Tuesday Links

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

The newly crowned last place Red Sox opened up a 4 game series against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night. Clay Buchholz made his third start since returning from the disabled list, and was opposed by Chicago’s sinker-baller Scott Carroll. Home runs victimized Buchholz early on and proved to be the difference in the game, as the Red Sox starter served up a solo blast to Adam Dunn in the second inning, and a 3-run shot to Dayan Viciedo in the fourth inning. Also hampering an otherwise decent start by Buchholz was the Red Sox lack of offense. After 6 innings of one-hit, shutout baseball from Carroll the White Sox bullpen blanked Boston and preserved the 4-0 win for Chicago. An uneventful recap for an uneventful game.

• The Red Sox success on the base-paths was perhaps one of the most underplayed skills that the 2013 Red Sox possessed. Lead by Jacoby Ellsbury and Shane Victorino, Boston featured one of the most feared running games in the league. Now, a year later, the Red Sox misfortune on the bases has changed Boston’s running game from aggressive to overzealous. (Struggles on the bases exacerbated Boston’s offensive woes)

• Overall, the Red Sox offense has been abysmal all season long, but perhaps highlighting the Red Sox offensive struggles has been the teams lack of outfield power. Entering Monday, Boston’s outfield power numbers match-up with some of the worst outfields in Red Sox history. (Historic power outage in Sox outfield)

• Growing up, Xander Bogaerts was always one of the best players on the baseball field. Whether the infielder was playing as a boy in Aruba or as a young prospect in the Red Sox system, Bogaerts seldom underwent any sort of offensive struggle. But after a solid start to the season, the 21 year old has fallen on hard times at the plate, and as a result, has ventured into an unfamiliar slump. (Xander Bogaerts, confidence unwavering, takes stock of unfamiliar challenge of struggling)

• On Sunday evening, Jon Lester was named to his the third All-star game of his nine year career. Certainly deserving of the title, the southpaw has been among the top pitchers in baseball for the past year. However, as the free agent to be approaches the mid-summer classic, things will be different for him than his prior trips. (After near-flawless 6 months, Jon Lester ready to embrace All-Star chaos)

• Who knows where this Red Sox team would be with a healthy Shane Victorino. After a terrific 2013 campaign, Boston’s right-fielder has spent the majority of the 2014 season on the disabled list with a plethora of injuries. On Wednesday, Victorino will begin his second rehab start of the season with the single-A Lowell Spinners. (Shane Victorino to begin another rehab assignment with Lowell)

• Tweet of the day: Former 2004 hero, and all around work horse, Bronson Arroyo needs Tommy John surgery…