Wednesday’s Links – Trending North

Photo by Kelly O’Connor of sittingstill.smugmug.com

You hear a lot of superlatives and over-the-top adjectives when describing this team, but one really stands out: resiliency. This team knows how to bounce back.

• It took some bonus baseball, but the Red Sox finally closed it out in the 11th inning, thanks to Shane Victorino while…hitting right-handed? (Victorino, ever unique, delivers for Red Sox)

• It’s no secret that Ryan Dempster has been less than stellar during his time in Boston so far. But good things happen when he’s in Toronto, apparently. (Ryan Dempster takes off in the Great White North)

• Yes, we all wanted Xander Bogaerts instead. But don’t count Will Middlebrooks out. He’ll turn out just fine at third base for now. (For now, Middlebrooks seems to have it all figured out)

• Mike Napoli has essentially reversed himself. While his fielding is now top-notch, his bat is his weakness instead. But he knows he must endure. (Mike Napoli Catches Some Optimism Amidst Worst Slump Of His Career)

• Koji Uehara is known to give out high-fives to teammates, but with his vesting option being recently triggered, he gave himself (almost) five. (Uehara triggers $4.25M vesting option for ’14)

• Speaking of the new guys, the question must be asked: how would the Red Sox have faired sans these guys? Short answer: not very well. (How have the Red Sox’ free agent signings impacted 2013?)

• We love saying how good the Red Sox offense this year is, but it pales in comparison to the juggernaut that was the 2003 team’s lineup. (An Ode to the 2003 Red Sox Offense)

Go get ’em, Mids.