by akhatchaturian | Aug 10, 2013 | Bill Mueller, Brandon Snyder, Brock Holt, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jake Peavy, Jose Iglesias, Kevin Youkilis, Mike Lowell, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogaerts
Throughout the past decade, the third base position in Boston has been plentifully occupied with gritty, hard workers like Bill Mueller, Kevin Youkilis, and Mike Lowell, who helped the Red Sox reach new heights. Fast forward to 2013 and the position is a glaring weak...
by jkeller | Aug 1, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, Brandon Jacobs, Brandon Snyder, Brandon Workman, Brock Holt, Clay Buchholz, Craig Breslow, Craig Kimbrel, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, David Ross, Drake Britton, Dustin Pedroia, Felix Doubront, J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jake Peavy, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jim Johnson, Joe Nathan, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Jonny Gomes, Jose De La Torre, Jose Iglesias, Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara, Mariano Rivera, Matt Thorton, Mike Carp, Mike Napoli, Pedro Beato, Ryan Dempster, Ryan Lavarnway, Shane Victorino, Stephen Drew, Ted Williams, Will Middlebrooks, Wins Above Replacement, Xander Bogaerts
Every month, here on Fire Brand, I take a look at the relative value of the 25 players on the current active roster. If you missed the March, April, May, or June editions check them out for the criteria and history of these rankings. This month sees a season high six...
by huntergolden | Jul 31, 2013 | 2013 MLB Trade Deadline, Anibal Sanchez, Brandon Snyder, Brandon Workman, C.C. Sabathia, C.J. Wilson, Cleuluis Rondon, Cliff Lee, Derek Holland, Felix Doubront, Francellis Montas, Giancarlo Stanton, Gio Gonzalez, Hiroki Kuroda, J.B. Wendelken, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jake Peavy, Jose Iglesias, Justin Turner, Mat Latos, Matt Garza, Matt Moore, Mike Olt, R.A. Dickey, Ryan Dempster, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogaerts, Zack Greinke
I’ll be honest with you guys, I still feel pretty baseball drunk from what happened tonight. First there were the Cliff Lee rumors. Then Jackie Bradley Jr. was pulled from his game in Pawtucket. Then there was a false report that Giancarlo Stanton had been pulled from...
by bcarsley | Jul 29, 2013 | Allen Webster, Anthony Ranaudo, Bryce Brentz, Jackie Bradley, Jake Peavy, Jose Iglesias, Stephen Drew, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogaerts
The trade deadline is just two days away, and let’s face it: the Red Sox need to bolster their pitching if they want to make a deep run into the playoffs. You can argue all day about whether they should be targeting a starter or a reliever (or both). You can debate...
by jkeller | Jun 27, 2013 | Alex Rodriguez, American League East, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Bronson Arroyo, Buck Showalter, Carl Crawford, Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies, David Ortiz, David Robertson, Derek Jeter, Edwin Encarnacion, Fernando Rodney, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Joe Girardi, Joe Maddon, John Farrell, John Gibbons, Johnny Damon, Jose Bautista, Jose Reyes, Kevin Gregg, Luke Scott, Manny Machado, Mariano Rivera, Munenori Kawasaki, New York Yankees, Phil Hughes, Robert Andino, Roger Clemens, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Wil Myers, Xander Bogaerts
There is something great about playing teams like the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres. It’s not just that we get to see great, unfamiliar players like Carlos Gonzalez, and it’s certainly not that the wins and losses count any less than they do against the...
by huntergolden | Jun 26, 2013 | Alberto Callaspo, Jayson Nix, Jose Iglesias, Michael Young, Mike Moustakas, Stephen Drew, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogaerts
After suffering through a slump that wouldn’t go away, the Red Sox finally dropped the hammer Tuesday, optioning the struggling Will Middlebrooks to Triple-A Pawtucket where they’ll hope he can find whatever might be left of his swing. To some fans, the demotion was a...
by bcarsley | Jun 3, 2013 | Allen Webster, Anthony Ranaudo, Blake Swihart, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Workman, Deven Marrero, Garin Cecchini, Henry Owens, Jackie Bradley, Matt Barnes, Trot Nixon, Xander Bogaerts
As I covered a few weeks back and as many around the Interwebs have noted recently, the Red Sox have the seventh pick in Thursday’s 2013 MLB Draft. This represents their highest pick since 1993, when they selected Trot Nixon at No. 7, and gives Boston an incredible...
by jcookson | May 31, 2013 | Allen Webster, Anthony Ranaudo, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Workman, Clay Buchholz, Cliff Lee, Dustin Pedroia, Felix Doubront, Garin Cecchini, Henry Owens, Jackie Bradley, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Jose Iglesias, Matt Barnes, Rubby de la Rosa, Ryan Lavarnway, Xander Bogaerts
In 2006, the Red Sox farm system hit their high water mark for player development under Theo Epstein. The system featured two position players who would go on to be stalwarts for the major league club, Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury. It also contained two pitchers...
by bcarsley | May 20, 2013 | Allen Webster, Anthony Ranaudo, Ben Cherington, Billy Wagner, Chris Carpenter, Craig Hansen, Jackie Bradley, Matt Barnes, Michael Bowden, Ryan Kalish, Scott Rolen, Trot Nixon, Xander Bogaerts
The last time the Red Sox picked as highly in the first round of the amateur draft as they will this year on June 6, Boston selected Trot Nixon seventh overall in 1993. That fact is useful for two reasons: one, because it illustrates how long its been since the Red...
by bcarsley | Apr 1, 2013 | Allen Webster, Andrew Bailey, Anthony Ranaudo, Bryce Harper, Clay Buchholz, David Ortiz, Deven Marrero, Dustin Pedroia, Felix Doubront, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jacoby Ellsbury, Joel Hanrahan, Jon Lester, Jose Iglesias, Koji Uehara, Mike Napoli, Mike Trout, Ryan Dempster, Stephen Drew, Wil Myers, Xander Bogaerts
It’s finally here. As these predictions hit The Internet, we are just three hours away from Opening Day 2013. While I am trapped at work and victimized by GameDay’s blackout rules, I will be sneaking out at 1pm to watch the first inning or so at a bar, and I’m already...