When An 18-Wheeler Gets Rollin’

Dec. 18th, 2010 Merry Christmas, Boston. You have the makings of a shutdown bullpen. We could have written that headline…

Coast to Coast Tickets 6/30: Save us Obi-Jon, you’re our only hope

Boston Red Sox (45-34) @ Philadelphia Phillies (51-30) Jon Lester (9-3, 3.66) @ Cole Hamels (9-4, 2.49) 1:05 PM EDT…

Theo Epstein Throws a Bunch of Darts at a Wall

photo © 2008 Eric Kilby | more info (via: Wylio) Here is the best way to sum up the Red…

The intangible benefit of Pedroia

The Sox lineup, as always, is a meat grinder. They have four players in the top 20 in the American League in pitches seen per plate appearance (P/PA) and Pedroia ranks seventh at 4.27 (behind Youkilis who is fourth at 4.36) through 217 plate appearances (Victor Martinez is 11th at 4.12, J.D. Drew 13th at 4.11 while Marco Scutaro is 33rd at 3.92). Pedroia is also second in the league in total plate appearances at 217, behind only Denard Span of the Twins at 218, and leads the league in total pitches seen. Factoring in the entire majors, Youkilis ranks ninth and Pedroia 19th in P/PA.

Sitting in the No. 2 hole in the Sox lineup, Pedroia pesky plate appearances have a ripple down effect. Take for instance last Thursday when Boston beat Minnesota 6-2 on the strength of Jon Lester's nine-strikeout complete game. Pedroia was 0-3 with a walk and a run against the Twins and Francisco Liriano and was instrumental in knocking Minnesota's wily lefty out of the game after 4.2 innings with five earned runs on five hits and three walks. Pedroia was in the midst of a 4 for 39 slump at the time that spanned from May 12 to 23 before putting up three hits against the Rays on Monday.

All-Aughts Team of the Decade Manager: Terry Francona

In 2004, Boston hired Terry Francona as manager, who had a nasty experience managing the Phillies in their down years, but also had experience managing superstars, such as Michael Jordan in the White Sox's farm system. He had been training in Oakland, learning from Billy Beane and others. His reputation was one of a balanced background: using statistics to shape his decisions, but leaving plenty of room for the human element. The going was a bit tough early on for Francona, although largely exacerbated by the awful choice of having Dale Sveum as the third-base coach. Where was Wavin' Wendell when you needed him? Of course, he made far more right decisions than wrong, steering the club to a World Series title and should receive massive credit for his handling of the situation the Sox found themselves in during the playoffs, down three games to none in the best-of-seven ALCS. Francona was at times -- and still is, to this day -- called Francoma for some questionable decisions he makes that is rooted in both the human element of the game and his ability to remain steady and even-keeled day in and day out, understanding the bigger picture.

Your 2010 Red Sox coaching staff

• Manager Terry Francona, 7th season
• Bench coach DeMarlo Hale, 1st season (5th with Boston, four as third-base coach)
• First-base coach Ron Johnson, 1st season (5 seasons as AAA Pawtucket manager, 10 years in Boston organization). Was a teammate of Francona's in 1984 (Montreal Expos).
• Third-base coach Tim Bogar, 1st season (First-base coach last year)
• Hitting coach Dave Magadan, 4th season
• Pitching coach John Farrell, 4th season

Pitcher #11: Byrd Over Delcarmen

With the Red Sox ALDS roster now available to the reading public, Tito has ended any speculation as to whether Manny Delcarmen would be carried over into the Division Series and postseason. Manny struggled for much of the latter part of the season, though his lousy September (7 IP, 14.14 ERA, 8 BB, 10 K, 4 HR) was undoubtedly the final nail in the coffin for what was at first a very promising year.

For Better or For Worse: Terry Francona

Wrapped in the title "player's manager" is both a complement and an insult. Personable and charismatic as to relate to players, these managers are too cowardly to make tough personnel decisions, too soft to win championships.

Yet, what is often overlooked, is that many of the greatest skippers in baseball history have managed in this style. Arguably the two best managers of the last decade have been of this "undesirable" type: Terry Francona, winner of two World Series titles since installed as Red Sox skipper in 2004, and the legendary Joe Torre, manager of the Mets, Braves, Cardinals, Yankees, and Dodgers during his storied career.

Terry Francona, in many ways, can be considered a latter-day Joe Torre. Francona, in particular, faces many of the unique challenges that Torre did, while also being among the best at managing personalities and egos in his MLB clubhouse...

Sox interested in Atkins; should Sox go to 11 pitchers?

Rumors abound that the Red Sox and Colorado Rockies have discussed a deal around reliever Takashi Saito for third-baseman Garrett Atkins, making roughly $7 million this year.

The benefit to Atkins is that he would give the Sox a legitimate power bat off the bench, something the team lacks. Atkins would play first and third base off the bench, providing invaluable depth should Mike Lowell's return prove unsuccessful.

Which brings us to a more important question: are the Sox better served with an extra bench bat or an extra pitcher?

BOS 5, DET 1: Everyone’s a winner

Daisuke Matsuzaka and Terry Francona were both in search of wins. Both, for different reasons.