Fireside Chats #39: Where we preview the East, talk ourselves into Sheff, and learn from Dylan

The next time we all get together and talk, there will be actual baseball going on (thank you lord, the Spring has been the death of me). While Paul and I go out on a limb and agree that the O’s and Jays will struggle this year, our opinions on the AL East Champions differs. Find out who proclaims Yankees as the favorites in our AL East preview segment.

We recap the Madness and come away convinced that Jacoby Ellsbury might not only win this thing, but that he might be the most important player on the Red Sox this season.

Gary Sheffield’s been released in Detroit…could he? could we? nah….or could we? Maybe Sheff as a Sox isn’t as far fetched an idea as you might think.

If you stick with us until the end, Dylan from CA tells us why he thinks Mike Lowell could and will be the surprise performer in Boston in 2009. Dylan, shoot me an email at tdaloisio [@] gmail.com with your contact info so I can arrange a shirt from our friends at the Red Seat. Listen Now!!!

Carter, Green make 25-man

Nick Green and Chris Carter are your final members of the 2009 Opening Day Boston Red Sox, Sean McAdams reports. Carter grabs the “Kotsay spot” and should see time at first and DH until Kotsay returns in May. Green will back up the infield until Julio Lugo returns a week or two into the season.

Things can change if the Red Sox make an acqusition this week. The Sox are known to like Jeff Keppinger, who is available. If they do acquire Keppinger, you would have to think Lugo will not return at all.

Know Thine Enemy 2009: Toronto Blue Jays

It wasn’t long ago that the Toronto Blue Jays were expected to be in the position now occupied by the Tampa Bay Rays as the third wheel atop the American League East. While there is some strong young talent in Toronto, J.P. Riccardi’s five year plan is looking more like a two term presidential rebuilding plan in action. It’s hard to believe that this team is anything resembling “on the road to competing” in the most vaunted division in baseball.

Last year was a mess for the Blue Jays. Between injuries, slumps, manager changes, and overall bad luck, the Jays still found themselves dreaming of a run at the Wild Card late in the Summer. While an 86-win season was respectable and would have put you in the playoffs in the NL West, it yielded another season leaving Jays fans frustrated with what could have been if there were any semblance of an offense behind one of the best rotations in baseball.

Red Sox Madness: Lester vs Youkilis

In preparation for the best two weeks in sports, starting with the Final Four, running through the Masters with a little thing called Opening Day sandwiched in the middle, we idly pass the time with our Red Sox Madness tournament. As expected, Josh Beckett joined the upstart Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia in the Final Four. Today the final region battles to join them.

In what is expected to be the most heated battle of the second round, #2 seed Kevin Youkilis battles #1 seed Jon Lester for the right to meet Beckett with a trip to the finals on the line.

Remember, the simple question is “who’s success is more important to the overall success of the Boston Red Sox in 2009?” Vote away after the jump!

Know Thine Enemy 2009: Baltimore Orioles

It’s time for Fire Brand’s annual Know Thy Enemy series, one where we reveal our division standing predictions over the course of the week by taking you into each division rival and examining what we will have to deal with.

Today, we talk fifth place; the consensus by Fire Brand to host that spot are the Baltimore Orioles.

Their offense, like it was last year, will be among the best in the league. The pitching? Terrible.

Brad Wilkerson takes ‘Temporary Leave’

According to a Boston.com news update, Brad Wilkerson has temporarily left the Boston Red Sox camp to pursue other options. Wilkerson hit just .118 this spring with 18 strikeouts in 42 at-bat’s. He was likely going to be sent down to Pawtucket with how Chris Carter and Jeff Bailey’s springs have gone.His deal allowed him to opt out by April first, and he could sign a minor league deal with another club in the next couple of days.

Red Sox Madness Round 2: Pitchers Duel

The first two teams, UCONN & Villanova, have punched their tickets to the Final Four in Detroit, and the first two players have punched a ticket to the Final Four of our Red Sox Madness tournament. Just like March Madness, a #1 seed (Pedroia) and a #3 seed (Ellsbury) have advanced.

Today we move to the lower half of the brackets and are greeted with a serious pitchers duel in #1 seed Josh Beckett and #2 seed Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Remember, the simple question is “who’s success is more important to the overall success of the Boston Red Sox in 2009?” Vote away after the jump!

Previewing the 2009 Draft: Part III (11-15)

In Part I and II of this six part series previewing the 2009 First-Year MLB Amateur Draft, I’ve broken down the top ten prospects likely to be chosen first. Obviously there are certain things that could happen, such as injury, high demands, etc., that could make some prospects fall to lower in the first round. As I mentioned before, after Strasburg, the rest of the top picks could go in any order. Trying to predict the exact order of the draft right now is a fools errand, so rather than trying to guess who will take who, I give you the top picks based on talent only.


11. Aaron Crow, RHP, Ft. Worth Cats (AAIPB)


The ninth overall selection by the Washington Nationals last year, Aaron may have a slender frame, but he’s a complete power pitcher on the mound, complete with a mid-90’s fastball that features outstanding late life, a plus slider in the 83-85 mph range, and a above-average change-up. A virtually unknown pitcher coming into college, he was arguably the top right hander in the 2008 draft class. He made his biggest splash in the Cape Cod League, sitting around 96 mph and topping out at 98 with excellent life through the zone that resulted in lots of ground balls.

Fangraphs weighs in on the state of “Our” Red Sox organization.

Although the team has promoted some of its talent; Lowrie, Buchholz?, and Ellsbury. It is still a very strong system, with the lower minors adding a lot of recently drafted talent as well. Less-known talent of course, but talent nonetheless. The team knows what they are doing in this regard, and even though they will probably experience a few down years in terms of drafting players, they seem to be ahead of most teams in the way they evaluate talent.

Red Sox Madness Round 2: Pedroia vs. Papelbon

The first #1 seed has fallen in the 2009 Red Sox Madness tournament. Jacoby Ellsbury continued his Cinderella story this tournament as he knocked off the overall #1 seed David Ortiz in a 55-46 shocker and becomes the first entrant to the Final Four.

Today we move on to the next second round matchup featuring the reigning AL MVP, Dustin Pedroia, against one of the most dominant pitchers in the game, Jonathan Papelbon. Think there will be any trash talking between these two?

Remember, the simple question is “who’s success is more important to the overall success of the Boston Red Sox in 2009?” Vote away!