Chasing Tampa: The Next 7 Days
As I said a few days back, the Sox have to go on a run. They only need to catch the Rays, and they have another 6 against the Sox and 10 against the Yanks. Needless to say, the playoff race is anything but sorted out.
This weekend will be a great measuring stick for all three teams. The Rays are fresh off a 4 game sweep of the Tigers. They beat them, but didn’t beat them down (winning by 5, 1, 3, and 2). The Tigers now travel to Boston and should give us a decent idea of where the teams stand. If the Sox can’t take at least 2/3 from the Tigers, (more…)
Relief May Come After Deadline
As ESPN’s Buster Olney and The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo and Peter Abraham have all hinted over the last few days, Saturday’s trade deadline might be rendered somewhat meaningless. It’s always thought of as a soft deadline to some extent, but this year it may be even softer.
The majority of Major League teams are not looking to add salary, and many buyers are still waiting to see if they are legitimate contenders (re: the Red Sox). As a result, the waiver trade deadline of August 31st may very well be the more important of the two in 2010…
Felix Doubront: Situational Lefty
As I tear myself away from the Jersey Shore marathon on MTV (it’s like a car crash, can’t stop watching), it’s time to examine the possibility that Felix Doubront could be a useful arm in the Red Sox bullpen.
The Sox are a highly average 17-16 in one run games this year, but most fans don’t need a nunber like that to validate the need for a reliever or three. As the team explores trade options leading up to Saturday’s deadline, Doubront should not be ignored as a potential in-house solution.
Scoot Saves Sox From Embarrassing Loss
A grand slam in the 8th propelled the Sox to what should have been an easy victory over a bullpen and starter by committee.
Joel Pineiro Scratched: Advantage Sox
Former Red Sox and current Angels starter Joel Pineiro has been scratched from his start for today’s game. Pineiro, a 10-game winner this season, strained his left oblique while warming up in the bullpen prior to the game.
In his place, reliever Scot Shields makes his first start in nearly 7 years for Anaheim, and he figures to be one of several L.A. relievers to make an appearance this afternoon.
Anaheim has already used 6 different relief pitchers in the first 2 games of this series, including Kevin Jepsen twice. The Halos were forced to go to the pen after just 4 and 2/3′s (using a total of 5) on Monday after the newly acquired Dan Haren was hit with a line drive from Kevin Youkilis.
With Josh Beckett making his 2nd start since coming off the DL, this is a huge pitching advantage for the Sox (despite the fact that Bard and Papelbon are both unavailable this afternoon). Can they take advantage of the bullpen day of all bullpen days for the Angels?
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