Roster Power Rankings, July Edition

by | 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...

All-Star Game Running Commentary

by | Jul 18, 2013 | All-Star Game, Aroldis Chapman, Bartolo Colon, Ben Zobrist, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Phillips, Bud Selig, Chris Davis, Chris Sale, Clay Buchholz, Cliff Lee, David Ortiz, David Wright, Dustin Pedroia, Edgar Martinez, Edwin Encarnacion, Joe Maddon, Joe Nathan, Joey Votto, Manny Machado, Mariano Rivera, Matt Moore, Michael Cuddyer, Miguel Cabrera, Mike Trout, New York Yankees, Prince Fielder, Robinson Cano, Ted Williams, Tom Seaver, Tommy John

Listen, I love Bill Simmons as much as you can love someone that you’ve never met (other than you, Dustin, don’t you worry your place is secure). I’ve read everything that he’s written since 2000. I may not have survived the tumultuous and ultimately triumphant...

3 Up 3 Down Rebukes Satan

by | Jun 8, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, C.C. Sabathia, Craig Breslow, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Joe Nathan, Jon Lester, Jonny Gomes, Kevin Youkilis, Mark Teixeira, Michael Kirkman, ron washington, Ryan Dempster, Shane Victorino

A little more than a week ago Fire Brand’s Dan Podheiser wrote about the upcoming “Stretch from Hell” that the Red Sox were about to embark upon. They were slated to play 25 games in 27 days; 22 of those games were going to be against teams with winning records. The...

The Advanced Scout – Texas Rangers

by | Jun 4, 2013 | A.J. Pierzynski, Adrian Beltre, Alex Wilson, Alexi Ogando, Alfredo Aceves, Andrew Miller, Boston Red Sox, Clayton Mortensen, Colby Lewis, Craig Breslow, Craig Gentry, Daniel Nava, David Murphy, David Ortiz, David Ross, Derek Holland, Elvis Andrus, Geovany Soto, Ian Kinsler, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jeff Baker, Joakim Soria, Joe Nathan, Joe Ortiz, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Jonny Gomes, Jose Iglesias, Junichi Tazawa, Jurickson Profar, Justin Grimm, Justin Miller, Koji Uehara, Lance Berkman, Leonys Martin, Leury Garcia, Matt Harrison, Mike Napoli, Mitch Moreland, Neal Cotts, Neftali Feliz, Nelson Cruz, New York Yankees, Robbie Ross, Ryan Dempster, Stephen Drew, Tanner Scheppers, Texas Rangers

After taking two of three against the Yankees (thanks, rain!), the Boston Red Sox (35-23, first place in the AL East, 2.5 games ahead) return to Fenway Park to face the Texas Rangers (35-21, first place in the AL West, 1.5 games ahead) in a three-game series. The Red...

The Advanced Scout – Texas Rangers

by | Aug 6, 2012 | Aaron Cook, Adrian Beltre, Adrian Gonzalez, Alfredo Aceves, Andrew Miller, Boston Red Sox, Carl Crawford, Clay Buchholz, Colby Lewis, Craig Breslow, David Murphy, Elvis Andrus, Franklin Morales, Ian Kinsler, Jacoby Ellsbury, Joe Nathan, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Josh Hamilton, Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara, Los Angeles Angels, Mark Lowe, Mark Melancon, Matt Harrison, Michael Young, Mike Aviles, Mike Napoli, Minnesota Twins, Mitch Moreland, Neftali Feliz, Nelson Cruz, Oakland Athletics, Robbie Ross, Roy Oswalt, Ryan Dempster, Ryan Kalish, Texas Rangers, Will Middlebrooks, Yu Darvish

After losing three of four to the lowly Minnesota Twins, the Boston Red Sox (54-55, 10 games back in the AL East) welcome the Texas Rangers (63-44, 5.5 games ahead in the AL West) to Fenway Park for a three-game series. Both teams are 5-5 in their last 10 games....

The Advanced Scout – Texas Rangers

by | Jul 23, 2012 | Aaron Cook, Adrian Beltre, Adrian Gonzalez, Alfredo Aceves, Boston Red Sox, Carl Crawford, Clay Buchholz, Cody Ross, Colby Lewis, Craig Gentry, Daniel Nava, David Murphy, Derek Holland, Elvis Andrus, Felix Doubront, Ian Kinsler, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Joe Nathan, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Josh Hamilton, Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara, Los Angeles Angels, Mark Lowe, Mark Melancon, Matt Albers, Michael Kirkman, Michael Young, Mike Napoli, Mitch Moreland, Neftali Feliz, Nelson Cruz, Nick Punto, Oakland Athletics, Robbie Ross, Roy Oswalt, Ryan Sweeney, Scott Feldman, Tanner Scheppers, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Vicente Padilla, Will Middlebrooks, Yorvit Torrealba

After being swept but the lowly and injured Blue Jays, the Boston Red Sox (48-48, 9.5 games back in the AL East) go to Arlington, Texas for a three-game skein against the Texas Rangers (56-38, 5 games ahead in the AL West). The Red Sox are 5-5 in their last 10, while...

Valuing the 2011 Free Agent Class

by | Nov 9, 2011 | Albert Pujols, Aramis Ramirez, Boston Red Sox, C.J. Wilson, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Pena, David Ortiz, Edwin Jackson, Francisco Cordero, Francisco Rodriguez, Heath Bell, Hiroki Kuroda, Jimmy Rollins, Joe Nathan, Jonathan Papelbon, Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Michael Cuddyer, Prince Fielder, Roy Oswalt, Ryan Madson

As I was reading Jim Bowden’s “Pricing the Free Agents” piece on ESPN last Friday afternoon, I could hear the rising and crashing waves of criticism coming from the Sabermetric/blogging community from over yonder…and by yonder, I mean Twitter. ...