Kevin Youkilis News: Pro Sports Daily

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October 7

Boston Globe

"The Everyman is not for everyone. Kevin Youkilis has tried to make peace with that. He wants to be liked, to be admired - who doesn't? - but it cannot be at any price. There is scant room for compromise when you are the most intricate cog in the Red Sox wheel, a multi-positional player who provides the manager with the precious gift of flexibility, a middle-of-the-lineup power hitter who never, ever, gives away an at-bat, an on-base savant whose patience at the plate earned him cult status in a New York Times best seller, a Gold Glove first baseman who just might win one at third, too, if he ever logs enough games there. The Red Sox will open the Division Series tonight against the Anaheim ..."

Youkilis (back) ailing; Martinez away

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September 16

Boston Globe

"Just in time to face the Angels - and the Angels' best pitcher - the Red Sox found themselves without their two most potent offensive threats. Their Nos. 3 and 4 hitters were J.D. Drew and Jason Bay, not exactly the punch the Sox were looking for in the series opener against the team they are likely to face in the first round of the playoffs. Kevin Youkilis spent yesterday morning at Massachusetts General Hospital, as doctors tried to determine whether he had a kidney stone."

Kevin Youkilis backs out

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September 16

Boston Herald

"Kevin Youkilis was not in the starting lineup for last night's 4-1 win against the Angles because of lower back spasms. It is debatable just how bad the news is. Sox manager Terry Francona said Youkilis had to go to Mass. General with what he thought was a kidney stone. It was not, but the discomfort was enough to sideline him. "That will go away. He felt like he dove for that ball the other night and maybe it grabbed him," Francona said. "I think it's just normal things that happen. Back spasms, not a lot you can do." Francona was unsure when Youkilis will be able to return. Victor Martinez also was out of the lineup. He was iffy to begin with because of a collision at home plate in the ..."

For knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, simple anything but

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September 6

Boston Herald

columnist Sean McAdam

"From the time they're young, pitchers are taught that when a ground ball is hit to the right side of the infield, they are to immediately head toward first in the event the first baseman has been lured away from the bag and the base has to be covered. By high school, it should be instinctual, a response imbedded in one's baseball DNA. It's the same for major league pitchers, especially those who have been in the big leagues for 17 seasons now. So when Chicago White Sox infielder Chris Getz hit a roller to first baseman Kevin Youkilis in the sixth inning yesterday afternoon, Tim Wakefield [stats] perfectly understood his responsibility. But knowing it and performing it are two different ..."

Greg Montalbano a fighter on, off field

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August 23

Boston Herald

"It was a little over a month ago, and Greg Montalbano's battle with cancer was closing in on its sad but merciful conclusion. As he lay sleeping in his bed at Brigham and Women's Hospital, his former baseball coach at Northeastern University, Neil McPhee, was talking with Greg's mother, Sharon, about the time the stringbean lefty took over in the eighth inning of a championship game against Vermont and struck out the side. Now there was some stirring from Greg, who opened his eyes, sat up a little, and said, "Coach, it was the seventh inning. And I came back in the eighth and struck out two out of three." Those of you who knew Greg Montalbano can smile at that story, maybe even laugh a ..."

Kevin Youkilis' big day in memory of 'GM'

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August 23

Boston Herald

"Kevin Youkilis had a heavy heart but a quick bat yesterday. After learning that his friend and former minor league teammate Greg Montalbano had died after a long battle with cancer, Youkilis wrote "GM" on his cap and then delivered the first of two home runs with a second-inning blast off New York Yankees starter A.J. Burnett in Montalbano's memory. After rounding the bases, Youkilis pointed to the sky to honor Montalbano and thus begin what would turn into a rollicking good time for him. By the time Youkilis was done he'd homered twice and driven in six runs, both tying career highs, in a 14-1 pounding of the Yankees that was propelled not only by his bat but by the timely swinging of it. ..."

No regrets from Kevin Youkilis

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August 19

Boston Herald

"Kevin Youkilis has no regrets. He just wishes more people could see things - or more accurately, feel them - from his perspective. Hours before returning to the lineup for the first time since finishing a five-game suspension, Youkilis wasn't backing down from his decision to charge Detroit Tigers right-hander Rick Porcello last week, which resulted in his forced vacation. "A lot of people are questioning what I did," said Youkilis, who had a double and walk in last night's 10-9 win over the Blue Jays. "I've heard a lot of things around Boston lately. It is what it is. You can't take back what you do in life and you just move on." But Youkilis was just getting started. He has been the ..."

Offense in suspended animation

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August 18

Boston Globe

"At the beginning of the season, a lineup that included Victor Martinez, Casey Kotchman, Brian Anderson, and Alex Gonzalez would have been unimaginable. Born out of necessity - and an active trade season - the Red Sox lineup Sunday was an amalgam of deadline deals and waiver pickups. There were injuries to contend with too - most notably J.D. Drew (groin). But the biggest void in Sunday's nine was the absence of one particular player."

Youkilis takes his medicine

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August 13

Boston Globe

"Accepting the judgment but showing no regret for his actions, Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis last night began serving the five-game suspension Major League Baseball handed down as punishment for him charging the mound and tackling Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello Tuesday. Youkilis, who had never before attacked a pitcher despite numerous prior plunkings, originally appeared on the lineup card yesterday afternoon, batting cleanup and playing first. The Red Sox briefly thought about appealing, but after consideration by Youkilis, manager Terry Francona, general manager Theo Epstein, and Youkilis's agent, Joe Bick, the Sox wanted to end the suspension as soon as they could. "We decided to ..."

Kevin Youkilis stops fighting

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August 13

Boston Herald

"Sentencing came fast for Kevin Youkilis yesterday, and rather than file an appeal of his five-game suspension for charging the mound in Tuesday's second-inning brawl with the Detroit Tigers, the Red Sox infielder began serving his time immediately. "After talking to Youk we decided to take our medicine and move on," Sox manager Terry Francona said. "We seem to be healthy right now." Youkilis was hit in the series opener when the Red Sox and Tigers exchanged beanballs. In Tuesday's game, Red Sox starter Junichi Tazawa hit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera in the first inning and Detroit starter Rick Porcello drilled Youkilis in the back in the second in apparent response. An enraged ..."

Rick Porcello, Kevin Youkilis suspended 5 games each after brawl

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August 13

Detroit News

"After their second-inning fracas in Tuesday's game, Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello and Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis were suspended five games by Major League Baseball. Both players appealed the suspensions, but Porcello has dropped his appeal and will begin serving his five games tonight. In the second inning Tuesday night at Fenway Park, Youkilis charged the mound after being hit by a Porcello pitch. Youkilis flung his helmet at Porcello, who in turn slammed Youkilis to the ground. Both benches cleared in the incident, but no punches were thrown. The Red Sox won the game, 7-5, as Youkilis' replacement, Mike Lowell, hit two home runs. The Tigers also had to make a starting ..."

Things picked up after takedown

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August 12

Boston Globe

columnist Dan Shaughnessy

"Bill Belichick would have loved it. Kevin Youkilis took a first-pitch fastball in the back, hesitated for a split second, then made a bull rush for 20-year-old Tiger pitcher Rick Porcello. The kid righty was backpedaling when a sprinting Youk flung his helmet at him, then wrapped him up and wrestled him to the ground like a baby calf. Go Time. Now we know who can take the place of Mike Vrabel. "At some point you've got to protect yourself,'' said a somewhat chagrined Youkilis. " . . . I let my emotions get the best of me.'' The Red Sox were kick-started by Youk's five-star nutty. Trailing, 3-0, when Youkilis got plunked, they rallied to beat the Tigers, 7-5. But a price will be paid. ..."

Kevin Youkilis pulls no punches

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August 12

Boston Herald

"Monday night, when the Red Sox hit Miguel Cabrera with a pitch, the Tigers returned fire by hitting Kevin Youkilis in return. Last night, a similar scenario played out. Cabrera got hit on the left hand in the first inning, and after the Tigers brushed back - but didn't hit - Victor Martinez in the bottom of the frame, Youkilis got hit with the first pitch of the second. The exchange didn't end there, however. Youkilis headed for the mound in pursuit of rookie pitcher Rick Porcello. Before he reached the back-pedaling right-hander, he fired his helmet at him in frustration, then went for a takedown, only to end up on the bottom of a pile of bodies. The benches soon emptied, with players ..."

Kevin Youkilis tired of being target practice

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August 12

Boston Herald

"He has become the official pinata of Major League Baseball. He is America's Most Wanted in America's Pastime. He has not one bull's eye on his back, but about 12 of them. He is Kevin Youkilis, No. 1 with a bullet (to the ribs) in baseball's Hit Parade. In what is fast becoming a nightly side show to every Red Sox game, home or away, Youk took another fastball to the body last night, this one delivered in the second inning by Detroit Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello. It was the eighth time Youk has been hit by a pitch this season, tops on the Sox, but nowhere near as many times as league leader Kelly Shoppach of the Cleveland Indians, who has been hit 15 times. It's one thing to be hit by a ..."

Red Sox have a brawl

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August 12

Boston Herald

"The Red Sox struck upon a novel solution to their four-guys-for-three-spots conundrum last night. Kevin Youkilis starts, charges the mound and gets ejected. Mike Lowell improbably pinch runs and then blasts a pair of home runs. Everybody wins. It was certainly a workable formula last night. With Youkilis playing the role of enraged middle linebacker after being hit for the second time in as many nights, the Red Sox rode the production of his replacement to a 7-5 victory that increased their wild card lead to 1 ½ games over the Rangers. "(Lowell) starts out there watching and pretty quickly he's down there stretching having a huge outcome on the game," manager Terry Francona said. "That's ..."

Outfield shift: Youkilis in left, Baldelli on DL

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August 7

Boston Globe

"The sight was odd, as Kevin Youkilis meandered around left field in between pitches last night at Yankee Stadium. For a player used to alternating positions, this was strange even for him. Youkilis, whose outfield glove was left behind at Fenway Park, was assigned to left field last night for the first time since 2006. With one left fielder chained to the bench with a balky hamstring and another en route from Triple A, Youkilis was pressed into action, though it appears Josh Reddick will return to left field tonight. It was a cameo, but it demonstrated just how hard hit the Sox have been with injuries recently, as Rocco Baldelli was placed on the disabled list. "I don't take pride in it,'' ..."

Kevin Youkilis would love to stop at short

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July 12

Boston Herald

"Have you heard the joke about Kevin Youkilis playing shortstop? Of course you have. And you probably heard it a lot this past winter, when the Red Sox were pursuing free agent first baseman Mark Teixeria. At a time when rumors abounded that such a signing would force the Sox to move Youkilis to third base and trade Mike Lowell, more than a few fans came up with the wild and wacky suggestion that the Sox could have Teixeira and Lowell by simply moving Youkilis to shortstop. Youkilis heard some of those suggestions in the offseason, and, as he put it yesterday, "I found it very, very funny that there are people out there who thought I could play shortstop." Now we find out those fans who ..."

Yankees' Mark Teixeira gets All-Star nod over Red Sox' Kevin Youkilis

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July 6

New York Daily News

"Mark Teixeira picked up more than 1.4 million votes in the final three days of balloting to pass Boston's Kevin Youkilis and land the starting job at first base for the American League in this year's All-Star Game. He will represent the Yankees along with Derek Jeter, the top AL vote recipient, and Mariano Rivera on July 14 at St. Louis' Busch Stadium. Youkilis led Teixeira, 1,915,303 to 1,875,256, on Tuesday. In the final three days before voting closed at midnight Thursday, Teixeira's vote total nearly doubled. He finished ahead of Youkilis 3,309,050 to 3,069,906. "It shows how passionate Yankee fans are," said Teixeira, who was a Rangers All-Star in 2005. "There's probably four or five ..."

Fan friendly? Not quite

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July 4

Boston Herald

"Third baseman Kevin Youkilis had no hard feelings toward the young fan who got between him and a key foul ball during the Red Sox' 7-6, 11-inning loss to Seattle last night at Fenway Park. With the Sox leading 2-1 with one out in the top of the fourth inning, Mariners left fielder Ryan Langerhans lofted a lazy pop up toward the third base box seats. Youkilis had enough time to make the catch, but as he extended his glove into the seats just to the right of the Seattle dugout, the young fan reached up and snagged a coveted souvenir. Given new life, Langerhans responded with a double. Two batters later, Rob Johnson knocked him in with a double, and Ronny Cedeno followed with a two-run homer ..."

Kevin Youkilis hurting

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June 5

Boston Herald

"First baseman Kevin Youkilis will be re-evaluated today to find out if he can play tonight, after leaving yesterday's 6-3 win over the Tigers in the fourth inning with a tight right calf. The Red Sox believe the discomfort was related to an injury he sustained Wednesday night when Josh Anderson made contact with the back of his right foot on a play at first base. Youkilis reported some swelling near the Achilles' tendon yesterday morning but was in the game for 3 1/3 innings. "He woke up and got stretched before the game, but you could kind of see it looked like it was bothering him," said manager Terry Francona. Youkilis grounded out in the first inning and drew a bases-loaded walk in the ..."

Bay, Youkilis lead All-Star voting at their positions

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May 28

Boston Globe

"First baseman Kevin Youkilis and outfielder Jason Bay are the leading vote-getters at their respective positions in the American League All-Star balloting, while second baseman and reigning AL MVP Dustin Pedroia trails his former college teammate, Texas's Ian Kinsler, by a surmountable margin at second base. Youkilis leads the way at first base with 414,693 votes, putting him well ahead of Detroit's Miguel Cabrera, who is second at 299,597. The Yankees' Mark Teixeira is third at 295,798. Bay, who has a 1.011 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, a .282 batting average, 13 homers and 47 RBIs, has 446,183 votes, a small edge over Texas's Josh Hamilton, who had 442,553 votes. Seattle's Ichiro ..."

Kevin Youkilis' bat says it all

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May 25

Boston Herald

"After hitting a three-run rocket over the Monster Seats in the seventh inning yesterday at Fenway Park, Kevin Youkilis went into auto pilot as he rounded the bases in standard-issue, big league fashion. In other words, he resisted the temptation to lock eyes with third base umpire Joe West and spit out, "Well, was that one fair enough for you?" No, Youkilis did not go there. But he was decidedly displeased with West in the fifth inning of the Red Sox' 12-5 victory over the Mets, when he lofted a high fly to left that was somewhere in the neighborhood of the foul pole as it disappeared from the park. Was it fair? Was it foul? West called it foul, and this brought out Red Sox manager Terry ..."

After plunk, plenty of pluck

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May 23

Boston Globe

"Johan Santana, under typical circumstances and in his normal state of mind, is the undisputed best lefthanded pitcher on the planet, possessor of the craft's most wicked changeup and all other manner of lethal pitches. The last thing he needs on a pitching rubber is extra incentive. Kevin Youkilis, intentionally or not, gave that to him last night in the fifth inning of the Mets' 5-3 victory at Fenway Park, where Santana had not pitched since September 2006, when he still played for the Twins. The Red Sox scored three runs against him, which is commendable given the 1.36 ERA with which he entered and the 1.50 ERA with which he exited. But Santana oppressed the Sox when it mattered most, ..."

After plunk, plenty of pluck

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May 23

Boston Globe

"Johan Santana, under typical circumstances and in his normal state of mind, is the undisputed best lefthanded pitcher on the planet, possessor of the craft's most wicked changeup and all other manner of lethal pitches. The last thing he needs on a pitching rubber is extra incentive. Kevin Youkilis, intentionally or not, gave that to him last night in the fifth inning of the Mets' 5-3 victory at Fenway Park, where Santana had not pitched since September 2006, when he still played for the Twins. The Red Sox scored three runs against him, which is commendable given the 1.36 ERA with which he entered and the 1.50 ERA with which he exited. But Santana oppressed the Sox when it mattered most, ..."

Youkilis right back in the swing

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May 21

Boston Globe

"Nothing and nobody could slow Kevin Youkilis for the first 26 games of the season. Why would a 15-day stay on the disabled list be any different? Youkilis last night returned from the strained left oblique injury that had sidelined him since May 4, and it was as if he never left. He drilled three singles in five at-bats with a run and two strikeouts. Youkilis left off with a .393 batting average, which he actually raised to a league-leading .404. "I just went up there and tried to get my timing down," Youkilis said. "You've just got to work on your timing. Once you get back in there, your body feels good, you should be fine. The timing is going to be off just a little bit. You're just ..."

Youk set to rejoin Sox on Wednesday

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May 20

MLB.com

"The Red Sox will get one of their best players back in the lineup on Wednesday night, when first baseman Kevin Youkilis is activated from the disabled list. Youkilis has been sidelined since May 5 with a left oblique strain. Before the injury, he was one of the hottest hitters in the game, batting .393 with six homers and 20 RBIs. "Youk got through the day real well today, and unless there's something that happens overnight, he'll be activated for tomorrow," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said before Tuesday night's series opener against the Blue Jays. After a two-day tuneup at Triple-A Pawtucket, in which he went hitless in six at-bats, Youkilis was ready to reclaim his roster spot with ..."

Youkilis is ready to swing into action tonight

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May 20

Boston Globe

"Everything went according to plan for Kevin Youkilis yesterday with Pawtucket. He had four at-bats and "got through the day real well," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. The only thing amiss was something that usually can't be said about Youkilis: He did not record any base hits. "I asked him if he wanted to go to Double A so he could get some hits," said Francona, smiling. "He said no." Youkilis chose a far more appealing option. He will be activated from the 15-day disabled list and return to the Red Sox starting lineup tonight, the first day he's eligible to do so. Youkilis has been sidelined since May 5 with a strained left oblique, the result of being hit by two pitches in roughly ..."

Kevin Youkilis, Dice-K ready to return

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May 20

Boston Herald

"This week will feature a couple of significant roster changes as Kevin Youkilis and Daisuke Matsuzaka come off the disabled list. Youkilis, the first baseman and cleanup hitter, is expected back for tonight's game against Toronto. He had no setbacks in his two-game rehab stint at Pawtucket and showed no effects from the strained left oblique that has kept him out since May 4. Youkilis hit second and was 0-for-4 as the DH for the PawSox yesterday. He was 0-for-6 with a walk in two days, prompting Terry Francona to make a sarcastic suggestion. "I asked him if he wanted to go to Double A to get some hits. He said no," the Sox manager said. "I think he came through it feeling pretty well, and ..."

Youkilis plays first base in Triple-A start

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May 19

MLB.com

"Don't expect to see Kevin Youkilis in the broadcast booth when his playing days are done. "It's not a fun thing to sit there and watch games," the Red Sox first baseman said before his first rehab game, Monday night with Triple-A Pawtucket facing the Buffalo Bisons. "I don't think I could sit through a whole game. It's not as fun as playing." Originally scheduled to serve as the designated hitter Monday night, Youkilis told PawSox manager Ron Johnson he preferred playing the field. After a quick call to Sox head athletic trainer Paul Lessard, Youkilis was inserted into the lineup at first base. Leading off for the home team at McCoy Stadium, Youkilis went 0-for-2. In the first, he had a ..."

Kevin Youkilis rests oblique on DL

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May 13

Boston Herald

"After waiting as long as possible, the Red Sox yesterday faced the inevitable and placed first baseman Kevin Youkilis on the disabled list with a left oblique strain. Out since May 5, Youkilis will not be eligible to return until the second game of the team's homestand next Tuesday against the Blue Jays. Infielder Gil Velazquez was recalled to replace Youkilis and was in uniform last night. The Sox needed an infielder because their backup shortstop behind Julio Lugo and Nick Green was outfielder Rocco Baldelli. Before being placed on the disabled list, Youkilis didn't sound particularly hopeful of a quick return. "There hasn't been a miracle thing yet where I can play," Youkilis said. ..."

Drew almost back; Youk eyes Tuesday

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May 10

MLB.com

"While the earliest Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis will be back in the lineup is Tuesday night in Anaheim, right fielder J.D. Drew was also out of the mix for Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. With his left quad barking of late, Drew got a scheduled day off, which worked reasonably well for the Red Sox because lefty Scott Kazmir was the opponent. Manager Terry Francona plans on having Drew back at his disposal for Sunday night's series finale, when nasty right-hander Matt Garza faces Boston. "It's just sore and we don't want it to turn into something more," Francona said of Drew's quad. "We had kind of had that planned all along." Rocco Baldelli stepped in for Drew and ..."