Defending Theo’s offseason.

One can point to one move, or non-move, that is the reason the Red Sox are so far out of the division. And that is the Yankees acquisition, via free agency, of Mark Teixeira. Had the Red Sox signed him, rather than the Yankees, it could very well have made up the difference. Maybe the two teams are tied right now, rather than 5+ games apart. Tex is currently raking at a clip of .284/.382/.557. And he's stellar with the glove as always. His 'WAR' is 3.6 (3.6 wins over a replacement player).

Basically, adding Tex would have given the Red Sox the best corner infielders in the game.

But we didn't add Tex. Instead, we decided upon saving tons of money--especially some probable dead money at the back end of Tex's contract. And the organization felt it was best to put their stock in the players on the farm, rather than expensive veterans. Lars Anderson being the main reason why Tex wasn't signed, as far as "players on the farm" goes.

Enough is enough: Bring in a new starter

With John Smoltz's debacle in New York (granted, the stadium didn't do him any favors) behind us, it's time to look ahead and figure out how exactly we're going to make the playoffs with exactly two reliable pitchers in the rotation.

The biggest question I have right now is: how long do we wait? Daisuke Matsuzaka will not return for a month. Tim Wakefield... from what I'm hearing, I wouldn't be surprised if we've seen the last of him.

Do we really want to rely on Smoltz, Penny and Buchholz for the next month?

I can't even go on anymore. I'm too demoralized about the state of the pitching staff.

Is the rotation an unaddressed fatal flaw?

When the 2009 season began, there was very little doubt in anyone's mind that the Red Sox had both the depth and talent in the starting rotation for it to be considered, not only the teams' primary strength, but what made them favorites to advance to the World Series from the American League.

With dueling aces at the top in Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, depth in the middle with Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, and Brad Penny, and a plethora of options at the end ranging from top prospect Clay Buchholz to perennial All-Star and future Hall of Fame pitcher, John Smoltz, the front office had covered the rotation in spades. And that doesn't even look more deeply into the farm system or bullpen where the likes of Justin Masterson (since dealt away), Michael Bowden, and Junichi Tazawa lurked.

8/5: Trying to bounce back.

The Red Sox try to bounce back from a game that not only exhausted their bullpen, but also may have exhausted their fans :)

BOS 3, BAL 1: Skid stopped

Brad Penny pitched six plus innings allowing just five hits and one unearned run to stop Boston's five game losing streak.

KAN 8, BOS 6: Four run sixth ruins Red Sox

Boston's bullpen could use a break.

7/9: 1st half MUP = Penny

What is a MUP? Most Under-appreciated Player. I think the first half award for 2009 Red Sox MUP belongs to Brad Penny. Considering what we expected from him (who thought he'd still be on the team in July?), Penny's ability to go deep in games consistently has given the team a chance to win and kept the bullpen alive and kicking.

Halfway Home

The 2009 Boston Red Sox are halfway through their season, 49-32 through their first 81 games. The Red Sox not only hold a 1.5 game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East, but also the best record in the American League, trailing over the Dodgers and their .634 winning percentage for the best record in baseball.

The halfway point marks an interesting time to not only take stock of the season that has come to pass, but also to look out at the road ahead and evaluate the terrain that lies between here and the ultimate destination.

SEA 3, BOS 2: M’s win on a bloop

Seattle didn't exactly win in exciting fashion last night but the Mariners will take it.

7/4: Happy Independence Day