Fireside Chats Podcast

Fireside Chats #40: Where we celebrate Opening Day and talk Rays with DRaysBay.com

The 2009 season is finally upon us and we celebrate a win over those pesky Rays by taunting the very bloggers that cover them. Old friends of the show Tommy and Erik were kind enough not to back out of an appearance after the loss today to talk about the 2009 Rays and give us some perspective as we watch this team in action over the next few days.

Of course, we couldn't let the show go without reminiscing fondly over C.C. Sabbathia's first start in a Yankee uniform. While we don't expect him to throw $800k stinkers out there every start, we do think that the Yankees bullpen on the road to Rivera is wrought with potholes.

All that and more on Episode #40 of Fireside Chats on MVN!

April 7, 2009 tim daloisio

Akinori Iwamura

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.

April 7, 2009 shawn medeiros

Game Threads

4/7: …And We’re Baaaack

It's here. Game 1 of 162. Let's come out strong and kick some Ray butt!

April 7, 2009 evan brunell

Dustin Pedroia

2009 Red Sox Madness Champion: Josh Beckett

If the results of our Red Sox Madness tournament tournament tell us anything, it's that today's start for Josh Beckett could be setting the tone for the season.

After matching up the sixteen most important players on the Red Sox 2009 roster in a head to head, NCAA tournament style bracket, Josh Beckett cruised to a 63-36 win in the finals over Dustin Pedroia.

In resounding support of the notion that top flight pitching wins championships, the Red Sox "Big Three" of Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka went 7-2 in this tournament with the two losses being Lester's and Dice-K's to the eventual champion.

April 7, 2009 josh lacey

Dustin Pedroia

Red Sox Madness: Championship Monday

The rain may have postponed Opening Day, but I look at it as a blessing in disguise. I mean, how could you really expect to start the season without having properly named the 2009 Red Sox Madness Champion.

Votes will be tabulated tomorrow morning and a winner crowned before first pitch.

Whose success is more important to the overall success of the 2009 Boston Red Sox, Josh Beckett or Dustin Pedroia?

Red Sox Madness 2009 Championship Game: #1 Dustin Pedroia vs. #1 Josh Beckett

April 6, 2009 tim daloisio

Josh Beckett

At long last, Opening Day is here

Finally. Opening Day is here.

On this day, every team has cause to feel optimistic -- even those that know they have no chance of making the playoffs. This is where the silver lining of every team comes into play. It's the cleanest day of baseball games across the entire season: no problems, no issues, just finally getting out in front of a crowd, playing meaningful baseball in the march for October.

April 6, 2009 evan brunell

Dustin Pedroia

Red Sox Madness Finals: For all the marbles

It has all come down to this. Sixteen men enter, one man leaves, and that man will be either Josh Beckett or Dustin Pedroia. Who's success will go further in determining the Red Sox fate this season? Who will have their own Red Sox Madness tournament "One Shining Moment"?

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!

April 5, 2009 tim daloisio

Clay Buchholz

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.

April 3, 2009 josh lacey

Dustin Pedroia

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!

April 3, 2009 josh lacey

Dustin Pedroia

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!

April 1, 2009 tim daloisio