Bob Lobel: Brady Talk Dominating Red Sox Season in Boston

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

So it's true, Chris Sale does have a great “cutter." Now proven beyond any doubt.  

He may be an immature twit, but he can pitch, so bring him here. We will make him a man. It's one of the things we do best.

Grow up or get out. 

Weekly Red Sox Report: July 24

By Adam Lowenstein (@StatsAdam)

Kyle Gibson stalled the otherwise-hot Red Sox offense on Friday, and Boston's injured bullpen hurt them on Saturday. John Farrell gave Clay Buchholz possibly one of his last shots for a while in Saturday’s loss, and he allowed three runs in just an inning.

Newly-acquired Brad Ziegler, now the team’s closer due to all the injuries, has yet to record a save with the team, but has thrown 4.2 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit.

Also, we will have a bit of a different look from my Red Sox articles moving forward. I hope you enjoy our three up and three down.

THREE UP

SP Eduardo Rodriguez was called up a week ago, and his stock is definitely rising. On Friday, he matched his second-most strikeouts in a MLB game, as he was a hard-luck loser with eight K’s in 5.1 innings of two-run ball against the visiting Minnesota Twins. Although the Twins strike out among the most in the league, the eight strikeouts are five more than Rodriguez had combined in his previous two starts.

Rodriguez is still searching for his first home win in 2016 after having six decisions go in his favor at Fenway Park last season. The 23-year-old did win his second game of the season on July 16, as he threw seven innings of one run-ball at Yankee Stadium in a 5-2 Red Sox win.

Rodriguez will take on the Detroit Tigers next Wednesday when Boston’s nine-game homestand ends.

Weekly Red Sox Report: July 9th

Outfielder Mookie Betts will make his first All-Star appearance next Tuesday.

By Adam Lowenstein (@StatsAdam)

The Red Sox’s offense, which has added two-time Silver Slugger Aaron Hill, was very good over the last week, as quite a few players put up OPS’s above 1.000. They scored double digit runs in three of their last four games, and moved to 11-0 when scoring at least 10 runs this season.

Although the pitching has not been very consistent, eight Red Sox had hits and runs in Wednesday’s rubber match victory against Texas.

Weekly Red Sox Hitter Notes: June 28

It may be a small sample size, but catcher Sandy Leon  has been mashing for the Red Sox at the plate.

By Adam Lowenstein (@StatsAdam)

Ed. Note- Now that summer is here, we're brining back our weekly look at how each of Boston's position players are contributing offensively. Each week, our resident stat guru Adam Lowenstein will break down who's trending up, who's spiraling down, and how it will affect the Red Sox.

Losers of their previous two series, the Red Sox close out June with a three-game series against the struggling Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. However, just like Clay Buchholz, Eduardo Rodriguez continued to struggle in the first inning on Monday. John Farrell tried to keep the newest Pawtucket Red Sox player in the game as long as possible, but E-Rod became the main reason for the Rays setting a new season high in hits.

RF Mookie Betts continues to lead off games well, but his on-base percentage took a dip in Monday’s blowout at the hands of the Rays. His five-game hitting streak ended in the 13-6 loss, as he went 0-for-5, including two unsuccessful at-bats with runners in scoring position. However, he is not a person to worry about, as he readies to start his first All-Star Game.

Bob Lobel: The Red Sox and Republicans are Giving us Plenty to Talk About

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

In a lifetime of hanging around sports venues and being fortunate enough to be there for some of the most exciting moments, it all pales by comparison to the debates on TV staged by the Republicans. 

Send the kids to bed for the 9 pm start. 

They rate it R, and it doesn’t stand for Republican. 

For people to get in and watch in person, be prepared to be carded. The most frequently asked question has been, “have you ever seen anything like this?” The answer, from just about everybody in the know, is a resounding "no!" 

Of course not, you couldn’t make this stuff up! It is a little difficult to see how America will be great again after watching the arguing of these three children and their adult chaperone from Ohio. 

The only bad thing is, we are running out of debates!

Weekly Red Sox Hitter Notes: July 28th

Pablo Sandoval broke out of a slump over the weekend to record back-to-back multi-hit games.

By Adam Lowenstein (@StatsAdam)

After seeing how Joe Kelly pitched on Monday, this looks to be a very up-hill climb for the Red Sox. With the team scoring eight runs against the Chicago White Sox, just after plating 11 on Sunday in the rubber match win over the Detroit Tigers, Boston should be winning more games.

If the offense can continue to be consistent, then the pitching needs to hold up its end of the bargain.

Weekly Red Sox Hitter Notes: June 24th

Now healthy, Mookie Betts has been on a tear lately, and nearly hit for the cycle Sunday.

By Adam Lowenstein (@StatsAdam)

The Red Sox continued their success against the Kansas City Royals, taking two of three games from them in the first 2015 series between the last two American League champions. It was nice for Sox fans to see that performance, which included three Boston home runs on Sunday, after the Red Sox went 6-1 against the Royals last season.

Bob Lobel: A Weak End to the Biggest Weekend in Sports

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

The Draft, the Derby, the fight, A-Rod, Swihart, Tazawa, Mujica, Uehara, Gronk and all the rest. 

I am advocating a short, short blog, because each one of the above is worth a couple of pages. I'll rank these assuming nothing else happens between me writing this and you reading it.  

A-Rod was the one moment that stands out as something you would see or read about and say “no way.” A moment of great disbelief. Tazawa was the one that threw the 3-0 pitch to the pinch hitter that night. Guaranteed, he can play until he is 85 and will never forget that pitch. 

Mayweather and domestic abuse.  

Bob Lobel: Pandas in Boston

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Hanley, LeGarrette, Jonas, or Kung Foo Panda?  

Which one is not like the others?

It may not be the one you think, but clearly these are four pretty unique names that lit up the telephone lines and grabbed the ink for headlines in the toy store of the sports world. 

Try this: Which one has had a bad start to his Thanksgiving week?  

Hint, go with Jonas!