Cafardo Mailbag: The John Lackey’s Contagious Edition

by | Jul 27, 2012 | Boston Red Sox, Brent Lillibridge, Che-Hsuan Lin, Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard, Daniel Nava, Darnell McDonald, David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Felix Hernandez, Jacoby Ellsbury, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Jose Iglesias, Josh Beckett, Kevin Youkilis, Lester's Cancer Scare, Mark Melancon, Marlon Byrd, Nick Cafardo Mail Bag, Ryan Kalish, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogearts

It’s trading deadline time, so that means questions abound about possible trade options; the Josh Beckett/Jon Lester conundrum; and concern over Carl Crawford‘s elbow.  Let’s dive right in to the yummy goodness that is this week’s Cafardo...

The Advanced Scout – Toronto Blue Jays

by | Jul 20, 2012 | Aaron Cook, Aaron Laffey, Adam Lind, Adrian Gonzalez, Andrew Miller, Anthony Gose, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Lyon, Brandon Morrow, Brett Lawrie, Carl Crawford, Carlos Villanueva, Casey Janssen, Chicago White Sox, Clay Buchholz, Cody Ross, Colby Rasmus, Daniel Nava, Darren Oliver, David Ortiz, Drew Hutchison, Dustin McGowan, Edwin Encarnacion, Henderson Alvarez, Houston Astros, J.A. Happ, J.P. Arencibia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jerry Remy, Jesse Litsch, Jon Lester, Jose Bautista, Josh Beckett, Kelly Johnson, Kyle Drabek, Luis Perez, Mark Melancon, Matt Albers, Pedro Ciriaco, Ryan Sweeney, Scott Atchison, Sergio Santos, Toronto Blue Jays, Travis Snider, Vicente Padilla, Will Middlebrooks, Yunel Escobar

After taking three of four from the Chicago White Sox, the Boston Red Sox (48-45, 9.5 GB) welcome the struggling Toronto Blue Jays (45-47, 12 GB) to Fenway Park for a three-game set. The Blue Jays are 3-7 in their last 10 while the Red Sox are 6-4 in their last 10....

The Resurrection of the Farm System

by | Jul 18, 2012 | Anthony Ranaudo, Anthony Rizzo, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Jacobs, Brandon Workman, Bryce Brentz, Casey Kelly, Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard, Drake Britton, Dustin Pedroia, Felix Doubront, Jackie Bradley, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jed Lowrie, Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon, Jose Iglesias, Junichi Tazawa, Kevin Youkilis, Kyle Weiland, Reymond Fuentes, Ryan Kalish, Ryan Lavarnway, Stolmy Pimentel, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogearts

<a title="" When Theo Epstein assumed the role of Red Sox General Manager prior to the 2003 season, one of his missions was to build a “$100M player development machine.”  While his goal was certainly ambitious, he faced two big obstacles:  a...

The Advanced Scout – Chicago White Sox

by | Jul 16, 2012 | A.J. Pierzynski, Aaron Cook, Adam Dunn, Addison Reed, Adrian Gonzalez, Alejandro De Aza, Alex Rios, Alexei Ramirez, Alfredo Aceves, Boston Red Sox, Brent Morel, Brian Bruney, Chicago White Sox, Clay Buchholz, Cleveland Indians, Cody Ross, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, Dayan Viciedo, Detroit Tigers, Dylan Axelrod, Felix Doubront, Franklin Morales, Gavin Floyd, Gordon Beckham, Hector Santiago, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jesse Crain, John Danks, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Kevin Youkilis, Mark Melancon, Matt Albers, Matt Thornton, New York Yankees, Paul Konerko, Pedro Ciriaco, Philip Humber, Ryan Sweeney, Tampa Bay Rays, Vicente Padilla, Will Middlebrooks

After taking two of three in St. Petersburg against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Boston Red Sox (45-44, 3-7 in their last 10) return to Fenway Park to host a four-game set against the Chicago White Sox (49-39, 7-3 in their last 10). The White Sox lead the AL Central by 3.5...

The Advanced Scout – Tampa Bay Rays

by | Jul 13, 2012 | Aaron Cook, Adrian Gonzalez, Andrew Miller, B.J. Upton, Ben Zobrist, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Guyer, Brent Lillibridge, Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, Clay Buchholz, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, David Price, Desmond Jennings, Elliot Johnson, Evan Longoria, Fernando Rodney, Franklin Morales, Hideki Matsui, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jake McGee, James Shields, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jeff Keppinger, Jeff Niemann, Jeremy Hellickson, Joe DiMaggio, Jose Molina, Josh Beckett, Kyle Farnsworth, Luke Scott, Mark Melancon, Matt Joyce, Mauro Gomez, New York Yankees, Pedro Ciriaco, Robinson Chirinos, Ryan Sweeney, Sam Fuld, Sean Rodriguez, Tampa Bay Rays, Will Middlebrooks

After taking only one of four from the Yankees and getting four days off for the All-Star break, the Boston Red Sox (43-43, 9.5 games back) go to St. Petersburg, Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Rays (45-41, 7.5 games back) in a three-game series. The Red Sox are a...

What Went Wrong in the First Half: Part 1

by | Jul 12, 2012 | Aaron Cook, Boston Red Sox, Carl Crawford, Clay Buchholz, Cody Ross, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Daniel Bard, Daniel Nava, Felix Doubront, Franklin Morales, J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jason Repko, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Ryan Kalish

So here we are at the so-called mid-point of the season:  the All-Star break.  While we knew this season would likely be tougher than seasons in recent memory, few could have expected the veritable roller coaster ride the Red Sox have been on since Opening Day.  Up...