NYY 9, BOS 3 – Sox Lose More Than Lester

Friday was a night where the Red Sox had a great chance to send their division rivals a message. Instead, they stumbled from the get-go, falling behind 5-0 before they broke the shutout (and no-hitter) in the fourth.

The game was shaky from the beginning, as the Sox were retired in order in the first. Lester looked sharp for the first two innings; particularly in the first when Mark Teixeira chased an outside pitch for a strikeout. Still, the Yanks were able to plate a run on a stolen base and two singles.

The game was quiet through the second inning but, it was all down hill from there.

The Yankees were able to tack on four runs in the third, an inning that also saw Lester leave the game after a Melky Cabrera liner caught him in the leg.

9/25: Lester in New York

GAME NOTES: Jon Lester, the probable ace in October, duels against Joba Chamberlain who is fighting for his rotation spot (versus Chad Gaudin).

Should Jon Lester start Game 1 or 2?

Today, Rob Neyer talked about the news that Jon Lester was going to be the No. 1 starter for the Sox in the ALDS. While he concedes that on some ends it makes sense, he gave more face time to making the case for Lester starting Game 2. I'm here to disagree.

Neyer's two points: One, the Angels are predominantly right-handed. Two, by starting Lester in Game 1 (and theoretically game 2) you lose the chance to have Lester starting in Yankee Stadium twice.

In a response to both points: Lester is starting against the Angels no matter what. Whether that's Game 1 or Game 2, so this point is really only valid for Game 5... if it's even played.

If it is, Lester has been far and away the Sox's best pitcher this year. Boston has to start him in Game 5 -- it's a do-or-die game and you have to have your best pitcher on the mound.

If there is no Game 5 and the Sox advance, Lester will be slated to start Games 2 and 6 (maybe even Game 1 if the Sox sweep) at Yankee Stadium.

So we either get Lester starting Games 2 and 6, or starting a do-or-die game where you need your best pitcher. Seems like sound logic to me.

Deadline Darlings: Bay vs. Martinez

For two consecutive seasons, Theo Epstein and the Boston Red Sox front office have made a splash on the infamous "Deadline Day". His shrewd ability to assess his team and aggressively make maneuvers to address any weaknesses or "fatal flaws" has been well documented and proven out year over year.

The question I pose to you all today, is who was larger impact on their respective teams in the year of their deadline day acquisition; Jason Bay in 2008 or Victor Martinez in 2009?

Of course much of VMart's story is still to be written and Bay's success last post-season places a high bar against which Martinez will be measured, but there is certainly enough of a sample between July 31 and today from which to engage the conversation.

BOS 10, KC 3 – Clay Delivers, KC Flops… Again

Red Sox 10 - Kansas City 3

Apparently, playing spoiler isn't as fun as the media makes it out to be. You get burned more often than you succeed.

With little more than a week left in the season, the Royals look to put the finishing touches on another disappointing campaign.

KC has played admirably in the last few days, though tonight they were clearly overmatched by a young fireballer at the top of his game. In the end, the Royals got their scheduled paychecks, while the Sox got additional restitution for Tuesday's loss and draw one step closer to the Wild Card.

9/24: Buch-wild

GAME NOTES: Sorry for the late game thread, fellas... but boy, what a job this Clay is doing, eh?

The DH Rules

A designated hitter is paid to hit - only to hit. There's no fielding involved, no strain from the day-to-day grind, and mobility is not much of an issue.

With fielding requirements thrown out the window, there is an endless sea of candidates to fill the role, meaning the batting standards are much higher at the "position".

Since the National League forces its pitchers to bat during the regular season, NL teams cannot afford to hire an elite hitter to sit on the bench. As a result, the AL has a significant advantage when playing at their home parks.

So, with a struggling DH, will the Red Sox still enjoy their home field advantage should they make the World Series?

Red Sox represented in All-Decade honors

The Sporting News released their All-Decade honors today. The Red Sox were well-represented with David Ortiz winning DH of the…

Injuries Among the Contenders

There is nothing that can derail a team quicker than a slew of injuries in October. The Sox have seen their fair share of injuries lately, though the M.A.S.H. unit has had some success returning the boys to action.

But they are not the only team in the hunt, as the Yankees, Twins, Angels, and Tigers all have their own bumps, bruises, and breaks to deal with. And no, we are not including Texas anymore, as their playoff odds have now dropped below half of one percent. The only race left is between Detroit and Minnesota for the AL Central.

Here's a rundown of the significant injuries on each team:

BOS 9, KC 2: Do Unto Others…

Just one night after Paul Byrd dropped five runs in the first frame against the Kansas City Royals, KC found out what it was like to watch an entire game slip away in one inning. Behind a six run fifth inning, the Boston Red Sox gave the Royals one such beat down, taking their first win of the series off of KC, 9-2, last night. The win was their 90th of the season, and brought the magic number in the Wild Card Race down to five.