by bcowett | Aug 23, 2013 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, Ben Cherington, Boston Red Sox, Carl Crawford, David Ortiz, Jacoby Ellsbury, Josh Beckett, Los Angeles Dodgers, Nick Punto, Ryan Dempster, Shane Victorino
After an off day, the Red Sox head south to take on the scorching-hot Los Angeles Dodgers, so naturally, the Nick Punto Trade will be talked about. A lot. Since May, Jacoby Ellsbury has been really, really good. But even if his defense is the greatest part of his...
by bcowett | Jul 8, 2013 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, Andrew Miller, Boston Red Sox, Jacoby Ellsbury, John Lackey, Jose Iglesias, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Ricky Nolasco
This is why we hate west coast road trips so much. The team can do so much better…but they just don’t. It’s infuriating. Awesome O’Clock came and went, but the Red Sox couldn’t back John Lackey on a night where he was striking out nearly...
by dpoarch | Jun 2, 2013 | Alfredo Aceves, Boston Red Sox, Bryce Brentz, Clay Buchholz, Clayton Kershaw, Cleyton Mortersan, Derek Jeter, Dustin Pedroia, Felix Hernandez, Garin Cecchini, Garin Cecchini, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jake Peavy, James Loney, Jon Lester, Lars Anderson, Los Angeles Dodgers, Michael Young, Seattle Mariners, Will Middlebrooks
Ok. So I had a simple thought coming into this week’s column: I wanted to do a mailbag. We’ve had a long-standing tradition here at Fire Brand of mocking Nick Cafardo’s regular mailbags, and let’s face it—those things are ridiculous. What I wanted to accomplish, then,...
by tbrooks | May 28, 2013 | Babe Ruth, Boston Red Sox, Clayton Kershaw, Don Mattingly, Jose Iglesias, Los Angeles Dodgers, Matt Kemp, Nick Cafardo Mail Bag, Will Middlebrooks
Nick Cafardo brings the intensity on Sundays. Sitting in Peter Gammons’ distinguished chair, Cafardo drops insights. Here are a few of the most glimmering moments (this week only!). Don Mattingly may lose his job as manager of the Dodgers, but he gained respect...
by jkeller | May 23, 2013 | Andrew Bailey, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Morrow, Clay Buchholz, Cleveland Indians, Cody Ross, Daniel Bard, David Ross, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jim Johnson, Joe Girardi, Joel Hanrahan, John Farrell, Josh Johnson, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Lyle Overbay, Mark Buehrle, Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, R.A. Dickey, Raul Ibanez, Ricky Romero, Robinson Cano, Shane Victorino, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Travis Hafner, Vernon Wells
Making spring training predictions usually guarantees two things: 1) You will hit on a few. 2) You will miss on a lot more. Since we’re now through more than a quarter of the 2013 season, let’s take a look at five predictions that I already wish I could...
by bcarsley | May 13, 2013 | Adrian Gonzalez, Allen Webster, Andrew Cashner, Anthony Rizzo, Carl Crawford, Casey Kelly, Chicago Cubs, Dustin Pedroia, Felix Doubront, Jackie Bradley, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jed Hoyer, Josh Beckett, Junichi Tazawa, Los Angeles Dodgers, Reymond Fuentes, Rubby de la Rosa, Theo Epstein, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogearts
The Cubs took another big step in their lengthy rebuilding plan yesterday, reportedly signing first baseman Anthony Rizzo to a seven-year, $41 million extension that could keep the 23-year-old in Chicago blue until 2021. While there is of course some risk involved for...
by jkeller | May 9, 2013 | Ben Cherington, Boston Red Sox, Buster Posey, Carl Crawford, David Ross, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, John Lackey, Josh Hamilton, Los Angeles Dodgers, Ryan Lavarnway, Zack Greinke
The Red Sox headed into the off season with all sorts of money to spend. Ben Cherington had shipped nearly every bad contract (I’m looking at you, John Lackey) on the books to the Dodgers, and now it was time to roll up our sleeves and dig in to the newly anointed...
by jreilly | Mar 30, 2013 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, Aaron Hicks, Adrian Beltre, Andrew McCutchen, Atlanta Braves, Brandon Mauer, Bryce Harper, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Red, Clayton Kershaw, Cleveland Indians, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Detroit Tigers, Dylan Bundy, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jason Heyward, Jedd Gyorko, Joey Votto, Jose Bautista, Julio Tehran, Jurickson Profar, Justin Upton, Kyuji Fujikawa, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Matt Kemp, Mike Trout, Oakland A's, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Predictions, Robinson Cano, Ryan Braun, San Francisco Giants, Shelby Miller, St. Louis Cardinals, Stephen Strasburg, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals, Wil Myers, World Series, Yasel Puig
Fire Brand readers, below are the staff’s predictions for the 2013 MLB Season. While there is a very good chance many of these will be incorrect, it will make all of you proud to note that not a single writer picked the Yankees to make the playoffs. Some...
by bcowett | Mar 15, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, Bryce Brentz, Casey Kelly, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Don Mattingly, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jose Iglesias, Juan Nieves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Stephen Drew, Terry Francona, Xander Bogearts
So, I decided to see a Spring Training game on Thursday between the Cubs & Dodgers. Here’s a short summary: STOP BUNTING DODGERS I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE. Players will come and go. That’s the hard truth we have to acknowledge. Loyalty won’t...
by jkeller | Feb 7, 2013 | Albert Pujols, Andrew McCutchen, Angel Pagan, Atlanta Braves, B.J. Upton, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Crawford, Brandon Morrow, Buck Showalter, Buster Posey, Chris Carpenter, Clay Buchholz, Dan Haren, David Price, Denard Span, Detroit Tigers, Edwin Encarnacion, Edwin Jackson, Evan Longoria, Felix Hernandez, James Shields, Jared Weaver, Jason Vargas, Joe Blanton, John Farrell, Jose Bautista, Jose Reyes, Josh Hamilton, Josh Johnson, Jurickson Profar, Justin Upton, Justin Verlander, Kansas City Royals, Keith Law, Lance Lynn, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mark Buehrle, Michael Young, Miguel Cabrera, Mike Olt, Mike Trout, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, R.A. Dickey, Rafael Soriano, Ricky Romero, Robinson Cano, San Francisco Giants, Shelby Miller, St. Louis Cardinals, Stephen Strasburg, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Wade Davis, Washington Nationals, Wil Myers, Zack Greinke
Part 1: The Pitchers Part 2: The Batters Part 3: The League Once again, the same disclaimers apply: 1) Please feel free to bookmark them and come back later in September/October to see how I did — you know that if I hit on a few you’re going to hear about it. 2)...
