Boston Red Sox

By USG Make no mistake, Jon Lester is the current and future ace of this Red Sox staff. Sorry, Beckett, but it's time to pass the torch. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) Jon Lester: Not much to say here. He's our ace, he's young, he's under team control for many years. He's one of the most definite of the Red Sox...

By bs.uf15bosox9bears23 Why the Red Sox lost to the Angels - THT Why the Angels beat the Red Sox - THT Lester on Booing Papelbon: ‘It Was Uncalled For’ - Full Count Loss Will Fuel Papelbon - Full Count P Did you see Sox failure coming? I did - Fire Brand of the American League

By Evan Brunell The pitching side of things is rosier. John Lackey, Joe Saunders and Scott Kazmir make for an enviable front three.  On the other side, Boston is dealing with nagging injuries to Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell and backups Nick Green and Rocco Baldelli. Beckett and John Lester are one of the best st...

By radiohix Player OBP SLG OPS Bay 385 612 997 417 Martinez 433 494 927 409 421 547 968 408 Ortiz 392 568 960 406 Youkilis 396 526 922 399 Player OBP SLG OPS Pedroia 339 402 751 338 Lowell 301 328 629 288 As for Mike Lowell, a look at his batted balls distribution shows the following: Player LD% GB% FB% Lowell

By Randy Booth against one of the best pitchers in the American League. After losing a horrible game last night, the Sox face the Royals again. It won't be that easy though, as they will face the Royals' ace Zach Greinke. The Sox send out their No. 5 pitcher, Paul Byrd. Paul Byrd vs Zack Greinke

By bs.uf15bosox9bears23 Ortiz on catching the Yankees: ‘Why not?’ - Full Count Surging Red Sox entertain wild ideas - The Boston Globe Book review: Theology - Fenway West Sox 2nd round pick Alex Wilson shines - Fire Brand of the American League Total MLB Home Runs This Century - Beyond the Box Score

By Administrator Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz is hoping to recapture the magic he had back in 2007, when he threw a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles on September 1st Nearly two years to the day after I first interviewed him in the dugout of MerchantsAuto.com Stadium in Manchester, NH, I recently had...

By Paul SF ERA+ Pitches per Plate Appearance Tim Wakefield, 3.5 CC Sabathia, 3.8 Josh Beckett, 3.9 Andy Pettitte, 3.9 Joba Chamberlain, 3.9 A.J. Burnett, 3.9 Brad Penny, 4.0 Jon Lester, 4.1  Josh Beckett, 72Tim Wakefield, 65A.J. Burnett, 65Jon Lester, 61Brad Penny, 53CC Sabathia, 47Joba Chamberlai...

By Paul SF Daisuke Matsuzaka was not worth $102 million.There's a lot of financial craziness out there in modern professional sport, but we have not yet reached the point where a third or fourth (and in this case, fifth) starter is worth a total investment of $102 million for six years.

By Allen Chace He signed with the Red Sox in January, and the Sox plan to use him [Baldelli] as a fourth outfielder - no small job on any team that employs J.D. Drew.  4. Jason Varitek, starting C. 5. Julio Lugo, starting SS. 6. No contract extension for Lester?

By Paul SF 5. Brad Penny, 30, RHP, $5 million base, $3 million in performance bonuses each as a starter or reliever. (2007: 3.03/1.31/.253, $17.7 million; 2009: 127 IP, 4.25/1.42/.269) 6. Special bonus injury prediction: Tim Wakefield, 42, RHP, $4 million base, $1.2 million-plus in performance bonuses. (20...

By moose35 Yankees-Mark Texiera Red Sox-Kevin Youkilis Devil Rays-Carlos Pena Although it's a tight fit between Tex and Youkilis for last season, I think that career-wise, Tex is much better, thus the following points distribution: Yanks:3pts       Red Sox: 2pts       Devil Rays:       1pt

By Administrator S1F: I know we’re running short on time, but before you have to go I wanted to ask a question or two about Justin Masterson. The Boston media has been engaged in a debate about his role in the future – as a starter or a reliever? What do you think?

By noreply@blogger.com (The Omnipotent Q) If the Yankees sign Manny Ramirez, I can't wait to see him in pinstripes. Manny will be Manny, and if the Yankees can adjust, he will help get them into the World Series. He hit .399 for the Dodgers in less than half a season, and put a mediocre Dodgers team in the playoffs. Alex Rodriguez will reall...

By Randy Booth Casey KellyLots of talk by scouts and agents who watched him play at Sarasota (Fla.) High. Said one former major league player turned agent, "This kid is a phenomenal athlete. He can make it as a shortstop and he could make it as a pitcher. What I would do is have him play the infield for three years...

By Randy Booth Ok, now I'm being serious (except that Boston heartthrob part -- that's true). With the off-season coming up and after a raucous season of baseball, how did we at Over The Monster do for you, the readers? We are always looking to improve the best Red Sox blog, but we can only do it with reader in...

By Rick Chandler The New York Daily News details how Joba apparently spent most of the night drinking Grey Goose vodka at Dillinger's, a downtown bar, before then hitting the Night Before Lounge, a strip club. That's where he was harassed by at least one Red Sox fan, who got in this zinger, which apparently s...

By Randy Booth In the sixth with a tie game 1-1, the most unlikely player stepped up and made it a new ballgame: Jason Varitek. That is not a typo. Jason Varitek stroked a home run over the right field wall to give the Sox a 3-2 edge, one they wouldn't relinquish. I lied: GO SOX!

By Randy Booth The Boston Red Sox versus the best team in the American League East, the Tampa Bay Rays. There is no doubt in my mind that this is one of the best ALCS match-ups I've seen in recent history. Something about this rivalry just makes it stand out.

By Randy Booth 7-5, Red Sox. But more importantly it's 2-0 Red Sox in the series. The Sox are heading back to Boston to try and put the final touches on the ALDS. Now the series swings to Boston and Josh Beckett. Do you think Beckett wants to close the door on this series? He's going to pitch like his hair is on fire.

By Steve Second Baseman Dustin Pedroia: Hit .326 with 2 HR and 15 RBI had a .393 OBP and a .522 SLG for the month. Very consistent in the field. Grade: A Daisuke Matsuzaka: Was 2-1 with a 3.33 ERA for the month in 5 starts. Walked 14 hitters while striking out 30 in 27 IP. Grade: B-

By Steve Center Fielder Jacoby Ellsbury: Hit .287 for the month with 2 HR and 12 RBI and an OBP of .337 and a .404 SLG. Stole 8 bases in 9 attempts and continues to play gold glove caliber defense.   Grade: B- Third Baseman Mike Lowell: Missed half the month on the DL with a hip and oblique problems. Hit just ....

By Evan Brunell It seems as if a lot of people are heaping expectations on you. SoxProspects.com has you as the best position player prospect and Red Sox fans all around are dreaming of you hitting 40 home runs in your rookie year. Do those outside expectations have any influence on your life?

By Evan Brunell That being said, it’s clear that Lowrie may not be the heir apparent at shortstop, not with the news that the Red Sox looked at Miguel Tejada and were rebuffed by the Houston Astros. If the Sox are looking at Tejada, it would be to start at shortstop, and it would be to remain the starter post-Lu...

By Beth Normally, I dismiss the annual Manny Being Manny flak. But this year feels a little different. This year has really got me wondering. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa / ESPN.com) Is there anything worse than having your best pitcher on the hook for a one-run loss? Once again the Sox and Yankees were the...

By Michael Femia The All-Star rosters were announced yesterday, and the Sox will by far be the biggest clique in the locker room. David Ortiz (who won't play in the game, because he hasn't played since 2005, at least it seems that way), Manny Ramirez (maybe he'll swing the bat this time), Dustin Pedroia and K...

By Steve Eckersley currently serves as a studio analyst for select Boston Red Sox games on New England Sports Network (NESN). The AL 1992 Cy Young award and MVP winner, Eckersley enjoyed success as both a starter and reliever and is one of only two pitchers to have both a 20-win season (1978) and a 50-...

By Steve Second Baseman Dustin Pedroia: Brought his BA back to .303 through June went 36 for 101 to hit .354 with 4 HR and 9 RBI for the month. Continues to make dazzling defensive plays in the field. Grade: A Infielder/Outfielder Brandon Moss: Hit only .222 for the month (8 for 36) with 5 RBI in limited time....

By Ian Former Red Sox GM Dan Duquette is in some hot water for selling two 2004 World Series tickets. For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant and Providence Journal websites.

Again, this has no chance of happening. Evan seems to think it would be a great idea for the Sox. As far as I’m concerned, we’d be robbing them blind. I’d be all in favor of this happening. Here’s hoping Frank Wren and Theo Epstein get creative. Evan Brunell of Fire Brand of the American League (and C...

By Beth Should this not appeal to you, please note that any lackluster debut contributions are to be compensated for at a later date with, for example, a no-hitter (cf. Clay Buchholz), or unprecedented rookie contributions during a World Series (see also, Ellsbury, Pedroia)."

By redsock FanSherpa has also published guides to Wrigley Field, Yankee Stadium (this one will need to be revised) and the place in which where the Giants play. Red Sox obsessives probably won't get much out of the guide, but it would make a nice little gift for a casual (or new) fan.

By Jeff Kallman But so far as Red Sox Nation being born out of winning the World Series twice in the last four years, Mr. Rome—and others, in this space and elsewhere—is wrong enough. I refer you first to a 1996 book, At Fenway: Dispatches from Red Sox Nation, by Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy. You know...

By Beth At the time of the first World Series for Henry et al, Theo filled in the gaps between superstars on the team with obscure or underestimated talent from the waiver wire and free agent market. The blockbuster trade of erstwhile hero Nomar Garciaparra netted two utility infield guys.

By Daniel Rathman Before the Winter Meetings in Nashville earlier this month, the Twins seemed to be in control of the Johan Santana trade talks, with several teams pursuing the two-time Cy Young winner. The Red Sox seemed to be leading the way, with packages built around either southpaw Jon Lester or cente...

By Randy Booth The most surprising aspect of those talks to some baseball people is that the Mets remain in the mix. It may be because the Twins would like to move Santana to the National League if possible. But while the Mets have made a four-for-one offer built around center fielder Carlos Gomez, indicati...

By Paul SF Likewise, Eric Gagne is pretty assuredly gone. One doubts he would get much money anymore after tanking in Boston, and I assume the Red Sox will be happy to get whatever draft picks they can and bid him farewell. He, too, got his ring and a 0.00 World Series ERA.

By Administrator Rookie Daisuke Matsuzaka started the game for the Sox… two nights after teammate Hideki Okajima became the first Japanese pitcher to appear in a World Series game, Dice- K became the first Japanese pitcher to START a World Series game. When he laced a two-run single through the hole betwee...

By Administrator On October 12, 1967, the Red Sox ‘Impossible Dream’ ended without the fairy tale ending. Facing Cardinals’ ace Bob Gibson on only two days rest, Red Sox ace Jim Lonborg was tagged for seven runs in six innings in the 7-2 loss. I have often wondered whether Red Sox manager Dick Williams would ha...

By Leitch Up right now: The Boston Red Sox. Your writer is Eric Gillin. Red Sox fans: Stock up on Pepto Bismol, because your small intestines are gonna feel like a balloon animal filled with refried beans by the end of October. That is, if the Red Sox even make it that far.

By Leitch Blue Balls. The Sox have left more than ten men on base a whopping 51 times this year, way more than the Yankees (38), the Indians (32), and the Angels (29). Needless to say, the Sox have hit into 146 double plays this year, the fifth-most in all of baseball, which means that bases loaded, one-ou...

By Administrator On September 9, 1967, the Red Sox beat the Yankees 7-1 behind the four-hit pitching of Dave Morehead. Both Minnesota and Detroit won their respective games, thus the Sox remained in third place—1/2 game out of first place. The game was played in 2:37 in front of 32,119 fans at Fenway Park.

By Paul SF I guess that's not saying much, but even factoring out the injuries that decimated the club come August, the Sox fielded a lineup with Trot Nixon in center, Wily Mo Pena in right, Mark Loretta at second and Alex Gonzalez at short. When Coco Crisp returned, he was awful. Jason Varitek was injur...

By Administrator On August 30, 1967, the Red Sox beat the New York Yankees in extra innings by the score of 2-1… with the win, the Sox finished their nine-game road trip with a 6-3 record. Combined with losses by Detroit (3-2 at California) and Minnesota (4-2 vs Baltimore), the Red Sox moved 1 1/2 games ahead in...

By Administrator The Red Sox and Minnestoa Twins remained tied atop the American League as both teams won close games… the Red Sox beat the Yankees in New York, 3-0, while the Twins beat the Orioles, 3-2, in Minnesota. During the day, the Red Sox came to terms with free agent outfielder Ken Harrelson as a repla...

By Administrator Brunet didn’t last long. After Stange retired California in order in the top of the first inning, the Sox wasted little time in pouncing on the Angels in the bottom of the inning. Mike Andrews and Carl Yastrzemski sandwiched ground balls around a base hit by third baseman Jerry Adair… cleanu...

By Administrator On August 18, 1967, the Red Sox beat the Angels, 3-2, behind starter Gary Bell—whose complete game, four-hitter moved the Red Sox to within three games of first place. But that is not what August 18th is remembered for… The Curse of the Bambino, you say? No! It was the curse of the idiot with th...

By The Omnipotent Q Matthews, who actually said he enjoyed playing in Boston and was smiling through much of his riff, was responding to a question about why the Angels have fared so poorly on their visits here. Since May 18, 2003, the Angels are 4-15 at Fenway.

By Administrator The game started badly for the Red Sox as left fielder Jose Cardenal led off the bottom of the first inning with an inside-the-park home run… and then center fielder Roger Repoz led off the second inning with a more traditional home run—into the right field grandstands. The Angels extended...

By mikemcd(mmcdermo@projo.com) Judging by the results of our most active sports survey, fans are not convinced that this weekend's series has proven anything like the Red Sox' superiority against the Yankees. Boston, after all, has a history of beating up on New York in April, and the Yankees' pitching staff is a shamble...