Wednesday’s Links – Rinse, Don’t Repeat

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

Well, that was a nice little bounce-back win there for the Red Sox after and immensely frustrating Monday. On to the rubber match!

• There have been better first innings, that’s for sure. But when Jacoby Ellsbury rediscovers his 2011 self, that first inning suddenly doesn’t matter so much anymore. (Sox overcome tough start for 15-10 win over Astros)

• Steven Wright‘s signature knuckleball was plagued by movement problems. And it wasn’t a lack of it – there was almost too much movement, he says. (Wright stuff? Not really)

• Finally, progress for Clay Buchholz. I’m gonna be cautiously optimistic here, because the last time he took a step forward, his neck was not having it. (Buchholz feels no pain after throwing off mound)

• He’s getting more starts than usual nowadays, and now both John Farrell & the pitching staff both love having Jarrod Saltalamacchia behind the dish. (Familiarity with pitching staff has increased Saltalamacchia’s value to Red Sox)

• There’s times when a platoon just doesn’t work, and you’re seeing a good example at third base. Time to solve that problem. Bring up Xander Bogaerts. (It’s time to bring Xander Bogaerts up to the Red Sox)

• When Jon Lester is your number 5 starter, you’ve got a mighty fine rotation that can match up with the best of the American League. (Starting To Roll: How Red Sox Rotation Stacks Up In AL)

• He never knew what he tested positive for or why, but David Ortiz is still very much in the dark about his own 2003 PED test. (David Ortiz still doesn’t know why he tested positive for PEDs in 2003)

He’s the pitcher we need, not the one we deserve.