Victorino Is FN August Player Of The Month

(USA Today Photo)

The Editors of FenwayNation named Shane Victorino as their August Player O' The Month. Victorino hit .328 in the month, with 7 HRs and 22 RBIs. He collected a career-high seven RBIs in just one game in August. The Red Sox right-fielder had an on-base percentage of .392 and an OPS of .970 during month number five of the season. Victorino—since exclusively hitting from the right side—has shown increased power potential. His clutch hitting all year has been a big part of the Red Sox success. Congratulations, Shane!

Red Sox Insure .500 Season; Beat Pale Hose, 7-2

(Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

Your 2013 Carmine Hose secured their 81st victory tonight—guaranteeing at least a .500 season. It was pretty much a "rocking chair" win, subduing the White Sox 7-2. Seven Red Sox hitters had multiple-hit games—Jacoby Ellsbury leading the way with three hits. Jake Peavy delivered another solid start—going seven innings and giving up just two runs in beating his old team. Xander Bogaerts started at shortstop and delivered a 2 for 3 night at the plate—knocking in his second big league run. The kid is now hitting .333 and looks about as comfortable as a 20-year old can be in The Show.

Sox Trade For Providence College's McDonald

John McDonald (AP Photo)

The Red Sox beat the August non-waiver trade deadline by dealing for Providence College alum John McDonald. Boston sent minor league pitcher Nefi Ogando to the Phillies for the soon-to-be 39-year-old infielder. McDonald is hitting just .111 this year in 37 games for three different teams (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland). He is mostly know for his defensive wizardry at second, short and third. The 24-year old Ogando was 2-3 in 33 games for High-A Salem this year—sporting a 4.09 ERA. McDonald will be available to play in the post-season should the Red Sox make it there.

Ranaudo Named Eastern League Pitcher O' Year

Anthony Ranaudo

Red Sox starting pitching prospect Anthony Ranaudo was named Pitcher Of The Year in the Eastern League. The AA league—in which Boston's Portland Sea Dogs play—cited the 23-year old right-hander for posting a 2.95 ERA for Portland before he was promoted to AAA Pawtucket on August 2nd. He also lead the league in WHIP and batting-average-against. Ranaudo set a Sea Dog record by fanning 13 Erie SeaWolves on June 13th. The Red Sox took a bit of a gamble drafting Ranaudo out of LSU back in 2010 with the 39th overall pick, but that gamble has clearly paid off.

Sweet Smell Of Sox-Cess; Carmine Prevail, 4-3

(Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

Ryan Dempster may have staved off the starting job executioner. The righty—well-rested thanks to his A-Plunk suspension—actually carried a no-hitter through five innings last night in a tight 4-3 Red Sox win.  He went 6 1/3 and gave up three earned runs. The key hits for Boston were another RBI single for Shane Victorino and a two-run single for David Ortiz (breaking up an 0-23 string). The Carmine Hose had a 4-0 lead over the Pale ones, but Chicago stormed back to within one. Koji Uehara got his 15th save with another 1-2-3 ninth. Billy Beane's Boys helped out with a 4-3 win over Tampa (with ex-Red Sox Jed Lowrie and Coco Crisp hooking up to produce the winning run). Boston's lead is now 3.5 over the Rays.

Dempster May Get His Final 2013 Start Tonight

(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)

To paraphrase the Lloyd Bridges character in the movie 'Airplane!', Ryan Dempster couldn't have picked a worse time to pitch poorly. As CSNNE.com's Sean McAdam points out, Dempster has been in a funk since his July 11th start against Seattle. Now that Clay Buchholz is set to return in about 10 days—and with a bunch of scheduled off days—tonight might be Dempster's final start for The Carmine Hose in 2013. He will likely be moved to the bullpen and—if the Sox are so fortunate to reach the post-season—would not start any games in October. He may forever be revered by some fans for his infamous 'A-Plunk', but his days as a Sox starter are probably over.

David Ortiz On Slump: "Papi Can Struggle, Too"

Ortiz With FN's Editor-In-Chief (FenwayNation Photo)

David Ortiz is mired in an uncharacteristic 0-22 slump. Despite the slide, he's still hitting over .300 and is among the offensive leaders in the American League. As the Globe's Peter Abraham reports, Ortiz met with the media last night after going 0-4 and leaving some precious runners on base in an ultimate 3-2 loss. Said Ortiz, “I’m just missing pitches. You have to stay aggressive and keep on battling. It happens to everybody. I’m a player just like anyone else. I’m not going to put pressure on myself now. I don’t think we have time for that, you know? You’ve just got to keep on playing. That’s the only way you can get out of it." Manager John Farrell is sticking with the veteran, which is really the only course he can take. Ortiz will overcome this bump in the road. After all, as he says, "This happens sometimes. It’s not the end of the world, you know what I’m saying? Papi can struggle, too. I’ll be back."

Jerry Remy To Miss Balance Of 2013 Season

NESN announced late last night that Red Sox icon Jerry Remy will miss the remainder of the 2013 season. Remy has been away from the broadcast booth since August 16th, when his son Jared was charged with the murdering his girlfriend. Remy released the following statement, "I am full of grief for the Martel family. My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to them. My wife and I are sick about this senseless tragedy. It’s clear this isn’t the time for me to return to broadcasting Red Sox games. It’s my hope that I can do so in the spring. I thank NESN and the Red Sox for their support through this nightmare." It's unclear who will takeover for Remy for the balance of the season—although Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley has been doing a great job of substituting.

Dempster, Peavy, Doubront To Face Pale Hose

The Red Sox will send Ryan Dempster to the hill tonight against White Sox LHP Hector Santiago. On Saturday night, former Pale Hoser Jake Peavy will face ChiSox lefty Jon Danks. The series will wrap up on Sunday afternoon, with Felix Doubront facing off against RHP Andre Rienzo. The White Sox are going nowhere—buried in the basement of the AL Central at 21 games behind the Tigers (the next opponent of the Carmine Hose).

Great Ted Williams Would Have Been 95 Today

The greatest Red Sox player who ever lived—and the greatest hitter to boot—would have been 95 years old today if he had lived. Ted Williams is unquestionably the best thing that ever happened to the Carmine Hose. A 'raw' kid of 20 when he debuted in 1939, Williams hit .327 with 31 HRs and 145 RBIs. If they had the Rookie Of The Year award back then, he would have been a shoe-in. He also had 44 doubles and 11 triples in that first campaign—with an OPS (which nobody knew anything about in 1939) of 1.045. During a career in which he effectively missed five years to military service (WWII and Korea), he still managed 521 HRs in 19 seasons. Your humble scribe was blessed to have seen 'The Splendid Splinter' play at Fenway at the end of his career. And he did not go out with a whimper! In his final season—at age 41 in 1960—he hit .316 with 29 HRs and 72 RBIs. Of course, everyone cites his .406 season in 1941, but it's almost more amazing that he could be so productive into his 40s. Thankfully, due to the diligent efforts of the BoSox Club's Bruce Donahue, the US Postal Service recognized Ted with a commemorative stamp in 2012. He had already "stamped" himself in the hearts of every Red Sox fan. We miss you, Ted.

Sox Lose Clutch, O's Hit Gas; Boston Loses, 3-2

(Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

They had their chances, but Boston's key clutch hitters—Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz—went 0-8 last night in a tough 3-2 loss to Baltimore. Terriffic young O's hurler Chris Tillman was able to stifle every potential Sox rally, while Jon Lester pitched well enough to lose. A key 2-out walk led to two runs and that was all she wrote. Shane Victorino continued his torrid August with a solo HR that got the Red Sox as close as they'd come. Luckily, the Rays were shut out by the Los Angeles Angels of Earth, so the Carmine Hose maintained their 2.5 game edge in the AL East.

Jacoby Ellsbury Is In Tonight's Line-Up Vs. O's

(Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Despite what at first appeared to be a nasty injury that forced him out of last night's game, Jacoby Ellsbury reported to Fenway Park this afternoon in good enough shape to start tonight's game against the Orioles. X-Rays (or as John Farrell called them "fluoroscopes") on his foot came back negative. Obviously, the Red Sox can ill-afford Ellsbury missing any substantial amount of time down the stretch. Ellsbury comes into tonight's game hitting .298 with seven HRs and 49 steals (which leads the majors).

Bard Outing Does Not Bode Well For Call-Up

You can pretty much forget about seeing Daniel Bard anytime soon at Fenway Park. The troubled right-hander pitched in a Gulf Coast League game today—mostly against raw teenagers—and performed dismally. In just two-thirds of an inning Bard walked five, and gave up two earned runs on no hits. Suffice it to say he still hasn't figured out his command issues. The way this kid was handled by the Red Sox is borderline abusive. Forcing him to vacate his set-up role—where he was amazingly effective with a 100-MPH fastball—clearly ruined him. What a waste.

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Buchholz Could Return To Sox Mound On 9/10

(USA Today Sports)

According to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com, if all goes as planned, Clay Buchholz could be back on the hill for Boston on September 10th in Tampa against the Rays. After Friday's start for Pawtucket, the right-hander is scheduled for another rehab start on September 4th and thus would line up for the start on the 10th. You have to wonder if it's worth throwing a guy who will have been out 11 1/2 weeks against your main division rival. We'll believe a return in 2013 when we see it.

Deal With It: Sox Are Likely In The Post-Season

Barring a 2011-like meltdown, your 2013 Carmine Hose are now in a pretty good position to make the post-season. It may be a one-game and out post-season, but it's October baseball nevertheless. Baseball Prospectus projects that Boston has a 76.9% chance of winning the division and a 98% chance of making the post-season. With just 28 games to play in the regular season, they have a 2.5 game edge on Tampa and are starting to separate themselves from Baltimore (7.5 back) and The Evil Ones (8.5 back). Of the remaining 28 games, seven (25%) are with the Bronx Embalmers—three at Fenway and four at The Concrete Bunker On 161st Street. But the Pinstriped Posers are fading fast—Derek Jeter looks his age and Alex Rodriguez is, well, Alex Rodriguez. Even their supposed stud starter Hiroki Kuroda has been miserable in his last several starts. The Rays have just three more games with us, but they are always dangerous with their superb starters. And the Orioles almost needed to sweep Boston in this three-game series, although they do play us six more times after tonight. The rest of the 11 games are with some of the dregs of major league baseball—Colorado (2), the White Sox (3), Toronto (3). Only the mighty Tigers are a real challenge—with three games at Fenway starting on Labor Day. So, even if the Red Sox go 14-14 over their last 28, they'll still end up with 93 wins. If they just win at their current pace (.590), they'll end up with 96 victories. Of course, this isn't to say that disaster can't strike again—it's just very unlikely.

Fenway Ennui—Why Are Sox Fans So Bored?

Fenway Ennui?

John Tomase of The Boston Herald raises an interesting question. If the first-place Red Sox are such a hot ticket—with their Idiots II demeanor and 20-last-at-bat wins—how come they can't sell out Fenway Park on a late August night against a division rival? Yesterday's thrilling 4-3 comeback win drew just 31,962 (5,531 below the 37,493 capacity) in what was a relatively zippy three hour contest. And yet, people were leaving the 101-year old facility as the eight-inning rally began. What's going on here? Have we become such a PinkHatNation that we're jaded about success as long as we can guzzle two watered-down beers at a time? Or, are we still turned off by Black September 2011 and the Bobby V. Interregnum? Either way, fans seem more interested in doing the moronic wave and babbling Sweet Caroline than being genuinely into the most intriguing Red Sox team in years. Go figure.

Hazen: Sox May Add 'Depth Piece' At Deadline

Assistant GM Mike Hazen

Red Sox Assistant General Manager Mike Hazen appeared on WEEI's Dennis & Callahan Morning Show today and said the team might add a "depth piece" before the August trade deadline expires on Saturday. He intimated that it would be something like an extra bullpen arm and not a substantial positional player or starter. The Red Sox have already added a depth player in Quintin Berry—who can come off the bench as a pinch-runner.

Carpe Avis!: Sox Swim Upstream & Beat O's, 4-3

 (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

It's too bad the Red Sox didn't make last night's comeback against the Seattle Mariners. That way, the metaphor of salmon swimming upstream would work geographically. But, maybe there are some carp swimming up the Chesapeake Bay. We digress. Mike Carp flared a little looper that scored the eighth-inning winning run in a 4-3 comeback thriller at Fenway. Boston trailed 1-0, 2-0 and 3-1 when Dustin Pedroia capped the comeback with a two-out, two-run double in the seventh. John Lackey pitched very well again, going 7 1/3 innings and giving up three runs. Boston maintained its 2.5 game lead on Tampa.

Clay Buchholz To Start Friday At Pawtucket

(FenwayNation Photo)

After throwing a bullpen session today at Fenway Park, Clay Buchholz will start for the Pawtucket Red Sox tomorrow. The re-habbing right-hander threw 15 pitches in the bullpen and 15 to "hitters"—a grand total of 30. After the Friday start, he is scheduled for one more rehab minor league stint next Wednesday. After that, he will somehow have to be shoe-horned into the rotation—with Ryan Demspter possibly being shifted to the bullpen. Realistically, since Buchholz has been out 10 weeks, it's anyone's guess when or even if he will pitch again this year for the Red Sox. Frankly, we're tired of this Soap Opera. We'll believe it when we see him on the mound.

Ex-MLB'er Balentien Chases Japan HR Record

"Oh" My!

You might remember Wladimir Balentien when he played for the Seattle Mariners. He was an OK hitter—in parts of three seasons in 'The Show'—hitting a grand total of 15 HRs. Now, as a member of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of the Nippon Professional Baseball League, he has collected 51 dingers (as of today) and is four bombs shy of tying the all-time Japanese record (55). With five more, he will pass the legendary Sadaharu Oh and two other ex-MLB players: Tuffy Rhodes and Alex Cabrera. Balentien has 32 games to notch the five round-trippers. Looks like a lock.

Xander Bogaerts Starting At 3B Tonight For Sox

After sitting out against a left-handed hurler last night, Xander Bogaerts will be in tonight's lineup against right-hander—Bud "Don't Call me Chuck" Norris. Don't ask us! Oh, and Xander is displacing Will Middlebrooks at third base, while Stephen Drew returns at shortstop. Daniel Nava will get the start tonight in left field. Norris has three wins for the Birds since coming over from the Houston Lastros, but he has posted a 5.53 ERA in five starts for Baltimore. Tonight's Sox starter, John Lackey, has pretty much had the reverse experience of Norris, spinning a 3.17 ERA this year, but enjoying only 8 wins against 11 losses.

REPORT: NYY Could Be 'Wild Card' On Ellsbury

The Horror

According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, The Evil Empire (AKA The Pinstriped Posers, Evil Ones, Bronx Embalmers) could be a "wild card" contender for the free agency services of Jacoby Ellsbury. In an article listing the top 50 2014 free agents (Ellsbury is ranked #2 just behind Robinson Cano), Heyman states that Boston, Seattle or Toronto are the most likely landing spots for Jacoby—but a plopping down in the Bronx is not out of the question. The sight of Ellsbury in pinstripes is enough to induce nausea.

Lawsuit Against Curt Schilling Moves Forward

Schilling With Manny Delcarmen And A Fan (FN Photo)

A lawsuit by a Rhode Island development agency against Curt Schilling and others can move forward after a ruling today by a state judge. Rhode Island Superior Court Judge Michael Silverstein issued his ruling on the suit filed by the state Economic Development Corporation. The suit charges Schilling, other 38 Studios officials and former employees of the EDC with "fraud, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, racketeering and conspiracy" in the approval of a $75 million state loan guarantee for the video gaming company. According to Schilling, the state agency made the loan guarantees with "eyes wide open and with full understanding of any risks." The next hearing will be on September 13th.

Northeastern's Carlos Pena Catches On With KC

Pena's 2006 Walk-Off (AP Photo)

The pride of Haverhill, Massachusetts and Northeastern University, Carlos Pena, has hooked up with his eighth major league organization. The Kansas City Royals have signed Pena to a minor league contract and assigned the 35-year old slugger to AAA Omaha. In his brief stint with the hometown Carmine Hose, Pena played in just 18 games hitting .273—40 points above his career average. He also hit a memorable game-winning home run to right field at Fenway on September 5, 2006. It was a 10th-inning blast off then-White Sox hurler Brandon McCarthy. We wish Carlos the best of luck making it back to 'The Show' with the Royals.

Sox Mookie Betts Named Top "Fringe" Prospect

(Photo by John Corneau/Lowell Spinners)

You might call it a dubious distinction, but the influential website FanGraphs.com has named Red Sox minor league second-baseman Mookie Betts as their top "fringe" prospect of the week. In fact, Betts has appeared on this list for six consecutive weeks. The site defines "fringe" in a more positive light than you might first assume: "any prospect who was absent from all of three notable preseason top-100 prospect lists." They project Betts—who currently plays for Boston's High-A Salem affiliate—as having: "(a) excellent command of the strike zone, (b) more power than one might otherwise expect from a player listed at 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, and (c) baserunning numbers which almost certainly suggest future above-average production in that regard." Not only that, his success would forever transform our view of the name "Mookie".

Cut It Out, Shane!; Sox Eke Out 'Victorino', 13-2

(Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Hey, Shane—buddy—throw away that left-hand batting helmet. No need for it. Even though he was facing a lefty tonight, Shane Victorino has been 'Babe' Victorino from both sides since he abandoned switch-hitting (hitting .275 against righties). The 'Flying Hawaiin' knocked in seven runs, homering twice, in a 13-2 wing-clipping of the Orioles. Victorino reached base in all five plate appearances. Some of his teammates joined in the fun. Mike Napoli's home run over the Monster is still rolling toward East Longmeadow. Dustin Pedroia had three hits, and Jacoby Ellsbury scored three times. Oh, and by the way, Felix Doubront was terrific again—going 6 2/3 innings and yielding just two runs on four hits. The left-hander struck out seven in his 10th win of the year. As icing on the cake, Fernando 'Quiver This' Rodney blew another save as Tampa lost to the Angels, 6-5. Boston's AL East lead is now 2 1/2 games.

NESN Names More Substitutes For Jerry Remy

NESN announced today that Dennis Eckersley would continue pairing up with Don Orsillo on TV broadcasts of Red Sox games through Thursday. Then, Friday through Monday, Orsillo will be joined by Jon Rish—who quit WEEI last April before that radio station experienced its major shake-ups (that persist to this day). Also on Friday, Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons will be a third person in the NESN booth. It's still unclear when Red Sox icon Jerry Remy will return—out since mid-August after his son Jared was charged with murder.

Marlon Byrd Dealt On Marlon Byrd T-Shirt Night

Oops. The New York Metropolitans put a little bit of a crimp in tonight's "Marlon Byrd T-Shirt Night" in Flushing Meadows. You see, the Mets traded Marlon Byrd to the Pirates this afternoon for a minor leaguer. The shirt even had Byrd's signature "Let It Fly" motto emblazoned on the front. They let him "fly" all right! No word on whether the Mets PR Staff will turn it into "Marlon Byrd Appreciation Night-With Commemorative T-Shirt". After all, he did hit 21 HRs for New York this year. Oh, well, it could be worse for the former Red Sox player. Wait, how?

Xander Bogaerts Sitting Out Against Lefty Chen

For some inexplicable reason, Xander Bogaerts is not starting tonight for the Red Sox against Oriole left-hander Wei-Yin Chen. Manager John Farrell has seen fit to start Stephen Drew against the lefty and play Will Middlebrooks at third. Mike Napoli is in again at first and Jarrod Saltalamacchia will do the catching for Felix Doubront. In fairness, Drew is one of the hottest Red Sox hitters in August—tied with Jonny Gomes for the team lead in RBIs for the month (14). Drew is also hitting .309 in August.

Red Sox Make Odd Trade For OF Quintin Berry

We're not exactly sure what it means, but the Red Sox consummated a trade today—acquiring outfielder Quintin Berry from the Kansas City Royals for Clayton Mortensen. Berry's only MLB experience came in 2012 with the Tigers—hitting .258 in 94 games for Detroit. Berry had been designated for assignment by the Royals in June. Your guess is as good as ours! It could mean that Boston is planning on another deal before the August deadline that involves one or more of their major or minor league outfielders. There is some speculation that Berry could be added to the playoff roster as a pinch-runner—along the lines of Dave Roberts.

Please Support The Jimmy Fund Radio Telethon

This time every year—for the past 11 years—the Jimmy Fund partners with the Boston Red Sox, WEEI Sports Radio Network, and New England Sports Network (NESN) to strike out cancer in children and adults through the Jimmy Fund Radio Telethon. The 12th annual event will take place Tuesday, Aug. 27 and Wednesday, Aug. 28 on WEEI (93.7FM) and NESN. Over the span of two days and two Red Sox games, the broadcast features compelling stories from Dana-Farber patients, doctors, researchers, nurses, celebrity guests, and athletes, inspiring people all over the world to support Dana-Farber’s lifesaving mission. Past guests have included Mo Vaughn, John Valentin, Tim Wakefield, Clay Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Jason Varitek, Adrian Gonzalez, David Ortiz, Keegan Bradley, and more. Everyone here at FenwayNation urges you to support the extremely important work of the Jimmy Fund—which you can do by clicking HERE.

Doubront, Lackey, Lester To Face O's At Fenway

Since the final month of the disastrous 2011 season, the Baltimore Orioles have been a thorn in the side of The Carmine Hose. Even this year, Boston is just 4-6 against the Birds as they fly into Fenway for a three-game set. The Red Sox will send 9-6 lefty Felix Doubront to the mound tonight to face fellow port-sider Wei-Yin Chen. John Lackey will take to the hill on Wednesday night against former Astro Bud Norris, while the rejuvenated Jon Lester will face off against Chris Tillman on Thursday. Hey, at least the "curse-carrying" Robert Andino isn't wearing orange and black anymore!

Rays Pummeled By Royals; Fall 1.5 Back Of Sox

(AP Photo)

While the Red Sox enjoyed an off day on Monday, they actually picked up ground in the AL East race. In a make-up snow-out game, the Kansas City Royals smoked the Rays 11-1 and pushed Tampa to 1.5 games behind The Carmine Hose. Jeremy Hellickson failed to get out of the fifth inning for the fifth straight time and KC got home runs from Salvador Perez and Billy Butler, as Jeremy Guthrie got his 13th win. The Red Sox open up a nine-game homestand tonight and have just 30 games left in the season. If they go just .500 the rest of the way, they will come away with 92 wins—23 wins better than their disastrous 2012.

Jon Lester Hosts Star-Studded Charity Event

Jon Lester With Boston Hero Jeff Bauman (FN Photo)

Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester and his wife Farrah hosted a charity event tonight at Boston's House of Blues in support of the couple's NVRQT charity. The event brought out an A-List of stars—including Lester's teammates David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Ryan Dempster, Craig Breslow, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, John Lackey, Clay Buchholz, Mike Napoli, Felix Doubront and Jake Peavy. Also on hand were Boston heroes Jeff Bauman and Carlos Arredondo, Boston Bruins star Shawn Thornton, comic Lenny Clarke and Olympic Gold Medalist Aly Raisman. The NVQRT charity (short for "never quit") raises funds and awareness for the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation and is the second annual event held by Lester and his wife. When asked what is most rewarding for him dealing with his charity, Lester stated, "Just the little things we can do for kids, like putting smiles on their faces. And it's things that are easy for us, like bringing them out to a baseball game." You can tell that for Jon Lester, doing those little things for kids going through what he went through is very important to him. You can find out more about Lester's NVRQT charity HERE.

Starting Pitchers Throw Dempster Under Bus

In an anonymous "survey" of starting pitchers (N=36), ESPN.com is claiming that none of the sample of pitchers would "want to bean Alex Rodriguez". In fact, only one of the 36 said it would be worth a suspension to give The Fraudulent One his comeuppance. And, 83.3% thought A-Fraud should be allowed to continue playing during his seemingly endless appeals process. On the bright side, the pitchers did say that—if put to a vote of the players—43.6% would favor A-Rod's 211-game suspension.

Whiny Crawford Wants A World Series Re-Match

(Getty Images)

Carl Crawford is still whining—even after his over-rated Dodger team was handed two losses in three games by The Carmine Hose. In the wake of their 8-1 defeat in the rubber match, a petulant Crawford stated, "It stings a little bit." It should, since the Red Sox nearly swept the Louts of La-La Land over the weekend. Other former Sox player Adrian Gonzalez put the series in a little better perspective, stating, "You're going to win some, you're going to lose some." As he was crying in his free-range chicken soup, Crawford wistfully dreamed of a re-match with Boston in the 2013 World Series. Bring it on.

Daniel Bard May Pitch In A Game Again Soon

(Alex Greenlee, Bangor Daily News)

UPDATE: Bard pitches in game
According to Alex Speier of WEEI.com, the nearly forgotten Daniel Bard might pitch again in a baseball game relatively soon. Bard—who has actually been out longer than Clay Buchholz—will likely pitch in some minor league game before those seasons end soon. Bard recently confided to Rob Bradford (also of WEEI.com) that he feels he could help Boston this year. Earlier this year, Bard was miserable in Portland—walking the equivalent of a small, third world country while posting a 6.39 ERA. Getting back a healthy Bard at even 75% of his 2010-2011 dominance would be a huge boost to this team.

Jerry Remy To Miss At Least Orioles Series

Editor (Arrow A);  Remy (Arrow B) '92 Fantasy Camp

NESN has announced that Red Sox icon Jerry Remy will miss at least the next three games of the Orioles series at Fenway Park. Dennis Eckersley will continue to fill-in for The RemDawg in the broadcast booth with Don Orsillio. Remy has not appeared on a broadcast since August 16th—when his son Jared was charged with murdering his girlfriend in Waltham, MA. NESN has not yet directly addressed Remy's status going forward, but, at this point, you have to wonder if Remy will return at all for the balance of 2013.

Buchholz 'Fine' After Re-Hab Start For Single A

(Boston Herald Photo)

Maybe it's the name of the place he had to pitch in. Would you want to hurl a re-hab start in Fishkill, NY (or more precisely, Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, NY)? Not bloody likely. Anyway, Clay "Get That Infant Off My Shoulder" Buchholz threw a forgettable start for the Single A Lowell Spinners yesterday and pronounced himself physically "fine" after the game. That's probably all we should care about—but giving up three runs on 38 pitches to the 'Murderer's Row' line-up of the Hudson Valley Renegades is not a good thing. Said Clay, "I felt good. That was my only concern coming out here and pitching. Physically, I felt fine." Buchholz last pitched for the Boston Red Sox on June 8th. When he actually returns to the hill for The Carmine Hose is still anybody's guess. Clay went on to state, "I feel like I haven’t pitched in 21⁄2 months." Duh!

Peavy Dominates Dodgers; Sox Mash Again, 8-1

(Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

Your 2013 Carmine Hose just handed the "mighty" Dodgers their first series loss since Mid-June. Most of the credit for that last night goes to Jake Peavy, who delivered a complete game three-hitter in the 8-1 rubber match win over LA. Peavy's bull-dog attitude is refreshingly different from most starters—for example, there was no way that John Farrell was taking him out after eight. Boston's overall starters pitched to a 1.12 ERA across the six-game West Coast road trip. The offense was keyed by the long ball, with Mike Napoli, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Shane Victorino going yard. Tampa's loss to The Evil Ones means the Red Sox are alone atop the AL East again—with a 1-game edge.

Lester Shines Again; Red Sox Beat Dodgers, 4-2

(Getty Images)

Jon Lester is officially back. After another dazzling outing (7.1 innings, 1 earned run), Lester is now 4-1 with a 2.31 ERA over his last seven starts. His performance helped Boston defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles today, 4-2. The big blow on the offensive side of the ball was Jonny Gomes' three-run jack in the top of the first inning—giving The Carmine Hose an early (and ultimately) insurmountable lead. Xander Bogaerts also got his first major league hit in the game—a one-out single to right in the top of the ninth inning. The win kept Boston percentage points behind the first-place Rays—who defeated The Evil Ones again, 4-2.

Hanley Being Hanley; Red Sox Lose In LA, 2-0

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Call it "The Curse Of Mike Lowell". Hanley Ramirez clouted a 2-run HR in the fourth inning to account for all the scoring in a tough loss for the Red Sox at Chavez Ravine. John Lackey pitched a superb eight-inning complete game (other than Ramirez's HR) and still lost the game with literally no run support. The 'immortal' Ricky Nolasco immobilized Boston's bats in a 2 hour and 7 minute mini-game. Only Dustin Pedroia and Stephen Drew were able to figure out Nolasco—accounting for the two measly Red Sox hits. The loss sunk The Carmine Hose percentage points behind the victorious Rays.

Bobby V. On Pedroia—VIDEO via BarstoolSports

Yikes! Dice-K Starts Tonight Against The Tigers

Daisuke Matsuzaka won't be wearing his lucky #18 on his new Mets uniform—and he might need it. Tonight, Dice-K makes his Mets debut (wearing Doc Gooden's old #16) against the vaunted Tigers lineup. The team made the announcement after it was widely rumored that he'd been inserted into the rotation immediately. The Mets have suffered a string of injuries to starting pitchers and need warm bodies desperately. You might want to shield the eyes of young children during the broadcast.

Jacoby Ellsbury Tops List of 2014 Free Agents

Bye-Bye Jacoby?

According to the authoritative FanGraphs website, Red Sox centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury is the top free agent position player on the market this Winter. Ellsbury and Robinson Cano are effectively tied at the top of the free-agent food chain—each with a 4.9 Wins Above Replacement score (WAR). Ellsbury has had a good enough 2013—albeit not with the power stroke he had in 2011—to command a silly multi-year offer from several teams. 'Super Agent Provocateur' Scott Boras will be sure to ratchet up the bidding war beyond what the Red Sox want to pay. Accordingly, they better hope Jackie Bradley, Jr. is for real.

Curt Schilling Named 'Father Of Glove-Talking'

Glove-Talking Galileo

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark has penned a lengthy and comprehensive article on the origins and usefulness of 'glove-talking' in baseball. You know, when the pitcher and catcher shield their mouths from the opposition by covering their faces with their gloves. Apparently, Red Sox icon Curt Schilling is the true inventor of the practice—from way back in the 1993 World Series when he was pitching for the Phillies. After extensive investigative reporting worthy of Woodward and Bernstein, Stark concludes that during Game 5 of the series, Schilling was convinced that the Toronto Blue Jays were spying on his mound conferences—most particularly the stealthy Ricky Henderson. So, he covered his mouth with his glove, got Henderson and shut out the Jays. The rest is hardball history.

Ryan Braun "Apologizes" For 2011 PED Use

After a long trail of reprehensible behavior, Ryan Braun finally came "clean" yesterday—in a manner of speaking. The disgraced Brewer outfielder issued a statement admitting that he used PEDs during his 2011 NL MVP season and apologized for his actions. He says he took a "cream" and a "lozenge" containing banned substances to help rehab an injury "late" in 2011. He apologized to the fans, teammates and to the test collector he virtually slandered to other MLB players. Braun stated, "It was a huge mistake for which I am deeply ashamed and I compounded the situation by not admitting my mistakes immediately." To us, the most egregious part of the statement was his contention that he was now through with cheating. Said Braun, "I will never make the same errors again and I intend to share the lessons I learned with others so they don't repeat my mistakes. Moving forward, I want to be part of the solution and no longer part of the problem." And if you believe that, Braun's got a bridge he'd like to sell you over the Milwaukee River. Go away, Ryan.

Gonzalez & Punto Kinder And Gentler On Hub

The Rational Ones In 'The Great Punto Deal'

As blindly negative as Carl Crawford has been about his Boston experience, Adrian Gonzaelz and Nick Punto seem pretty rational by contrast. The two other members of The Great Punto Trade of 2012 (Beckett has lobbed nasty stuff from the DL) made known their feelings on ESPNLA.com. Said A-Gon, "For the most part, we underperformed last year in Boston and we didn't win. The year before, we won. We just didn't make it to the postseason at the end. I had a good time. The only things I had there weren't really a big deal." Of his former team's fortunes in 2013, he stated, "Then, put solid players around them, they should have success if they play up to their abilities." Punto—the obvious centerpiece of last August's mega-deal—said he loved his time in Boston and added the following on the 2012 situation, "Pedroia is the heartbeat of that club, and when he's not happy, it's not a good thing. He was definitely not very happy." And, so, our Mixed Metaphor Lesson Of The Day is: "Keep the glass half-full and don't burn any bridges." 

Carl Crawford Is "Breaking Bad" For Red Sox

Pardon us for taking what Carl Crawford says in 2013 with a huge grain of salt. He had his chance to back up his words with performance during his year-and-a-half stay in Boston (which he continues to call a "bad experience"). Now, he's Mr. Macho (as much as anyone can be macho in La-La Land). Crawford told the Los Angeles Times that in the upcoming series with The Carmine Hose, "I want to win all three games. Bad." Really? Well, all we have to say is: Advantage Boston.

Lackey, Lester, Peavy To Face LA Dodgers of LA

Lackey, Lester & Peavy—it sounds like a crooked law firm. But no, it's the starting trio for your Carmine Hose once they arrive in La-La Land. John Lackey will kick it off on Friday night—facing Ricky Nolasco. Saturday's match-up will feature Jon Lester against lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu. On Sunday, Jake Peavy will face off against another lefty—Chris Capuano. So, with two left-handers on tap, we should see two starts by Xander Bogaerts.