KC 12, BOS 9: Wakefield Gets Waterlogged

With a host of question marks looming over Tim Wakefield's much-anticipated return to the mound, it was the Red Sox bullpen that would leave everyone perplexed, as the Boston Red Sox drop the first game of a four game series to the Kansas City Royals, 12-9, in a come-from-behind win for KC.

At two different points in the game, the Red Sox led by six runs, on the heels of another Jason Bay home run (36 on the year) and a two-run RBI from Jacoby Ellsbury, who has been on fire as of late. Dustin Pedroia added an RBI of his own, before an untimely implosion of the bullpen, in a rain soaked game at Kaufman Stadium.

Testing the Papelbon Trade Theory

The popular rumor growing in MLB trade circles has Red Sox closer Jon Papelbon being traded in the offseason with Billy Wagner assuming closer duties for 2010. With the claims gaining steam, it's time to look at the Sox' possible 2010 bullpen scenarios.

The 2009 Jon Papelbon

Jon Papelbon hasn't been the same JON PAPELBON he was from 2006-2008. It's somewhat surprising that the baseball community has been as down on Pap as they have been, as he still has a 1.81 ERA and is 34/37 in save opportunities this season.

However, there has been a palpable decline in his numbers and rate indicators this season. While his strikeout rate has been stable since last season, as too has his velocity for the most part, his rising walk rate has been at the root of his relative "struggles" this season...

Tweets on the Red Sox’s 25-man roster

In a homage to Twitter, the new social media application that is changing how news is delivered (in the same vein how blogs changed everything) I bring to you a summary of each Red Sox player on the 25-man roster in 140 characters or less (the maximum number of characters you can enter on Twitter).

Have Twitter? Follow me. Tim's on too. Oh, and Fire Brand has one as well. You'll notice that had you followed Fire Brand, you would have gotten all these tweets last night.

MIN 4, BOS 2: Wild Thing

The Boston Red Sox did their best impression of Rick Vaughn in a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins.

Should Sox trade Delcarmen for Nick Johnson?

Peter Gammons went on Mike and Mike's ESPN Radio show this morning. Thanks to Hacks with Haggs, there is a transcript of the proceedings. An interesting tidbit:

Washington with their 2-16 bullpen are trying to move Nick Johnson and Austin Kearns and some of their semi-attractive veteran players to get relief pitchers. I know they offered Nick Johnson to Boston for Manny Delcarmen. That hasn't happened and may not until the Red Sox make a decision on David Ortiz.

This is a deal the Red Sox would instantly do if Big Papi was at his current level of production on July 31.

It's May 22, however.

It still begs the question: should the Red Sox do the trade? If so, when?

BOS 12, BAL 1: Sox rout O’s for series sweep

Slowly but surely, everything is coming together for the Boston Red Sox.

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.

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.

Projections for 2009 Red Sox and others

Bill James has come out with his new handbook for 2009, and in the handbook are the early statistical projections for players next year. This may be especially significant in the case of the Red Sox, as James has a vast amount of knowledge of players in the Red Sox system due to being employed by the team.

BOS 5, CLE 4: Kotsay knocks out Indians

In the bottom of the eighth inning Jeff Bailey pinch hit for Jon Van Every and roped a triple to…