, including co-captain Jerry Smith, were arrested in southern Indiana. Looking at the positive, at least it was only a misdemeanor charge (resisting law enforcement).

Over at Binghamton, school officials suspended off-campus recruiting after the latest revelation of misbehavior.

SOCCER: In case you missed this story (and I don’t know how that’s possible), Major League Soccer organizers are considering shifting the season to align with European professional soccer. The only problem? The new season would run from August through May. Yes, right through the winter.

HISTORIVIA: On Oct. 13, 1999, the Red Sox and Yankees met in the postseason for the first time ever. The Yankees took a 4-3 decision when Bernie Williams hit a home run in the bottom of the 10th inning. Who was the Sox closer who surrendered the hit?

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I just showed up this morning at 11 with my little briefcase that doesn’t have much in it. It was the normal time to play a game and we’re not playing a game and I’m having a little bit of a hard time dealing with that. I’m a little confused, but health-wise, I’m probably better than I have been in a while.” — Red Sox manager Terry Francona, on dealing with the letdown of the season being over

STAT OF THE DAY: 0-for-5 — The Bruins’ result on the power play in yesterday’s 4-3 loss to the Avalanche. Colorado went 2-for-3 with the man-advantage.

‘NET RESULTS: You’ve probably heard about it by now, so here’s Owen Schmitt of the Seahawks bashing open his head with his own helmet on Sunday.

HISTORIVIA ANSWER: Rod Beck

SOOTHING SOUNDS: Paul Simon is 68 today. Here’s “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard,” with a 1988 video that features cameos from Spud Webb, Mickey Mantle and John Madden.

Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard

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One Comments for “Tuesday’s Morning Mashup”

1. Jason Says:
   October 13th, 2009 at 1:50 pm

   The August-May MLS season isn’t as crazy as it sounds. A number of European leagues like Germany’s break for a couple of months in winter. And a number of Latin American leagues use a split-season format, where you have 2 league champions every year (one from the “opening” stage, and one from the “closing” stage).

   That said, the Russian and Scandinavian leagues run in the summer because of cold winters, so I can’t figure out why Sepp Blatter insists we need to switch to August-May.

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