Yankees Coming to Town

The Sox face off against their bitter rivals the New York Yankees in a pivotal three game series in Fenway. An important juncture for the AL East race, this series will determine whether the Sox can climb back in it or if the Yanks wrap it up early.

Game previews, matchups, and Sox news inside...

The Sox New Prospects

With the conclusion of the 2009 MLB Rule 4 Draft signing period, it is time to look at the Sox final bounty.

Included are links, scouting reports and bonuses, as well as analysis...

1-28 OF Reymond Fuentes $1,134,000

MLB Potpourri – FireBrand Style

With a very active weekend and Monday, Firebrand presents a comprehensive roundup of the latest Red Sox actions and news. Draft signings, playoff outlooks, and veterans returning to health, FireBrand Potpourri has it all...

A lot happened in Red Sox Nation this past weekend. Instead of wondering, let's get into the gritty details.

-The Sox Drop Two of Three in Texas

The Sox lost two to the Rangers. Yeah, it's too bad. The Sox stand one game back of Texas in the Wild Card, but that's history and it's time to look to the future. Junichi Tazawa struggled in his latest taste of big league hitting, allowing 2 HR and 3 BB against 0 strikeouts. Brad Penny had his moments and held his ground against a good Texas offense. However, he is still no more than a back-of-the-rotation starter, which showed this weekend.

The clock continues to tick on Michael Bowden, representing the last of the Red Sox reserve rotation arms. While he sports a glowing scouting report and a pristine 3.20 ERA in triple-A Pawtucket, it is getting more and more difficult to see him being a success at the major league level this year. With just a 6.40 K/9 and 3.36 BB/9 this season, he is far from a sure thing...

Fireside Chats #56: Where we ride the roller coaster that is the Boston Red Sox 2009 season

I almost titled this episode "where Paul gets tossed around by Rick Porcello, but I resisted. Just when you think we're out, they win three out of four and pull you right back in, with flair no less. Let's face it. This team will be in contention to the wire. They won't pull away nor will they go away. But this week's series in Texas marks another important milestone.

This weeks' "Tweet of the Week" from our Red Sox Twitter Tracker:

from @peteabe

All that and more on Episode #56 of Fireside Chats on MVN!

Smoltz’s Future

Now that John Smoltz has played his last game as a member of the Red Sox, it is time to ask the question, does he have anything left in the tank? A few teams think so, but his struggles point to a fading pitcher...

Tazawa Slated for Tuesday Start

Evan: Please welcome Mike Silver to the Fire Brand writing crew! Tim Daloisio is going to be stepping down from writing articles for Fire Brand. He will still be contributing one podcast a week plus the weekly poll -- and will add in another podcast every week.

Junichi Tazawa heads to the rotation Tuesday against Detroit: Boston's management has decided it's time for Junichi Tazawa to throw his hat into the ring as savior of the Red Sox starting rotation. Is he up to the challenge?

Fireside Chats #55: Where Paul may or may not have been slipped a PED last night

Just another week in Red Sox Nation.  Ho, hum...David Ortiz on steroids, Red Sox dominate the trade deadline talk (again), the Rays and Yankees on the horizon.  Joe Haggerty joins us to break it all down.  How many days until Patriots kickoff?  Yeah right....

This weeks' "Tweet of the Week" from our Red Sox Twitter Tracker:

from @globechadfinn

All that and more on Episode #55 of Fireside Chats on MVN!

Fireside Chats #54: Where Daisuke is about to get the Lugo treatment

Hell hath no fury like a Julio Lugo scorned or a Daisuke Matsuzaka questioned as the case may be.  This week's full of talk of Adam LaRoche, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and trade deadline silliness in the follow up to our pre-pre trade deadline show, we bring you our pre-trade deadline episode of Fireside Chats.

This weeks' "Tweet of the Week" from our Red Sox Twitter Tracker:

from @ptesta9

All that and more on Episode #54 of Fireside Chats on MVN!

Fireside Chats #53: Where Paul says goodbye, and Tim says hello

Boston Red Sox podcast on MVN Radio, Episode #53 where Paul says goodbye (to Julio Lugo) and Tim says hello (to Clay Buchholz) 

Episode #53
Hosts: Paul Testa, Tim Daloisio
Guests: none

The All-Star game came and went without a Tim Wakefield appearance, and it appears we won't see our All-Star until August as a nasty lower back strain has knocked Tim Wakefield to the DL in favor of a returning Clay Buchholz.

Lots of roster moves since we last talked, including the "goodbye" to the much maligned Julio Lugo (hint...we aren't sad to see him go).  Jed Lowrie and Mike Lowell are back, but is it all enough for the Red Sox to stand pat at the trade deadline?  Hear Paul and I give thoughts in our Pre-Pre Trade Deadline Special segment. 

And right on queue...there's John Henry tweeting away...

This weeks' "Tweet of the Week" from our Red Sox Twitter Tracker:

from @John_W_Henry

All that and more on Episode #53 of Fireside Chats on MVN!

Ellsbury’s time to stand up and deliver

When you think of a high powered offense, a few traits often come to mind; a table setter, a professional hitter, power at the clean up spot, and depth at the bottom of the order.