4/20: It’s Patriots’ Day!

Things are starting to come together, aren't they? The offense. The pitching. The defense. Now we just need Big Papi to hit. Is it physical? Is it mental? Is it both?

BOS 2, BAL 1: In command

As Jon Lester's frustrations lifted,striking out nine Orioles over seven innings pitched to earn his first victory of the season, Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz' frustrations continue to mount.

What’s the impact of Justin Masterson in the rotation?

All indications point to Justin Masterson taking Dice-K's place in the rotation after Dice was placed on the 15-day DL with arm fatigue.

As Masterson prepares to face the Orioles on Patriots Day, the trickle-down effect is significant, especially with the specter of the Josh Beckett suspension hanging over the team.

Masterson was a versatile option out of the bullpen that changes the makeup of the pen significantly. Masterson and Okajima were the two options out of the gate in the seventh and eighth to close out a game with the lead. Now, Saito likely takes Masterson's role, with Manny Delcarmen elevated in a role where the Sox pitch from behind.

OAK 6, BOS 5: Red Sox slide continues

Not only is Daisuke Matsuzaka's arm fatigued, but Red Sox Nation is also after suffering through a 12 inning, four hour and 24 minute, 6-5 extra innings loss to Oakland.

LAA 6, BOS 3: Weaver earns win for fallen teammate

Sean McAdam and the Boston Red Sox had one thing in common last night. Both of their performances were terrible. With that said, thank goodness for Rex Hudler in the third and fourth innings.

Chat Transcript: Ortiz, Yankees, Buchholz and more

David Ortiz - Samara Pearlstein

Sit down with a big cup of coffee, because have I a treat for you. I participated in a chat on Tuesday night and they have made the transcript available for Fire Brand to peruse.

I talk about which minor leaguers to keep an eye on... what the Sox need to do to win this year... how important David Ortiz is to us.

Oh, I also throw out predictions such as who will finish at first... scoff at the Yankees... and talk about who the heck can be our future catcher.

Sox’s recent additions don’t mean young pitchers will be dealt

The Boston Red Sox have made a few sensational low-cost, high-reward moves lately, bringing in Rocco Baldelli, Brad Penny, Takashi Saito and John Smoltz.

This has led several people to posit that the Red Sox may now be more amenable to dealing Michael Bowden, Clay Buchholz or Justin Masterson for a catcher such as Texas' Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Taylor Teagarden and Arizona's Miguel Montero.

Really?

Don't be so quick to assume the Sox may be more likely to ship out some of their younger pitching because of these deals.

Should Justin Masterson start?

The possibility certainly exists that the plan all along is to have Masterson as the No. 5 starter. Given Masterson's impressive debut and his propensity for ground balls, the Sox should look to him as a starter.

Did the Red Sox make those moves to market him as a starter in the trade market? His value would undoubtedly be higher as a starter and this may be a posturing move on behalf of the Red Sox to drive his price up.

Peter Gammons checks in with Fire Brand

Peter Gammons stops by Fire Brand to answer a few questions. He cautions not to write off David Ortiz and muses about an Eric Byrnes and Miguel Montero to Boston trade.

Analyzing the Coco Crisp/Ramon Ramirez trade

Coco Crisp - Evan Brunell

This trade is excellent from the Red Sox's perspective. The Sox had a very solid bullpen last year but now add Ramirez to their corps of young, cost-controllable arms that are capable of setting up and/or closing.

This trade is the first of many dominoes that will start to fall for the Red Sox. The question is, where will these dominoes fall?

Wherever the Sox go from here, the opening salvo of the Sox's offseason was the Crisp/Ramirez trade, and it's going to impact the rest of the offseason fundamentally.