Tuesday Links: Homecoming for Han-Ram?

While free agents like Pablo Sandoval and Chase Headley are both logical fits for the Red Sox at third base,…

Friday Links: World Series shifts to San Fran

After splitting the first two games of the World Series at Kauffman Stadium, the Kansas City Royals and the San…

Tuesday Links: Waiting until the end

After taking three games of four from the Kansas City Royals over the weekend, the Red Sox hit the road…

The Advanced Scout – Minnesota Twins

The Advanced Scout tried to choke down some lutefisk while analyzing the Minnesota Twins

Winter Meetings Preview

Scott Candage predicts what the Red Sox will do at the Winter Meetings

What pitchers could the Red Sox trade for?

Leading up to the trade deadline, all signs point to the Red Sox being buyers. It’s obvious what the team…

Trade Target: Francisco Liriano

While Tim Wakefield and Alfredo Aceves have stepped up big-time filling in for John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka, we have…

Sox sign Delgado, Lester’s place among the AL’s top pitchers

For three years, Jon Lester has been among the most productive and most dominating pitchers in the American League. With excellent command, swing-and-miss stuff, and ground ball tendencies, few pitchers can match Lester’s rare mix.

There is little doubt that Lester is among the five or ten best American League starters, but just how good is he? It’s time he was placed side-by-side with the AL’s best!

The intangible benefit of Pedroia

The Sox lineup, as always, is a meat grinder. They have four players in the top 20 in the American League in pitches seen per plate appearance (P/PA) and Pedroia ranks seventh at 4.27 (behind Youkilis who is fourth at 4.36) through 217 plate appearances (Victor Martinez is 11th at 4.12, J.D. Drew 13th at 4.11 while Marco Scutaro is 33rd at 3.92). Pedroia is also second in the league in total plate appearances at 217, behind only Denard Span of the Twins at 218, and leads the league in total pitches seen. Factoring in the entire majors, Youkilis ranks ninth and Pedroia 19th in P/PA.

Sitting in the No. 2 hole in the Sox lineup, Pedroia pesky plate appearances have a ripple down effect. Take for instance last Thursday when Boston beat Minnesota 6-2 on the strength of Jon Lester's nine-strikeout complete game. Pedroia was 0-3 with a walk and a run against the Twins and Francisco Liriano and was instrumental in knocking Minnesota's wily lefty out of the game after 4.2 innings with five earned runs on five hits and three walks. Pedroia was in the midst of a 4 for 39 slump at the time that spanned from May 12 to 23 before putting up three hits against the Rays on Monday.

5/20 Online Seats Game Thread: Lester Host Liriano

Francisco Liriano has been red hot for the Minnesota Twins this year, but the Boston Red Sox will have to cool him down if they want to widen their winning record.