Keeping up with the corners

With 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!

Fireside Chats #48: Where Paul admits he was wrong and in doing so blows up the second half of the show

With me out of town on the west coast for work, Paul fills me in on the goings on with the team over the last few days; Ortiz' continued struggles, great starting pitching, and more SS errors. Of course, the remote equipment lost the second half of the show and conveniently that's where Paul uttered the words, "I was wrong". Find out about what in the final minutes of this week's abbreviated Fireside Chat

All that and more on Episode #48 of Fireside Chats on MVN!

Fireside Chats #47: Where narrowly avoid complete technical meltdown

We called for David Ortiz' demotion to the six hole and Tito responded in kind. What should we call for next? Clay Buchholz' promotion to the big club? or his trade for a big bat? Cease and desist orders on all "what's up with Papelbon" talk? or do we dare use our powers to find a way to send Julio Lugo out of town?

All that and more on Episode #47 of Fireside Chats on MVN!

Looking Up

When the Toronto Blue Jays came to town with a 3.5 game lead over the Boston Red Sox, it would be fair to characterize the first meeting of the two teams this season as surprisingly critical. One team was going to make a statement and thus far, it has been the Red Sox speaking the loudest.

In light of David Ortiz' home run last night, I thought it was a good opportunity to look at the collection of things working in the Red Sox favor since returning East and get a pulse from "all you FireBrandamaniacs" out there.

Fireside Chats #46: Where we anxiously await the return of Papi, but we won’t hold our breath

Paul and I took to the airwaves after tonight's win against Toronto in the showdown between the top two teams in the American League East (at least thats what the standings would tell you). We cover topics from the return of the Pap(elbon) to the exact opposite of the Pap(i), Jacoby Ellsbury's recent tear, and interleague play.

And yes...it is time to drop David Ortiz in the lineup...

All that and more on Episode #46 of Fireside Chats on MVN!

Poll: Which event is least likely to occur this homestand?

Fireside Chats #45: Where we pull Joe Haggerty away from the Zamboni to talk baseball

Even with a 1/2 hour breaking news special this week on Manny Ramirez and his hormonal imbalance, you didn't really think that we'd be done covering the topic did you? Mix in Lou Merloni and Dan Duquette and add the expert take of Bruins Red Sox reporter Joe Haggerty and we, like Manny on his "drugs" could "go all night".

It's not all steroid talk...we also cover Youkilis and Pedroia's pains and the call up of Daniel Bard.

All that and more on Episode #45 of Fireside Chats on MVN!