Wednesday’s Links – The Road Ahead

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

There’s just something so awesome seeing a pitching staff that’s more than capable of shutting down a lineup. Does wonders for your nerves, too.

• Jon Lester was having none of Detroit’s offense last night, as he hurled seven strong innings to propel the Red Sox to a win over the Tigers. (Lester outduels Scherzer, Red Sox top Tigers)

• Things haven’t gone as planned for Will Middlebrooks and his 2013 season. But finding success, especially in baseball, doesn’t always come in straightforward ways. (Will Middlebrooks’ Well-Timed Struggles And Return)

• Sure, the Red Sox certainly can hit top-flight pitching, but with October looming in the distance, it’ll have to be a necessity if they want to have a chance at winning it all. (Can the Red Sox hit good pitching?)

• With the new wild card playoff format, an emphasis has been place on winning the division to avoid a potential one-and-done situation. The Red Sox know exactly how much that AL East pennant is worth. (Red Sox well aware of value in winning division)

• It’s a bit concerning with Jarrod Saltalamacchia being out for more than a day, but with October in mind, you don’t want to overwork your players. (Farrell: Saltalamacchia likely out 2-3 days)

• We’ve seen him pitch and the stuff he possesses, so the question inevitably will come up: would Rubby De La Rosa be better as a reliever? (Should the Red Sox convert prospect Rubby De La Rosa to relief permanently?)

• When someone asks you the “How can you hate the Rays?” question, this is your answer. (The Rays had the all-good-citizen lineup in the game last night)

Our GLORIOUS LEADER was at Fenway last night, enjoying the sights and sounds of the game.