by bcarsley | Sep 30, 2013 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, 2013 Cleveland Indians, 2013 MLB Playoffs, 2013 Playoffs, Adrian Beltre, Adrian Gonzalez, Anibal Sanchez, Bartolo Colon, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Moss, Bronson Arroyo, Carl Crawford, Cincinnati Reds, Clay Buchholz, Cleveland Indians, Coco Crisp, David Murphy, David Ortiz, Detroit Tigers, Dustin Pedroia, Engel Beltre, Hanley Ramirez, Jacoby Ellsbury, James Loney, Jed Lowrie, Jon Lester, Jose Iglesias, Josh Reddick, Justin Masterson, Kelly Shoppach, Kris Johnson, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mark Melancon, Marlon Byrd, Matt Albers, Mike Aviles, Nick Hagadone, Nick Punto, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Rich Hill, Ryan Kalish, Stephen Fife, Stolmy Pimentel, Tampa Bay Rays, Terry Francona, Texas Rangers, Tim Federowicz, Victor Martinez
Not sure if you’ve noticed, but the Red Sox have undergone a tremendous amount of change over the past few years. Sure, some mainstays like David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and Jacoby Ellsbury have defined the core of this team. Yet by my count,...
by dpoarch | Sep 29, 2013 | Andrew McCutchen, Boston Red Sox, Carlos Gomez, Clay Buchholz, Clayton Kershaw, Detroit Tigers, Jose Fernandez, Jose Iglesias, Josh Donaldson, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Matt Harvey, Max Scherzer, Miami Marlins, Miguel Cabrera, Mike Trout, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Rays, Wil Myers
Here’s a sad thing: this column will be posted on the final day of the regular season for the Boston Red Sox. That’s right, 162 games are about to be in the books. Soon, it’ll be time for playoff talk (and an extra-special Playoff TrollBag next week), but before we...
by jkeller | Sep 5, 2013 | Andy Pettitte, Boston Red Sox, Brennan Boesch, Brett Gardner, Brian Cashman, C.C. Sabathia, Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter, Hiroki Kuroda, Houston Astros, Ivan Nova, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jayson Nix, Leo Nunez, Los Angeles Dodgers, Lyle Overbay, Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees, Oakland A's, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Robinson Cano, Tampa Bay Rays
The Red Sox kick of a critical four-game series in the Bronx tonight, facing the hard-charging Yankees. New York enters the series only 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, a rather drastic turnaround from where they were a month ago. On August 7, the White Sox...
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 jkeller | May 16, 2013 | Alex Wilson, Alfredo Aceves, Allen Webster, Andrew Bailey, Andrew Miller, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Clayton Mortensen, Cleveland Indians, Craig Breslow, Dan Wheeler, Daniel Bard, Detroit Tigers, Joel Hanrahan, Jose De La Torre, Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara, Matt Albers, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Stephen Drew, Steven Wright, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays
There are only two categories of people in this world: People who put people into two categories, and those that don’t. I am in the first category. One of the many groups of people that I put into two categories are relief pitchers. When you see the bullpen door open...
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 jkeller | Mar 14, 2013 | 2004 World Series, 2007 World Series, Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, Arizona Diamondbacks, Austin Romine, Boone Logan, Boston Red Sox, Brett Gardner, Brian Cashman, Buster Posey, C.C. Sabathia, Chris Stewart, Clay Buchholz, Clay Rapada, Curtis Granderson, Dan Johnson, David Aardsma, David Phelps, David Robertson, Dellin Betances, Derek Jeter, Eduardo Nunez, Francisco Cervelli, Hiroki Kuroda, Ichiro Suzuki, Ivan Nova, Joba Chamberlain, Juan Rivera, Kevin Youkilis, Mariano Rivera, Mark Teixeira, Matt Diaz, Melky Mesa, Michael Pineda, Mike Trout, New York Yankees, Phil Hughes, Pittsburgh Pirates, Raul Ibanez, Robinson Cano, Ryan Braun, San Francisco Giants, Travis Hafner
The 2013 New York Yankees are one heck of an interesting bet. It’s not quite black/red, high/low or odd/even, but you can rest assured that outcomes in baseball really aren’t all that complicated. In fact, there are only three kinds of baseball seasons in...
by bcowett | Mar 1, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, Brock Holt, Jacoby Ellsbury, Joel Hanrahan, Johnny Gomes, Pittsburgh Pirates, Spring Training, Will Middlebrooks
If a key player in the Red Sox system got badly injured before even setting foot in Fenway this year, I’d probably be beside myself with sadness and frustration. The baseball gods would’ve cursed us again! Okay, everyone. Deep breaths. He’s fine....
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)...
by bcowett | Dec 31, 2012 | Adam LaRoche, Boston Red Sox, Felix Doubront, Joel Hanrahan, Marlon Byrd, Mike Napoli, Pittsburgh Pirates
Hello everyone! It’s the final day of 2012! I know you all are busy setting up a party celebrating the end of the year, so I’ll get straight to the links post. Also, don’t forget the chips & dip. Very important. The dumpster fire known as the...
