The Bottom Line

Can the Sox end 1st half on a high note?

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:41:10 +0000

The Red Sox returned from a 9-game road trip with 6 wins and a healthy lead ove rthe Yankees in the AL East. Ten games at the Fens seemed like the perfect opportunity to hit the All Satr break on cloud nine, but things haven't panned out that way. We lost two of three to Seattle and managed two victories over the A's, despite the offense going into hibernation. Still we had a chance to stay...

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Lester featured in new "Livestrong" campaign

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:49:29 +0000

Dan at Red Sox Monster was offered a preview of the new Nike "Livestrong" commercial staring Jon Lester... and he was kind enough to share it with us: Jon Lester featured in new Nike Livestrong campaign Visit www.wearyellow.com to learn more about the Livestrong campaign and look for Jon's special yellow glove when he makes a start this month.

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Wake earns league leading 11th win

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:38:21 +0000

Told ya. Okay... I'll be honest, my predictions don't often come true and I usually ending up swearing at the myself for jinxing the game. But yesterday I told you all that Tim Wakefield would have a solid game and earn his 11th victory of the season... and he did. Wake only made it through six innings of work due to 10 scattered hits by the A's, but he held them to three runs (one earned)...

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Tim Wakefield: The AL's first 11-game winner

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:03:15 +0000

That's right! I said it! Place your bets folks... I'm predicting a soild seven innings from Wake and a W for the Sox tonight. Wake is 10-6 with a 4.07 ERA in 27 starts against Oakland... but more importantly - he's 6-0 at Fenway this season. If the rain holds off, you can make it 7-0... trust me... does this guy look like a loser?? Go Sox!

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Jays "shopping" Roy Halladay

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:06:19 +0000

From WEEI.com: When asked if he would rule out trading Roy Halladay to an American League East competitor if it came time for the Blue Jays to deal their ace, Toronto GM J.P. Riccardi texted "No", Tuesday night. Earlier in the day Ricciardi first told Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com that the Blue Jays would listen to offers for Halladay, telling Rosenthal, "We have to see what's out there."...

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This just in... Josh Beckett is awesome.

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:50:33 +0000

The Red Sox appeared to be limping into the All Star break after losing three of thier last four games to Sweattle and Oakland, but Josh Beckett doesn't believe in losing. In fact, he's only done it once in his last 12 starts. Instead, he's posted eight wins and three no decisions over that span while dropping his ERA from 7.22 on April 30th to 3.62 after last night's 5-2 win. Beckett is...

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How long is the John Smoltz leash?

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:43:43 +0000

John Smoltz has had a bumpy return to the majors. The jitters may have gotten to him in his first game back, causing his to cough up four runs in the first, 5 overall, against the Nationals. His second start was interrupted by bad weather, forcing him out of the game after four innings of work and just 52 pitches. And things weren't any better from him in his last start, his first at Fenway Park,...

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Weekend Update: All Star Edition

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:25:09 +0000

Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Jason Bay, Josh Beckett, Jonathan Papelbon and Tim Wakefield were all named to the All Star team this weekend. Pedroia managed to beat out Ian Kinsler for the starting job at second base, but Youk fell to Mark Teixeira in the final hours and was handed a reserve spot. Josh Beckett will get two starts this week to make his case as the starter for the AL, but Roy...

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Tim Wakefield is an All Star

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:36:42 +0000

I'm a little late with this, but this news is worthy of a weekend note... at 42-year old Tim Wakefield is finally an All Star. Wake is 10-3 with a 4.30 ERA and 53 strikeouts this season and was chosen as a reserve by Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon, who will manage the AL team in St. Louis on July 14. Wake was battling for a pitchers spot with AL strikeout leader Justin Verlander,...

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Happy Fourth of July

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:46:03 +0000

Jason Bay became a US citizen just in time for Independence Day... now we just need to sign him to nice, fat 5-year contract all American style and we'll be good to go. Happy Fourth of July everyone. Rob

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Do the Sox really NEED to make a deadline move?

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:49:02 +0000

I've been thinking... The Red Sox might be the deepest team in baseball, even with Matsuzaka on the DL and Jed Lowrie still rehabbing in the minors. The clearly have to chips to make a big move (or a small one) before July 31st... but do they NEED to? Jason Bay is one of the AL's most productive hitters, despite a .268 BA at present. Jacoby Ellsbury has proven that he can handle the...

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Turning The Page, starring Josh Beckett

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:54:48 +0000

The Sox lost a forgetful game yesterday when the bullpen imploded like the planet Krypton. My prediction of John Smoltz' dominance was not completely accurate, but he did hold the O's to three hits and one run before the weather bounced him from the game. The rest is history and I'll leave it there... Now we look to Josh Beckett... you know the guy that has dominated every opponent, save...

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The Mike Lowell Dilemma

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:42:39 +0000

Mike Lowell hit the DL today and, as expected, Jeff Bailey was added to the roster. If Lowell's hip bothers him for the rest of the season, the Sox will have to make some decisions and they could make a move in that direction before the trade deadline on July 31st. Here are some options: Jeff Bailey and Mark Kotsay hold down the fort at first base while Kevin Youkilis moves over to third base....

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Prediction: John Smoltz will dominate tonight

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:51:30 +0000

John Smoltz allowed four runs in the first inning of his 2009 debut against the Nationals last week. After a month of denial, Smoltzy admitted that his return to major league action was more than just any other start... "There's been so much going on in the last eight days, I'm kind of glad it's over so I can resume the five-day rotation and do what every pitcher does," he said, "and that's...

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Samurai slices baseball

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:56:12 +0000

If there are two things I love it's baseball and the Samurai... and so, I give you this: Cool, right? Shoutout to Big League Stew for the clip.

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