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What you're saying: Folks are generally upbeat on Larranaga

We've been asking readers today to tell us if Jim Larranaga would be a good choice for the PC Friars' head coaching vacancy. As I write this, there have been 103 votes, with 65 (or 63 percent) saying that Larranaga is a good choice.

Here's what one Larranaga supporter said: "Jim is a consummate professional, an outstanding recruiter, coach and teacher. He practices what he preaches and what he preaches leads to exemplary student athletes and successful basketball teams. He had success at Bowling Green, but his greatest success came at GMU because the University supported his vision and goals. With the same support from the PC administration, he will return Providence to the top of the Big East and the NCAAs."

The hits on Larranaga generally concern his age, and his lack of big-time head coaching experience. Here's one reader's quote: "Not a good choice at this time. Need someone who is younger with a great resume. Must be able to RECRUIT Big East caliber talent!!"

Interestingly, when we asked readers earlier this month if Brown's Craig Robinson would be a good choice for the job, about the same majority -- 62 percent -- said that Robinson would be a good fit.

Click here to vote in the Larranaga survey.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:10 PM to PC basketball | Permalink | Comments 0

Today's high school postponements -- updated

Not a great start to the high school baseball season. Reschedule date is in parentheses if we know it:

Baseball
Pilgrim at Hendricken (canceled)
St. Raphael at Woonsocket
Middletown at East Providence
Cumberland at North Providence (tomorrow, 3:30 p.m.)
Lincoln at La Salle (tomorrrow, 4 p.m.)
Barrington at Portsmouth (tomorrow, 4 p.m.)
Tiverton at Moses Brown (tomorrow, 4 p.m.)
Central at Classical (tomorrow, 4 p.m.)
Warwick Vets at Cranston East (tomorrow, 4 p.m.)
Coventry at Cranston West (tomorrow, 4 p.m.)
North Kingstown at Chariho (Thursday, 3:45 p.m.)

Girls lacrosse
Bay View at Cumberland

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 2:46 PM to High School | Permalink | Comments 0

Blue Jays-Yankees postponed

NEW YORK (AP) - The beginning of the end will have to wait.

The final opening day at Yankee Stadium was postponed because of rain Monday, pushing back New York's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The game was rescheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday, previously an off day in the series. Chien-Ming Wang had been slated to pitch for the Yankees on his 28th birthday against Toronto ace Roy Halladay.

New York owner George Steinbrenner showed up around noon for the 84th opening day at Yankee Stadium, but history was put on hold by a steady rain that washed away batting practice and the planned festivities.

The tarp remained on the field until the game was called at about 2:30 p.m. after a delay of approximately 85 minutes. Players never were introduced.

Next year, the Bronx Bombers will move into a $1.3 billion new Yankee Stadium, under construction just across 161st Street.

"You see the new stadium, but it still seems like that's years away, even though it's only one," Derek Jeter said. "Just 100 yards away? That's not too far for the ghosts to go."

The rain also delayed Joe Girardi's debut as Yankees manager. Girardi is taking over this season from his mentor, Joe Torre, who spent the past 12 years in charge.

Torre guided New York to the playoffs every season from 1996-2007 and won four World Series rings in his first five years. He walked away in the offseason when the club offered him just a one-year contract with a pay cut, then quickly was hired to manage the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Yankees have won 10 consecutive home openers, the best run in franchise history and the longest active streak in the majors, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

"There's so many memories here that go beyond baseball," Jeter said.

The rainout means there still has never been a regular-season game in March at Yankee Stadium, christened by Babe Ruth's homer before 74,200 fans on opening day in 1923. The Yankees played at Shea Stadium, home of the Mets, from 1974-75 while Yankee Stadium was being remodeled.

Notes: Shannon Stewart was penciled in to start in left field for Toronto instead of Matt Stairs, who has a left hip flexor. Stairs was supposed to be available off the bench, and the Blue Jays said they don't plan to put him on the disabled list. "He feels really well right now so we'll see how he feels after he takes batting practice in the cage," general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. "Just go day to day right now." Stairs, who tested his sore hip during the team's workout Sunday, also had a hip problem last season. "This one might be a little bit more intense than the one last year," he said Sunday. "I just want to get that little clicking out of there that's catching when I run sometimes. It doesn't bother me on any swing, just running and lifting that leg up. You get a pinch once in a while." ... The Yankees have won 15 of their past 16 home openers and 21 of 24.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 2:33 PM to Red Sox | Permalink | Comments 0

World Series trophies coming to Rhode Island on Sunday

Both the 2004 and 2007 Red Sox World Series trophies will make a Rhode Island appearance on Sunday.

They will be at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket before and during the Pawtucket Red Sox game scheduled that day for 1:05 p.m., Governor Carcieri's office announced today. The PawSox will host the Indianapolis Indians.

Gates open at 11 a.m. and Pawtucket Red Sox ticket holders can have photos taken with the two most famous pieces of hardware in Red Sox lore. The photos will later be available at pawsox.com, where they can be downloaded.

"As Rhode Island is the heart of Red Sox Nation, it is truly an honor to have the first presentation of both World Series Trophies here at McCoy Stadium," Carcieri said in a statement. "The Pawtucket Red Sox organization provided the foundation for both the 2004 and 2007 World Series teams and all Rhode Islanders are proud to share in their accomplishments. It is fitting that we kick off the 2008 season with the good fortunes of the past."

The first 4,000 fans coming into McCoy Stadium Sunday will get a commemorative Red Sox World Series pennant.

The PawSox' season opener is this Thursday at 7:05 p.m. at McCoy.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 1:31 PM to Red Sox | Permalink | Comments 0

Our newest high school coach blogger

Clement Soscia, track coach at Toll Gate High School, will be helping us provide coverage of track on HSGametime.com. You can find his work on the High School Coaches Blog; today he has an entry about the Knights of Columbus relay, coming this weekend to Mount Pleasant High School.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 12:29 PM to High School | Permalink | Comments 0

Download today's sports cover

On today's sports cover, Robert Lee has coverage of the Celtics' blowout victory over the lowly Miami Heat, Sean McAdam describes the tough early road ahead of the Red Sox, and Kevin McNamara has the first story of what could be a very interesting week in Providence College's head coach search.

Click here to download the file in pdf format.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 9:32 AM | Permalink | Comments 0