Know Thine Enemy 2009: Toronto Blue Jays

It wasn't long ago that the Toronto Blue Jays were expected to be in the position now occupied by the Tampa Bay Rays as the third wheel atop the American League East. While there is some strong young talent in Toronto, J.P. Riccardi's five year plan is looking more like a two term presidential rebuilding plan in action. It's hard to believe that this team is anything resembling "on the road to competing" in the most vaunted division in baseball.

Last year was a mess for the Blue Jays. Between injuries, slumps, manager changes, and overall bad luck, the Jays still found themselves dreaming of a run at the Wild Card late in the Summer. While an 86-win season was respectable and would have put you in the playoffs in the NL West, it yielded another season leaving Jays fans frustrated with what could have been if there were any semblance of an offense behind one of the best rotations in baseball.

Red Sox Madness: Lester vs Youkilis

In preparation for the best two weeks in sports, starting with the Final Four, running through the Masters with a little thing called Opening Day sandwiched in the middle, we idly pass the time with our Red Sox Madness tournament. As expected, Josh Beckett joined the upstart Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia in the Final Four. Today the final region battles to join them.

In what is expected to be the most heated battle of the second round, #2 seed Kevin Youkilis battles #1 seed Jon Lester for the right to meet Beckett with a trip to the finals on the line.

Remember, the simple question is "who's success is more important to the overall success of the Boston Red Sox in 2009?" Vote away after the jump!

Red Sox Madness Round 2: Pitchers Duel

The first two teams, UCONN & Villanova, have punched their tickets to the Final Four in Detroit, and the first two players have punched a ticket to the Final Four of our Red Sox Madness tournament. Just like March Madness, a #1 seed (Pedroia) and a #3 seed (Ellsbury) have advanced.

Today we move to the lower half of the brackets and are greeted with a serious pitchers duel in #1 seed Josh Beckett and #2 seed Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Remember, the simple question is "who's success is more important to the overall success of the Boston Red Sox in 2009?" Vote away after the jump!

Red Sox Madness Round 2: Pedroia vs. Papelbon

The first #1 seed has fallen in the 2009 Red Sox Madness tournament. Jacoby Ellsbury continued his Cinderella story this tournament as he knocked off the overall #1 seed David Ortiz in a 55-46 shocker and becomes the first entrant to the Final Four.

Today we move on to the next second round matchup featuring the reigning AL MVP, Dustin Pedroia, against one of the most dominant pitchers in the game, Jonathan Papelbon. Think there will be any trash talking between these two?

Remember, the simple question is "who's success is more important to the overall success of the Boston Red Sox in 2009?" Vote away!

Fireside Chats #38: Where Paul & Tim sit back and listen to the experts, Will Carroll and Jeff Goldberg

It's a star studded episode of Fireside Chats as we first welcome Jeff Goldberg who tells us why he thinks Big Papi is going to be swinging a big stick this year and how Jon Lester's contract extension could be the best of the Sox offseason moves. Jeff, a career newspaper journalist with the Hartford Courant before they made some deep cuts in the sports department last year, also gives us a candid look at where the media landscape. It doesn't look bright for the newspaper industry.

From newspapers we turn the conversation to injuries and who better to talk to than Will Carroll from Baseball Prospectus. He is the injury expert (I've given second thought to using the word guru - thanks Will) and he tells us why we shouldn't rely on Brad Penny, not to fear for Mike Lowell or David Ortiz, and that if Julio Lugo is half the woman that Mary Lou Retton is, he'll be back on the field in short order (you'll have to listen to understand the reference). All that and a new t-shirt contest after the jump!

Poll: Better or Worse: Jon Lester’s innings pitched in 2009?

New Poll Question: Better or Worse: Jon Lester's innings pitched in 2009?

Jon Lester pitched a yeomans-like 237 innings in 2008. There is debate over whether Lester will be a candidate for the now famous "Verducci-effect" in 2009. Can Lester's arm hold up for another 200+ innings this season? Vote in the poll to the left and give your community projection for Lester here.

Find out how you all responded to our previous poll, "Will Josh Beckett drop a sub-3.50 ERA in 2009?" after the jump.

Fireside Chats #37: Where we get the goods from the Red Seat and talk long term contracts

Spring Training brings out the best in Paul and I as we go into the rolodeck for a special guest, one of our favorite apparel producers in Red Sox Nation, Chris from The Red Seat.

But before we talk t-shirts, we talk contracts. Spurred on by the good "news" of Jon Lester's "reported" contract extension, we talk long term contracts. We wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't an extension in the works for closer, Jonathan Papelbon. Not that he wouldn't be deserving, we make the case that it's not in either sides' best interest. Plus, have you seen Daniel Bard pitch this spring?

As you prepare for your Fenway Park wardrobe this summer, look no further than our friends at The Red Seat (http://www.theredseat.com). Chris tells us about his company and where they come up with their great designs. I still think they missed a best seller in a Manny shirt, but their repertoire of t-shirts rivals that of Dice-K's pitches.

Chris was kind enough to offer up some shirts as giveaways to Fireside Chats listeners over the next four weeks as we prepare for Opening Day. But we are going to make you earn it. Next week, we'll be giving out one Red Seat t-shirt to the caller (yes you have to call in and leave a voice mail - the number's below) who best describes their first Fenway Park experience. Paul and I will select the best narration to win a Red Seat original t-shirt.

Fireside Chats #36: Where we get the On the DL with Dan Levy while hoping JD Drew stays off it

You didn't really think that we were going to talk another hour of spring training baseball did you? We only spend 15 minutes on the spring before moving On the DL. Thats just about as much playing time as J.D. Drew before his first trip there himself. But seriously, Paul's a little worried about Drew and what that could mean for the team if he were to miss any extended time this season.

We're happy to have Dan Levy from one of the fastest growing sports podcasts on the web, the On the DL Podcast, as this week's guest. Dan's a Phillies fan and a baseball enthusiast. We cover topics from his recent guest, poker celebrity Annie Duke, to why the northeast pumps out the most passionate fans (it's the traffic stupid). And, oh yeah, we mix in a little baseball talk.

Poll: Better or Worse: Josh Beckett’s ERA in 2009

New Poll Question: Better or Worse: Josh Beckett's ERA in 2009?

Josh Beckett pitched better than his 4.03 ERA might suggest in 2008, so it's safe to assume he'll better that total in 2009. The question is, "by how much?". How low can he go? How does 3.50 sound for a bar? Vote in the poll to the left and give your community projection for Beckett here.

Find out how you all responded to our previous poll, "Will Jason Varitek hit .240+ in 2009?" after the jump.

Fireside Chats #35: Where we touch all the bases with Chad Finn from Boston.com and really…Julio Lugo?

With all quiet in Camp Tranquility down in Fort Myers, FL, we dig into the bag of tricks and call on Chad Finn from Boston.com to bring some fresh perspective. Whether it's talking about your favorite Red Sox players of all time or ranking the 2009 team by importance from 25 down to 1, there's never a shortage of Red Sox angles to talk about when Chad's around.

And, oh yeah, are there really "Julio Lugo will be the starting shortstop" rumors floating around these parts? Say it ain't so...