by dpoarch | Jan 26, 2014 | Alex Rodriguez, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chris Davis, Derek Jeter, Evan Longoria, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jim Johnson, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Manny Machado, Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Wei-Yin Chen, Xander Bogaerts
Around this time ever year, we hit that tipping point where most of the offseason’s notable moves have already occurred. Sure, there are some free agents left to sort out (I.E. Stephen Drew, Nelson Cruz, Ubaldo Jimenez, etc.), but for the most part, the bigger pieces...
by jkeller | Oct 3, 2013 | Ben Zobrist, Boston Red Sox, Clay Buchholz, David Price, Delmon Young, Evan Longoria, Fausto Carmona, Fernando Rodney, James Loney, Jim Johnson, Jon Lester, Junichi Tazawa, Matt Moore, Roberto Hernandez, Tampa Bay Rays, Yunel Escobar
The long wait is nearly over. After clinching the American League East on September 20, and the American League’s best record on September 28, it took until October 2 to finally learn the Red Sox Divisional Round opponent for the 2013 playoffs. Once again, a familiar...
by jkeller | Sep 12, 2013 | Adam Jones, Adrian Beltre, Alfonso Soriano, Andy Pettitte, Anibal Sanchez, Baltimore Orioles, Billy Butler, Boston Red Sox, Brett Gardner, Buck Showalter, C.C. Sabathia, Chris Davis, Chris Perez, Chris Tillman, Cleveland Indians, Corey Kluber, Detroit Tigers, Doug Fister, Elvis Andrus, Ervin Santana, Evan Longoria, Grant Balfour, Greg Holland, Hiroki Kuroda, Ivan Nova, James Shields, Jarrod Dyson, Jason Giambi, Jason Kipnis, Jim Johnson, Joe Maddon, Jose Iglesias, Jose Molina, Josh Donaldson, Josh Hamilton, Justin Verlander, Kansas City Royals, Leonys Martin, Manny Machado, Mariano Rivera, Matt Moore, Matt Wieters, Max Scherzer, Miguel Cabrera, Mike Napoli, Nelson Cruz, New York Yankees, Oakland A's, Oakland Athletics, Robinson Cano, Ryan Cook, Scott Kazmir, Tampa Bay Rays, Terry Francona, Texas Rangers, Ubaldo Jimenez, Yu Darvish
ESPN’s standings currently have the Red Sox sitting at a 99.9% chance of making the playoffs. So is it a lock that Boston will once against be dancing in October? Of course not! But just how close are they to winning the AL East? Even if the Red Sox go a modest 7-8...
by jkeller | Aug 1, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, Brandon Jacobs, Brandon Snyder, Brandon Workman, Brock Holt, Clay Buchholz, Craig Breslow, Craig Kimbrel, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, David Ross, Drake Britton, Dustin Pedroia, Felix Doubront, J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jake Peavy, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jim Johnson, Joe Nathan, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Jonny Gomes, Jose De La Torre, Jose Iglesias, Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara, Mariano Rivera, Matt Thorton, Mike Carp, Mike Napoli, Pedro Beato, Ryan Dempster, Ryan Lavarnway, Shane Victorino, Stephen Drew, Ted Williams, Will Middlebrooks, Wins Above Replacement, Xander Bogaerts
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, May, or June editions check them out for the criteria and history of these rankings. This month sees a season high six...
by jkeller | May 23, 2013 | Andrew Bailey, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Morrow, Clay Buchholz, Cleveland Indians, Cody Ross, Daniel Bard, David Ross, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jim Johnson, Joe Girardi, Joel Hanrahan, John Farrell, Josh Johnson, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Lyle Overbay, Mark Buehrle, Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, R.A. Dickey, Raul Ibanez, Ricky Romero, Robinson Cano, Shane Victorino, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Travis Hafner, Vernon Wells
Making spring training predictions usually guarantees two things: 1) You will hit on a few. 2) You will miss on a lot more. Since we’re now through more than a quarter of the 2013 season, let’s take a look at five predictions that I already wish I could...
by dpoarch | Mar 10, 2013 | Baltimore Orioles, Brian Matusz, Brian Roberts, Chris Davis, Darren O'Day, Dylan Bundy, Jason Hammel, Jim Johnson, Know Thy Enemy, Manny Machado, Matt Wieters, Nate McLouth, Nick Markakis, Pedro Strop, Steve Johnson, Wei-Yin Chen, Zach Britton
Baltimore Orioles 2013 Season Preview When we starting the Know Thy Enemy series, I specifically requested to cover the Orioles. There was a specific reason for that – I wanted to write about what I think will be the biggest fall-to-earth team in baseball. I...
by dpoarch | Jan 20, 2013 | Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Morrow, Brandon Morrow, Brett Lawrie, Brian Matusz, Brian Roberts, Chris Davis, Edwin Encarnacion, Emilio Bonifacio, Jake Arrieta, Jason Hammel, Jim Johnson, Jose Bautista, Jose Reyes, Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Kyle Lohse, Manny Machado, Mark Buehrle, Mark Reynolds, Matt Wieters, Melky Cabrera, Mike Gonzalez, Nick Markakis, R.A. Dickey, Toronto Blue Jays, Wei-Yin Chen, Zach Britton
Baseball’s offseason sucks. Well, alright, every sports offseason sucks. But baseball’s feels worse, somehow. Maybe it’s just how slowly it moves. There’s no real free agent blitz like there is in football; it can be months before free agents...
by scandage | Sep 28, 2012 | Aaron Cook, Adam Jones, Andrew Miller, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Brian Matusz, Brian Roberts, Chris Davis, Chris Tillman, Clay Buchholz, Craig Breslow, Darren O'Day, Endy Chavez, Felix Doubront, J.J. Hardy, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jason Hammel, Jim Johnson, Jim Thome, Junichi Tazawa, Lew Ford, Luis Ayala, Manny Machado, Mark Melancon, Mark Reynolds, Matt Lindstrom, Matt Wieters, Mauro Gomez, Nate McLouth, Nick Johnson, Nick Markakis, Nolan Reimold, Pedro Strop, Randy Wolf, Rich Hill, Robert Andino, Ryan Flaherty, Scott Atchison, Steve Johnson, Stuart Pomeranz, Troy Patton, Tsuyoshi Wada, Wilson Betemit, Zach Stewart
After losing both of their final home games, the tied-for-last Boston Red Sox (69-87, 21 games back in the AL East) travel to Camden Yards for their penultimate series of the year against the Baltimore Orioles (89-67, 1 game back in the AL East, leading the AL Wild...
by scandage | Sep 21, 2012 | Aaron Cook, Adam Jones, Andrew Miller, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Brian Roberts, Chris Davis, Chris Tillman, Clay Buchholz, Craig Breslow, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Daniel Nava, Darren O'Day, Felix Doubront, J.J. Hardy, Jacoby Ellsbury, James Loney, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jason Hammel, Jim Johnson, Jim Thome, Jon Lester, Junichi Tazawa, Luis Ayala, Manny Machado, Mark Melancon, Mark Reynolds, Matt Lindstrom, Matt Wieters, Mauro Gomez, Miguel Gonzalez, Mike Aviles, Nate McLouth, Nick Johnson, Nick Markakis, Nolan Reimold, Pedro Ciriaco, Pedro Strop, Rich Hill, Robert Andino, Ryan Kalish, Scott Atchison, Scott Podsednik, Steve Johnson, Stuart Pomeranz, Troy Patton, Wilson Betemit
After splitting a series in St. Petersburg, the Boston Red Sox (66-83, 19 games back in the AL East) return to Fenway Park for their last home stand of the season for a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles (85-64, 1 game back in the AL East, 4.5 games ahead...
by scandage | Jun 5, 2012 | Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Brian Matusz, Brian Roberts, Chris Davis, Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard, Darren O'Day, J.J. Hardy, Jason Hammel, Jim Johnson, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Mark Reynolds, Marlon Byrd, Matt Lindstrom, Matt Wieters, Mike Aviles, Nick Markakis, Nick Punto, Nolan Reimold, Pedro Strop, Robert Andino, Scott Atchison, Scott Podsednik, Steve Tolleson, Steven Pearce, Stuart Pomeranz, Ted Kennedy, Toronto Blue Jays, Tsuyoshi Wada, Vicente Padilla, Wei-Yin Chen, Will Middlebrooks, Wilson Betemit, Zach Britton
After taking two of three from the Blue Jays in a quick road trip to Toronto, the Boston Red Sox (28-26) return home to Fenway Park to start a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles (30-24). The injury bug has hit the Orioles, with Nick Markakis most notably...
