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About Alex Speier

Before he joined WEEI.com, Alex covered the Red Sox for several New England and national publications, including the New Hampshire Union Leader, Boston Metro, Boston Herald and Baseball America. Alex graduated from Harvard, where he served as the captain of the debate team, an experience that has been of surprisingly little use in press boxes across the country.

 
COLUMNS
Alex Speier
02/10/2012 - 8:15am
The war chest: Why 2012 might be a good year for Red Sox to have financial flexibility
As the trade deadline approached in 2011, the Red Sox felt their hands, to a degree, were tied. Ditto 2010.
Alex Speier
02/08/2012 - 11:43am
What would arbitration hold for David Ortiz and the Red Sox?
It has been a decade since the Red Sox have gone to an arbitration hearing with a player. In 2002, the process taking place between the team and pitcher Rolando Arrojo received little notice.
Alex Speier
02/03/2012 - 3:59pm
Choosing the hard way: Why Aaron Cook embraced a Red Sox deal with no guarantees
Aaron Cook could have chosen an easier path this offseason.
Alex Speier
01/31/2012 - 7:57am
Why the Red Sox are willing to take a 'different' approach to shortstop
Alex Speier
01/26/2012 - 11:56am
The budget isn't the problem: Another look at the Red Sox payroll
For all of the handwringing about the Red Sox’ approach to the luxury tax, the reality is that the team is already projected to push past the $178 million threshold for the 2012 season for the seventh time in nine seasons.
Alex Speier
01/24/2012 - 6:21am
What the addition of Cody Ross means for the Red Sox
Alex Speier
01/23/2012 - 9:00am
Making sense of the Marco Scutaro trade
The trade of Marco Scutaro was treated throughout baseball as a confounding maneuver. The idea that the Red Sox were shipping the player who had been penciled in as their Opening Day starter seemed to make almost no sense.
Alex Speier
01/19/2012 - 8:00am
The blueprint: How teams have built championship rotations
On paper, the Red Sox feature three locks in their rotation and what seems like about a dozen question marks whom the team hopes to re-shape into a couple of answers.
Alex Speier
01/04/2012 - 8:00am
History repeating? For Andrew Bailey, Red Sox hope that past is prelude
For three years, Andrew Bailey has been one of the most dominant relievers in the majors. So why were the Red Sox able to acquire him without giving up any of their most prized prospects?
Alex Speier
12/30/2011 - 8:31am
Still the strength: Taking stock of Red Sox 2012 lineup
Ryan Kalish was never part of the equation for opening day in 2012.
Alex Speier
12/22/2011 - 8:56am
Where the Red Sox stand in the starting pitching market
Alex Speier
12/21/2011 - 1:36am
Converting? It's Complicated: Why Red Sox face complex move with Bard, Aceves
C.J. Wilson and Jonathan Papelbon were born within a week of each other in November 1980. Both broke into the majors in the middle of the 2005 season, a year in which, after dabbling in the rotation, they moved into the bullpen.
Alex Speier
12/19/2011 - 5:45pm
Timing is everything: Why the Mark Melancon deal was a good one for the Red Sox
The first trade of the tenure of new Red Sox GM Ben Cherington came and went last week with relatively little fanfare. The Sox added a late-innings reliever (precise role TBD) in Mark Melancon, a pitcher whose profile as a closer remained obscure despite a very good season given that his first taste of the role occurred last year for an Astros team that won just 56 games.
Alex Speier
12/15/2011 - 11:27am
Building blocks: What the Red Sox have done, and still have to do, this offseason
And so, the first moves by Red Sox GM Ben Cherington are on the books. But he is not done.
Alex Speier
12/09/2011 - 9:30am
A $154 million bargain? Revisiting Adrian Gonzalez deal in light of Albert Pujols' contract
DALLAS -- Is Albert Pujols better than Adrian Gonzalez? Maybe, maybe not.
Alex Speier
12/08/2011 - 3:50am
The Waiting Game: For Red Sox, no rush to make moves
DALLAS – Eager to find out what the Red Sox will do this winter? Too bad.
Alex Speier
12/07/2011 - 4:00am
Dare: Red Sox challenge David Ortiz to bet on his own future
Alex Speier
12/05/2011 - 7:59am
No big splash in Big D? Why the Red Sox might not have money to burn at winter meetings
DALLAS -- For the last several years, the Red Sox consistently have spent more aggressively than any team in the majors save for the Yankees.
Alex Speier
12/02/2011 - 8:56am
The unveiling: Reality displaces perception as Bobby Valentine is introduced
Now, the process that led to the hiring of Bobby Valentine is unimportant. The perception and preconceived notions of the new manager of the Red Sox likewise fade into irrelevance, as do any assumptions he might have had about his team.
Alex Speier
12/01/2011 - 9:45am
V is for Victory (Now): How Bobby Valentine became the Red Sox' manager
Make no mistake: The Red Sox’ managerial search ended in a very different place than where it began.
Alex Speier
11/28/2011 - 4:00am
Are you experienced (and does it matter)? Age, experience and the Red Sox managerial search
There are times when five weeks can seem like a very long time.
Alex Speier
11/24/2011 - 11:41am
The value of letting them walk: How the Red Sox have done by letting free agents leave
At first glance, it seemed uncertain whether the Red Sox would offer salary arbitration to free agents David Ortiz and Dan Wheeler on Wednesday.
Alex Speier
11/22/2011 - 8:53am
The Meaning of Bobby V.: What Valentine's interview says about Sox' managerial search
The atmosphere was simply … different.
Alex Speier
11/15/2011 - 6:22am
With Papelbon gone, how will Red Sox approach replacing him?
MILWAUKEE – What do you do when you watch your longtime All-Star closer become the first high-profile free agent to switch teams? If you are the Red Sox, then in all likelihood, you dig in and begin what could be a protracted waiting game for his replacement.
Alex Speier
11/10/2011 - 8:05am
What we've learned and what remains in the Red Sox managerial search
Three candidates down, two on the horizon and none planned beyond that.



Audio On Demand

The Boys Give Their Super…

The Boys Give Their Super Bowl Score on the Final Segment of NFL Sunday For the Year

The NFL Sunday gang wraps up the season predicting the score of Super Bowl 46...and they don't think it's going to be as close as most people do. Go Pats!

The Super Bowl Can Be Emotional Enough, But the Pats Are Doing It for Myra

NFL Sunday rolls on with Dale, Fauria and Price talking about the emotional roller coaster the Pats and more specifically team owner Robert Kraft have been on this season. With the passing of his wife Myra, this goal to become champs has taken on a whole new meaning.

The Giants Have Been Yapping...And Then Their Website Pokes the Pats

The NFL Sunday crew talks about the cocky and brash chatter coming from some of the Giants the last couple weeks. Dale is surprised that Tom Coughlin allowed most of it to go down and says Belichick would never let that fly. The guys also touch on the little mistake the Giants team website made yesterday in putting up the "Giants are Super Bowl Champions" homepage yesterday - that's a no-no!

JaJuan Johnson with Grand…

JaJuan Johnson with Grande & Max post-win

JaJuan Johnson spoke with Grande & Max after the Celtics beat the Bulls today at the Garden.

Grande & Max with Doris Burke

Sean Grande & Cedric Maxwell sat down with ESPN's Doris Burke during halftime of Celtics/Bulls

Doc Rivers & Sean Grande preview Celtics-Bulls tonight at the Garden

Doc Rivers & Sean Grande preview Celtics-Bulls today at the Garden. Tune in to Celtics Today at 3:00p to hear the full interview

Dustin Pedroia's Laser Sh…

Dustin Pedroia's Laser Show on the Big Show

Dustin tells us you can't hustle a hustler, and other funny anecdotes.

Red Sox GM Ben Cherington with the Big Show

The Sox GM joined Glenn and Michael to talk Scutaro, Punto, Oswalt, Luxury Tax and all things off-season.

Dustin Pedroia's Laser Show on the Big Show

Dustin Pedroia joined the Big Show for his weekly segment, and talked about losing Scutaro, gaining Cody Ross and Nick Punto, and then got a surprise from his best friend.

Brad Marchand, Bruins for…

Brad Marchand, Bruins forward, on Tim Thomas' facebook post

Brad Marchand joins the show and talks about if Tim Thomas is a distraction to the team and why the Bruins have been struggling as of late.

Andrew Ference, Bruins defenseman, on Tim Thomas, Patrice Bergeron, and the team's recent struggles

Andrew joins D&C to discuss how he feels about Tim Thomas' political views and how Patrice Bergeron has been the MVP for the team so far this season. Andrew also talks about how they have to regroup and make adjustments to get out this funk the team is currently in.

Brad Marchand, Bruins Forward, on Tim Thomas skipping White House visit

Brad Marchand joins the show to talk about President Obama calling him out on stage and Tim Thomas skipping the White House visit.

The Meter "He Said What" …

The Meter "He Said What" Minute

Meter talks about the Celtics 88-87 OT loss to the Lakers last night, Kobe Bryant trying to recruit Rob Gronkowski to the Eagles, and Samantha DeFlaco who went to the Giants Super Bowl parade looking for Jets QB Mark Sanchez.

Andrew Ference, Bruins defenseman, on Tim Thomas, Patrice Bergeron, and the team's recent struggles

Andrew joins D&C to discuss how he feels about Tim Thomas' political views and how Patrice Bergeron has been the MVP for the team so far this season. Andrew also talks about how they have to regroup and make adjustments to get out this funk the team is currently in.

Tim Thomas continues to be a distraction for the Bruins

Tim Thomas is once again in the news for posting his political views on facebook but refuses to talk to the media about it. Is this situation becoming more than a distraction to the team especially with their recent play? D&C react.

Brad Marchand, Bruins for…

Brad Marchand, Bruins forward, on Tim Thomas' facebook post

Brad Marchand joins the show and talks about if Tim Thomas is a distraction to the team and why the Bruins have been struggling as of late.

Jackie MacMullan, ESPN

Jackie Mac makes her weekly appearance and talks about the Celtics loss to the Lakers, the team's future, and what will happen with Paul Pierce.

Celtics fall to Lakers

In an ugly game, the Celtics lost to the Lakers in OT. Have we seen the last of the current Lakers Celtics rivalry?

Belichick picked his pois…

Belichick picked his poison in Mario Manningham... and it killed him

We play the soundbite from the NFL Network from Super Bowl 46 where Bill Belichick is telling his defense 'this is still a Cruz and Nicks game'. The Patriots of course were then burned by Mario Manningham on the Giants game-winning drive. We discuss whether it was the right decision or not.

Shaquille O'Neal is terrible at his new job as an NBA analyst for TNT

Glenn and Michael debate what, if anything, Shaq is bringing to the table for TNT's NBA pre and postgame coverage.

Tim Thomas... are his politics a genuine distraction for the Bruins or just a media-driven fabrication?

We talk about Tim Thomas refusing to speak to reporters about his political ramblings on Facebook, and about whether or not this is a media driven controversy, or a genuine distraction for Thomas' Bruins teammates.

Would the Patriots be mor…

Would the Patriots be more successful with a defensive coordinator?

The discussion of the Patriots loss in the Super Bowl and just like any other loss, the coaching is called into question and whether a defensive coordinator on staff would have helped Bill Belichick and the Patriots.

Could the Llama be coming to the Celtics

Mikey has made no bones about his feelings on Pau Gasol, what will he do if the Celtics trade Rondo for Gasol? Also our buddy LB calls in to talk about the Patriots Super Bowl loss.

Patriots fans are coming to terms with the loss

Mikey talks to some Patriots fans who are still looking at the loss and breaking down what went wrong but are also looking to the future for the franchise.

Fri. February 10th Whiner…

Fri. February 10th Whiner Line

Losing the Super Bowl? Terrrrrrrrrrrrrrible.

Whine of the Week - 02/10/12

This week's whine of the week winner. If you are our winner please send an email with which whine you left and all of your information to whineoftheweek@weei.com

Thurs. February 9th Whiner Line

Live from Hurricane's... not Cocaine's which is where Oil Can Boyd wanted to be broadcasting from. Plus the Cranky Yankee Bitch reaches her tipping point.

Mark Madden talks about t…

Mark Madden talks about the Penn State scandal and drops a new bomb about Jerry Sandusky

Our friend from Pittsburgh, Mark Madden, joins D&C to give his take on the Joe Paterno/Penn State scandal and says Jerry Sandusky may have been 'Pimping Out Young Boys to Rich Donors.'

More from this show

Shaquille O'Neal is terri…

Shaquille O'Neal is terrible at his new job as an NBA analyst for TNT

Glenn and Michael debate what, if anything, Shaq is bringing to the table for TNT's NBA pre and postgame coverage.

More from this show

The Dodgers Andre Ethier …

The Dodgers Andre Ethier PUNKS Red Sox 2nd Baseman Dustin Pedroia

Dustin joined Glenn and Michael on the Big Show, and they asked him if they could take a call. Dustin agreed, and the caller then went on to rip the crap out of him. What Dustin didn't know is that the caller was one of his best friends... Andre Ethier from the Dodgers.

More from this show

Is this really Joe in Nas…

Is this really Joe in Nashville or Randy Moss calling in again

D&C receive a second call from Joe in Nashville voicing his frustration over the Pats not bringing back Randy Moss during last offseason.

More from this show

Tim Thomas... are his pol…

Tim Thomas... are his politics a genuine distraction for the Bruins or just a media-driven fabrication?

We talk about Tim Thomas refusing to speak to reporters about his political ramblings on Facebook, and about whether or not this is a media driven controversy, or a genuine distraction for Thomas' Bruins teammates.

More from this show

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