7/9: 1st half MUP = Penny

What is a MUP? Most Under-appreciated Player. I think the first half award for 2009 Red Sox MUP belongs to Brad Penny. Considering what we expected from him (who thought he'd still be on the team in July?), Penny's ability to go deep in games consistently has given the team a chance to win and kept the bullpen alive and kicking.

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.

Crisp traded to KC for reliever

Boston sacrificed uber-prospect Andy Marte, acquired a few months earlier from the Atlanta Braves, but in return they received a 26 year old center fielder who averaged 15 home runs and hit a .298 clip the past two seasons as a starter. Things looked bright for the team and player.

Now, the Boston Red Sox have traded Coco Crisp to the Royals for reliever Ramon Ramirez.

8/6: Must keep pace with the Rays

Prev. Gm: Boston Red Sox (65-49) @ Kansas City Royals (53-61) Tim Wakefield (6-8, 3.77) @ Luke Hochevar (6-9, 5.42)…

BOS 8, KC 2: That’s more like it

Obviously, no team in the MLB is a pushover but after a revamped offense and a hot streak a lot…

8/5: Will the real Josh Beckett please stand up?

Prev. Gm: Boston Red Sox (64-49) @ Kansas City Royals (53-60) Josh Beckett (9-8, 4.15) @ Brian Bannister (7-9, 5.33)…

8/4: On the road again

Prev. Gm: Boston Red Sox (64-48) @ Kansas City Royals (52-60) Clay Buchholz (2-6, 5.94) @ Gil Meche (9-9, 4.22)…

BOS 5, OAK 2: Sweep complete

Jed Lowrie’s triple to deep center field that plated two was the difference in the Red Sox 5-2 win. It…

BOS 12, OAK 2: Bay fitting right in

Well it has not taken Jason Bay a long time to fit in with the Boston Red Sox as he…

Red Sox slamfest

J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell both hit grandslams over the Green Monster while Daisuke Matsuzaka stayed perfect on the season…