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.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Catholic Memorial Tops BC High at Frozen Fenway

Video By Greg Story (@StoryThruVideo)

Our Greg Story was at Fenway Park for what turned into a classic boys hockey battle between conference rivals Catholic Memorial and BC High. Continue below for video highlights, postage interviews with player and coaches, and from Greg and the Boston Globe's David Souza.

Lobel's Question of the Week: Are the Red Sox Investing Enough in Starting Pitching?

Every week, legendary sportscaster Bob Lobel wants to hear your opinion on a sports question he's been thinking about.

The Red Sox front office seems to have totally changed its philosophy with regards to starting pitchers and finding an "ace."

As Boston prepares to go younger and cheaper with its starting rotation, why do you think the powers on Yawkey Way have changed their minds, and is it a good idea?

Many have pointed to the inflated prices of these top pitchers not matching their in-game value, while others will say they don't pitch enough innings to deserve top dollar. Is it worth sacrificing a highly-touted pitching staff to improve Boston's defense, hitting and overall speed?

Bob Lobel: The Demotion of Jackie Bradley Jr.

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Just as I start to peck away about the demotion of Jackie Bradley Jr., I hear on the Sox/Angels game I’m watching, the exact same thing from Orsillo and Remy stealing the thunder.

“The greatest centerfielder, bar none, in the last decade at least.” 

Stopping short of saying all time, it’s not out of the question that, when the sample size continues to grow, if it continues, he could occupy that lofty position.

Best of all time centerfielder is no small thing. It’s a tough position with many demands, but JBJ always seemed to amaze in the short time he was here. 

Just don’t put a bat into his hand. 

Bob Lobel: Replay Isn't Solving All of Baseball's Problems

By Bob Lobel  @boblobel

Despite the weather issues, daylight saving time offers real hope that better days are ahead.   

What I cannot understand, for the life of me, is the logic that Major League Baseball exhibits when putting its schedule together. By my count, they have scheduled 15 games at Fenway in April after last year's 19. They may be unaware, but global warming has not penetrated the outdoor arenas just yet.

Fenway Park in April is still cold. Fenway Park in other months is not. 

Bob Lobel: The Day I Saw Ted Williams Cry

By Bob Lobel  @boblobel

I saw Ted Williams cry. 

There is a chance that outside of his immediate family and closest friends, I have been one of the few. He was not the crying type. 

There have been many ways to describe Ted Williams, from nicknames, to brutal descriptions of his personal vendettas and temper, to his enormous generosity toward the less fortunate. His courage and patriotism were also legendary, as were his prodigious baseball numbers.

Selfish and selfless at the same time, but not a crier. He might be the greatest hitter that ever lived, but not the crier that I witness on the last day I saw him in the spring of 2002, the year that he died.  

Bob Lobel: A-Rod Comes to Town

By Bob Lobel  @boblobel

The dog days of August are upon us. We can feel the end of summer approaching and it’s not a happy place. 

The worst part about the dog days of summer is the reality that almost all analysts are taking their vacations at a time when they are most needed. So, we are left to fend for ourselves on a steady diet of pre-season football and all those needless injuries that come with it. 

We, however, have a little more intrigue than most this August. We have become the home of infamous people. Bombers who show up at marathons, shooters who used to play football, and  gangsters who have Stanley cup rings (even if it is a Montreal Canadien bauble). We have become quite the center of attention. More is yet to come, and it's coming this week. 

Friday, to be precise. 

Bob Lobel: Boston's Red Seat and Behind the Scenes at Fenway

By Bob Lobel  @boblobel

I don’t quite know what to do with this photo except to admire it and try to add some meaning to its simplicity and beauty.

It was taken by a good friend, Laura Sinclair, with whom I share a Christmas Eve birthday. It was taken earlier this year and is, of course, the seat  that supposedly was hit by the longest home run at Fenway park, well up into the right field bleachers.

It says the next big thing, if you will, that one individual can change the landscape for many, if that one individual is either in the right place at the right time through fate, or that individual is willing to be different and willing to stand alone in their beliefs or accomplishments.  

Meet Bob Lobel

The SuiteSports team is proud to welcome a true sports legend, Bob Lobel. For those of you young whippersnappers that don't know who Bob is, just know that you're ripping him off every time you say a team is pushing the "panic button." Find out more about our new blogger below.

Bob Lobel is a legendary New England Sports Broadcaster known for his unique style and catch phrases including "Why can't we get players like that?" and the "Panic Button".  He is the former sportscaster for WBZ-TV and hosted the weekly programs Sports Final and Patriots 5th Quarter. Before joining the television side of WBZ, Lobel worked at WBZ radio as the co-host with Upton Bell of Calling All Sports. 

Along with writing his blog for SuiteSports, Bob can be seen weekly on Sports Legends New England on WBIN-TV Boston and WPME Portland ME. He can be heard weekdays on WTPL Radio, and is currently serving as a PA announcer at Fenway Park for weekend Boston Red Sox games.


Bob has been inducted into:
The New England Sports Museum Hall Of Fame

The Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame

The New Hampshire Broadcasters Hall of Fame

The Vermont Broadcasters Hall of Fame

The New Hampshire Interscholastic Hall of Fame
 
Throughout his career Bob was named Sportscaster of the year on numerous occasions.   
Bob is also known for his local charity work for Children's Hospital and The Genesis Fund, among many others.

So yeah, he's kind of a big deal.