by jkeller | Feb 14, 2013 | 2004 World Series, Boston Red Sox, Carl Crawford, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Daniel Bard, Dave Roberts, David Ortiz, Edgar Renteria, John Henry, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Jonny Gomes, Josh Beckett, Larry Lucchino, Spring Training, Theo Epstein
I can pinpoint exactly when it all began. It started with Joe Reilly’s January 5th column right here on Fire Brand. Soon enough, I started to show symptoms of a developing case of Lackey Optimism. The more I thought about the possibilities, the more I started to see...
by tbrooks | Feb 12, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jackie Bradley, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, John Lackey, Johnny Gomes, Jon Lester, Juan Carlos Linares, Nick Cafardo Mail Bag, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogearts
(Key – Bold w/italic is Nick Cafordo’s opening, Bold is the quesiton asked, italic is Cafardo’s answer, unaltered text is my writing). FORT MYERS, Fla. – The low expectations for the Red Sox continue to ooze out in this week’s mailbag. There are lots...
by bcowett | Feb 11, 2013 | Alex Hassan, Andrew Bailey, Ben Cherington, Boston Red Sox, Bryce Brentz, Cleveland Indians, Curt Schilling, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jason Giambi, John Farrell, Jon Lester, Jose Canseco, Theo Epstein
It’s the unofficial start of Spring Training! Time to drown yourselves in baseball, photos of new guys in your favorite team(s) uniforms, and what have you. Someone/something has it out for Red Sox minor league outfielders lately. First, Ryan Kalish has surgery,...
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 dpodheiser | Feb 1, 2013 | Andrew Bailey, Boston Red Sox, Craig Breslow, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Daniel Bard, Daniel Nava, Jacoby Ellsbury, Joel Hanrahan, Jonny Gomes, Koji Uehara, Ryan Sweeney, Shane Victorino
Following a putrid 69-win season, there isn’t much optimism surrounding the Red Sox’ chances of winning the American League East in 2013. The Sox have not made the postseason since 2009. They haven’t won the division since 2007, which is the only time they’ve done it...
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 jkeller | Jan 17, 2013 | 2007 ALCS, 2007 World Series, Boston Red Sox, C.C. Sabathia, Curt Schilling, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Florida Marlins, Hanley Ramirez, Josh Beckett, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Trades
Dear Josh Beckett, You were one of my favorite Red Sox players. You were one of my least favorite Red Sox players. It all started out so well. My first memory of you was when you helped reduce the awful sting of 2003 ALCS by a small percentage when by kicking the...
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...
by jreilly | Jan 5, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, Brad Penny, C.C. Sabathia, Clay Buchholz, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jered Weaver, John Lackey, John Smoltz, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Paul Byrd, Tim Wakefield
On December 15, 2009, John Lackey signed a 5-year $82.5 million contract with the Boston Red Sox. The 31-year old native Texan joined a Red Sox rotation that already featured Josh Beckett and Jon Lester as a formidable 1-2 combination. The addition of the former...
