by bcowett | Jul 30, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, Brad Miller, Brandon Workman, Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma, Joe Saunders, John Lackey, Justin Smoak, Kendry Morales, Kyle Seager, Michael Saunders, Mike Zunino, Nick Franklin, Raul Ibanez, Ryan Dempster
Didn’t think to see Seattle again so soon after the All-Star Break, but it’s a welcome appearance after the stretch the Red Sox have just had. I’d rather not face David Price twice in the span of six days, but what can you do, right? (Send scathing...
by tbrooks | Jul 30, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, Garin Cecchini, Jake Peavy, Nick Cafardo Mail Bag, Xander Bogaerts
Nick Cafardo knows how to fix the Red Sox. But, let’s wait just a minute before we get there. First, let us consider what he and his magical MLB sources think about the Red Sox biggest 2013 AL East rivals: The Tampa Bay Rays. What does Cafardo think they need to...
by bcowett | Jul 30, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, Trivia
Fire Brand Trivia! Just a couple more left! Question: Mike Napoli has a strikeout rate of 33.7% and a .380 BABIP. While that seems out of the ordinary, there is one other player (w/200+ PA) with a K-rate over 33% & a BABIP north of .380 on the Sox. Who is it?...
by bcowett | Jul 29, 2013 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, David Ortiz, David Price, David Ross, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jonny Gomes, Ryan Dempster, Stephen Drew, Xander Bogaerts
Hey everyone! Are you ready to see David Price again so soon? No? Neither am I! Thanks rain delay, you da best! So you’re telling me…Jon Lester‘s used his cutter a lot less often, and now he’s doing really well? What is this madness? Because...
by dpoarch | Jul 28, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, Brett Gardner, David Ortiz, Drake Britton, Dustin Pedroia, Fenway Park, Mariano Rivera, Mike Napoli, New York Yankees
I have a confession to make: prior to this past weekend, I had never been to Boston before. That’s right. I’ve written about the Red Sox here on Fire Brand since January, and followed Boston sports for years at a level that could probably be considered “obsession,”...
by jcookson | Jul 26, 2013 | Allen Webster, Anthony Ranaudo, Boston Red Sox, Garin Cecchini, Henry Owens, Jackie Bradley, Matt Barnes, Portland Sea Dogs, Xander Bogaerts
Summertime brings warm weather, trips to the beach… and prospect writers unveiling their updated Red Sox prospects rankings. I’ve taken a look at how the rankings have changed for the Red Sox top prospects from preseason to midseason. One caveat to these rankings is...
by bcowett | Jul 26, 2013 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, Boston Red Sox, David Price, Dustin Pedroia, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Matt Moore, Tampa Bay Rays
Well, that series was just a lesson in depression, wasn’t it? Sox get a CG hurled against them twice, and the last game is rained out. Yeesh. It’s starting to feel like crunch time, and the dog days of August haven’t even hit yet. At this point, the...
by jkeller | Jul 25, 2013 | 2007 World Series, Boston Red Sox, Clay Buchholz, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter, Dustin Pedroia, J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jason Place, John Lackey, Manny Ramirez, Mark Loretta, Terry Francona, Theo Epstein
“It means the world to me to put on this uniform everyday and to try to represent this city the right way.” Dustin Pedroia — July 24, 2013 As you undoubtedly know by now, Dustin Pedroia and the Red Sox held a press conference on Wednesday afternoon...
by bcowett | Jul 24, 2013 | Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Clay Buchholz, Dustin Pedroia, Francisco Rodriguez, Jon Lester, Jonny Gomes, Junichi Tazawa, Tampa Bay Rays
Now that I think about it, a split of this series would be fine as well. It would keep the Rays at bay, even if there’s only 1.5 games of breathing room left. Guess who learned not to throw cutters in 0-2 counts yesterday? Yep, Jon Lester did! And it worked very...
by tbrooks | Jul 23, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, Devin Marrero, Garin Cecchini, Jose Iglesias, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogaerts
With C.C. Sabathia on the mound, Jose Iglesias dropped a cheeky bunt that landed between Robinson Cano, Lyle Overbay, and C.C. It was, no doubt, a brilliant bunt that was perfectly placed. It was also indicative of who Jose Iglesias is as a hitter. On a night when...