SPORTS
Boston Red Sox Off-season
By Ryan Piscatelli
With the 2019 spring training just starting a little bit ago, it’s time to check on the World Series champions and see how they plan on continuing their legacy this year. The Boston Red Sox have not made that many changes, but they’ve been pretty big.
The biggest news that Boston has brought us so far, is their statement on Craig Kimbrel, otherwise known as the “Crow” pitcher. The Red Sox team have stated that it is unlikely that he will be signed by them, and if not them, then no one else is interested in him. Another pitcher will also not return to Fenway, Joe Kelly signed the free agency deal with the Dodgers instead of Boston. Un-ironically, the Red Sox are trying to count on their relievers this year!
On some news that seems to be looking up for Boston, Dustin Pedroia is saying after his knee surgery that he’s healthy for a new season, even though Cora keeps saying that he has to be patient, I personally would love to see the return of Pedroia. JD Martinez also signed up with the Red Sox, but he is also a little disappointed with the league, saying that free agents, once again, will be overlooked this year, and will be underpaid, which I can agree with, he got player of the year and just signed a contract for 5 years with $110 million.
Alex Cora stated that E-Rod has done an outstanding job in the off-season and that as of right now, he’s their favorite pitcher. Red Sox have also announced that Steve Pearce, the MVP of the world series, is also coming back for a year for $6.25 million. Who would’ve guessed that the Red Sox are keeping Mookie Betts?
It’s not like he held almost every single record last year, can’t wait to see him on the field once again, with his explosive bat. There have been two players that the Sox have been hinting at, one of which was Michael Chavis, a third baseman who is a B- rated player;, he’s considered to be one of the best players in the farm system for the Sox right now. Also, Ryan Braiser has been talked about, spending some time in Japan, then out of nowhere coming to play 34 games with Boston and had one run in nine postseason appearances, he might help take over after Kimrebl’s fallout.
As of right now, February 28th, the Red Sox are 2-3 and are going against the Nationals right as I write this article. Their first real game this season is March 28th against the Mariners, and I, like many other Boston Red Sox fans, are hyped for the following season because the energy from last year hasn’t worn off, and they still look as eager for a world series trophy as 2018. Here i’s for a prediction, that will probably not happen, but hey. My prediction, at the least, is that the red sox will still dominate the AL East, and make it to the playoffs, but you never know, with the Yankees still eating off their farm systems. Good Luck Boston, you’ll need it!
World Track and Field
By Eli Sorvillo
Track and field is a sport that is played in many countries. Almost everywhere in the world they compete. It is a very fun sport with many options. There are different events. Running is the main part of the sport and comes from the “track” part of the name. Field is a lot of different competitions. There is shot put. There is javelin throw. There is also discus and long jump. There is a high jump and pole vault as well. There is a indoor and there is a outdoor track season. Indoor season meets are usually in a indoor place and the track is usually 200 meters. Outdoor tracks are 400 meters. One type of running event is a relay race, where 4 players from the same team hand off a baton to each other after a certain distance.
There are long distance relays, mid distance relays, and sprint relays. There are regular single person races to, competing from opposite teams for medals and ribbons. Field events also compete and usually take longer then races, only because they are slower and everyone needs to take a turn. Discus, is where you throw a weighted frisbee from your hand as far as you can. Shot Put, you throw a weighted ball a certain distance and see who throws the farthest, javelin, you throw a stick that is quite light and it's the same concept. Pole vault is different. You hurl yourself up into the air with a pole and try to make it over a certain height bar. The bar is different height depending on your heart. A heat is the people you will be competing against. Long jump is different than both of them. You run up to a stretch of sand and jump as far as you can and wherever your feet land is where your mark is. You want to try to move your feet as far as you can, without falling. If you fall your jump will be canceled. In the high jump event you run up to a bar, usually 5-7 feet, and jump over it. You can go over it in a sideways way. High jump can be one of the most difficult events. Track has been along for a long time and the events are almost the same. Most high school and colleges have a track and field team for spring. Not as many have a team for the winter though. Not everyone can get transportation in the winter. Many more athletes compete in the spring than winter. The weather is much nicer outdoors. Inside tracks can get crowded and harder to navigate around. Indoor tracks are almost half as big as outdoor, that is why it's only 200 meters. There are normally more teams at outdoor meets as well and more variety of events to choose from, mainly because there is much more room and you are outside with more space you can run farther and throw farther.