Artist: Baseball

The Triumphant Return of Tito. After a great video montage thanking him for his years in Boston, Cleveland thanked the Red Sox for helping him return to the club he grew up with. That is the only way that I can explain this 12-to-3 loss. Here are the four bases: First Base: When is it time to start worrying about Ryan Dempster ? I'd say...about now. Forget the fact that he's given up six, five, and four earned runs in his last three starts. Forget the fact that he has [...]

This weekend is not just any other Indians-Red Sox matchup. It may be the most significant matchup between these two clubs since the 2007 American League Championship Series. Why? After a firing, a TV Job, an invitation rejection to the 100th game, and a Dan Shaughnessy book, Terry Francona is coming back to Fenway Park. By the way, I have high odds for a standing ovation of the former Sox manager the minute he steps onto the warning track on the third base side. What is really worth an ovation is where he has the Cleveland Indians [...]

This may have been a game that the Red Sox needed to salvage, but salvage did they ever. What started as a slow offensive output turned into a convincing win, their sixth win in their last eight. They are now an even .500 in the month of May, holding a striking position in the American League East. Here are the four bases: First Base: The Red Sox media were tweeting and tweeting and tweeting about Jacoby Ellsbury like they are teenage girls. Ellsbury is 3-for-6 [...]

What a hard game to watch, on so many levels. Jose Quintana was-unhittable through six, and then the Red Sox could not cash in on chances in the seventh and eighth innings. Here are the four bases: First Base: Surprisingly, the most efficient start for Félix Doubront this year. It was interesting that John Farrell pulled the lefty out after 84 pitches, which could mean that the Sox manager could be changing his role or saving him for something. Regardless, two walks over six innings was a good bounce [...]

Well, after a five game winning streak that included two one run games and a comeback, the Red Sox seemed to have this one coming. They already fell behind in the first, and could not muster enough of a comeback to make the game any closer. Here are the four bases: First Base: The truth is, these kinds of starts almost have to happen to every pitcher, not just Jon Lester . Think about it; if he had not given up a three-run home run on a four-seem fastball to [...]

Believe it or not, but this was the first time this season that an opposing pitcher had a blown save in the ninth inning, and it could not come at a better time. The Red Sox won only their second series in May, and now go to Minnesota to avenge their home stand where the Twins took three out of four games. Here are the four bases: First Base: Another reliever first: it was the first time this season that a pitcher has gone more than two innings in a save [...]

Oh, so that's what the Red Sox offense looks like. It's been such a long time that they've blown out an opponent that it is almost surprising when they put up a nine spot on a team they could not figure out the night before. Here are the four bases: First Base: Once again, when the Red Sox needed a good start from their ace, Jon Lester answers the call. Lester has only given up more than three runs once in his nine starts, and has pitched into the sixth inning [...]

A rough patch like this was inevitable. The Red Sox were not going to win two out of their three games like they did in April the entire season. that would result in a 108-64 record, which is unrealistic, especially in the American League East. That being said, this team has allowed their AL East opponents to already gain the ground in just the first two weeks of May. What was once looking down and trying to pick apart the opponents below them, the are now trying to figure out opponents above them. The good news [...]

For the second time this week, the Red Sox worked diligently to get back into the afternoon showcase, only for the bullpen to throw it all away. The Red Sox now face another rubber match tomorrow, as they try to get their may back on track. Here are the four bases: First Base: Is Junichi Tazawa the guy? Really? He's been pretty good and all, but check this out. Every run except for one that he has given up has come on the long ball. He now has given [...]

Desperate for a win, desperate for a glimmer of hope, desperate for some sort of light, the Red Sox took a familiar foe to school. The Red Sox are now own a 5-2 record over the heads of the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Canadian club is once again behind and now on away turf. With a little more of an upbeat feel, here are some more upbeat four bases: First Base: This is a start that Jon Lester needed. After pitching a 5.60 ERA in his previous three [...]

What started as just dropping a couple of games has turned into a real concern. The Red Sox have now lost six out of seven games and no longer sit atop the American League East. They have also lost two consecutive series for the first time this season, the third series they have dropped at home. Here are the four bases: First Base: John Lackey seemed so close to putting together a good outing. The overall numbers is more of a guise than a guideline. Sure, there were a [...]

April spoils have brought May turmoil. The Red Sox have now lost four out of their last five, and their pitching looks as thin as ever. There was no consolation prize either – David Ortiz went 0-5, ending his 27 game hitting streak. Here are the Four Bases: First Base: To say the least, Allen Webster 's start was not the one that John Farrell was looking for. Despite his very acceptable major league debut, Webster looked a little out of his league. Lucky for Farrell, [...]

Allen Webster is making his second start of his major league career Wednesday night against the Minnesota Twins, and this one has a little more spice to it than his last one. Why? Instead of filling in as a spot starter in the April 21 double header against the Kansas City Royals, he is nudging out Félix Doubront out of the starting rotation. Joel Hanrahan, of course, overshadowed this little shuffle of the deck, but John Farrell is making a pretty big statement, a statement that Doubront needed to hear. Forget for a second [...]

Extra inning games can have one of two effects: a rally cry, or a "I'm kind of tired" cry. This time the Red Sox could not bounce back, and the series is now even. Here are the Four Bases: First Base: His game today may have highlighted his fielding problems, but it was already evident that Pedro Ciriaco is no shortstop. One of my friends that is a Twins fan sent me a great text: "Pedro Ciriaco? More like Error Ciriaco." He was brought in as a utility infielder, but has [...]

John Farrell said on MLB Network Radio that Junichi Tazawa, not Koji Uehara, will be the Red Sox closer for the time being. Here is what he said: Farrell: "We'd look to close Tazawa, keep Koji in the 8th inning role he's been in. Fortunately we have some depth internally" — MLB Network Radio (@MLBNetworkRadio) May 7, 2013 Joel Hanrahan, the assumed closer with Andrew Bailey shelved with a right bicep injury, walked off the mound with an apparent right forearm injury with [...]

• SiriusXM Sports - John Farrell, Red Sox Manager, discusses Joel Hanrahan & the closer situation, on MLB Network Radio

John Farrell said on MLB Network Radio that Junichi Tazawa, not Koji Uehara, will be the Red Sox closer for the time being. Here is what he said: Farrell: "We'd look to close Tazawa, keep Koji in the 8th inning role he's been in. Fortunately we have some depth internally" — MLB Network Radio (@MLBNetworkRadio) May 7, 2013 Joel Hanrahan, the assumed closer with Andrew Bailey shelved with a right bicep injury, walked off the mound with an apparent right forearm injury with [...]

After losing three consecutive games, the Red Sox needed a team effort, and boy did they get one. There were no real individual performances, but little pieces that allowed the Sox to overcome a three-run deficit and turn it into their 21st win of the season. They scored a run in the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, lightly chipping away at the Twins lead until it finally broke. Then the bottom of the lineup rallied in the 11th inning to get the Red Sox their second extra innings win. Here are the Four [...]

After rolling along most of April, the Red Sox train has derailed so far in May. The Texas Rangers defended their territory by throwing a stick on the train tracks to halt the Red Sox locomotive. Boston now has the task of getting the season back on the rails after getting swept for the first time over the weekend. The team they are facing is not the pesky Minnesota Twins team of the past. The starting rotation has gotten a big makeover, as only one starting pitcher played with the team last year. Sluggers Joe Mauer, [...]

After dealing with bicep soreness for the past week, the Red Sox finally placed Andrew Bailey on the 15-Day Disabled List . Bailey has not pitched since April 28 against the Houston Astros. Craig Breslow has been activated from the disabled list to fill Bailey's slot on the roster. Bailey has only allowed two earned runs in 12 1/3 innings while striking out 20 strikeouts. He recorded five saves with Joel Hanrahan on the disabled list. Breslow, who was recovering from left shoulder tendonitis, will be on the active roster from the first time in [...]

After dominating the past few games, winning seven out of eight games, Friday night almost seemed inevitable. After all, Every one of the Rangers starters reached base at least once, and they took over the game when they scored five runs in the fourth inning. Here are the Four Bases: First Base: Who cares if he is young. Felix Doubront has turned into a ticking time bomb. He has still not pitched seven full innings due to his high pitch counts. His 1.41 hits and walks per inning is [...]