Monday’s Links – A Twin Killing

by | May 20, 2013 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, Andrew Bailey, Bobby Valentine, Boston Red Sox, David Ortiz, Felix Doubront, Jacoby Ellsbury, Joe Mauer, John Farrell, John Lackey, Minnesota Twins, Shane Victorino

Not even a shower & the shampoo promoter himself could stop the sweep from happening this weekend. The road warriors roll into Chicago next. Here’s the story of the Red Sox and the Rain Delay: There was once a game where the Sox played well. Then a storm...

The Circle of Trust

by | May 16, 2013 | Alex Wilson, Alfredo Aceves, Allen Webster, Andrew Bailey, Andrew Miller, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Clayton Mortensen, Cleveland Indians, Craig Breslow, Dan Wheeler, Daniel Bard, Detroit Tigers, Joel Hanrahan, Jose De La Torre, Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara, Matt Albers, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Stephen Drew, Steven Wright, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays

There are only two categories of people in this world: People who put people into two categories, and those that don’t. I am in the first category. One of the many groups of people that I put into two categories are relief pitchers. When you see the bullpen door open...

3 Up 3 Down: Let’s Not Push the Panic Button

by | May 11, 2013 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, Andrew Bailey, Boston Red Sox, Dustin Pedroia, Felix Doubront, Jacoby Ellsbury, Joel Hanrahan, John Farrell, Junichi Tazawa, Stephen Drew, Terry Francona, Will Middlebrooks

Note: Written before Friday nights game. Well, since the last installation of 3 Up 3 Down the Boston Red Sox have been less than spectacular. In fact, they have been pretty awful; losing 5 of their last 6 dating back to Saturday’s loss to the Rangers. In short,...

The Advanced Scout – Minnesota Twins

by | May 6, 2013 | Aaron Hicks, Andrew Bailey, Andrew Miller, Boston Red Sox, Brian Dozier, Brian Duensing, Carlos Quentin, Casey Fien, Chicago White Sox, Chris Parmelee, Clay Buchholz, Clayton Mortensen, Cole DeVries, Darin Mastroianni, David Ortiz, David Ross, Felix Doubront, Francisco Liriano, Glen Perkins, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jamey Carroll, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Joe Mauer, John Lackey, Jonny Gomes, Josh Roenicke, Josh Willingham, Junichi Tazawa, Justin Morneau, Kevin Correia, Mike Carp, Mike Napoli, Minnesota Twins, Oswaldo Arcia, Pedro Ciriaco, Pedro Florimon, Pedro Hernandez, Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Dempster, Ryan Doumit, San Diego Padres, Scott Diamond, Shane Victorino, St. Louis Cardinals, Stephen Drew, Texas Rangers, Tim Wood, Trevor Plouffe, Vance Worley, Wilkin Ramirez, Will Middlebrooks

After being swept by the Rangers, the Boston Red Sox (20-11, 1.5 games ahead in the AL East) return home to Fenway Park for a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins (13-14, 4th place, 4.5 games back in the AL Central). The Red Sox are 6-4 in their last 10 games...

The Advanced Scout – Texas Rangers

by | May 3, 2013 | A.J. Pierzynski, Adrian Beltre, Alex Wilson, Alexi Ogando, Andrew Bailey, Andrew Miller, Boston Red Sox, Clayton Mortensen, Colby Lewis, Craig Gentry, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Daniel Nava, David Murphy, David Ortiz, David Ross, Derek Holland, Dustin Pedroia, Elvis Andrus, Felix Doubront, Geovany Soto, Ian Kinsler, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jason Frasor, Jeff Baker, Joakim Soria, Joe Ortiz, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Jonny Gomes, Junichi Tazawa, Justin Miller, Lance Berkman, Martin Perez, Matt Harrison, Michael Kirkman, Mitch Moreland, Neftali Feliz, Nelson Cruz, Robbie Ross, Tanner Scheppers, Texas Rangers, Will Middlebrooks, Yu Darvish

After taking two of three in Canada, the Boston Red Sox (20-8, 2.5 games ahead in the AL East) travel to Arlington to take on the Texas Rangers (17-11, 1.5 games ahead in the AL West) for a three-game weekend series. The Boston Red Sox, still holders of the best...

Friday’s Links – Feat of Clay

by | May 3, 2013 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, American League East, Andrew Bailey, Boston Red Sox, Clay Buchholz, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, Matt Kemp, Miguel Cabrera, Mike Napoli, Nelson Cruz, Ryan Dempster, Texas Rangers

Everyone ready for this Sox-Rangers series? Where we see the best Boston basher this side of our current 1st baseman in Nelson Cruz? Yeah. It’s gonna be an adventure. A win against each of the other four AL East teams. Strikeout rate above 9. But what does Clay...

Roster Power Rankings, April Edition

by | May 2, 2013 | Alex Wilson, Andrew Bailey, Andrew Miller, Boston Red Sox, Clay Buchholz, Clayton Mortensen, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, David Ross, Dustin Pedroia, Felix Doubront, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Jonny Gomes, Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara, Mike Carp, Mike Napoli, Pedro Ciriaco, Ryan Dempster, Shane Victorino, Stephen Drew

Every month, here on Fire Brand, I take a look at the relative value of the 25 players on the current active roster. In case you missed the last one, here are the criteria for the power rankings: 1) What is the value of each player on the Red Sox roster relative to...