by jkeller | Mar 28, 2013 | Alfredo Aceves, Andrew Bailey, Andrew Miller, Boston Red Sox, Clay Buchholz, Clayton Mortensen, Craig Breslow, Daniel Bard, Daniel Nava, Daniel Nava, David Ross, Dustin Pedroia, Felix Doubront, Franklin Morales, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Joel Hanrahan, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Jonny Gomes, Jose Iglesias, Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara, Mike Carp, Mike Napoli, Pedro Ciriaco, Ryan Dempster, Ryan Sweeney, Shane Victorino, Will Middlebrooks
Every month, here on Fire Brand, I am going to take a look at the relative value of the 25 players on the current active roster. For March, that will require some projections. So for our case here we are going to assume (hope, and pray) that the front office decides...
by huntergolden | Mar 13, 2013 | Casey Blake, David Ortiz, David Ross, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jonny Gomes, Josh Willingham, Mauro Gomez, Mike Napoli, Raul Ibanez, Ryan Lavarnway
With the news of David Ortiz’s soreness in his heels breaking this past weekend, the prospects for Big Papi to play on Opening Day seem to be all but dashed. How long it will take Ortiz to get back into the lineup is a major question mark at this point, leaving the...
by jreilly | Mar 9, 2013 | Andrew Bailey, Bill James, Boston Red Sox, Daniel Bard, David Ortiz, David Ross, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Joel Hanrahan, Koji Uehara, Ryan Dempster
Although these questions will not determine the fate of the Boston Red Sox in 2013, they certainly are fun to think about and wager on. 1. One a scale of 1-10 how happy is Jacoby Ellsbury to be in a Red Sox uniform? I would say around a 7. While Ellsbury is not...
by jkeller | Feb 28, 2013 | 2004 World Series, Alfredo Aceves, Allen Webster, Andrew Bailey, Ben Cherington, Boston Red Sox, Brett Lawrie, Clay Buchholz, Craig Breslow, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Daniel Bard, Daniel Nava, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, David Ross, Dustin Pedroia, Edwin Encarnacion, Felix Doubront, J.D. Drew, J.P. Arencibia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Joel Hanrahan, John Farrell, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Jonny Gomes, Jose Bautista, Juan Nieves, Junichi Tazawa, Kevin Millar, Kevin Youkilis, Koji Uehara, Lyle Overbay, Mike Carp, Mike Napoli, Pedro Ciriaco, Pedro Martinez, Rubby de la Rosa, Ryan Dempster, Ryan Sweeney, Shane Victorino, Stephen Drew, Will Middlebrooks, World Baseball Classic, Xander Bogaerts
Alfredo Aceves — Crazy (Gnarls Barkley) As a general rule of thumb, anyone who chooses their number as a tribute to Dennis Rodman has a screw, or two, lose. Aceves is certainly not an exception. Andrew Bailey — Everybody Hurts (REM) Every player gets hurt...
by bcarsley | Feb 25, 2013 | Austin Romine, Baltimore Orioles, Blake Swihart, Buster Posey, Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, David Ross, Dusty Brown, Francisco Cervelli, Gustavo Molina, J.P. Arencibia, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jason Varitek, Jesus Montero, Joe Mauer, John Jaso, Jose Lobaton, Jose Molina, Kevin Cash, Matt Wieters, Mike Napoli, Mike Zunino, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Ryan Doumit, Ryan Hanigan, Ryan Lavarnway, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Yasmani Grandal
The Red Sox have assembled one of the best collections of catchers in all of baseball. And if you think that speaks to the paucity of passable backstops in the game as much as it does Boston’s roster construction, you’re right. As you all know, the Red Sox currently...
by jreilly | Feb 23, 2013 | Adrian Gonzalez, Alex Hassan, Andrew McCutchen, Bobby Valentine, Boston Red Sox, Brock Holt, Carl Crawford, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, David Ross, Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, Jack Cust, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jayson Werth, Jonny Gomes, Jose Iglesias, Lyle Overbay, Mauro Gomez, Mike Carp, Mike Napoli, Pedro Ciriaco, rod carew, Ryan Kalish, Ryan Lavarnway, Ryan Sweeney, Shane Victorino, Stephen Drew, Will Middlebrooks
With Opening Day a mere 5 weeks away I thought it would be as good a time as any to take a look at the potential 2013 Opening Day Boston Red Sox offensive roster. This is, of course, taken with a grain of salt, as we all know that health with not remain perfect...
by bcarsley | Feb 18, 2013 | Bill James, Boston Red Sox, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Kevin Youkilis, Will Middlebrooks
“I’m very aggressive, that’s the player I am. I’m never going to walk a lot. Am I going to strike out? Yeah. But I’m going to get my money’s worth because I’m not up there to hit singles. I’m up there to drive in runs and use the park to my advantage.” Such were the...
by dpodheiser | Feb 15, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, David Ross, Fenway Park, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Joel Hanrahan, John Farrell, Koji Uehara, Mark Melancon, Mike Aviles, Mike Napoli, Rafael Betancourt, Shane Victorino, Yadier Molina
Though the “offseason” technically does not end until Opening Day on April 1, the beginning of spring training this week symbolizes the beginning of a new year for the Boston Red Sox. Following a very active winter in which general manager Ben Cherington...
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 dpoarch | Feb 3, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, Casey Kotchman, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jim Thome, Justin Smoak, Lyle Overbay, Mauro Gomez, Mike Carp, Mike Napoli
Since the revelation that Mike Napoli has been suffering from avascular necrosis, I’ve wanted to write about the necessity of an insurance policy at first base for the Red Sox. This column has been in the works for a while. Let’s face it, though: a full column about...