OAK 8, BOS 2: Lester roughed up
Jon Lester would certainly trade his start to the 2009 season with Kevin Youkilis. Reason being, they have been polar opposites of what was expected of them coming into this season.
Category: Jon Lester
4/13: Will the 13th be lucky for Lester?
With Lowrie out, we're even thinner on offense. Good thing our pitching is the strength of the team. Lester needs to prove he's the real deal after a poor start to the season. Take it to Oakland!
LAA 5, BOS 4: Tempers flare, Angels take series
Bobby Abreu got all the revenge he needed.
TB 7, BOS 2: Pena breaks funk, Lester lackluster
Most baseball analysts think Jon Lester will emerge as one of the best pitchers in the league this year. His start yesterday against the Tampa Bay Rays took a sharp left turn. And it wasn't in the right direction.
4/8: Lefty time
Game two of the regular season is underway, with Jon Lester on the mound. He's predicted by many to establish himself as one of, if not the, best pitchers in the league this season. Well, it all starts here, Jon, against a fellow left-handed fireballer.
BOS 5, TB 3: Beckett’s back
Any questions about Josh Beckett returning to his 2007 form were answered against the Tampa Bay Rays. At least for one start.
Know Thyself 2009: Boston Red Sox
The 2009 Boston Red Sox are in the final stages of preparing for what is certain to be an entertaining and exciting season. The spring is finally behind us, the roster is set and the team is moving northward to christen Citi Field with some Major League talent.
Now all the roster moves are behind us and the questions move from the "who" of the offseason as they shift to the analysis of performance and the "what" of baseball. This past week has been spent looking at the competition in the American League East, and stiff competition it is. In most cases, the Red Sox had the position by position edge over each team from the Yankees to the Orioles and it should come as no surprise, in that light, that the staff here at Fire Brand gives the Red Sox the edge to win the AL East in 2009.
Today we summarize much of what we've talked about in our "For Better or Worse" series this offseason as we go player by player through the Red Sox roster and prepare for live baseball next week.
Red Sox Madness Final Four: Beckett vs. Lester
The first half of our ongoing Red Sox Madness tournament is in the books and #1 seed Dustin Pedroia will represent the offense against the winner of today's Josh Beckett/Jon Lester matchup in the final. Pedroia took fellow tablesetter Jacoby Ellsbury down with relative ease in the first Final Four matchup. Ellsbury's cinderella run came to an end after knocking off #2 seed Jason Bay and #1 seed David Ortiz.
Today we turn our attention to the starting rotation as we pit #1 seeds Jon Lester and Josh Beckett against each other in a battle that should enlighten Red Sox Nation's perspective on the "true ace". Which starting pitcher is more important to the overall team's success?
Remember, the simple question is "who's success is more important to the overall success of the Boston Red Sox in 2009?" Vote away after the jump!
Red Sox Madness Final Four: Ellsbury vs. Pedroia
After two grueling rounds of match ups, we now know the Final Four contestants in the first annual Red Sox Madness tournament. In a late run, (primarily thanks to Paul and I's get out the vote campaign for Jon Lester in last night's podcast), Jon Lester eeked out the closest battle of the tourney yet over Kevin Youkilis 45-42. Lester will battle fellow #1 seed and starting pitcher Josh Beckett in the second of our Final Four matchups.
The top half of the draw pits the top two hitters in the Red Sox lineup. Which tablesetter's success means more to the Red Sox chances in 2009? Is it the upstart #3 seed Jacoby Ellsbury or the reigning AL MVP and #1 seed Dustin Pedroia?
Remember, the simple question is "who's success is more important to the overall success of the Boston Red Sox in 2009?" Vote away after the jump!
Red Sox Madness: Lester vs Youkilis
In preparation for the best two weeks in sports, starting with the Final Four, running through the Masters with a little thing called Opening Day sandwiched in the middle, we idly pass the time with our Red Sox Madness tournament. As expected, Josh Beckett joined the upstart Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia in the Final Four. Today the final region battles to join them.
In what is expected to be the most heated battle of the second round, #2 seed Kevin Youkilis battles #1 seed Jon Lester for the right to meet Beckett with a trip to the finals on the line.
Remember, the simple question is "who's success is more important to the overall success of the Boston Red Sox in 2009?" Vote away after the jump!