Monday Links

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

The weekend was not kind to the defending World Champs. After dropping the opening game of the series on Thursday, Boston took game 2 on Friday thanks to a well pitched game by Jon Lester and a three run bomb by Grady Sizemore. However Saturday and Sunday’s games were nothing short of disheartening for Red Sox fans. Boston’s woes when hitting with runners in scoring position continued, Yankees Stadium did in John Lackey, and a controversial replay review cost the Red Sox a game.

• If losing 3 out of 4 to New York wasn’t bad enough, the injury bug also bit the Red Sox. First it was Koji Uehara’s shoulder on Saturday, then it was Dustin Pedroia’s wrist on Sunday. While neither players have hit the disabled list officially, Boston can’t afford to add to their already lengthy list of injuries. (Red Sox fear Dustin Pedroia’s wrist injury could be serious)

• The injury to Koji Uehara really magnified the importance of Edward Mujica to the Red Sox. The 29 year old right hander was brought to Boston to serve as insurance for Koji, and on Friday he showed he can shut the door when called upon. (Mujica moves into closer’s role on temporary basis)

• Even as Red Sox fans, we can agree that there are few players more professional than Derek Jeter. From on field success, to a fairly quiet off field life, Jeter is the player you want your teams young players to emulate. For Boston, Xander Bogaerts has taken Jeter’s professional persona and applied it to his young career. (Short stop story: Jeter vs. Bogaerts)

• During spring training, Jon Lester and the Red Sox were trying to bang out a contract extension, but mutually decided to hit the pause button. Now we might know why. Boston did offer the southpaw ace a contract, but it fell well below market value. (Source: Red Sox’ most recent offer to Lester for four years, $70 million)

• Replay review took center stage last weekend as two controversial calls left the Red Sox on the short end of the stick. Perhaps it was a culmination of both replays, but the second of the two caused John Farrell to blow his stack, get tossed from the game, and question the system. (Farrell: “Hard to have faith” in replay system)

• David Ortiz was on Saturday Night Live over the weekend… sort of. Comedian Kenan Thompson portrayed the Red Sox slugger during an edition of Weekend Update, and poked fun at the DH’s headline-making selfie with President Barrack Obama. (David Ortiz gives thumbs up to “SNL” skit spoofing selfie with President Obama)

• In recent years the Red Sox have prided themselves on having a well stocked, highly talented farm system. This team building approach was carried out so well by Ben Cherington and Co. that the Red Sox could soon feature a club composed exclusively of home grown talent. (Well seeded Red Sox could bet the farm)

• Tweet of the weekend: I laughed at this for a good 5 minutes…probably because it’s true.