Roster Power Rankings, June Edition

by | Jul 4, 2013 | Alex Wilson, Allen Webster, Andrew Bailey, Andrew Miller, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Snyder, Brian Daubach, Chris Davis, Clay Buchholz, Clayton Mortensen, Craig Breslow, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, Drew Sutton, Dustin Pedroia, Felix Doubront, Homer Bailey, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Jonny Gomes, Jose Bautista, Jose Iglesias, Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara, Miguel Cabrera, Mike Carp, Mike Napoli, Ryan Dempster, Ryan Lavarnway, Shane Victorino, Stephen Drew, Will Middlebrooks

(Happy 4th of July everyone…scoreboard, England…USA, USA, USA!) Every month, here on Fire Brand, I take a look at the relative value of the 25 players on the current active roster. If you missed the March, April, or May editions check them out for the...

The Advanced Scout – San Diego Padres

by | Jul 2, 2013 | Allen Webster, Boston Red Sox, Carlos Quentin, Chase Headley, David Ortiz, Edinson Volquez, Jedd Gyorko, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Pedro Ciriaco, San Diego Padres, Stephen Drew, Yasmani Grandal

Who’s ready for another interleague series at Fenway? I know I am. More of David Ortiz doing his customary DH thing, more of pitchers not hitting, and best of all, it’s against a team no Red Sox fan should really have hatred towards. Seriously. It’s...

Revisiting the Virtual Red Sox

by | Jun 30, 2013 | Allen Webster, Boston Red Sox, Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Felix Doubront, Jackie Bradley, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Jose Iglesias, Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara, Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogaerts

Back in March, I wrote a column in which I analyzed the Red Sox in MLB 13: The Show. The results were… well, interesting. With June coming to a close, it seems like a good time to revisit the Virtual Sox. Factoring in call-ups, demotions, injuries, and lineup...

The Advanced Scout – Toronto Blue Jays

by | Jun 27, 2013 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, Adam Lind, Allen Webster, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Morrow, Colby Rasmus, David Ortiz, Edwin Encarnacion, Esmil Rogers, Felix Doubront, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jon Lester, Jonny Gomes, Jose Bautista, Jose Iglesias, Jose Reyes, Macier Izturis, Melky Cabrera, Ryan Dempster, Toronto Blue Jays

Let’s just stop and talk about the AL East for a second. The American League East, in all its greatness, has all FIVE teams with a record over .500, and all of them are within 7 games of first place with roughly 80 games to go. How can you not be excited for any...

A Guide to Hating 80% of the American League East

by | Jun 27, 2013 | Alex Rodriguez, American League East, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Bronson Arroyo, Buck Showalter, Carl Crawford, Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies, David Ortiz, David Robertson, Derek Jeter, Edwin Encarnacion, Fernando Rodney, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Joe Girardi, Joe Maddon, John Farrell, John Gibbons, Johnny Damon, Jose Bautista, Jose Reyes, Kevin Gregg, Luke Scott, Manny Machado, Mariano Rivera, Munenori Kawasaki, New York Yankees, Phil Hughes, Robert Andino, Roger Clemens, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Wil Myers, Xander Bogaerts

There is something great about playing teams like the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres. It’s not just that we get to see great, unfamiliar players like Carlos Gonzalez, and it’s certainly not that the wins and losses count any less than they do against the...

The Advanced Scout – Colorado Rockies

by | Jun 25, 2013 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, Boston Red Sox, Carlos Gonzalez, Clay Buchholz, Colorado Rockies, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, David Ross, Dexter Fowler, DJ LeMahieu, Franklin Morales, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jordan Pacheco, Josh Rutledge, Juan Nicasio, Michael Cuddyer, Nolan Arenado, Rafael Betancourt, Roy Oswalt, Todd Helton, Troy Tuowitzki, Wilin Rosario

Ah, interleague play. A delightful little thing. Where the traditionalists love to tote the pitcher batting and – what? The Colorado Rockies are coming to Fenway? Really? YES! No ridiculous pitcher PAs! David Ortiz is a full-time player! Let’s get this...

My 2013 All-Star Ballot

by | Jun 20, 2013 | Adam Jones, Alex Rodriguez, Andrew McCutchen, Brandon Mauer, Brett Gardner, Carlos Gomez, Carlos Santana, Chris Davis, Coco Crisp, Curtis Granderson, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, David Wright, Derek Jeter, Dustin Pedroia, Edwin Encarnacion, Evan Longoria, Howie Kendrick, J.J. Hardy, Jhonny Peralta, Jose Bautista, Manny Machado, Mark Trumbo, Miguel Cabrera, Mike Trout, Paul Goldschmidt, Robinson Cano, Troy Tulowitzki, Yadier Molina

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is one of my favorite mile markers of the summer. I’m not talking about a horrendous “Celebrity” Softball game, or the even more unbearable Home Run Derby. I mean the actual baseball game, and nothing else. I...