Tag: Boston Red Sox

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. 


Thinking more specifically about recent Red Sox history and the potent offenses past, there have been players within the lineup to hit each of these roles. From Johnny Damon to David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, rounded out with batting champions like Bill Mueller bringing up the tail, the "post-Theo" lineup has been as potent as any in baseball.

Looking more closely at this season, the Red Sox offense has been a top five unit. Scoring 472 runs with a .792 team OPS is impressive, especially considering the slow start of David Ortiz, extended slumps by Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, and Jason Bay.

Looking up and down the lineup, the Red Sox have top ten OPS from all spots in the lineup aside from two. With David Ortiz' monumental slump to start the season while in the three hole, it shouldn't be a surprise that #3 is was one of the culprits.

The other culprit? The leadoff spot.

Fireside Chats #52: Where Paul goes on a Nomar rant worth the price of admission

Some people were filled with emotion upon Nomar Garciaparra's return to Fenway Park, but not the cold heart of one Paul Testa who instead felt disgust. Paul and I react to the Nomar lovefest at Fenway Park this week as well as Tim Wakefield's Lifetime Achievement Award 2009 All-Star nod.

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




from @dzav

All that and more on Episode #52 of Fireside Chats on MVN!

Fireside Chats #51: Where we try and find holes in this team and fail

You know things are going well when your starting third baseman hits the DL and you're really not all that worried about your team's future.  We've almost come to expect another series win and another 2 out of 3 taken from the opponent.  Paul and I do break down some of the options in front of the Red Sox as the trade deadline approaches and sing the praises of the starting rotation.

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




from @kentremendous

All that and more on Episode #51 of Fireside Chats on MVN!

Twitter Alert: Lowell to the DL?

My article from this morning may have just taken on a little extra context as it appears Mike Lowell is headed to the DL after a setback with his right hip.

@amaliebenjamin with the scoop

Keeping up with the corners

MLB: APR 10 Red Sox at AngelsWith Mike Lowell's recent injury concerns creeping back into the active conscious of Red Sox Nation, depth at the corners and in the middle of the lineup has suddenly been thrust to the forefront of the early pre-trade deadline chatter.

Much of the Red Sox trade innuendo to this point has surrounded the potential acquisition of a shortstop or catcher, positions without organizational depth or strength. But with Jason Varitek and George Kottaras holding down the fort behind the plate with acceptable production and Nick Green earning the job at short with Jed Lowrie waiting in the wings (and Julio Lugo being Julio Lugo), those positions may not be the most critical to address as July rolls in.

Fireside Chats #50: Where we get Buch wild with Jeff Goldberg

Following a phenomenal 9-3 stretch against the best that baseball has to offer with an upbeat show is pretty easy.  Paul and I are in good moods as we welcome Jeff Goldberg of NESN.com to the show to discuss the pitching staff, Clay Buchholz, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and David Ortiz.

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




from @john_w_henry

All that and more on Episode #50 of Fireside Chats on MVN!

Buchholz tired of “wasting bullets”

With an off night tonight for the big club, Clay Buchholz and the Pawtucket Red Sox will get top billing on NESN this evening. For those of us who have been itching to see Buchholz pitch this season having heard of his dominance in AAA, this may be the only opportunity that we get. While Buchholz might be in control in Pawtucket, his future is frustratingly out of his control.

That frustration of "wasting bullets" in Pawtucket may be eating at the talented young right hander more than we've been lead to believe in the public eye.

It's no secret that (a) Clay Buchholz is dominating in the minors right now and like Daniel Bard before him, has nothing to prove in Pawtucket that he hasn't already and (b) with John Smoltz impending return, there is no room for that talent in Boston right now.

In a recent interview with NECN's Mike Giardi, Clay candidly admits to just how frustrating this has become for him.

Fireside Chats #49: Where we prepare for the Yankee series with a visit from Cranky Frankie the Yankee

Boston Red Sox podcast on MVN Radio, Episode #49 where we prepare for the Yankee series with a visit from Cranky Frankie the Yankee and introduce the "Tweet of the Week".

Episode #49
Hosts: Paul Testa, Tim Daloisio
Guests: Cranky Frankie the Yankee

The Red Sox find themselves one game out of first place with the only people above them, the New York Yankees, coming to Fenway Park for a three game set. With that we welcome old friend of the show Cranky Frankie the Yankee to update us on all things pinstriped.

We continue our run of taking shots at Julio Lugo and look for any possible way he could get a ticket out of town and introduce the Conan O'Brien inspired Fireside Chats Twitter Tracker.

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




from @hackswithhaggs

All that and more on Episode #49 of Fireside Chats on MVN!