E-'Dud' Melts Down Again, As Red Sox Fall To Evil Ones In Opener , 8-1

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Eduardo Rodriguez has once again called into question whether he will ever reach the peak of his potential. Gifted with brilliant stuff, the lefty seems to take two steps forward and three back in his career. Last night—it was four steps back, in one of the biggest games of the year. For the second straight game, Rodriguez gave up big run totals and high pitch counts early—ultimately coughing up five eared runs in just six innings of work in the eventual 8-1 dubbing. Boston's bats went silent again, with only Mookie Betts and newcomer Steve Pearce getting multiple-hit games. This one was a stinker throughout, and it now falls to Chris Sale to right the ship tonight against The Evil Ones.

BRING. IT. ON.

Blake Swihart's Time In Boston May Be Up, As Sox "Shop" Him In Trade Talks

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Multiple reports indicate that the Red Sox are actively shopping C/1B/2B/OF Blake Swihart on the trade market. Once regarded as a prime prospect in the organization, Swihart has suffered through quirky injuries, reduced playing time and just plain bad luck getting to this point in his career. Still only 26-years-old, he should be attractive to a number of teams who need help behind the plate. While the release of Hanley Ramirez was touted as a window of opportunity for Swihart, that scenario never really panned out. Swihart was the 26th pick overall by the Red Sox in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of a high school in New Mexico. In his rookie year of 2015, he played in 81 games and hit a more than respectable .274. A foolhardy switch to LF the next season led to an injury that started a chain-reaction of woes. Hopefully, the Red Sox can find a trade partner that puts Swihart in a position where he can fully display his talents on a regular basis. Stay tuned.

Why The Red Sox Traded Away Their #15 Prospect For Toronto's Steve Pearce

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Seemingly out of nowhere, the Red Sox announced that they had traded their #15 overall prospect—23-year-old SS Santiago Espinal—to the Blue Jays for OF/1B Steve Pearce. "Huh?', you may ask? The rationale from Dave Dombrowski deals with boosting the team's effectiveness against left-handed pitching—with Pearce likely "spelling" Mitch Moreland or J.D. Martinez against particularly tough port-siders. Said Dombrowski, "We’ve been looking for a guy who can hit left-handed pitching, even though we’ve done better in recent times. We’ve talked about adding one more guy we can put in the lineup against a tough left-hander. He’s [Pearce] traditionally hit left-handed pitching very well. He’s a threat to drive in runs, drive the ball out of the ballpark. We think he’s a guy who can be a key cog for us against certain left-handed pitching." This season, Pearce is hitting .306 against lefties.

Red Sox Sweep Away Halos, 4-2, Head To Bronx Full Game Up On Evil Ones

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For the first time ever, the Red Sox swept a season series from the Angels—capping things off with a 4-2 win last night at Fenway Park. This was a solid, all-around team effort—with great defensive plays (spectacular catches by both Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley, Jr.), solid pitching (by emergency starter Brian Johnson and winning pitcher Hector Velazquez) and timely hitting (clutch HRs by Rafael Devers and JBJ). Velazquez garnered his sixth win of the year (against no defeats) and lowered his ERA to a stellar 2.38 thanks to his two innings of scoreless work. Christian Vazquez also continued hitting the ball well—going 2-3 and raising his average to .234. The win boosted Boston's lead in the American League East to a full game over The Bronx Embalmers—the opponents for the next three games in Baghdad-By-The-Hudson.

Oddly, Sea Dogs Will Celebrate 'Canada Day' At Their Portland, ME Ballpark

The last time we checked, Portland, Maine is a pretty fair distance from the Canadian border. Not as far away as Boston, but still pretty darned far. For example, it's 339 miles to Halifax, Nova Scotia and 457 miles to Toronto, Ontario. Even the contiguous New Brunswick provincial border is 239 miles away from downtown Portland. So, why the heck are the Sea Dogs (the AA affiliate of the Red Sox) celebrating "Canada Day" on July 1st at Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine? Is this just another politically-correct gesture by their NOG masters in Boston? I mean, Canadians are nice people and all—but what the heck does that have to do with a ballgame in Portland, Maine? Here's the official low-down from the Sea Dogs website: "The first 1,000 fans will receive a truck shaped stress ball with the Canadian Flag, courtesy of Day and Ross Freight. The Canadian National Anthem will be performed pregame. Canadian trivia, prizes, giveaways, in-game entertainment and more. And we'll be serving Poutine at the ballpark! Canadian residents are eligible for a buy one, get one free ticket offer. Must show proper ID at the ticket office to receive the offer." Huh? Sorry, but we just don't get it,—eh?

Sox Sign Former All-Star IF Brandon Phillips To 'No Promises' Minors Deal

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In a signing that says more about Dustin Pedroia's health status than anything else, the Red Sox signed former All-Star infielder Brandon Philips to a minor-league contract—sending him to their Fort Myers Spring Training facility. This is clearly a depth move, and will serve as an insurance policy against Pedroia not coming back this season (with apologies to Peter Strzok and Lisa Page). According to Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, "He [Phillips] is reporting to Florida to get himself in playing shape. Once he has accomplished that, he will join Pawtucket. We look at him as a potential Major League player who hits from the right-hand side that can play a number of positions. No promises have been attached to the signing." The operative phrase being "no promises". Phillips turns 37-years-old today.

All Signs Point To Manny Machado Heading To The Dodgers In Deadline Deal

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Oriole super-star Manny Machado will likely be wearing Dodger Blue soon—and it may happen before the July 31st trading deadline. Multiple reports suggest that The Denizens Of Chavez Ravine are poised to trade for Machado and gain the upper-hand in the AL West race. The Dodgers have a deep farm system and even deeper pockets—but are still not likely to sign Machado long-term (with the currently-injured Corey Seager their franchise shortstop of choice). Magic Johnson and company are still smarting from their dumb 2017 decision not to trade for Justin Verlander. Need we say any more? Ironically, the D-Backs (currently leading the NL West) are also interested in Machado—after they saw how J.D. Martinez energized them last year. There are other possibilities, but the Dodgers are now the odds-on favorites. Of course, in the off-season, The Evil Ones are poised to pounce on Machado long-term—no matter where he goes this Summer.

Sox International Signee Bryan Mata Making Steady Progress Through System

Back in 2016, the Red Sox signed Venezuelan pitcher Bryan Mata for the ridiculously low sum of $25,000 via MLB's international free-agent process. Now 19-years-of-age, Mata is having a solid season at Single A Advanced Salem (4-2, 3.00 ERA). The kid has a mid-90's MPH fastball—along with a plus change-up and slow curve. The authoritative SoxProspects.com lists Mata as the organization's #3 overall prospect—behind only 3B Michael Chavis and P Tanner Houck. The 6'3", 160-pound righty is said to possess maturity and solid "mound presence"—even at his tender age. Keep an eye on this potential mid-rotation prospect—slated to reach Fenway around the 2020 season.

Drew Pomeranz Is Set For A AAA Pawtucket Rehab Start Next Monday

Drew Pomeranz—who has been on the disabled list since the end of May—is set to throw a rehab start for AAA Pawtucket on Monday. On Wednesday, he threw a 2-inning simulated game at Fenway Park. The lefty has been side-lined with left bicep tendinitis, and has struggled to stay healthy all season long. Before knuckle-baller Steven Wright went on the disabled list, it had been presumed that Pomeranz would head to the bullpen upon his return to health. Now, it seems likely that he will re-claim his lost rotation spot once he's ready. If Pomeranz can approximate his 2017 performance for the rest of this year, it would be like the Red Sox picking up a free-agent starter at the deadline. Stay tuned.

Sox On The 'Straight And Narrow' On Bobblehead Promotions? (Maybe Not)

UPDATE: Never mind! (see photo for details)
Even though we've been highly critical of the NOG (New Ownership Group), when they do something right we feel an equal obligation to sing their praises. A recent story by Anthony Varriano of GrandStandCentral.com exposes a scam employed by many MLB teams to avoid paying state taxes. Here's how it works: teams distribute bobbleheads to fans that are tied to specific promotional ticket packages. Since they are technically re-selling the bobbleheads, it's not a "give-away"—which would force them to pay taxes on the item given away. It's sleazy, and—amazingly—the Red Sox owners do not seem to be partaking of the scam. The Sox typically give away their silly bobbleheads to the first 10,000 or 15,000 fans entering the park—so there is no "premium" that has to be paid to get one. You just have to show up early. Presumably, this means that the Red Sox pay state taxes on the items—although we are not sure what Massachusetts state law says on this issue. Also, many of the bobbleheads are co-promoted by brands like Gatorade, so we're not sure how that factors into the tax issue. In any event, we will give John Henry the benefit of the doubt and congratulate him for not gouging fans any more than usual.

Red Sox Offense Overcomes Lousy Pitching, Three HRs Power Past Halos, 9-6

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This was a game that—against all odds—was almost lost. After the Boston offense built a seemingly insurmountable 6-0 lead, Rick Porcello and Joe Kelly nearly gagged it away—allowing the Angels to tie the game at six by the seventh inning. Even when it was clear that Porcello's pitch count and command were troublesome, manager Alex Cora allowed things to deteriorate before even getting anyone warm in the Boston bullpen. The early Red Sox offense was powered by three home runs by: Eduardo Nunez (#5); Sandy Leon (#3) and J.D. Martinez (his MLB-leading #25). An eighth-inning, two-run rally allowed Boston to move back in front, 8-6—and they tacked on one more in the 8th for the eventual 9-6 win. Rafael Devers (who had three hits on the night) delivered the key game-winning blow—a run-scoring double in the 8th. The victory vaulted The Carmine Hose into sole possession of first-place in the American League East—as The Evil Ones were shut out by the Phillies, 3-0.

Detroit Tigers Fire Pitching Coach Bosio For Racially-Charged Comments

According to a report by Detroit TV station WXYZ, the Tigers this afternoon fired their pitching coach, Chris Bosio, for using "racially-charged language" towards a team employee. The 55-year-old Bosio pitched 11 MLB seasons for the Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners. Early in the 1993 season, Bosio "no-hit" the Red Sox. Until this season, he had served as pitching coach for the Chicago Cubs—winning a World Series title with that team in 2016.

Muddy Chicken Will Visit Medical Specialist When Red Sox Are In New York

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More bad news on Dustin Pedroia. As of this morning, The Laser Show has not yet resumed baseball activities since he returned to the disabled list after just three games back in the line-up. The recovery process from off-season knee cartilage restoration surgery is clearly not progressing well. According to manager Alex Cora, "He’s had good days where he comes in, ‘I feel great,’ and then the next day it’s not a great day. So we’re looking for him to have three or four days in a row that he feels good. It’s frustrating for everybody, especially for him, but at the same time, we’ll take our time. Hopefully when he comes back, it’s for the rest of the season. And also, I think we have to make sure he’s OK the rest of his career." Now, it's been revealed that Pedroia will visit with Dr. Riley Williams III of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York when the Sox visit Baghdad-On-The-Hudson.  Clearly, Boston's trade deadline decision-making has to take into account the health status of their 34-year-old second-baseman.

Sox And Evil Ones May Vie For Services Of Chris Archer At Trade Deadline

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While the Red Sox and Bronx Embalmers will go at it this weekend at The Concrete Bunker On 161st Street, they may also be butting heads at the trade deadline come the end of next month. Since both teams have recently lost two starters to injury (Boston minus Steven Wright and Drew Pomeranz), speculation is rampant that they are each "eyeing" Rays right-handed starter Chris Archer. The 29-year-old Archer is about to emerge from the disabled list—but had pitched well prior to that stint (2.47 ERA over seven starts). Archer is signed through 2021 at the "reasonable" cost of $31 million, so it might take a lot to get him to Boston. Stay tuned.

Man's Dead Body Found Inside A Walk-In Beer Cooler At Braves' Ballpark

Before last night's game at Atlanta's SunTrust Park, the male body of a third-party contract worker was found dead inside a walk-in beer cooler. Despite the discovery, the game between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds went on as scheduled. Reportedly, fans heard of the gruesome find during the game. The identity of the deceased worker is being withheld until next of kin can be notified. The belief is that the man worked an overnight shift at the ballpark and somehow became trapped in the cooler. A spokesperson for the Cobb County police stated, "This is still an active investigation so I am unable to speculate whether or not foul play is a factor." Stay tuned for any further details.

Despite Apparent Innocence, Is Hanley Unemployed Due To Tainted Image?

by Ernie Paicopolos, Editor-In-Chief —Former Red Sox 1B/DH Hanley Ramirez has made about $160 million during his MLB career. He'll be fine. But it is troubling that no teams have come calling for his services in the more than month-long period of his availability. He would come really cheap and have a decent chance of contributing against (at a minimum) left-handed pitching. Ramirez claims that his hiatus is the result of his own choice—but that's likely just bravado talking. So, the question needs to be asked—did last week-end's reporting of a FaceTime call to Ramirez from an alleged drug-dealer have a chilling effect on his employment opportunities? If it did, it shouldn't have. After all, the only thing linking Hanley to this guy is that his phone number was in the contacts file on his cell phone. Granted, that fact alone is sketchy, but it should not keep Hanley from a major league job. If his image has been forever tainted by this weird event (and the "reporting" that surrounded it), it's a cautionary tale for everybody (including us) that wants to get you all the Red Sox news we can as quickly as we can. We all need to do a better job on this score.

Jackie Bradley Leads the Way, David Price Shines Again, Sox Rout Halos, 9-1

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Jackie Bradley, Jr. is on the threshold of passing the Mendoza Line. After back-to-back three-hit nights, JBJ's batting average is now sitting at .199—a huge achievement considering how mired he was in a major slump for most of this year. Last night, Bradley homered and drove in four of Boston's runs in a 9-1 drubbing of the Angels. Boston went "yard" four times—Bradley, J.D. Martinez (his MLB-leading 24th), Christian Vazquez and Mookie Betts (his 20th on the first pitch the Red Sox saw on the night). David Price collected his ninth win of the year—continuing his string of solid starts. The lefty went six innings—giving up just five hits and one earned run and striking out seven heavenly creatures. Unfortunately, The Evil Ones creamed Jake Arrieta and the Phillies, so the deficit remains one-half game in the Al East.

Red Sox And Braves May Battle Over Acquisition Of Old Friend Adrián Beltré

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It's looking as if the two franchises that originated in Boston will be battling over the acquisition of former Red Sox third-baseman Adrián Beltré. The Braves And Carmine Hose are said to be the most likely landing spots for the 39-year-old veteran—who spent one glorious season in Boston (2010) and then fled to the Rangers in free-agency. Since Boston is in the market for a short-term third-baseman (until Rafael Devers can fully mature) and a lefty reliever, any trade could also involve Jake Diekman. In his one year as a member of the Red Sox, Beltré hit .321 with 28 HRs and 102 RBIs. He also had a league-leading 49 doubles. Curiously, we let him go. So far this year (in limited action), Beltré is hitting .309. Now, he could return to Boston for the stretch run—after which he becomes a free-agent (as does Diekman). Thus, because of their three-month rental status, Boston would not have to give up much in return (it's been suggested that Rusney Castillo and some salary considerations with Texas would do the trick). Stay tuned!

Pawtucket Red Sox Offer Weird "Name Change" Ploy At August 16th Game

We always suspected Rhode Island was a weird place. Yeah, they're technically part of New England, but they are fringy members of the region at best. They talk differently, eat differently, and they're ridiculously small for a state. Oh, and their official name is: "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations." Weird, right? Now, a Pawtucket Red Sox promotion this August 16th just cements our view of "Little Rhody". On that date, the PawSox will take the McCoy Stadium field as The Pawtucket Hot Weiners. No, it has nothing to do with Huma Abedin's ex-husband—although that would be a rational guess. Apparently, "hot weiners" are a Rhode Island food delicacy. Honestly, we never heard of them. According to those in the know, "hot weiners" are: "a small, thin hot dog consisting of veal and pork, giving it a different taste than a traditional beef hot dog. It is served in a steamed bun and topped with yellow mustard, celery salt, chopped onions, and a seasoned meat sauce." Small makes sense. So does weird.

Hanley Ramirez Claims It's His Choice That He Hasn't Yet Signed With A Team

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A day after the Boston Globe (owned by Red Sox principal John Henry) reported that Hanley Ramirez was not being "eyed" in a federal drug investigation, the former Boston 1B/DH tweeted a response to the entire situation. In the response, he suggested that a more than month-long absence from Major League Baseball was his own choice—allowing him to spend time with his family in the Dominican Republic. He also expressed gratitude toward those who he said, "resisted spreading the reckless, misleading reports." Any MLB team can sign Ramirez for the veteran minimum—with the Red Sox paying the balance of his pro-rated 2018 salary of $22 million. From the beginning of this story, the Red Sox have consistently stated that a.) they knew nothing of a supposed federal drug investigation and 2.) that the release of Ramirez was based solely on baseball considerations. Stay tuned, there is likely to be a lot more that comes out on this story in the days ahead.

Joining Oakland, Edwin Jackson Has Now Played For 43.3% Of All MLB Teams

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Right-handed pitcher Edwin Jackson has never pitched for the Red Sox—but he's still only 34-years-old, so there's time. Jackson, who was just picked up by the Oakland A's, has now worn the uniforms of thirteen different MLB teams. This ties him with Octavio "Don't Ask" Dotel for the all-time record. In addition to the A's, Jackson has now played for: the Rays, Dodgers, Cubs, Nationals, White Sox, Diamondbacks, Braves, Cardinals, Padres, Orioles, Marlins and Tigers. Whew! And the guy isn't all that horrible to justify his vagabond status—after all, he's got 98 career wins over 15 seasons. His 4.67 ERA isn't egregious, either—or his nearly 1,400 strikeouts. And, he was an All-Star in 2009 with Detroit—winning 13 games that season and pitching over 200 innings. So, if Dave Dombrowski needs an emergency arm down the stretch, we're sure that Billy Beane will allow Jackson to add a 14th jersey to his collection.

Red Sox Among Multiple Teams Looking To Trade For O's Closer Zach Britton

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According to multiple sources, the Red Sox are among many teams engaged in trade talks with the Orioles for their closer Zach Britton. The lefty, recently back from an Achilles tendon injury, was once among the elite closers in baseball—saving 47 games as recently as 2016. Over parts of eight seasons (all with Baltimore), Britton has compiled 136 saves—along with a 3.25 ERA. The 30-year-old Britton will become a free-agent at the end of the season (as will Craig Kimbrel)—and is represented by Scott Boras (so there's that). But, having both Britton and Kimbrel at the end of the Boston bullpen for the balance of this season would help equalize their relief corps vis-à-vis their two biggest AL rivals (New York and Houston). Reportedly, the Red Sox are still concerned that Britton might not be fully healthy—and would like to see him compete in back-to-back games in the closer role. It's also unclear who Dan Duquette would be asking for in return for Britton. Stay tuned.

Hanley Ramirez Not Under Federal Investigation, Wrongly Tagged By "Friend"

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Multiple reports now indicate that former Red Sox 1B/DH Hanley Ramirez is not under federal investigation. Earlier reports suggested that Ramirez was being "eyed" in connection with a drug ring out of Lawrence, Massachusetts. As it turned out, a "friend" of Ramirez, who was stopped by police in Western Massachusetts, tried to avoid arrest by "dropping" Ramirez's name as the owner of a box in his car that turned out to have drugs in it. The "friend" had FaceTimed Ramirez as he was being questioned by police during the traffic stop. After his arrest, the un-named suspect told police that—in fact—Ramirez was not involved, and that he only used the ballplayer's name to try to avoid arrest.

Sale Boston '18: Lefty Fans 13, Finally Gets Some Run Support, Tops M's, 5-0

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In his roughly 1 1/2 years in Boston, Chris Sale has been everything that was advertised. Since getting some extra days rest earlier this season, he has amped up his 4-seam fastball to averaging 98 MPH. That fact, in conjunction with his deadly slider, makes him almost un-hittable when he is fully "on". Suffice it to say that—today—he was fully "on" plus. The lanky lefty struck out 13 Mariners, gave up just four hits and hurled seven shutout innings in Boston's 5-0 win (their 20th series finale win of 2018). It was vintage Sale–and he finally got some run support to make this a bit of a "rocking chair" seventh win for the port-sider. As soon as Boston broke through with three runs in the fifth, it was "Katy-bar-the-door" for Seattle. Seventy-one of Sale's ninety-three pitches went for strikes. The Red Sox offense was paced by clutch hits from: Rafael Devers (1-3, RBI) and Mitch Moreland (1-4, HR, 2 RBIs). Jackie Bradley, Jr. had a needed 3-3 game—with his hard hit balls finally starting to fall in. Sandy Leon and Mookie Betts also chipped in with RBIs. The win (Boston's 52nd on the year) coupled with a 7-6, extra-inning loss by The Evil Ones vaulted the Red Sox back into a first-place tie.

Rodriguez Loses Command, Coughs Up Five Runs, Sox Routed By Seattle, 7-2

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So much for Eduardo Roriguez's "special" run. Boston had been 13-1 in his starts this year. But on Saturday, it became evident how 'soft' his nine wins might have been this year (considering his high-threes ERA). In this one, he had no command, ran up his pitch count early, and gave up five runs (four earned) in just four innings of work. This was pretty much over early—on a cool and drizzly night at Fenway (this is late June, right?). Both Mookie Betts (illness) and Xander Bogaerts (sprained left index finger) sat out the contest. In the depressing 7-2 loss, Boston's offense again went into its shell—with only J.D. Martinez and Mitch Moreland having multiple-hit games (two each, with Moreland now back to the .300 mark). The loss missed an opportunity for The Carmine Hose to crawl back into a first-place tie in the AL East.

REPORT: Ramirez "Being Eyed" In Link To Lawrence, Mass. Fentanyl Ring

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Rumors swirled last night surrounding the possible involvement of former Red Sox player Hanley Ramirez in a local fentanyl ring. Reportedly, both federal and state investigators are looking into a possible Ramirez connection to a Lawrence, Massachusetts-based drug ring. On May 25th, Ramirez was designated for assignment by the Red Sox—which took the entire baseball world by surprise. On June 1st, he was given his unconditional release by the team. However, everyone in the Boston organization—from top to bottom—insists they knew nothing of the investigation at the time. The DFA was purely based on baseball criteria—or so they say. By releasing Ramirez, the Red Sox avoided the possibly of an automatic triggering of a $22 million 2019 contract (based on a minimum number of 2018 at-bats). Some reports suggest that, in the midst of a police stop, a drug suspect "Face-Timed" Ramirez in front of law enforcement officers. This led to the suspected involvement of Ramirez and triggered the investigation. Since his release from the Red Sox, no other MLB has signed Ramirez—despite the fact that he could be had for the veteran minimum salary. Stay tuned, this is sure to develop further.

They're Baaaaaaack! Find Affordable Fenway-Area Parking During Homestand

The Red Sox are back in town, and fans will likely only have one major headache surrounding attending games at Fenway Park: parking. But, by using ParkWhiz, you can find affordable, safe, convenient parking close by the ballpark. Just click on the link and locate the best parking spot for you. Play ball! CLICK HERE.

J.D. And Sox In 'Cruz' Control, Overcome 5-Run Deficit, Smite Mariners, 14-10

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Hopefully, you stayed up for this one. Truthfully, no one would have criticized you if you headed to bed with Boston down 10-5 in the bottom of the fifth. From that point, the slow but steady comeback ensued. Boston scored nine unanswered runs the rest of the way for a stunning 14-10 win over Seattle. The victory came despite Nelson Cruz going 4-5 with seven of the ten Mariner RBIs. Boston's own stud—J.D. Martinez—nearly matched Cruz, going 4-5 with five RBIs (including his 23rd HR). Martinez now has an astounding 60 RBIs on the season. The Red Sox overcame deficits of 4-0 (in the first inning) and 10-5, to post their MLB-leading 51st win. The pitching in this one was virtually non-existent—with Steven Wright giving up an unheard of 10 earned runs in just 3.1 innings of work. In addition to J.D.'s four hits, Mitch Moreland and Rafael Devers each had three. In Boston's 20-hit attack, other multiple-hit games came from: Andrew Benintendi, Brock Holt and Christian Vazquez. The win pulled the Red Sox to within one game of The Pinstriped Posers in the AL East.

Jackie Bradley, Jr. Sits On Friday In The Midst Of His Long Offensive Slump

Here is tonight's Red Sox line-up as they open a home series against the Seattle Mariners: Mookie Betts RF, Andrew Benintendi CF, J.D. Martinez LF, Mitch Moreland 1B, Xander Bogaerts SS, Brock Holt 2B, Rafael Devers 3B, Christian Vazquez C, Blake Swihart DH. On the hill tonight for The Carmine Hose will be knuckle-baller Steven Wright.

FenwayNation Announces The "Best O' Nation" Media Awards For 2018

Once again, we are far enough into the new season to announce our choices for the 2018 'Best O' Nation' Media Awards. This year, the The Springfield Republican (AKA MassLive.com) has nabbed the award for Best Overall Red Sox Coverage. This year's award for Best Baseball Writer goes to Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican (MassLive.com). For the third straight year, Surviving Grady's Red won the award for Best Web/Blog Columnist. Tim Neverett of WEEI/Red Sox Radio Network was named the Best Play-By-Play man for the second straight year, while Best Local Sports Radio Personality went (once again, extremely reluctantly) to WEEI's Kirk Minihane. And, WBZ-TV's Dan Roche (not at all reluctantly), was again named the Best Local TV Sports Anchor. Congratulations to all the winners this year!

Best Overall Red Sox Coverage—The Springfield Republican (MassLive) 
Best Baseball Writer—Christopher Smith, The Springfield Republican (MassLive)
Best WEB/Blog Columnist—Red, Surviving Grady
Best Play-By-Play Man—Tim Neverett, WEEI/Red Sox Radio Network 
Best Local Sports Radio Personality—Kirk Minihane, WEEI 93.7 
Best Local TV Sports Anchor—Dan Roche, WBZ-TV, Channel 4 Boston

POLL: Near Unanimous Support For National League Adopting The DH

Early voting in our latest FenwayNation Poll shows almost total support for the idea of the National League adopting the designated hitter rule—effectively unifying MLB rules across both leagues. As the chart shows, fully 94% support the so-called "Unified DH", while a scant 6% oppose making the leagues live by one set of rules—believing there should be distinctions between the Senior and Junior circuits. You can still vote in the poll HERE. 

Today May Be The Last Shot For AAA PawSox To Remain In "Little Rhody"

On the final day of their legislative session, Rhode Island House lawmakers have scheduled a vote on the funding of a new Pawtucket stadium to house the AAA franchise of the Boston Red Sox. Yesterday, a key House finance committee approved the deal—which would appropriate $38 million of public money to the project. By this afternoon, both the House and Senate must approve the legislation. Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien has stated that if lawmakers do not approve this funding bill, the team will likely relocate to Worcester, Massachusetts—and, presumably, become the WooSox. Stay tuned!

Red Sox Are Nominated For ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team Of The Year

ESPN has announced that the Boston Red Sox are among four teams nominated as the 2018 Sports Humanitarian Team Of The Year. The other nominees are: the Anaheim Ducks, the Chicago Fire and the U.S. Women's National Ice Hockey Team. The nomination highlights the team's efforts with three specific programs: Home Base, Red Sox Scholars and RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities)/ Rookie League. Said the ESPN press release: "With an engaged ownership group chaired by Tom Werner, the Red Sox Foundation has a robust strategy that finds creative solutions to ongoing challenges for children, families, veterans and communities in need." Other award categories include: the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award, the Corporate Community Impact Award, the League Humanitarian Leadership Award and the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award. The awards ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on July 17th—and will be broadcast on ESPN on July 24th at 7PM Eastern.

Mookie Betts Adheres To "Extreme" Shift On Mauer, And It Seemed To Work

In yesterday's win over the Twinkies, there was a fascinating moment when Joe Mauer ripped a ball to right-center field in the bottom of the sixth inning. Mookie Betts barely had to move a muscle and caught the ball in his tracks—perfectly positioned by scouting reports on Mauer. After the play, Mookie playfully waved the little "pocket positioning card" in recognition of its accuracy. Said Alex Cora after the game, "Yeah that was a big topic before the game. It was an extreme one from the analytical department. We looked at the charts and we're like, it's right on, go with it. I know they were happy but I was the happiest guy, like thank God they hit it right there. It reinforces what we're trying to accomplish. You saw it it was very extreme with Mauer. It was good for him to be in that spot and catch it. Hopefully his range factor goes up and defensive runs saved and all that." 

POLL: Should The National League Adopt The DH?

Should the National League begin using the designated hitter?

Yes, it's best to have common, unified rules in baseball

No, it's good to have some distinction between the leagues

 

pollcode.com free polls

Red Sox Pound Out Sixteen Hits, Rick Porcello Shines, Beat Up Twinkies, 9-2

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The Red Sox re-discovered their hitting stroke on Thursday afternoon, and Rick Porcello was brilliant, in a 9-2 drubbing of the Minnesota Twins. The Carmine Hose got home runs from Mookie Betts (#19) and Andrew Benintendi (#13) in a blistering 16-hit attack that came mostly at the end of the game. Boston scored seven of their nine tallies from the seventh inning on to end their road trip with a 6-4 record. Pretty much everyone got in on the fun, with seven different Red Sox players having multiple-hit games. Benintendi and Xander Bogaerts led the RBI parade with two each. Porcello hurled seven shutout innings—yielding just one hit and striking out five. It was one of Pretty Ricky's prettiest performances of the year. The win, coupled with a matinee victory by The Evil Ones, keeps Boston two games back in the AL East. The Red Sox will be home for 13 of the next 22 games—before the All-Star Break (July 15-19).

POLL: Most Want A Trade For Jed Lowrie To Deal With Red Sox 2B Situation

Further voting in our latest FenwayNation Poll shows that a plurality of readers (37%) want the Red Sox to trade for former Carmine Hoser Jed Lowrie to deal with the uncertain 2B situation. As the chart shows, the next highest percentage of readers (27%) would prefer to "stand pat" at 2B with internal options like Eduardo Nunez or Brock Holt. Another organizational option (not specifically mentioned in the poll) could be Tzu-Wei Lin. Just under one reader in five (19%) wants to deal for Reds 2B Scooter Gennett, while another 14% would rather make a transaction for Colorado 2B DJ LeMahieu. You can still vote in the poll HERE.

David Ortiz And Torii Hunter To Manage Against Each Other In Futures Game

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Old Twins teammates David Ortiz and Torii Hunter will square-off against each other as rival managers in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game on July 15th at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. Ortiz, a legend in Boston, was a three-time World Series Champion and a ten-time All-Star over his 20-year MLB career. Hunter was a five-time All-Star who played with Minnesota, the Angels and the Tigers. "Big Papi" will be the skipper of the World Team, while Hunter will manage the U.S. Team. The Futures Game features the top minor-league prospects across baseball. Hunter and Ortiz remain close friends—spending six seasons together on the Twins.

Losers Of Four Of Last Five, Sox Need Matinee Win To Avoid .500 Road Trip

The Red Sox need to get their offense in gear this afternoon in order to avoid a .500 road trip. They are currently 5-4 on the swing, but have also lost four of their last five. Here is today's line-up for the 1:10 PM Eastern start: Mookie Betts, RF; Andrew Benintendi, LF; J.D. Martinez, DH; Mitch Moreland, 1B; Xander Bogaerts, SS; Rafael Devers, 3B; Brock Holt, 2B; Sandy Leon, C; Jackie Bradley Jr., CF.  On the mound for The Carmine Hose this afternoon will be Rick Porcello. After the game, Boston will head home for a six-game homestand against the Mariners and Angels.

Irony Of Ironies: Would Hanley Ramirez Help With Recent Offensive Slump?

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As the "Raiders Of The Lost Offense" (particularly against lefties) make their ugly return, it begs the question: Would Hanley Ramirez have helped jump-start the Red Sox bats during this slump? It's something worth asking. Hanley's "replacement" (left-hand hitting Mitch Moreland) started out well, but has hit just .247 over his last 30 games and .238 in his last seven. For what it's worth, Hanley hit .333 this year against left-handed pitching—with one HR and 10 RBIs over 42 at-bats. If Alex Cora had the flexibility of inserting Hanley against lefties, would it have made a difference in the outcomes of any games? It's hard to say. But, of course, we will never know. Interestingly, no other MLB team has claimed Hanley—in almost a month of availability—even though he can be had for the veteran minimum.

Bad Omen? Not One Red Sox Player Was Ever Born On First Day Of Summer

They are supposed to be "The Boys Of Summer". And yet, not one single person born on Summer's first day has ever played for the Red Sox. Think about it, in 112 seasons, nobody who ever wore Carmine Hose was born on June 21st. The Pinstriped Posers have had five players born on the first day of Summer—and the Cubbies have had five as well. There is a Luis Rivera born on this day—but, alas, it is not our Luis Rivera, but some pitcher. Now, we have to say—the cast of MLB characters who have been born on June 21st is not all that impressive—in fact, not one single Hall Of Fame player. The best of the lot is probably Rick Sutcliffe—who at least was a Cy Young winner, Rookie Of The Year and three-time All-Star. But, again, not one single Red Sox player. This does not bode well for the remainder of this season—with Boston already two games out on the Summer Solstice itself. Come on, they're "The Boys Of Summer", we're supposed to have multiple players born today. You may call this silly superstition—but, hey, this is the Red Sox we're talking about, folks.

Red Sox Might Have Their 2B Solution Right Under Their Noses At Pawtucket

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There's been a lot of talk lately about the Red Sox trading for a second-baseman that can be slotted in until Dustin Pedroia's return (if that ever comes to pass this season). Names like Jed Lowrie, Scooter Gennett and DJ LeMahieu have been tossed out as targets in any deal. But, aside from Eduardo Nunez and Brock Holt, there may be another internal organizational option—Tzu-Wei Lin. In 39 games so far this year for AAA Pawtucket, Lin is hitting .295—with 4 HRs and 13 RBIs. He's getting on-base at a .349 clip and is slugging at .449. Not bad for a second-sacker—and he performed well each time he was promoted to the big club. As Matt Collins of Over The Monster suggests, maybe Lin should be on the roster instead of an 8th reliever (especially one named Robby Scott, we would add). Adding Lin—and not giving up any talent for an external option—might be the best way to go for both the short and the long term.

'Raiders Of The Lost Offense' Re-Emerge, Price Mediocre, Red Sox Fall, 4-1

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Last night, the Red Sox went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position. In the series so far against a pretty crappy Minnesota team, they are 2 for 22 on that 'metric'. They had four hits last nigt—four hits. In addition, David Price was a little off his form—coughing up a home run to the first batter of the game, and then another two-run shot that broke a 1-1 tie. Still, he went six innings and delivered what is today called a "quality start", so he—and the team—should have won this game. Instead, the Twinkies took it 4-1, and have already won the series. Mookie Betts did get two hits—so maybe he's back on track. But, otherwise, this was a bad loss—dropping Boston two full games behind The Evil Ones in the American League East.

Would Red Sox Trade Jackie Bradley And Blake Swihart For Billy Hamilton?

Bradley (L); Hamilton (R)

A hot rumor is circulating the baseball world that the Red Sox are willing to part with both Jackie Bradley, Jr. and Blake Swihart for Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton. The 27-year-old Hamilton is a speedster who has swiped 256 bases over parts of six MLB seasons. Like JBJ, Hamilton is an elite defender. Both Bradley, Jr. and Hamilton are inconsistent offensively—sporting .233 and .243 batting averages, respectively. That said, Bradley has more power—61 career HRs versus just 20 for Hamilton. Swihart has also been inconsistent (hitting .251 in an injury-plagued career). So, essentially, the Red Sox would be giving up a smooth, Gold-Glove center-fielder for one who is almost as good defensively. They'd also be giving up a still-promising Swihart—although he is getting virtually no playing time this season with the Red Sox. The big pick-up for Boston would be Hamilton's base-stealing ability. Stay tuned—this deal could materialize very quickly.

POLL: Seven In Ten Readers Would Trade For A 2B If Pedroia Hurt Long-Term

Very early voting in our latest FenwayNation Poll shows that a total of 70% would trade for somebody to replace Dustin Pedroia at 2B—if The Muddy Chicken is out long-term. As the chart shows, while 30% want the Red Sox to "stand pat" (Eduardo Nunez, Brock Holt) at 2B, the vast majority want some sort of trade. For example, fully 30% would favor a trade for old friend Jed Lowrie, while another 21% would opt for a deal brining DJ LeMahieu from Denver to Boston. Almost as many (18%) would favor getting Scooter Gennett from the Reds to man 2B. So far in the polling, no readers have selected the option that would name some other player (besides those listed) to be acquired. You can still vote in the poll HERE.

POLL: If The Muddy Chicken Is Out Long-Term, What Should The Red Sox Do?

If Dustin Pedroia is out for an additional extended time period, what should the Red Sox do?:

Nothing, keep rotating in Nunez, Holt, et. al. at 2B

Trade for Jed Lowrie to play 2B

Trade for DJ LeMahieu to play 2B

Trade for Scooter Gennett to Play 2B

Trade for some other player to play 2B [SPECIFY IN COMMENTS]

 

pollcode.com free polls

Muddy Chicken Appears To Be Far Away From Returning To Red Sox Line-Up

Red Sox manager Alex Cora gave an update yesterday on the condition of Dustin Pedroia—and it wasn't good news. The Laser Show is still feeling pain and swelling in his reconstructed knee—and has yet to resume baseball activities. Pedroia missed the first two months of the season, then returned briefly at the end of May before heading back on the DL. Last October, he had cartilage restoration surgery on the knee. His continued extended absence puts even more emphasis on the need to trade for someone like Jed Lowrie or DJ LeMahieu to take over duties at second base.

Red Sox Bats Fail Sale Again, Leave 11 Runners On Base, Fall to Twinkies, 6-2

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Maybe it's psychological. The Red Sox might think they don't need to score with Chris Sale on the mound. Unfortunately, that's not how baseball works—you actually have to touch home plate occasionally to win. Last night, Boston stranded 11 runners on base on the way to a frustrating 6-2 loss to the Twins. They did take the lead briefly on a mammoth solo HR by Rafael Devers—but, uncharacteristically, Sale gave the lead right back to Minnesota. Boston hitters went a pathetic 2-13 with runners in scoring position. That's pretty much all you need to know about this one. Adding fuel to the fire was the return of Robbie Scott, who put two runners on to start the in a 2-2 ballgame in the seventh—leading to a four-run Twins uprising. Sale was impressive—going seven innings and giving up just three hits, while striking out eleven. The Evil Ones won, of course, so the Red Sox are a full game out of first place in the American League East.

Three Red Sox Make ESPN's All-College World Series Team Of MLB Players

Three current members of the Boston Red Sox have been named to ESPN's All-College World Series Team of current active major leaguers. Andrew Benintendi (Arkansas—2015), Jackie Bradley, Jr. (South Carolina—2010, 2011) and Brian Johnson (Florida—2010, 2011, 2012) made the 25-man roster. Also making the squad was former Carmine Hoser Andrew Miller (North Carolina—2006). Benintendi was initially drafted by his hometown Reds, but chose to be a Razorback—after which he was drafted by Boston with the 7th overall pick in 2015. JBJ led South Carolina to back-to-back College World Series Championships. After his time with the Florida Gators, Johnson was snagged by the Red Sox with the 31st overall pick of the draft. The 2018 College World Series is taking place this week in Omaha, Nebraska.

DJ LeMahieu Another Red Sox Option At 2B If Muddy Chicken's Injury Persists

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Aside from former Red Sox infielder Jed Lowrie, there is another option surfacing for the Red Sox if Dustin Pedroia continues to battle knee issues. Colorado second-baseman DJ LeMahieu—like Lowrie—hits left-handed pitching very well (.351), which, as a team, the Red Sox do not. While LeMahieu led the National League in hitting as recently as 2016, he's having (for him) a mediocre 2018. Through 48 games, he's hitting .280, with seven HRs and 23 RBIs. The two-time All-Star also won the Gold Glove in 2014—and will become a free-agent after this season. LeMahieu has enough infield versatility to credibly play third base—which could also come in handy. None of the media speculation pinpoints any specific Boston players or prospects that would head back to Denver in any deal. Stay tuned.

Mientkiewicz Stole The Ball! (Or Did He?): The Odd 2004 World Series Mystery

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Doug Mientkiewicz played just a half-season for the Boston Red Sox. But his name lives in a strange kind of limbo—halfway between hero and villain. The first-baseman—who turns 44-years-old today—famously caught the final out of the epic 2004 World Series. When the ball nestled into his mitt, millions of Red Sox fans around the world immediately shed 86 years of angst. But then, he stirred controversy when he refused to give the prized ball up. It was going to be his "retirement fund", he indelicately stated. Death threats and lawsuits followed. Many fans thought, 'Who is this interloper presuming to steal our championship valor?'. Interestingly, in a 2011 interview, Mientkiewicz recounted this encounter with Larry Lucchino the day after the series ended, "He [Lucchino] said, 'Is that the ball? Pretty cool,' And I swear on my son's life—if he would have asked for it, I would have handed it to him right there and none of this ever would have happened." So, maybe we should cut him some slack—after all, Mientkiewicz eventually donated the ball to the Hall Of Fame, "I remember the day they came to take the ball, and I kept thinking to myself, 'Thank God this is over.'" Happy birthday, Doug!