Wednesday’s Links – Baseball by the Bay

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

Another West Coast road trip, another game where the Red Sox were utterly frustrating to watch. That 9th inning…pure agony.

• Jake Peavy pitched well, but the bullpen couldn’t hold it together at the end of it all, coughing up a walk-off walk to give a win to the San Francisco Giants. (Shaky Sox bullpen leads to ugly loss)

• Despite the loss, it was a busy day for the Red Sox. Shane Victorino had a few adventures in right field and Xander Bogaerts made his much-anticipated debut. (Tough Decisions For John Farrell, Shane Victorino)

• The Giants, winners of two of the last three World Series, could be a great example of how the Red Sox might just be able to win it all once again. (Giants’ recent postseason success could be a blueprint)

• Ryan Dempster ended up getting reprimanded for his not-so-smart plunking of Alex Rodriguez on Sunday, but not everyone’s fine with the policy governing the punishment. (Ryan Dempster suspended with pay for beaning A-Rod, but that’s normal)

• And here comes Clay Buchholz. The injured hurler threw a good simulated game, and could be set to pitch in an actual game by this weekend. (Buchholz could begin rehab assignment Sunday)

• Sure, the Red Sox have amazing talent on the left side of the infield down on the farm, but it’s actually their catchers that really stand out among all the prospects. (Red Sox have plenty of catching talent down on the farm)

• With his release, you have to think his time in the majors is over. Daisuke Matsuzaka could very well be done with the MLB. (Indians release Daisuke Matsuzaka)

Maybe you simply shouldn’t put him in, Farrell. Just sayin’.