Monday’s Links – Western Woes

Photo by Kelly O’Connor of sittingstill.smugmug.com

This is why we hate west coast road trips so much. The team can do so much better…but they just don’t. It’s infuriating.

• Awesome O’Clock came and went, but the Red Sox couldn’t back John Lackey on a night where he was striking out nearly everything. (Lackey sharp, but Angels blank Red Sox)

• If you think the Red Sox won’t miss lefty-killer Andrew Miller and his 14.09 K/9 out of the pen, then you haven’t been watching enough Red Sox baseball. (Injured foot puts Andrew Miller on 15-day DL)

• All of us at Fire Brand, most notably Chip Buck, are wondering exactly how Jose Iglesias is looking this good. Witchcraft? Reality warping? (The sustainable side of Jose Iglesias’ success at the plate)

• The 40-man roster is a tricky little thing. The Red Sox have to protect players rom the Rule 5 Draft while also keeping their best players on the list. (Red Sox roster maneuvers are a long-range chess game)

• John Henry says that money won’t be a problem when the trade deadline comes around. I hate to sound a bit entitled, but…was it ever? (Henry: Money won’t be an issue at trade deadline)

• Jacoby Ellsbury is in his contract year. His agent, the hated devil-spawn known as Scott Boras, is concocting a plan to rip off a team sometime this winter. (How Scott Boras Helps Clients Navigate Contract Years)

• And the first starting pitcher is off the board. The Dodgers traded for Ricky Nolasco this weekend. (Miami Trades Ricky Nolasco for Warm Bodies)

It’s like watching two World War I tanks race.