RADIO: Hopedale Lacrosse, Sean Sweeney, Adam Jones at Fenway, and Star Wars

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

We had a great many things to discuss on this week's episode of "The Local Sports Lunchbox" on WPKZ. First, our buddy Sean Sweeney from the Sentinel & Enterprise called in to discuss the local baseball scene, and then we were joined by the stars of Hopedale lacrosse. The Blue Raiders are just one win away from the program's first ever tournament berth, as they prepare to play Blackstone Valley Tech.

Of course, I also had to pepper everyone with inane Star Wars questions since it is May 4th (May the Fourth Be With You!), and go off on a tangent about Adam Jones and the alleged racial slurs hurled at him earlier this week at Fenway Park. That's the end of the show, so if you don't want any non-high school stuff, just listen until the final few minutes.

Anyways, continue below for all that, and more, on this week's show.

Bob Lobel: A Massive Sports Weekend that Can Only Happen in Boston

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Just wondering if the Red Sox are paying attention to the success of the Bruins since the firing of head coach Claude Julian. 

Not saying anything, just wondering. Probably not, but maybe. 

It's been pretty hard to ignore, actually.

That brings us to this weekend, when there is an amazing coming together of everyone in just such a short period of time. All here in Boston, and all in a span of days. The Red Sox on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, especially Monday. The Bruins on Monday night at the TD Garden. The Celtics open the playoffs at home at the Garden on Sunday, and the backdrop of this whole excess of playoff sports and the Patriots Day game is the 121st running of the Boston Marathon. 

This might be labeled overkill, but it is a rare thing indeed. 

Former Red Sox Pitcher Brian Rose Begins First Season Coaching Bishop Stang

By Tom Joyce (@TomJoyceSports)

How many MIAA high school baseball coaches can say they played alongside Pedro Martinez, Jason Varitek and Nomar Garciaparra? Not many, but Brian Rose can.

The Dartmouth native and first-year Bishop Stang head coach is a five-year big league veteran who spent parts of four seasons (primarily as a starting pitcher) with the Boston Red Sox.

Rose, who played pro ball for 11 seasons, has coached AAU teams in the past, and is an assistant hockey coach at Dartmouth High. Even so, he is excited for his first opportunity to lead a high school baseball team, even if the Spartans are one of the Dartmouth High alum’s old high school rivals.

Bob Lobel: Tito and Theo

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

It was November 2003, and Grady Little was still manager of the Boston Red Sox, but not for long.

Aaron Boone had barely crossed home plate, but John Henry wanted to fire Little before he left Yankee Stadium. 

He was talked out of it by Larry Lucchino, which was probably not a bad idea at the moment.  Meanwhile. Terry Francona and his son, Nick, were visiting Georgetown University for their baseball dinner. 

Nick was a left handed pitcher and the Hoyas were recruiting him for the next season. Nick Barnicle, the son of former Globe columnist and current MSNBC star Mike Barnicle, was already playing for Georgetown which is why, obviously, they also were at that baseball dinner. 

Grady Little was still the manager of the Red Sox, but not for long. 

Bob Lobel: Be Careful What You Wish for, Cubs Fans

 By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Where did it go? 

The passion, the drama, the anticipation is what seems to be missing. It's hard to explain, but the convergence of the Red Sox collapse, Jon Lester, the Brady (ho hum) return, Theo  Epstein, the mother of all campaigns, Terry Francona, Mike Napoli, groping and more groping, Andrew Miller, Coco Crisp, David Price and blah blah blah. 

What has sucked the life out of the NFL?   

Can Roger Goodell be held responsible?  Do we really think the Bruins are going to be carried by Tuukka Rask, and are the Celtics really about to start another middle of the road finish? 

Whoa. 

This is a lot of baggage, a lot. 

Bob Lobel: Renaming the Charles River for Big Papi

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

It's almost unfathomable. The major oversights in the House of David (formerly Fenway Park) this weekend were staggering, considering all that took place.  They didn’t want to, but they did play a part in sacrificing what should be an inconsequential home field advantage against the Cleveland Indians, and their certain to be “manager of the year,” Terry Francona (who, by the way, never won that award with Boston). 

Clearly, the focus wasn’t on sealing the deal on the field during baseball time.

Bob Lobel: A Perfect September for Boston Sports

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Of course I'm nervous. 

Yes, I'm worried, and if you're smart, you will be too. It’s the ole karma thing, when things kinda even out. There is never all good or all bad. 

If all good seems to be the rule of the day, then all bad can't be far behind. Somehow, it's going to even out. That is the reason to be nervous and cautious, expecting the worst.

Did you see this September coming? 

Bob Lobel: Brady's New Haircut

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Why do I think Tom Brady didn't order a "boys regular" when he went in to have his hair styled? Tom doesn’t get it cut at SuperCuts, he gets it styled at some place you can't pronounce. 

We used to go in and order Arnold Palmers. Now it's going to be “please give me a Tom Brady.” 

Everyone will know what you're talking about. 

Bob Lobel: You Can't Always Get What You Want (in Boston Sports)

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Knowing what you want is easy. Asking for it is much more difficult, so it stands to reason that getting what you want is really tough, since you pretty much always have to ask for it.  

So, every once in a while it's probably good to figure out what you want and then ask for it. Let's begin to ask: I want the Boston Red Sox to figure it out, because they are driving me crazy. What if they figure out that David Ortiz is struggling, and they need to get him out of the lineup in a year where his celebrity has never been higher? I think that’s probably not going to happen. 

I want the fans to give Alex Rodriguez a standing ovation at some point tonight, and them give him a boo beyond boo. It would kinda recognize the conflict within for those of us who really wanted the Red Sox to get him when that opportunity was there. Count that group. 

I remember the  phone call I got at 8 am from Peter Brown, our news director. I said “hello” and he said “we got him!" 

Bob Lobel: Brady Talk Dominating Red Sox Season in Boston

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

So it's true, Chris Sale does have a great “cutter." Now proven beyond any doubt.  

He may be an immature twit, but he can pitch, so bring him here. We will make him a man. It's one of the things we do best.

Grow up or get out. 

Weekly Red Sox Report: July 24

By Adam Lowenstein (@StatsAdam)

Kyle Gibson stalled the otherwise-hot Red Sox offense on Friday, and Boston's injured bullpen hurt them on Saturday. John Farrell gave Clay Buchholz possibly one of his last shots for a while in Saturday’s loss, and he allowed three runs in just an inning.

Newly-acquired Brad Ziegler, now the team’s closer due to all the injuries, has yet to record a save with the team, but has thrown 4.2 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit.

Also, we will have a bit of a different look from my Red Sox articles moving forward. I hope you enjoy our three up and three down.

THREE UP

SP Eduardo Rodriguez was called up a week ago, and his stock is definitely rising. On Friday, he matched his second-most strikeouts in a MLB game, as he was a hard-luck loser with eight K’s in 5.1 innings of two-run ball against the visiting Minnesota Twins. Although the Twins strike out among the most in the league, the eight strikeouts are five more than Rodriguez had combined in his previous two starts.

Rodriguez is still searching for his first home win in 2016 after having six decisions go in his favor at Fenway Park last season. The 23-year-old did win his second game of the season on July 16, as he threw seven innings of one run-ball at Yankee Stadium in a 5-2 Red Sox win.

Rodriguez will take on the Detroit Tigers next Wednesday when Boston’s nine-game homestand ends.

Bob Lobel: Brady's Loss Could Be a Win for New England

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Sometimes losing is the best thing that can happen. 

I'm not talking about tanking games so you can get a better draft pick. I'm talking about the courts of law in our land that seem to be able to rule on anything, however unimportant it may seem.  Well, Tom Brady and the NFL are hardly unimportant in our little corner of the universe, but still. 

Brady and the Supreme Court- It seems like they were meant for each other. They may get to meet eventually, but not at the moment. The current moment has Brady serving a four-game suspension to start the season, since the appeals court ruled against his case to have the suspension stayed, or vacated, or whatever legal definition may apply. 

The worst of this may be the best thing. 

Weekly Red Sox Report: July 9th

Outfielder Mookie Betts will make his first All-Star appearance next Tuesday.

By Adam Lowenstein (@StatsAdam)

The Red Sox’s offense, which has added two-time Silver Slugger Aaron Hill, was very good over the last week, as quite a few players put up OPS’s above 1.000. They scored double digit runs in three of their last four games, and moved to 11-0 when scoring at least 10 runs this season.

Although the pitching has not been very consistent, eight Red Sox had hits and runs in Wednesday’s rubber match victory against Texas.

Bob Lobel: I Told You So

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

It's nice to be right for a change, even if it's just a few things. 

It’s a lot easier to admit you're wrong about stuff than it is to say "I told you so," but I am going to take it upon myself to tell you that I did, indeed, "tell you so." 

Weekly Red Sox Hitter Notes: June 28

It may be a small sample size, but catcher Sandy Leon  has been mashing for the Red Sox at the plate.

By Adam Lowenstein (@StatsAdam)

Ed. Note- Now that summer is here, we're brining back our weekly look at how each of Boston's position players are contributing offensively. Each week, our resident stat guru Adam Lowenstein will break down who's trending up, who's spiraling down, and how it will affect the Red Sox.

Losers of their previous two series, the Red Sox close out June with a three-game series against the struggling Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. However, just like Clay Buchholz, Eduardo Rodriguez continued to struggle in the first inning on Monday. John Farrell tried to keep the newest Pawtucket Red Sox player in the game as long as possible, but E-Rod became the main reason for the Rays setting a new season high in hits.

RF Mookie Betts continues to lead off games well, but his on-base percentage took a dip in Monday’s blowout at the hands of the Rays. His five-game hitting streak ended in the 13-6 loss, as he went 0-for-5, including two unsuccessful at-bats with runners in scoring position. However, he is not a person to worry about, as he readies to start his first All-Star Game.

Bob Lobel: Fixing What Ails the Red Sox and Celtics

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

How do you like me now, all you fans of Red Sox nation? 

I am the team you adored less than a month ago. I am the team that has all those players you love, rather than love to hate.

Oops, that was yesterday. 

This is today and sinking fast. Jerry Remy, who has become a major league analyst, spoke the truth by simply saying it’s not the hitting, or the defense, or the speed or any of that crap. Just like it's always the economy, with this Red Sox team, it's the pitching, stupid!

Bob Lobel: Remembering a Season Like No Other

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

It's a lock for me: Sandy Leon should be the starting All-Star catcher. Done like dinner. 

More on slammin’ Sandy later, but there are other fish to fry. Most, if not all of you reading this, were not born 75 years ago. Close, but not me either.

Bob Lobel: The Red Sox Have Become Must-See TV

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

There is just no way to put into words what is happening with the local entry in the American league East. 

It is a constant reaction from the population that this team is “totally fun to watch.” A correct analysis, if somewhat vague. The fact behind that statement is simply, “we have never seen anything like this before."

Look at it this way: Where would they play Nomar?  Where is the best spot for Manny? Make them pitchers? You tell me.  

Bob Lobel: Remember the History of Red Sox Heartbreak

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Where to start?

Kraft vs Kraft? Boston (Bogaerts) strong?  Boston (Bradley) strong? Boston (Brady) strong! Or just very, very strong! Scary strong! 

Why scary strong? Because we are totally sucked into becoming your father's Red Sox fan. 

Caution, however!   

One of the memorable lines in "Fever Pitch" says it all (transparency here; not my line):  “they will break your heart every time.”

They used to, in a city that actually had a parade for the team after not winning the World Series. Yes, we did that. Correct me if I'm wrong. 

Bob Lobel: How Quickly Hate Turns to Love (& Vice Versa) for Red Sox Fans

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

There is nothing as remarkable as the ability of Red Sox fans to go from hate to love, and back again. It is apparently a part of the fabric of our unique culture to care so much about the exploits of our local entry in the American League. 

Of course, caring when you're in love is so much easier and enjoyable than caring when you're not. Pink hat or no hat, it doesn’t seem to matter. It’s a state of mind that is generational. We are in about as blissful a mode as possible, at least in recent memory, thanks to this remarkable reincarnation of the Boston Red Sox. 

Fans are seeing things they had long given up on seeing. Surrendering to the belief that bad karma had returned because of the three World Series titles. Patrons have been  snapped to attention, lest they miss something historic.  

It has seemed historic.