Friday’s Links – The Northwest Connection

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

From one bay to another. Now the Sox are in Oakland for the final leg of the last road trip of the first half.

• Steven Wright – the baseball player, not the comedian – was the man in Seattle on Thursday. Nearly pitching the equivalent of a quality start, he saved the bullpen. (Wright the ‘story of the day’ vs. Mariners)

• If Wright provided the pitching, then Daniel Nava brought the clutch hitting, swatting a go-ahead RBI single in the 10th to put the Red Sox up for good. (Daniel Nava delivers as Red Sox rally past Mariners)

• It’s been a long while since pitchers feared a Red Sox 3-4 hitter tandem, but with Dustin Pedroia & David Ortiz, they might just have found another. (Red Sox Have New Fearsome Twosome In Middle Of Order)

• The Red Sox’ rotation, while not necessarily a solid unit, has, well, inverted itself in terms of our expectations. This is what happens when Jon Lester is suddenly awful. (The inversion of the Red Sox rotation)

• Looking for some old faces in their new places? Very few of them are enjoying as much success as their former team. (Catching Up With Old Red Sox Friends At Midseason)

• At this point, you’re probably wondering how our buddy Will Middlebrooks is doing. To tell you the truth…not too bad, actually. (With PawSox, Middlebrooks learning to cope with major-league distractions)

• The bullpen needs a lefty killer. Why not one that torches right-handed batters too? We just saw the perfect guy in Seattle, then: Oliver Perez. (Oliver Perez: Pitcher You Want)

*bows down* We’re so not worthy.