Red Sox call up Daniel Bard

The Red Sox purchased the contract of RHP Daniel Bard from Triple-A Pawtucket, reports the Providence Journal. Bard struck out 29 batters in 16 innings, saving six games. He should immediately become a late-inning option in a Sox bullpen that has struggled as of late. No word on the corresponding roster move, as the Sox will have to not only make room on the 25-man roster, but the 40-man as well.

Trivia: Rhode Island HRs

Rocco Baldelli hit his first home run as a Sox Saturday. It was the second home run ever hit by a Rhode Islander as a Red Sox. Who hit the first one?

Dom DiMaggio passes away at 92

It's a sad day in baseball. Longtime Red Sox centerfielder Dom DiMaggio has passed away. Former teammates with Ted Williams and younger brother of Joe, DiMaggio was only 5'9" (shades of Dustin Pedroia) and was called the Little Professor.

Dom had a 34-game hitting streak going once when Joe put an end to that in Dom's last at-bat during a Red Sox/Yankees game. Author David Halberstam called Dom "probably the most underrated player of his day." Dom was part of the subject of Halberstam's excellent Red Sox book, The Teammates.

Should Jacoby Ellsbury be leading off?

Entering last night's game against the Indians, Jacoby is hitting .291/.323/.350 on the season. Now, the season is early but his numbers are eerily similar to last year's, when he hit .280/.323/.350.

He's been torrid on the basepaths and has 15 swiped bags on the season, but the .323 OBP is not worthy of being a leadoff man.

Should he be moved out?

5/6: Mastering Pavano

Justin Masterson has pitched impressively since joining the rotation. He has a 4.32 ERA starting which would be much lower had he not grooved a grand slam pitch to Evan Longoria. Pavano threw a gem against the Tigers, so may be coming around. Until he gets hurt.

TRIVIA: Unbeaten at home

Justin Masterson takes a 7-0 career home record to the hill tonight. Who was the previous Red Sox pitcher who began his major league career with a 7-0 or better record?

Behind Jason Bay’s fast start

Jason Bay is currently experiencing the best year of his career so far.

It's only been 26 games with well over 100 to go, but Bay's hot start has been invaluable as David Ortiz works out of his devastating slump. On the year so far, Bay's hitting .321/.482/.619 with six home runs in 112 at-bats through Monday's game against the Yankees.

Is this sustainable? What is happening with Bay that is allowing him to get off to such a hot start? Should we take what we can get now, or can Bay keep this production up all year? Let's try to find out.

TRIVIA: Extra-inning HR

Before Van Every on Wednesday night, who was the last Red Sox player to hit his first major league home run in extra innings?

Lady Luck is a fickle mistress — just ask the Sox and Yankees

This decade has been the most monumental in the franchise's history. Not only did new ownership arrive, but Fenway Park was revitalized, a Nation was born (in the media, that is), a new generation of stars (Nomar, Manny, Pedro, Big Papi, Papelbon, Pedroia) put their stamp on their team... oh, and there were those two World Championships as well.

All this was done thanks to the incredible work that Theo Epstein and the rest of the baseball operations put in to give us the players that we root for every day. They are, to be certain, the reasons why we have our first two rings since 1918.

But let's not count out Lady Luck. Lady Luck is a fickle mistress; you never know when she'll turn on you.

4/30: Try us now, Tampa

Josh Beckett couldn't figure out the Yankees last start; one day late due to his five-game suspension. His velocity and movement were there, but his command was way off. It's Tampa's second look at Beckett. Garza struggled with control in his last start, but dominated the Sox in the opening series.