Tuesday Links: One ace to rule them all

by | Dec 2, 2014 | Bartolo Colon, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Ervin Santana, Hanley Ramirez, James Shields, Jon Lester, New York Mets, Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners

As the Jon Lester sweepstakes heads down the home stretch, the Red Sox find themselves right in the thick of conversations involving the left-hander. Boston, along with the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, and Seattle Mariners, are teams vying for the services of...

2014 Free Agent Class: Possible Red Sox Reunions

by | Nov 4, 2013 | Atlanta Braves, Bartolo Colon, Boston Red Sox, Bronson Arroyo, Bruce Chen, Carlos Pena, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Daisuke Matsuzaka, David Murphy, Erik Bedard, Houston Astros, James Loney, Kelly Shoppach, Kevin Youkilis, Los Angeles Angels, Lyle Overbay, Mark Kotsay, Marlon Byrd, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Nick Punto, Oakland A's, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays

The 2014 offseason is officially underway. The Red Sox don’t figure to be the big players in free agency this year that they were before the 2013 season, but depending on which players leave and which players stay, there will still be a few holes to fill. You’ll see...

Ghosts Of Red Sox Past: The 2013 Playoffs

by | Sep 30, 2013 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, 2013 Cleveland Indians, 2013 MLB Playoffs, 2013 Playoffs, Adrian Beltre, Adrian Gonzalez, Anibal Sanchez, Bartolo Colon, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Moss, Bronson Arroyo, Carl Crawford, Cincinnati Reds, Clay Buchholz, Cleveland Indians, Coco Crisp, David Murphy, David Ortiz, Detroit Tigers, Dustin Pedroia, Engel Beltre, Hanley Ramirez, Jacoby Ellsbury, James Loney, Jed Lowrie, Jon Lester, Jose Iglesias, Josh Reddick, Justin Masterson, Kelly Shoppach, Kris Johnson, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mark Melancon, Marlon Byrd, Matt Albers, Mike Aviles, Nick Hagadone, Nick Punto, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Rich Hill, Ryan Kalish, Stephen Fife, Stolmy Pimentel, Tampa Bay Rays, Terry Francona, Texas Rangers, Tim Federowicz, Victor Martinez

Not sure if you’ve noticed, but the Red Sox have undergone a tremendous amount of change over the past few years. Sure, some mainstays like David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and Jacoby Ellsbury have defined the core of this team. Yet by my count,...

Will patience at the plate pay in the playoffs?

by | Sep 28, 2013 | Bartolo Colon

The Boston Red Sox only swung 43% of all pitches they’ve seen this season. On first pitches, they’re even more selective – only swing 20% of the time. Both of these figures are the lowest in baseball. Because of their patience, the Red Sox have seen 25,177 pitches...

The Advanced Scout – Kansas City Royals

by | Aug 8, 2013 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, Alcides Escobar, Alex Gordon, Bartolo Colon, Billy Butler, Bruce Chen, Eric Hosmer, Ervin Santana, Felix Doubront, George Kottaras, James Shields, Jeremy Guthrie, Kansas City Royals, Lorenzo Cain, Matt Thornton, Miguel Tejada, Mike Moustakas, Salvador Perez, Wade Davis

No jet lag on this flight! Which is good, because I’d probably feel awful coming out of Houston having to work my backside off for two wins against the American League’s worst team. Be gentle, Central Time Zone. Please. KANSAS CITY ROYALS – 58-53,...

All-Star Game Running Commentary

by | Jul 18, 2013 | All-Star Game, Aroldis Chapman, Bartolo Colon, Ben Zobrist, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Phillips, Bud Selig, Chris Davis, Chris Sale, Clay Buchholz, Cliff Lee, David Ortiz, David Wright, Dustin Pedroia, Edgar Martinez, Edwin Encarnacion, Joe Maddon, Joe Nathan, Joey Votto, Manny Machado, Mariano Rivera, Matt Moore, Michael Cuddyer, Miguel Cabrera, Mike Trout, New York Yankees, Prince Fielder, Robinson Cano, Ted Williams, Tom Seaver, Tommy John

Listen, I love Bill Simmons as much as you can love someone that you’ve never met (other than you, Dustin, don’t you worry your place is secure). I’ve read everything that he’s written since 2000. I may not have survived the tumultuous and ultimately triumphant...

The Advanced Scout – Oakland Athletics

by | Jul 13, 2013 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, A.J. Griffin, Alex Wilson, Bartolo Colon, Billy Beane, Brandon Moss, Brandon Workman, Brett Anderson, Chris Young, Derek Norris, Eric Sogard, Jarrod Parker, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Josh Donaldson, Josh Reddick, Oakland Athletics, Seth Smith, Yoenis Cespedes

Your friendly neighborhood advanced scout took a day off to bask in the glory that was The Greatest Starting Pitcher In The History Of Baseball starting for a night. But I must get back to work. So. Billy Beane. Sabermetrics. A movie based ever so loosely on 2002....

The Advanced Scout – Oakland Athletics

by | Jul 2, 2012 | A.J. Griffin, Aaron Cook, Adrian Gonzalez, Andrew Carignan, Bartolo Colon, Billy Beane, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Hicks, Brandon Inge, Brandon McCarthy, Brandon Moss, Brent Lillibridge, Brett Anderson, Brian Fuentes, Chris Carter, Cliff Pennington, Coco Crisp, Cody Ross, Colin Cowgill, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Dallas Braden, David Ortiz, Derek Norris, Franklin Morales, Jarrod Parker, Jemile Weeks, Jim Miller, Joey Devine, Jon Lester, Jonny Gomes, Josh Reddick, Kurt Suzuki, Matt Albers, Nick Punto, Oakland Athletics, Ryan Cook, Scott Sizemore, Seattle Mariners, Seth Smith, Vicente Padilla, Will Middlebrooks, Yoenis Cespedes

Having earned a split against the surprisingly tough Seattle Mariners, the Boston Red Sox (42-37, 6-4 in the last 10 games) travel to Oakland for a three-game set against the Athletics (38-42, 4-6 in the last 10 games). Billy Beane has always loved young pitchers and...