All quiet at short for once

It looks like we can finally spend our time harping on other things this year like A low K/BB from John Lackey or Jonathon Papelbon instead of worrying about our short stop production. Marco Scutaro won't be leading the box score every night or getting top billing in the recap, but you won't see him as the goat either. Since 2003 when Nomar Garciaparra totaled 5.4 WAR in his last great season the Red Sox have only had two Short Stops total more than 1.5 WAR. Jed Lowrie in 2007 and Alex Gonzalez in 2006. Some of those were in limited time so they were better than they seemed, but only these two seasons had a real chance to be greater than average in a full season. So far in 2010 Scutaro has been an average hitter totaling -0.5 batting runs above average. His contact has been better than ever only striking out 10 percent of the time. His 2009 season was solidified though with a 13 percent walk rate where he is only walking 10 percent so far this year.

6/7 Online Seats Game Thread: V-Mart Cowboys Up to Face Indians

The Boston Red Sox narrowly missed a series sweep of the Baltimore Orioles. Daisuke Matsuzaka will lead the team into Cleveland to take on the struggling Indians, who have been missing Victor Martinez, as V-Mart makes his first appearance back in Cleveland since last year's move.

Names to Watch on Draft Day

Heading into draft day tomorrow, the Sox are sitting pretty with four picks in the first two rounds. Their first selection at 20, the Sox have been tied to relatively few names -- making their intentions a mystery to many even on the eve of the draft. Still, the most important name to remember when things kick off tomorrow is Anthony Raunado – the LSU right-hander being the player most frequently quoted as the Sox top target. Picks: 1-20 (from Atlanta for Type A Billy Wagner) 1s-36 (compensation for New York Mets signing Type A Jason Bay) 1s-39 (compensation for Atlanta signing Type A Billy Wagner) 2-7 (from New York Mets for Type A Jason Bay) 3-28 (110) 4-28 (143) 5-28 (Repeating at 28 for remainder of draft)

6/6 Online Seats Game Thread: Lackey Looks to Manage Matusz

After yet another commanding performance over the Baltimore Orioles last night, John Lackey and the Boston Red Sox will look to take down youngster Brian Matusz down another peg or two.

6/5 Online Seats Game Thread: Aces High in Baltimore

The Baltimore Orioles will send their ace out, in the form of Jeremie Guthrie, to try to take on the best that the Boston Red Sox have to offer, Jon Lester.

Finding the key to Lackey

I've struggled this season to answer why John Lackey has been so off from anything we have seen from him previously. His Pitch F/x says he has added more cutters, but is that the only change and is it real? After some research I think I have found more of an answer and perhaps bring us closer to a solution. Let's start from the top with Lackey's career K/BB at 2.62 he stands as a very solid arm, but in 2010 he has a dismal 1.22. That comes from troubles in strikeouts and walks and little evidence in the numbers to point to one problem. I have spent plenty of time on this site trying to figure it out since he could be the hinge for the 2010 season being successful. Finally thanks to the Fangraphs.com splits I think I can get a step closer to identifying the problem. If you look at his K/9, BB/9 and K/BB in his lefty vs righty numbers there is a huge red flag. Against right handed batters this year Lackey has a stellar 3.83 K/BB with great control. Then you look at his lefty match-up and you see an amazingly bad 0.62 K/BB.

6/4 Online Seats Game Thread: Road Rage

The Boston Red Sox will hit the road once again to try to gain some ground in the AL East against the basement occupying Baltimore Orioles.

6/3 Online Seats Game Thread: Wake in Waiting for Boston

Terry Francona give the ball to the knuckler Tim Wakefield once again, as Josh Beckett still rides the pine with a prolonged back injury, as the Boston Red Sox's stare down a series sweep of the Oakland Athletics.

Is Matsuzaka still injured?

Although his skills are not ever going to let him be anything more than a number five pitcher, Daisuke Matsuzaka can still be worth the value of his deal if he can just stay healthy. In 2007 and 2008 he posted WAR over 3.2 and was worth nearly $15 million in free agent dollars those years.

6/1 Online Seats Game Thread: John Kicks Off June

After a rough first month of the season, May went the Boston Red Sox's way, to say the least. John Lackey will look to carry the momentum into June, as Gio Gonzalez and the Oakland A's head to town.