5/14 Online Seats Game Thread: On the Road Again

The Boston Red Sox will begin a lengthy road trip tonight against the bounding Tigers, as Clay Buchholz looks to tame the struggling Max Scherzer.

The offense impresses even with fill ins

I still have trouble listening when people talk about how adding a bat would make a huge difference on this team. Perhaps they are referring to the failed attempt to keep Jason Bay or perhaps they would like a trade for an all star hitter like Adrian Gonzalez. Well besides all the troubles in dealing with a team leading the NL West right now. Beyond all that you have to ask how much difference would any of these players have made so far?

So far the offense has scored 178 runs before Wednesday's game. That total puts them in fourth only four runs behind the Yankees and seven behind the leading Rays. For a team apparently struggling to put up runs they sure have totaled an impressive amount missing quite a few games from their lead off hitter and center fielder.

5/12 Online Seats Game Thread: Beckett’s Back Acts Up, Wakefield Gets Start for Boston

In a surprise and somewhat troubling scratch, Josh Beckett will not start today's early game for the Boston Red Sox, as Boston tries to complete a sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays. Instead, veteran workhorse Tim Wakefield, fresh from a recent bullpen stint, will get the nod in Beckett's place.

5/10 Online Seats Game Thread: Blue Jays Bring Brighter Skies to Boston

After avoiding a New York Yankees sweep last night on ESPN, the Boston Red Sox will look to regain some ground in the AL East as the Toronto Blue Jays will send Brandon Morrow to the hill to face John Lackey.

5/9 Online Seats Game Thread: Lester Lessens the Blow for Boston

The New York Yankees have been more than effective against the Boston Red Sox this season, but Jon Lester will head to the hill this mother's day to try to retake some ground against A.J. Burnett and crew.

5/8 Online Seats Game Thread: Buchholz Backs Boston

The New York Yankees took their twentieth win of the season last night from the Boston Red Sox. Boston will send Clay Buchholz to the hill tonight to face C.C. Sabathia to put the Red Sox past the .500 mark.

5/7 Online Seats Game Thread: Red Sox’ Rivals Return

The biggest rivalry in baseball returns tonight as the Boston Red Sox begin their second series of the year against the New York Yankees. The first meeting between the two titans saw the Red Sox draw first blood on opening night, while they ultimately fell short of the series victory. Tonight, Terry Francona will send his ace Josh Beckett out to the hill to take on Phil Hughes at Fenway Park.

5/6 Online Seats Game Thread: Dice-K To Shake off A Dicey Start

The Boston Red Sox are riding the .500 line after taking three in a row off of the Los Angeles Angels. Now, Daisuke Matsuzaka will have to shake off the rust from his first start, in which he got tagged for six earned runs on seven hits against the Orioles, in order to complete the sweep of the Angels and give the Red Sox a winning record.

Lackey continues to allow contact

We have learned over the years that the only things a pitcher can control are strike outs, walks and keeping the ball on the ground. Things like hits and home runs are just a factor of league averages and things like defense and luck. Lackey finished Wednesday night with an ERA of 3.89 and seems to be joining the rest of the pitchers in winning results. The trouble is his numbers he controls don't back that up and he is benefiting by a run of good luck. He has only been striking out 5.10 batters every nine innings, which is down two from his career average. That is a huge drop in one season and very concerning. This is made even worse by a BB/9 that is up from 2.66 in his career to 3.60. His ground ball rate has held at career levels leaving his change in K/BB at 1.42 this year from a career rate of 2.69. All of this doom and gloom points to a pitcher with a xFIP of 4.94. While his FIP says 4.12, which would be ok that has a lot to do with his HR/FB rate at 5.4 percent.

5/5 Online Seats Game Thread: Angels Face Lackey for the First Time as a Member of the Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox are picking up speed against the Los Angeles Angels at home. Tonight, John Lackey will take the hill to protect his new house against his old team.