A recent Fire Brand poll asked which offensive player's absence would hurt the Sox the most, and the answer was both predictable and obvious: Dustin Pedroia is the leader, the sparkplug, and the heart of this offense in many ways. Still, other injuries -- some lasting nearly the entire season -- have been just as damaging.
The Boston Red Sox are clearly a "have" organization in Major League Baseball. Being a "have" however doesn't mean that you can literally "have" whatever your heart desires or that you "have" no budget or parameters around which your team must be constructed. Sure those limits are self-imposed by the current ownership group, but let's not forget, they own the team and fiscally responsible for its management. They have purchased -- literally -- the right to set those parameters to the bounds of their comfort level or desired profit margin. One such parameter currently in the focus of the media, the fans and the organization is the luxury tax threshold. But what does that all mean and how does it effect the 2010 Boston Red Sox or their approach to the upcoming trade deadline?
In a word, third baseman Will Middlebrooks’ career got off to a flying stop.
Because he was asking for seven figures and had committed to playing baseball for Texas A&M, he slid to the fifth round of the 2007 draft and eventually accepted a $925,000 signing bonus from Boston.
Then, because he signed late and developed shoulder tendinitis, he didn’t make his pro debut -- with Lowell -- until late June of 2008.
Middlebrooks showed flashes of five-tool ability last season at Greenville where, in 103 games, he hit .265 with seven home runs, 57 RBI and a .404 slugging percentage. But he also drew only 46 walks while fanning 123 times.
Not exactly the way to start off the second half of the year, but the Boston Red Sox will try to get some vengeance against youngster Colby Lewis, as Felix Doubront looks for a second win on the year.
In case you hadn't heard, "Boston's got a new home for sports"...and Fire Brand of the American League just paid that home a visit with Tim Daloisio's interview with the Toucher & Rich morning show on 98.5 The Sports Hub this morning. Here's the audio. I only make a minor fool of myself ;)
Welcome back boys and girls. Hope you all enjoyed your nice, relaxing All-Star break (we all know David Ortiz did). The Boston Red Sox's are one of the few teams back in action tonight, as veteran Tim Wakefield looks to improve on his ugly record against youngster Tommy Hunter and the revamped Texas Rangers.
As we turn the corner in to the second half of the season, specifically the trading deadline, expect the media buzz to pick up around baseball. When that buzz focuses on the Boston Red Sox, you can expect to hear the voices of Fire Brand giving their expert opinion across the airwaves nationwide. First up is Mike Silver speaking with KFIR 720 AM in Oregon as he breaks down the AL East race at the All-Star Break and examines each teams' options come the trade deadline. Tomorrow morning Tim will be on a station closer to home -- 98.5 The Sports Hub -- with Toucher & Rich. You can tune in and listen tomorrow around 8:20 am.
Last night, the American League beat the National League by a score of 5-3, extending their win streak to an impressive 13 straight (not counting 2002's infamous tie). Okay, fine, I just made that up off the top of my head -- I'm writing this Tuesday afternoon, before the game's been played. But here's the problem: how many of you, reading that, simply went along because you didn't actually watch the game? I'm guessing more than half. The All-Star game, once a must-see event, has become at best an interesting exhibition and at worst a pointless, boring, and tedious 4 hour affair. Baseball's All-Star game is still, somehow, the most interesting of all the major sports, but its profile has been falling sharply for years, which is certainly a shame. I want to put forward a few suggestions that I think would help give the All-Star game meaning again without resorting to tactics like World Series home field advantage, which I think cheapens the World Series more than anything else.
Tonight we pay respects to the man Red Sox fans loved to hate, but were better off for having had him as their foil, George Steinbrenner. How will David Ortiz' "Laser Show" at the Home Run Derby effect his contract talks for next season and beyond? Has Jacoby Ellsbury opened his mouth too wide for anything other than Scott Boros' foot? Can the Red Sox view the first half of the 2010 season as a success despite being in third place in the AL East? All that and more on this episode of Fireside Chats.
With the "first half" of the season in the books, who do you think was most deserving of the Red Sox First Half Most Valuable Player Award? Kevin Youkilis: Not only is Youk the de-facto leader of the 2010 Boston Red Sox, he's been one of their most consistent performers. (.293 AVG/.981 OPS/18 HR/57 RBI) Adrian Beltre: Beltre came into the season with the expectation that he would wow with the glove -- instead, it's been his bat that has been doing the "wowing". (.330 AVG/.907 OPS/13 HR/55 RBI) David Ortiz: Your 2010 HR Derby Champion!!! After a miserable first month, he's been one of the best hitters in baseball. (.263 AVG/.945 OPS/18 HR/57 RBI) Jon Lester: While the other aces went missing, this one stepped up and delivered time and time again. (11-3/2.78 ERA/9.3 SO/9) Daniel Bard: I think he pitched, and pitched well, in every game thus far this season -- or so it seems. (1.90 ERA/41 G/3.75 SO/BB)