6/15: ALDS Preview… again?

GAME NOTES: The Angels come to town. We'll probably be facing them in the ALDS again -- the Angels could use a strong showing at Fenway Park to give them confidence going into the playoff series. The Angels aren't the pitching club they used to be, but boy, they can rake now. It's important, I think, to show them that their struggles at Fenway Park will continue. Oh, and Dice-K returns.

A-Gon’s Bat

Damn Alex Gonzalez for giving us hope. OK. Maybe that was overdoing it, but A-Gon is not nearly the batter he has shown since being traded to Boston from Cincinnati.

For the type of hitter fans expected to get in the trade, there's no doubt Alex Gonzalez has endeared himself to fans with his recent performance. With all the shortstop troubles the team has had since Nomar and Orlando Cabrera left, a competent stopgap is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Projecting the Playoffs, The Case for Kotchman

With just 20 games left and a 4 1/2 game lead in the Wild Card, what exactly are the chances for our beloved Sox to play in October? Baseball Prospectus seems to think they're pretty high, but Texas has life yet.

And who, exactly, is the Red Sox' most unappreciated player. Surely, it couldn't be Casey Kotchman. Though he doesn't always see the field, he provides stability at a key position on the diamond, while simultaneously solidifying the team's outlook at ... catcher?

Projecting the Playoffs

With just 20 games remaining in the regular season, the Sox' Hunt for Red October is getting stronger by the day. At this juncture, with this team, a 4 ½ game lead in the Wild Card is a considerable advantage. Don't get cozy though, as one hot or cold stretch can completely change the complexion of this race. Still, it's looking pretty good for the Sox, as Baseball Prospectus gives the Red Sox...

Wholesale Keychain TRIVIA: Rookie start with 2 XBH

Josh Reddick's debut start for the Red Sox earlier in the year netted him two extra bases hits. Who was the last Red Sox rookie to have such a debut and in what year?

Red Sox’s road record cautions playoff success

With Sunday's extension of the wild card lead to four games on the back of the doubleheader sweep, Boston's entrance into the playoffs as the wild card winner is all but assured. (But at seven games behind New York, it ain't over!)

This is problematic.

Don't get me wrong, making the playoffs is great, and I'd pick that over missing the playoffs. But the Red Sox don't seem as well-equipped to advance far in the playoffs as many (including I) would like to think.

6/13 G2: Evening delight

GAME NOTES: Jon Lester takes the mound. Let's hope he starts off better than the canceled Friday affair, when he got the bases drunk in the first and only had one out before the torrential rain come. He'll go against 'Big Game James' Shields, who is looking to move to .500 on the season, given his 9-10 record.

Jays turned down Sox’s 6-for-1 offer on Halladay

I'm on the Rotoworld.com beat, and this just came across my desk:

Bob Elliot of the Toronto Sun reports that the Red Sox offered the Blue Jays six pitchers for Roy Halladay at the trading deadline. The names: Daniel Bard, Michael Bowden, Clay Buchholz, Felix Doubront, Nick Hagadone and Justin Masterson. That's quite an impressive array of names, and it's shocking Toronto didn't snap it up. The scout that revealed this deal said the Jays had difficulty projecting Masterson's future, and -- probably most important --- "the Jays were worried about Halladay beating them next year." Obviously, Masterson and Hagadone are no longer with the Sox club so it's unlikely a deal could be reached in the offseason. If it's going to take more than that package to land Halladay, GM J.P. Ricciardi won't find any takers.

What do you think? Are we lucky the Jays turned the deal down?

6/13 G1: Afternoon delight

GAME NOTES: A special shoutout to Alex Gonzalez, who has been unbelievable since joining the Sox. He's solidified the lineup, hitting .295/.295/.511 with 4 HR and 11 RBI in 24 games. Walks? Who needs walks? Gonzo also stole his first base since 2006 -- when he was with Boston.

Getting to know Sox first-round pick Reymond Fuentes

If blood lines mean anything, the Red Sox may have hit a home run when they made center fielder Reymond Fuentes their first-round pick (28th overall).

The 18-year-old Fuentes is a first cousin of New York Mets' All-Star center fielder Carlos Beltran - who also graduated from the same high school (Fernando Callejo in Manati, Puerto Rico) as Fuentes.

9/12: Beckett, meet Tampa. Tampa, fear Beckett

GAME NOTES: Beckett was well on his way to Cy consideration before he started channeling 2006 with all these home runs. In his last start, he refused to give up any home runs, and Commander Kick-Ass now lays his fiery eyes on Tampa Bay. Be afraid. Be very afraid.