Constructing the best lineup to get to October

The Red Sox ended up splitting their four-game series in the Bronx Monday with a 2-1 win. While it was pitching that won the game, it was a small change in lineup construction that could pay dividends over the last two months, should it stick. However, along with hitting Ellsbury ninth, there are other ways to re-work the Red Sox lineup and maximize their run scoring potential

Marco Scutaro has done a fine job filling in as the leadoff hitter for the majority of the season and Dustin Pedroia may be back next week. Once Pedroia returns, his best fit would be at leadoff as he is second on the the Sox in OBP (just under Adrian Beltre, who's OBP is mostly due to his AVG) and pitches per plate appearance (which comes into play later). Pedroia and Scutaro at the top of the order provide plenty of contact and good OBP. That, hopefully more often than not, sets the stage for Adrian Beltre--hitting third--to take the same approach he has all season and David Ortiz to swing for the fences in the cleanup spot.

8/9 Online Seats Game Thread: The Early Bird Catches the Pennant

As the gap between the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox continues to widen, Jon Lester will try to cushion the blow, taking on Phil Hughes in a final stand against the Yankees.

Sox sign Delgado, Lester’s place among the AL’s top pitchers

For three years, Jon Lester has been among the most productive and most dominating pitchers in the American League. With excellent command, swing-and-miss stuff, and ground ball tendencies, few pitchers can match Lester’s rare mix.

There is little doubt that Lester is among the five or ten best American League starters, but just how good is he? It’s time he was placed side-by-side with the AL’s best!

8/8 Online Seats Game Thread: Primetime Game Time

The Boston Red Sox will have the eyes of the nation on them tonight, as Josh Beckett sets to battle Dustin Moseley in the Bronx tonight on ESPN.

8/7 Online Seats Game Thread: CC’ing Red

In a Saturday afternoon matinee, John Lackey will try to cut down the Yankees best in CC Sabathia, helping the Boston Red Sox in the hunt for the AL East.

Marco Scutaro, unheralded pro

Last winter, Red Sox fans were adamant that a major trade for an impact shortstop was going to occur. Following an unceremonious sweep from the 2009 ALDS, Red Sox fans were looking for a jolt of energy to help ease the pain of a stinging end to the season. Perhaps there would be a glorious return of Hanley Ramirez to Fenway? Everyone was looking for the splash that landed Ramirez, or at least something along the lines of JJ Hardy or Stephen Drew.

At worst, fans were hoping that the Red Sox would re-sign Alex Gonzalez, the light-hitting, no on-base skill, defensive whiz.

8/6 Online Seats Game Thread: Escape from New York

Clay Buchholz returns to the hill as the Boston Red Sox head to Yankee Stadium to take on the Bronx Bombers and Javier Vazquez.

Reflecting on Boston’s good contracts as a declining A-Rod hits No. 600

Yesterday, Alex Rodriguez hit his 600th career home run. While fanfare was mixed -- most non-Yankee fans could care less -- the one thing that jumped to my mind was how rough of a season A-Rod is actually having and how hard it was for him to finally reach 600 home runs. I then took a second look at his 10-year/$275 million dollar contract, which has seven years remaining. In my opinion, it could end up being the worst contract in baseball history. That got me thinking of some of the Red Sox current contracts and how they blow the A-Rod deal out of the water.

The first contract that stands out in my mind is the 6-year/$45.5 million dollar deal Dustin Pedroia signed before the 2009 season. Even in a "down year" last season, Pedroia was worth 5 WAR and even having missed a chunk of time this season he has already been worth 3.5 WAR. As a comparison, Alex Rodriguez, to this point in the season, has been worth only 2 WAR. Pedroia is signed through his prime seasons (27-31) and will make no more than $10 million, which comes at the end of the deal (also and $11 million dollar club option for 2015).

Is This It?

For a brief shining moment there, it seemed like these Red Sox were poised for a legendary season. Beset by injuries, hampered by a slow and painful start, facing an uphill battle against two tough divisional foes, the Sox rode unlikely bats, some exceptional pitching by Lester and Buchholz, and the resurgence of David Ortiz to within four games before the All-Star Break. It was a hell of a story, but it appears that the story may finally be grinding to a halt.

The injury to Kevin Youkilis could be seen as just another blow to a lineup already held together by wishes and duct tape, but it's more than that. Youkilis has been the Sox most potent offensive force for at least two years now, and he was the glue that held this offense together for most of the season. His loss leaves the club a second rate power, and it leaves the offense without its most important player for the first time all year. 6.5 games out, with the Rays surging and the Yankees treading water, the team is not done, but they cannot afford to lose any more ground or waste any more time. They need a run of epic proportions, and that's what Youk's injury endangers more than anything else.

8/4 Online Seats Game Thread: The Fast and the Furious, Cleveland Drift

Well last night got out of hand, real fast. Luckily, the Boston Red Sox were able to pull out the win. Tonight, Justin Masterson will return to Fenway, as he leads the Indians against Jon Lester.