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JUNKYARD DOGS, A Season of Redemption . . . and Hope.

17 of the starting 25 Red Sox for 2009 have much to prove this season. Of this number, 15 are rebounding from injuries which plagued 2008.

Five things necessary for a successful 2009

Now that we've officially put 2008 to rest, I thought it might be fun to roll the calendar forward 365 days to January 1st, 2010 and take a "look back" at 2009 and specifically five things that would need to have happened for the Red Sox to achieve it's goals of another championship.

It's important to note that these aren't the only five things, nor are they necessarily the most important. But it is fair to say that if these things don't happen, 2009 won't meet the organization's lofty goals.

Red Sox set up to succeed without Teixeira

I can't see how we're not set up to succeed as currently constructed. Remember, we came one game away from going to the World Series and the only major change in the landscape is the introduction of the New York Yankees into the equation but since when have they not been in the equation?

They may be stronger, they may repeat their 89-win year or they may win 95. Either way, it's not going to impact the Red Sox because of two reasons: the first is that the Sox always gameplan for the Yankees to win 95 games and the second is that the team, irrespective of the Yankee Way of doling out money to cover up warts, is set up to succeed.

Projections for 2009 Red Sox and others

Bill James has come out with his new handbook for 2009, and in the handbook are the early statistical projections for players next year. This may be especially significant in the case of the Red Sox, as James has a vast amount of knowledge of players in the Red Sox system due to being employed by the team.

Notes: Josh Beckett, Derek Lowe, Texas catchers

Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels confirmed the Red Sox approached the Rangers in July about two catchers. Expect the Red Sox to make overtures again.

Apparently not only was Derek Lowe interested in Boston, Boston was interested in Lowe.

Josh Beckett apparently "struggled" to put his shirt on prior to the game and would have needed another cortisone shot had the Red Sox advanced.

BOS 4, TB 2: One win away

Now, the Boston Red Sox are playing like the defending champions they are.

10/18: Do or Die Pt. II

2008 ALCS Game Six. Victory may seem unlikely, but the Red Sox have not claimed a championship title in the last ninety years without first digging themselves a 1-3 (or worse) hole in the ALCS, and then climbing out of it on their way to a World Series sweep. (The comment behavior is a little funky. Do not worry, when you hit submit, even if it times out for you, the comment went through. Just reload the comments page!)

Beckett takes hill tonight in must-win

Taking the hill tonight is, of course, Josh Beckett. The Beckett taking the hill is most certainly not one that we expected to take the hill this October -- this one has a lot of questions surrounding him.

TB 9, BOS 8: Homers pace Rays win

There were plenty of home runs and plenty of excitement in Game 2 of the ALCS between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay as the Rays took this one in extras, 11 innings to be exact, 9-8 on a sacrifice-fly from B.J. Upton. Both teams combined for seven home runs on the night in the slugfest. Goats of the Game : Beckett/Timlin It is nice to see the Josh Beckett of circa two years ago resurface and also see the deterioration of Mike Timlin happen in the same game. Next Game: Yet again... Jon Lester will have to pitch another big game for Boston.  Hopefully, he gets it done again....

10/11: It's Beckett Time

Prev. Gm: Boston Red Sox (3-1) @ Tampa Bay Rays (2-2) Josh Beckett (0-0, 7.20) @ James Shields (1-0, 3.38) 8:07 PM EDT | Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg, FL) TV: TBS RADIO: WRKO 680, ESPN GAME NOTES: Is it going to be the October Josh Beckett or will he still struggle with his oblique? Kazmir, a Sox-killer, hasn't had much success against them this year. Will he turn it around? Game Two....