The Offense Has Carried The Club And Now It Is the Rotation’s Turn

As the Red Sox world turns, it is reflecting more and more like a general hospital. On a daily basis another player is heading to the disabled list. The Olde Towne Team needs to keep their collective heads above water until the starters get back on the diamond. The good play since April allows the Red Sox the opportunity to stay in the race even with numerous key players in the training room.

The Red Sox offense is mostly responsible for the May and June resurgence. They lead the American League in runs scored, are second in on-base percentage and first in slugging percentage. The incredible turnaround of David Ortiz and the unconscious Adrian Beltre at the plate have been two that have performed beyond expectations.

6/29 Online Seats Game Thread: Home Sweet Home

After a seemingly endless road stint that left the Boston Red Sox bruised and battered, they will have to mount up once again to take on the Tampa Bay Rays. John Lackey will head out to the mound for Boston, while James Shields will try to handle the Red Sox callups.

6/23 Online Seats Game Thread: Can the Sox Hit Jimenez?

Ubaldo Jiminez has been notching a season for the record books in 2010, but the Boston Red Sox will look to John Lackey as they try to rewrite history in the making.

6/17 Online Seats Game Thread: Saving Time for the Celtics

John Lackey and the Boston Red Sox are nice enough to start their last game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at tad early. Let's just hope that the Celtics take advantage as they face the Laker's in Game 7.

6/11 Online Seats Game Thread: The Best of the NL

Sometimes interleague play brings you the Pittsburgh Pirates. Other times, it brings you the Philadelphia Phillies. Let's hope the Boston Red Sox can maintain their swagger as they take on one of the best squads in the NL.

Moving to CBS Sports, plus Red Sox thoughts

Although my time at NESN was far, far shorter than I hoped/expected, I've moved on to the next phase of my career which takes me to the MLB Facts and Rumors blog at CBS Sports.

I'll be writing alongside long-time Mariners reporter David Andriesen (previously sighted at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer) and C. Trent Rosencrans (Cincinnati Post) to bring baseball fans the latest in general baseball coverage. You can see me there starting Monday.

I'll be checking in at Fire Brand multiple times a week, resurrecting the trivia challenge and letting everyone know of the latest transactions involving the BoSox.

I'd like to take this time to say a few things I didn't over the last few months, as well as put out a call for ways Fire Brand can improve:

6/6 Online Seats Game Thread: Lackey Looks to Manage Matusz

After yet another commanding performance over the Baltimore Orioles last night, John Lackey and the Boston Red Sox will look to take down youngster Brian Matusz down another peg or two.

Finding the key to Lackey

I've struggled this season to answer why John Lackey has been so off from anything we have seen from him previously. His Pitch F/x says he has added more cutters, but is that the only change and is it real? After some research I think I have found more of an answer and perhaps bring us closer to a solution. Let's start from the top with Lackey's career K/BB at 2.62 he stands as a very solid arm, but in 2010 he has a dismal 1.22. That comes from troubles in strikeouts and walks and little evidence in the numbers to point to one problem. I have spent plenty of time on this site trying to figure it out since he could be the hinge for the 2010 season being successful. Finally thanks to the Fangraphs.com splits I think I can get a step closer to identifying the problem. If you look at his K/9, BB/9 and K/BB in his lefty vs righty numbers there is a huge red flag. Against right handed batters this year Lackey has a stellar 3.83 K/BB with great control. Then you look at his lefty match-up and you see an amazingly bad 0.62 K/BB.

Cautious Optimism But Lacking Something

The Red Sox offense is in good shape. The local nine is second in runs scored and OPS. The lineup has been legit even with Jeremy Hermida (649 OPS) and Darnell McDonald (746 OPS) getting 246 of the 1920 Red Sox at-bats or 12.8%. The other seven regulars are collectively performing as expected. When Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury take plate appearances from Hermida and McDonald, the Olde Towne Team should put up more crooked numbers.

On the pitching front, walks have been the issue. The health and return to form from Josh Beckett will reduce the number of free passes. If he replaces Tim Wakefield, the club will benefit even more since his style dictates not giving into hitters.

6/1 Online Seats Game Thread: John Kicks Off June

After a rough first month of the season, May went the Boston Red Sox's way, to say the least. John Lackey will look to carry the momentum into June, as Gio Gonzalez and the Oakland A's head to town.