Fire Brand in the media

As we turn the corner in to the second half of the season, specifically the trading deadline, expect the media buzz to pick up around baseball. When that buzz focuses on the Boston Red Sox, you can expect to hear the voices of Fire Brand giving their expert opinion across the airwaves nationwide. First up is Mike Silver speaking with KFIR 720 AM in Oregon as he breaks down the AL East race at the All-Star Break and examines each teams' options come the trade deadline. Tomorrow morning Tim will be on a station closer to home -- 98.5 The Sports Hub -- with Toucher & Rich. You can tune in and listen tomorrow around 8:20 am.

Fireside Chats #84: Where we are all All-Stars tonight…

Tonight we pay respects to the man Red Sox fans loved to hate, but were better off for having had him as their foil, George Steinbrenner. How will David Ortiz' "Laser Show" at the Home Run Derby effect his contract talks for next season and beyond? Has Jacoby Ellsbury opened his mouth too wide for anything other than Scott Boros' foot? Can the Red Sox view the first half of the 2010 season as a success despite being in third place in the AL East? All that and more on this episode of Fireside Chats.

Poll: Red Sox First Half MVP

With the "first half" of the season in the books, who do you think was most deserving of the Red Sox First Half Most Valuable Player Award? Kevin Youkilis: Not only is Youk the de-facto leader of the 2010 Boston Red Sox, he's been one of their most consistent performers. (.293 AVG/.981 OPS/18 HR/57 RBI) Adrian Beltre: Beltre came into the season with the expectation that he would wow with the glove -- instead, it's been his bat that has been doing the "wowing". (.330 AVG/.907 OPS/13 HR/55 RBI) David Ortiz: Your 2010 HR Derby Champion!!! After a miserable first month, he's been one of the best hitters in baseball. (.263 AVG/.945 OPS/18 HR/57 RBI) Jon Lester: While the other aces went missing, this one stepped up and delivered time and time again. (11-3/2.78 ERA/9.3 SO/9) Daniel Bard: I think he pitched, and pitched well, in every game thus far this season -- or so it seems. (1.90 ERA/41 G/3.75 SO/BB)

Fireside Chats #83: Where we are all just polishing the machine…

Let it be known that no Boston Red Sox were injured during the recording of this podcast. We consider this a minor miracle. That said, there are more than a few injuries to ponder this week as Paul and I attempt to convince ourselves that the Red Sox can compete fielding 1/2 of a AAA lineup on a regular basis. Can the Red Sox win without Dustin Pedroia and Victor Martinez? How do these injuries impact the decisions to be made at the trading deadline? Have the trials and tribulations of this team finally won over the hearts of Red Sox Nation? All that and more on this episode of Fireside Chats.

Poll: Whose absence from the roster will most define the 2010 season?

Last week's poll results put a decided death knell in Interleague Play as we know it with only thirty-one percent in support of the current schedule and thirty-eight percent of our audience in favor of eliminating it entirely. One thing that's for sure is that after the toll Interleague Play took on the Red Sox -- not in the standings, but in the infirmary -- Tito's boys are sure happy to have it over. This week's poll -- like the 2010 season at large -- focuses on injuries. With injuries to Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Cameron, Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Dustin Pedroia and Victor Martinez throughout the season organizational depth has been on display in full force in Boston. When all is said and done and we reflect on the 2010 season, whose injury will have been viewed as most detrimental to the club's performance?

Poll: Has the novelty of Interleague Play worn off?

While the Red Sox have traditionally had great success against the National League and it has given fans events like Pedro and Manny's returns to Fenway as well as the ability to see great NL stars like Ubaldo Jimenez and Tim Lincecum, as we power through the grueling stretch of Interleague games one has to ask if the Commissioners' office should be making changes going forward? How do you feel about Interleague Play? Love it, like it or kill it?

Fireside Chats #82: Where we come together….right now…

It's been forever since Paul and I have done a show from the same physical location -- usually we're hooked up via Skype from across the country. Actually, it's never been done before...until now. As Paul and I prepare to hit Fenway Park tomorrow night for the series opener against the Diamondbacks, we take this opportunity to share a bottle of wine and talk some Sox from the home studio just outside Manchester, NH. All that and more on this episode of Fireside Chats.

Fireside Chats #81: Where this would have been a perfect podcast if it weren’t for Jim Joyce

Our provincial podcast was steamrolled by some national news this week as Paul and I discuss the fallout after perfection was stolen from Armando Gallaraga's grasp in Detroit. Will it usher in the era of replay in baseball? We welcome back old friend of the show Joe Haggerty to discuss that very topic and break down the Red Sox chances of backing up their May efforts with another run in June. All that and more on this episode of Fireside Chats.

Poll: Keys to May Success

David Ortiz' May performance may have rendered the previous poll moot. Over 50% of you "saw this coming" for Big Papi, suggesting that the Red Sox stick with him at the DH position come hell or high water. Ortiz' 1.211 OPS in May complete with .363 average, 10 home runs and 27 RBI earned him the American League Player of the Month award. With that in mind, Ortiz was clearly the main reason the Red Sox turned a sub-.500 April into an 18-11 May right? Not so fast... Jon Lester wasn't to be "out-awarded" by Big Papi as he took home the American League Pitcher of the Month award after a near perfect 5-0, 1.84 ERA month of May. At the same time, others played important roles in the Red Sox May success. So who's performance was most critical to the Sox turnaround? We'll leave that to you to answer in this week's poll.

Fireside Chats #80: Where we are back in the high life again

I think the Red Sox have been listening to a little Steve Winwood:

We'll be back in the high life again All the doors I closed one time will open up again We'll be back in the high life again All the eyes that watched us once will smile and take us in And we'll drink and dance with one hand free And have the world so easily And oh we'll be a sight to see Back in the high life again

It's hard to believe that the team we just watched roll through the most brutal stretch of their schedule in 8-2 fashion was the same team that was swept by the Baltimore Orioles earlier this season. Paul and I break down the Red Sox run from starting pitching to great hitting from the middle of the lineup. All that and more on this episode of Fireside Chats.