For Starters

"As a whole, and whole being defined 1-7, there isn't a better or deeper starting rotation in baseball. Even when confined to the five that will take the mound every five days, I would put these guys up against anyone and feel confident."

With Josh Beckett and Jon Lester off to slow and inconsistent starts and with Daisuke Matsuzaka's early trip to the DL with "post World Baseball Classic-itis", the Red Sox rotation hasn't lived up to those lofty expectations.

5/5: Send them to .500

Jon Lester got down to business last night, now it's Josh Beckett's turn to show the Yankees that it sucks to draw the Red Sox #1/#2 punch in a two game series. A Red Sox win pushes the Yankees to .500. I like the sound of that.

Getting to know you: Ramon Ramirez

It's not often that an unheralded newcomer to an established bullpen establishes themselves in April as the go to guy that will bridge the most critical situations between the days starter and the designated closer.

With the perceived depth of the Red Sox bullpen coming into the season, it certainly wasn't expected that Ramon Ramirez, who entered the season behind Jonathan Papelbon, Takashi Saito, Hideki Okajima, and Manny Delcarmen in the bullpen rotation, would claim that mantle.

5/4: Welcome to Yankee Stadium

The rain is looking to wash tonight's much anticipated Yankee Stadium debut for the Red Sox. If it goes down, it could be a real swing game in the AL East for both teams and their starting pitchers. Is Phil Hughes for real? Can Jon Lester turn it around? Can the Red Sox continue to treat the Yankees the way the Rays have treated them so far this year?

5/3: Penny for a Split

Is this a put up or shut up start for Brad Penny? Not yet, but close.

5/2: Cy Wake

The Rays hold a career average of .298 against Wakefield (for complete list visit Baseball Reference here). But Wakefield has still managed a ton of success at Tropicana Field with a 9-3 career record and 2.86 ERA in St. Pete. The Sox need this one. They have called upon their stopper.

5/1: Welcome back offense

Matt Garza made the Red Sox bats disappear last night. Let's hope there's some pent up offense ready to explode this evening against Andy Sonnanstine. Justin Masterson looks to make it back to back impressive outings, following up on his performance Sunday night against the Yankees. I wonder if Justin drove the Mini down to Tampa?

Go Early, Go Often: Fire Brand’s Best of April

Tonight's game against the Tampa Bay Rays marks the final game of the first calendar month of the season; and what an April it was. From the panic that set in BWNNH (Before Wake's Near No Hitter) after a 2-6 start, to the exhilaration of winning 12 out of 13 including a le-gen *wait for it* DARY sweep of the New York Yankees AB (Anno Bay - In the Year of Our Bay), April has been all Red Sox fans could ask for.

Who would have thought after the first week of the season that April would end with the Red Sox atop the American League with the league's best winning percentage?

Today we look at the best performances of April, culminating in the Fire Brand Player of the Month award.

Concern for Papelbon?

Jonathan Papelbon is one of, if not the best closer in baseball. Of that there is no doubt. You don't have to look much farther than his 89% save rate (118 out of 133 since 2006), 1.84 career ERA, and 4.79 K/BB rate to make that assessment. Throw in the fact that he's not allowed a run in 25 career postseason innings over 16 appearances and his name stands alone with Mariano Rivera at the top of a long list of closers you would take with you to the end without reservation.

At the surface, 2009 has been more of the same for Papelbon. He's closed the door in save situations five times in five opportunities while amassing a 1.94 ERA. But a deeper look should give you pause to think twice about thinking that 2009 Papelbon has been as effective as previous years' versions.

4/27: Late Game Thread (still 0-0 so it counts)

Sorry for the late thread...some miscommunication at Fire Brand HQ cost us a few innings....but Wake's there to pick us up!