by jkeller | Feb 7, 2013 | Albert Pujols, Andrew McCutchen, Angel Pagan, Atlanta Braves, B.J. Upton, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Crawford, Brandon Morrow, Buck Showalter, Buster Posey, Chris Carpenter, Clay Buchholz, Dan Haren, David Price, Denard Span, Detroit Tigers, Edwin Encarnacion, Edwin Jackson, Evan Longoria, Felix Hernandez, James Shields, Jared Weaver, Jason Vargas, Joe Blanton, John Farrell, Jose Bautista, Jose Reyes, Josh Hamilton, Josh Johnson, Jurickson Profar, Justin Upton, Justin Verlander, Kansas City Royals, Keith Law, Lance Lynn, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mark Buehrle, Michael Young, Miguel Cabrera, Mike Olt, Mike Trout, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, R.A. Dickey, Rafael Soriano, Ricky Romero, Robinson Cano, San Francisco Giants, Shelby Miller, St. Louis Cardinals, Stephen Strasburg, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Wade Davis, Washington Nationals, Wil Myers, Zack Greinke
Part 1: The Pitchers Part 2: The Batters Part 3: The League Once again, the same disclaimers apply: 1) Please feel free to bookmark them and come back later in September/October to see how I did — you know that if I hit on a few you’re going to hear about it. 2)...
by huntergolden | Feb 6, 2013 | Alan Webster, Alex Wilson, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Matt Barnes, Rubby de la Rosa, Ryan Dempster
If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times – if the 2013 Boston Red Sox are going to go anywhere, they’re going to have to get better production out of their starting rotation than they’ve had the past few seasons. While there’s been little question as...
by jcookson | Feb 5, 2013 | Ben Cherington, Boston Red Sox, Brian Price, Casey Kelly, Clay Buchholz, Craig Hansen, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Daniel Bard, David Mailman, Felix Doubront, Jacoby Ellsbury, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon, Jose Iglesias, Junichi Tazawa, Lars Anderson, Michael Bowden, Pete Hissey, Ryan Kalish, Ryan Westmoreland, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogearts
Theo Epstein’s stated goal when he took over as General Manager of the Red Sox was to turn the Sox into a “player development machine”. He envisioned a pipeline of minor league talent that would replenish the major league roster whenever needed. So how successful was...
by bcarsley | Jan 28, 2013 | Aaron Cook, Allen Webster, Anthony Ranaudo, Blake Swihart, Blake Swihart, Boston Red Sox, Bryce Brentz, Casey Kelly, Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard, David Ortiz, Drake Britton, Dustin Pedroia, Felix Doubront, Garin Cecchini, J.D. Drew, Jackie Bradley, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Josh Reddick, Junichi Tazawa, Marco Scutaro, Marlon Byrd, Matt Barnes, Michael Bowden, Rubby de la Rosa, Ryan Kalish, Ryan Lavarnway, Ryan Sweeney, Ryan Westmoreland, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogearts
You don’t have to be a Red Sox fan to have your heart go out to Ryan Kalish. After an exciting 2010 debut in which he showcased his potential, his flaws and his energy all at once, many assumed Kalish would start 2011 as the team’s left fielder. Then came the Carl...
by bcowett | Jan 25, 2013 | Andrew Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Carl Pavano, Carl Yastrzemski, Clay Buchholz, Felix Doubront, Jason Varitek, Jon Lester, Justin Upton, Lars Anderson, Mike Napoli, Ryan Dempster, Tommy Lasorda
“I think about baseball when I wake up in the morning. I think about it all day and I dream about it at night. The only time I don’t think about it is when I’m playing it.” – Carl Yastrzemski Honestly, who isn’t glad that Pedro...
by jkeller | Jan 24, 2013 | Aaron Cook, Alfredo Aceves, Andrew Bailey, Boston Red Sox, Clay Buchholz, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Daniel Bard, Felix Doubront, Franklin Morales, Joel Hanrahan, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Junichi Tazawa, Mark Melancon, Mark Teixeira, Rick Ankiel, Rubby de la Rosa, Ryan Dempster, Vicente Padilla, Zach Stewart
Part 1: The Pitchers Part 2: The Batters (1/31) Part 3: The League (2/7) Disclaimers: 1) Please feel free to bookmark this and come back later in September/October to see how I did — you know that if I hit on a few of them you’re going to hear about it. 2)...
by jcookson | Jan 15, 2013 | Casey Kelly, Clay Buchholz, Greenville Drive, Henry Owens, Jon Lester, Salem Red Sox
This week I’m going to take a close look at Sox pitching prospect Henry Owens, who had a great performance in 2012 but has the potential for even greater performance in the future. Owens’ first season offered truly tantalizing upside, and he’s the pitching prospect...
by bcarsley | Jan 14, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, Clay Buchholz, Dylan Bundy, Gerrit Cole, Greenville Drive, Jackie Bradley, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Matt Barnes, Salem Red Sox
Matt Barnes is the best pitching prospect in the Red Sox system. He was a steal as the 19th overall pick in the 2011 draft, and as a UConn product and New England native, he’s easy to root for as a Red Sox fan. He began 2011 as the minor league’s most dominant pitcher...
by bcowett | Jan 11, 2013 | 2004 ALCS, Baseball Hall of Fame, Baseball Writer's Association of America, Ben Cherington, Clay Buchholz, Curt Schilling, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Daniel Nava, Hall of Fame Ballot, Joel Hanrahan, Jon Lester, Justin Upton, Mike Napoli, Sammy Sosa, Will Middlebrooks
Guys, I’m making the 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame class reunion letters and need some creative – oh. Right. Blank ballots, morality debates, and no players voted in. Here’s some links for you all while I stare at this situation incredulously. Of all...
by bcarsley | Jan 7, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, Bryce Brentz, Clay Buchholz, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Dustin Pedroia, Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, Hanley Ramirez, Jackie Bradley, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jacoby Ellsbury, Jurickson Profar, Portland Sea Dogs, Salem Red Sox, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogaerts, Xander Bogearts, Yuniesky Betancourt
If Bobby Valentine represents all the evils that poured out of baseball’s Pandora’s Box last year, Xander Bogaerts can be the hope that escapes shortly thereafter. Yes, it’s rarely wise to make bold predictions when writing about baseball, and that’s doubly true when...