What We Think We Know

by | Apr 5, 2013 | Andrew Bailey, Andrew Miller, Andy Pettitte, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, cc sabathia, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, Hiroki Kuroda, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jacoby Ellsbury, Joel Hanrahan, John Farrell, Johnny Gomes, Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara, New York Yankees, Ryan Sweeney, Shane Victorino, Tampa Bay Rays

We’re three games into the season, and we essentially know nothing about the 2013 Red Sox. Well, that’s not exactly true. If you’ve visited this blog or have been living in New England at all for the past six months, you’ve probably read a little Red Sox analysis here...

Roster Power Rankings, March Edition

by | Mar 28, 2013 | Alfredo Aceves, Andrew Bailey, Andrew Miller, Boston Red Sox, Clay Buchholz, Clayton Mortensen, Craig Breslow, Daniel Bard, Daniel Nava, Daniel Nava, David Ross, Dustin Pedroia, Felix Doubront, Franklin Morales, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Joel Hanrahan, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Jonny Gomes, Jose Iglesias, Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara, Mike Carp, Mike Napoli, Pedro Ciriaco, Ryan Dempster, Ryan Sweeney, Shane Victorino, Will Middlebrooks

Every month, here on Fire Brand, I am going to take a look at the relative value of the 25 players on the current active roster. For March, that will require some projections. So for our case here we are going to assume (hope, and pray) that the front office decides...

The Case For Jackie Bradley, Jr.

by | Mar 23, 2013 | 2013 Boston Red Sox, Andrew McCutchen, Boston Red Sox, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, Jackie Bradley, Jackie Bradley Jr., Mike Carp, Mike Napoli, Ryan Kalish, Ryan Sweeney, Shane Victorino, Stephen Drew, Troy Tulowitzki

With Opening Day a mere week and change away, Red Sox fans, me included, eagerly await the announcement for who will be on the 2013 Boston Red Sox roster. Eager is a fitting word because an abundant amount of excitement has surrounded one player in particular this...

Lingering Thoughts From a Lingering Red Sox Spring Training

by | Mar 21, 2013 | Bobby Valentine, Boston Red Sox, Brandon McCarthy, C.C. Sabathia, Clay Buchholz, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, J.D. Drew, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jacoby Ellsbury, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Jonny Gomes, Jose Iglesias, Josh Beckett, Manny Ramirez, Ryan Sweeney, Shane Victorino, Stephen Drew

  I’m with Brandon McCarthy, Spring Training in a World Baseball Classic year is outrageously long. The first week or two I am so excited to see live baseball and the green grass again, but by the time you get this late in the process it borders on torturous. I just...

Save the Date

by | Mar 7, 2013 | Adrian Gonzalez, Albert Pujols, Allen Webster, Bobby Valentine, Boston Red Sox, Bryce Harper, C.C. Sabathia, Carl Crawford, Clay Buchholz, Cleveland Indians, Curt Schilling, Daniel Nava, Gio Gonzalez, Henry Owens, Houston Astros, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jacoby Ellsbury, Joel Hanrahan, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Kevin Youkilis, Los Angeles Angels, Matt Barnes, Mike Carp, Mike Napoli, Mike Trout, MLB Amateur Draft, New York Yankees, Ryan Dempster, Ryan Sweeney, Stephen Drew, Stephen Strasburg, Terry Francona, Trot Nixon, Washington Nationals, Xander Bogaerts

You know the feeling, it’s just some unsuspecting Tuesday when you get the card in the mail. It’s a “Save the Date” for an upcoming wedding. You go to the calendar and cross out a Saturday, knowing all too well that one is shot. (No, that’s not how I felt about...

A Song for the Season

by | Feb 28, 2013 | 2004 World Series, Alfredo Aceves, Allen Webster, Andrew Bailey, Ben Cherington, Boston Red Sox, Brett Lawrie, Clay Buchholz, Craig Breslow, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Daniel Bard, Daniel Nava, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, David Ross, Dustin Pedroia, Edwin Encarnacion, Felix Doubront, J.D. Drew, J.P. Arencibia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Joel Hanrahan, John Farrell, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Jonny Gomes, Jose Bautista, Juan Nieves, Junichi Tazawa, Kevin Millar, Kevin Youkilis, Koji Uehara, Lyle Overbay, Mike Carp, Mike Napoli, Pedro Ciriaco, Pedro Martinez, Rubby de la Rosa, Ryan Dempster, Ryan Sweeney, Shane Victorino, Stephen Drew, Will Middlebrooks, World Baseball Classic, Xander Bogaerts

Alfredo Aceves — Crazy (Gnarls Barkley) As a general rule of thumb, anyone who chooses their number as a tribute to Dennis Rodman has a screw, or two, lose. Aceves is certainly not an exception. Andrew Bailey — Everybody Hurts (REM) Every player gets hurt...

Daniel Nava: Odd Man Out?

by | Feb 23, 2013 | Adrian Gonzalez, Alex Hassan, Andrew McCutchen, Bobby Valentine, Boston Red Sox, Brock Holt, Carl Crawford, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, David Ross, Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, Jack Cust, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jayson Werth, Jonny Gomes, Jose Iglesias, Lyle Overbay, Mauro Gomez, Mike Carp, Mike Napoli, Pedro Ciriaco, rod carew, Ryan Kalish, Ryan Lavarnway, Ryan Sweeney, Shane Victorino, Stephen Drew, Will Middlebrooks

With Opening Day a mere 5 weeks away I thought it would be as good a time as any to take a look at the potential 2013 Opening Day Boston Red Sox offensive roster. This is, of course, taken with a grain of salt, as we all know that health with not remain perfect...

Lies, Damn Lies and General Managers

by | Nov 17, 2012 | Alfredo Aceves, Ben Cherington, Boston Red Sox, Clay Buchholz, Cleveland Indians, David Ortiz, David Ross, Dustin Pedroia, Evan Longoria, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Jose Iglesias, Josh Beckett, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Rich Hill, Ryan Sweeney, Scott Atchison, Toronto Blue Jays, Will Middlebrooks

I’ve been lied to a lot in my life. But what Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington pulled off this week may be a set up for one of the bigger lies I’ve ever heard. At a sports management conference at UMass-Amherst this week, Cherington said that despite...