7/8: Prelude to an All-Star

Considering the ovation Nomar got, why wouldn't we honor Wake and his first All-Star appearance even more of an ovation when he takes the mound tonight?

BOS 5, OAK 2: Stopper

Losing streaks don't happen with Josh Beckett on the mound.

Halfway Home

The 2009 Boston Red Sox are halfway through their season, 49-32 through their first 81 games. The Red Sox not only hold a 1.5 game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East, but also the best record in the American League, trailing over the Dodgers and their .634 winning percentage for the best record in baseball.

The halfway point marks an interesting time to not only take stock of the season that has come to pass, but also to look out at the road ahead and evaluate the terrain that lies between here and the ultimate destination.

Fireside Chats #52: Where Paul goes on a Nomar rant worth the price of admission

Some people were filled with emotion upon Nomar Garciaparra's return to Fenway Park, but not the cold heart of one Paul Testa who instead felt disgust. Paul and I react to the Nomar lovefest at Fenway Park this week as well as Tim Wakefield's Lifetime Achievement Award 2009 All-Star nod.

This weeks' "Tweet of the Week" from our Red Sox Twitter Tracker:

from @dzav

All that and more on Episode #52 of Fireside Chats on MVN!

7/7: Stop the slide

Is it me or is there the feeling of an "into the break" malaise overtaking this team? With six games between here and the All-Star Break, its time to snap out of it and hit the break hard.

Poll: Red Sox Reunion?

OAK 6, BOS 0: The Return of Nomar

Brett Anderson knew all the spotlight would be on Nomar Garciaparra which eased him into the game. Anderson, however, managed to be the show last night at Fenway Park.

Bates promotion tells a lot about Sox’s concern for O

With the recent callup of first baseman Aaron Bates to the club, it's clear that the Sox are concerned about their offensive viability.

With the All-Star break around the corner, the club could have opted to keep Jeff Bailey on the roster despite his high-ankle strain and go a couple days against a left-handed starter with Julio Lugo at short or Mark Kotsay at first (despite the latter's left-handed bat).

Instead, the club chose to promote a 25-year old struggling in Triple-A. Bates' numbers so far on the year are .182/.273/.295 with only 24 games at the level. And yet, the Sox brought him up to get his right-handed bat in the lineup against lefty pitchers.

7/6: Nomar…thanks

Nomar, Smoltz, got so wrapped up in the moment, I missed the game thread ;)

What a great moment at Fenway tonight.

Bailey likely to hit disabled list

Yesterday, first baseman Jeff Bailey suffered a high-ankle strain trying to make a play on Brad Penny's acrobatic flip to first base Saturday. He's likely to hit the disabled list, a loss given that the Sox are about to face two left-handed pitchers.

How can the Red Sox replace Bailey against left-handed starters?