7/25: Rolling thru July

Kansas City Royals (42-59) @ Boston Red Sox (62-37) Kyle Davies (1-9, 7.32) @ Jon Lester (10-4, 3.31) 7:10 PM…

Red Sox and Royals Could be Trading Partners

As we discussed previously, Kerry Wood is the odds on favorite to be the Red Sox new name reliever come August. The Olde Towne Team’s lack of upper-level prospects performing well and/or a desire not to part with these assets gives the Red Sox only a financial advantage over most other teams. Since Cleveland may not find many clubs willing to adsorb Wood’s large salary for the rest of 2010, Red Sox would seem to be one of the front runners for the hard-throwing relievers services. But another possibility could emerge in Kansas City.

Per usual the Royals are going nowhere in 2010. Their trading deadline focus will be on moving players that are unlikely to contribute to the next competitive KC club. Even with a better farm system than in the past, the Royals are probably not going to be contenders in 2011. Productive players with reasonable but short-term contracts like David DeJesus and Kyle Farnsworth should be on the move come July 31, 2010.

Is it Time to Get Rid of Interleague Play?

This will be the fourteenth season of interleague play in the Major Leagues. Perhaps the most controversial of Bud Selig's innovations, interleague has had a good run with some wonderful moments, but it has also produced some head-scratching matchups, highlighted the gap in talent between the American and National Leagues, and introduced a level of imbalance that is, at least in my view, antithetical to the spirit of baseball. Despite the revenue boost it has given some clubs, it may be time to end - or at least reduce - the interleague experiment.

5/30 Online Seats Game Thread: End of May Matinee

Well at least we know the Royals didn't sweep. With the month of May drawing to a close, Jon Lester will take the mound for the Boston Red Sox to face Bruce Chen in the last game of a troubling series against the Kansas City Royals.

5/29 Online Seats Game Thread: Sox Drop Two To KC

(1-5, 3.57) and (6-3, 3.07). One of those lines belong to Clay Buchholz and the other belongs to Zack Greinke... and it ain't the one you're expecting. After dropping two now to the struggling Royals, the Boston Red Sox will send Buchholz out there in a duel of the young guns.

5/ 28 Online Seats Game Thread: Wake Takes Mound Yet Again

In baffling fashion, the Boston Red Sox top some of the league's best on the road, and then proceed to drop a home game against the Kansas City Royals. Tim Wakefield will have to use his experience to get this new look Red Sox to take it one game at a time, as they take on Kyle Davies tonight at Fenway.

5/27 Online Seats Game Thread: Boston Homeward Bound

After completing a clean sweep of the league leading Tampa Bay Rays, the Boston Red Sox might be a bit tempted to look past the fledgling Kansas City Royals, as they head home after a lengthy road trip.

The Days Turn Into Night, Or Do They?

For those Fenway Faithful who have committed themselves to watching every pitch of the 2010 season thus far, you have endured exactly 1,196 minutes of baseball – 19.9333 hours. Mazel Tov. Long games have certainly become a trend in MLB, a phenomenon that is being discussed across the board. Just last night, Orel Hershiser and Joe Morgan were posturing possible reasons for the seemingly exponential delay of pace this year. But is the trend all that new? The real question isn't which rope to hang ourselves with, especially compare it when you compare it to ghosts of opening week's past.

Sox Take R&R in KC, Buchholz Picks Up Where He Left Off

R&R in KC After winning the home opener, the Sox looked quite sluggish in their encore performances against the Yanks. What they needed was a little R&R against a weak out-of-division opponent -- and the KC Royals came to the rescue. Though the pitching staff managed to make the series interesting -- including dropping the first content by virtue of Okajima’s and Bard’s eighth inning bullpen lapses -- there were many positives to take away from the road trip to Missouri...

4/10 Online Seats Game Thread: Buchholz makes debut

Clay Buchholz makes his season debut for the Boston Red Sox. He's got a good first opponent in the hapless Royals, but can the inconsistent youngster put it all together? With Daisuke Matsuzaka around the corner, can Buchholz afford a misstep?