How much is a Penny worth?

While they haven't shown the "stuff" that was expected of them this season thus far, the Red Sox do have rotational depth. With Daisuke Matsuzaka on his way back to the big club and Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden in the minor leagues, decisions regarding the starting five and top alternates will soon be made.

As injuries throughout the infield (Pedroia, Youkilis, Lowrie) have started to take their toll on the Red Sox this season, the "surplus" in the starting rotation may soon be required to yield some reinforcements.

5/8: Weekend Showdown

Tonight begins an important series in the budding rivalry between these two organizations. The Rays are threatening to take a serious mental edge over the Red Sox with a series victory. The Red Sox would love nothing more than a sweep to establish that the AL East still goes through Fenway Park. And so it begins.

Should Jacoby Ellsbury be leading off?

Entering last night's game against the Indians, Jacoby is hitting .291/.323/.350 on the season. Now, the season is early but his numbers are eerily similar to last year's, when he hit .280/.323/.350.

He's been torrid on the basepaths and has 15 swiped bags on the season, but the .323 OBP is not worthy of being a leadoff man.

Should he be moved out?

Fireside Chats Breaking Report: Where we react to Manny’s suspension

When news breaks, you'll hear it here...a few hours later.

Paul and I react to the news of Manny Ramirez' positive test and 50 game suspension. What does this mean for the current Red Sox? Are 2004 and 2007 tainted in anyway? Has ESPN's "History Blown Away" headline taken it too far?

All that and more on a special edition of Fireside Chats on MVN!

Interested in voicing your reactions to Manny, his legacy in Boston, or the impact of this news on the organization past or present? Leave us a voice mail to be played on the air at 641-715-3900 ext. 57843 and we'll play it on next week's show.

And if anyone has a number for Jose Canseco, let him know we are interested in having him on the show.

For Starters

"As a whole, and whole being defined 1-7, there isn't a better or deeper starting rotation in baseball. Even when confined to the five that will take the mound every five days, I would put these guys up against anyone and feel confident."

With Josh Beckett and Jon Lester off to slow and inconsistent starts and with Daisuke Matsuzaka's early trip to the DL with "post World Baseball Classic-itis", the Red Sox rotation hasn't lived up to those lofty expectations.

Fireside Chats #44: Where we are sitting on the dock of the Bay

Paul and I recap an eventful week from being owned in Tampa to rolling in NY while paying tribute to Jason Bay along the way. You can't miss Paul's "Joba rant" where he goes so far as to call Joba a douchebag (tough words Paul). From dropping Ortiz in the lineup to which pitchers are on the bubble as DiceK and Smoltz work their way back to Boston, we traverse more Red Sox topics than Carl Crawford can steal bases. All that and more on Episode #44 of Fireside Chats on MVN!

5/5: Send them to .500

Jon Lester got down to business last night, now it's Josh Beckett's turn to show the Yankees that it sucks to draw the Red Sox #1/#2 punch in a two game series. A Red Sox win pushes the Yankees to .500. I like the sound of that.

Poll: Name those starters

Getting to know you: Ramon Ramirez

It's not often that an unheralded newcomer to an established bullpen establishes themselves in April as the go to guy that will bridge the most critical situations between the days starter and the designated closer.

With the perceived depth of the Red Sox bullpen coming into the season, it certainly wasn't expected that Ramon Ramirez, who entered the season behind Jonathan Papelbon, Takashi Saito, Hideki Okajima, and Manny Delcarmen in the bullpen rotation, would claim that mantle.

Go Early, Go Often: Fire Brand’s Best of April

Tonight's game against the Tampa Bay Rays marks the final game of the first calendar month of the season; and what an April it was. From the panic that set in BWNNH (Before Wake's Near No Hitter) after a 2-6 start, to the exhilaration of winning 12 out of 13 including a le-gen *wait for it* DARY sweep of the New York Yankees AB (Anno Bay - In the Year of Our Bay), April has been all Red Sox fans could ask for.

Who would have thought after the first week of the season that April would end with the Red Sox atop the American League with the league's best winning percentage?

Today we look at the best performances of April, culminating in the Fire Brand Player of the Month award.