The Advanced Scout – Cleveland Indians

The Advanced Scout starts pounding Sam Adams Imperial Whites and analyzes the Cleveland Indians. Hic.

The Advanced Scout – Kansas City Royals

The Advanced Scout wipes the barbecue sauce from his face and analyzes the Kansas City Royals.

Cafardo Mail Bag: Red Sox Nation Has Some Terrible Ideas Edition

Let's just say that I'm glad none of these people work for the Red Sox...

Red Sox Acquire Marlon Byrd

The Red Sox made a move to help ease the pain of their injured outfield. Marlon Byrd, 34, is now a member of the Sox.

11 Former First Round Picks on the Current Roster

After taking a look at all four of the 2011 first round picks signed by the Red Sox, I thought it would…

The Sunday Red Sox Excursive

photo © 2009 Werner Kunz | more info (via: Wylio)   They may be just a .500 baseball team, but…

6/16: Can Beckett pitch again today?

Boston Red Sox (40-27) @ Tampa Bay Rays (36-32) Clay Buchholz (5-3, 3.59) @ David Price (7-5, 3.51) 7:10 PM…

Revisiting Cameron’s Situation

I had a really grand article planned for today, but due to the craziness that is my life, I wasn’t…

Ryan Kalish, the Bill James Projection and 2011 Playing Time

.271/.340/.452, 20 HR, 43 SB, 94 R and 82 RBI in 641 PA’s That’s an all-star. That’s a fantasy beast.…

Sox Farmhands Make Good: Buchholz, Kalish, Pedroia, and the Future

Last night's 6-0 victory over the Angels didn't gain the Sox any games in the standings. With the Yankees and Rays both victorious, Boston still sits five and a half games behind the AL East's co-leaders. You'd be forgiven, though, if you felt a surge of hope after the final out, because this game displayed all the reasons the Sox are still in contention this year, and a harbinger of the one recovery that might propel them ahead.

This season has been as trying as any in recent Red Sox history, but it has also been as inspiring. Going into the year, I anticipated this club to be one of my favorites, and it turns out I was right, but for the wrong reasons: while I was expecting a run-prevention monster with a solid, top-five AL offense, what I got was a ragtag crew beset by injury but still, through a better than expected offense and contributions from the most unexpected of places, managing to hang in contention all year. Between the strong and consistent pitching of Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester to the season-saving heroics of journeymen and minor leaguers like Darnell McDonald, Bill Hall, Daniel Nava and Ryan Kalish, this team has kept on the trail of a playoff berth when they should have been written off. And now, the day after Dustin Pedroia's emotional return, the most important cog in the team's machinery is back where he belongs. This season has defied every prediction so far, but if the Sox were to go on a tear from here on out, count me among those who wouldn't be in the least surprised.