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.

Bob Lobel to Serve as Play-by-Play Announcer for the Worcester Bravehearts

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Bob Lobel has done just about everything there is to do in sports broadcasting.

The longtime WBZ sports editor has covered Super Bowls, World Series, Stanley Cup and NBA Finals, along with the Boston Marathon and countless other memorable events.

Yes, Lobie has done it all, except the one thing that got him interested in the business to begin with: Play-by-play announcing.

But that will all change soon, when Lobel begins his new job as the play-by-play announcer for the Worcester Bravehearts during the team's home opener June 3rd.

"To be perfectly honest, play-by-play is the reason I got into the business," Lobel said. "But once I got behind the desk at Channel 4 (WBZ), I never got the chance. I had a job, and it was a great job, but now 30-some years later, I finally have the chance to do this."

Weekly Red Sox Hitter Notes: July 8th

Utility man Brock Holt is Boston's only All-Star (so far), and Boston's chances of winning jump dramatically from to 36% with him on the bench, to 51% when he's in the lineup.

 By Adam Lowenstein (@StatsAdam)

Just before Red Sox fans witnessed the lackluster fireworks display at Fenway Park on Friday night, the Houston Astros moved to 48-34, tying their season-best number of games above .500 on the year.

Friday’s 12-8 extra-inning loss was only the 12th time this season that Boston was defeated when scoring first. However, the Red Sox bounced back to score first in their wins on Saturday and Sunday.

Entering Tuesday’s series against the visiting Miami Marlins, John Farrell’s squad was 29-12 in games it scored the first run in.

Lobel's Question of the Week: Are the Red Sox Investing Enough in Starting Pitching?

Every week, legendary sportscaster Bob Lobel wants to hear your opinion on a sports question he's been thinking about.

The Red Sox front office seems to have totally changed its philosophy with regards to starting pitchers and finding an "ace."

As Boston prepares to go younger and cheaper with its starting rotation, why do you think the powers on Yawkey Way have changed their minds, and is it a good idea?

Many have pointed to the inflated prices of these top pitchers not matching their in-game value, while others will say they don't pitch enough innings to deserve top dollar. Is it worth sacrificing a highly-touted pitching staff to improve Boston's defense, hitting and overall speed?

I Tried Baseball, I Really Did

Apparently, these guys won the World Series last night.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

So, apparently an epic Game 7 of the World Series took place last night. I was, embarrassingly and honestly, completely unaware of that until I saw somebody post about it on Twitter as I was getting off work around 6 pm yesterday.

After work I had a flag football game that my team, also embarrassingly and honestly, lost by 35 points, but when I got home I decided I was going to give this supposedly awesome game a chance.

A little background on my relationship with baseball: I never liked baseball, despite it being one of my better sports. I would always bat third or fourth on my Little League teams (I was the fat kid with enough weight to hit for power) and I did enjoy trips to the batting cages. But playing the actual game? Ugh.

I remember one time the kids on my team got mad at me because I snuck a Gameboy into the dugout and played Pokemon while waiting for my turn to bat. I don't know what they were so mad about, it's not like we had any strategy to discuss (Don't worry guys, I will try to hit the ball, not let the ball go through my legs on defense and throw to first), and I found the concept of supporting my teammates in this largely individual sport to be pretty pointless.

The Five Most Overvalued Players in Major League Baseball

By Adam Lowenstein (@StatsAdam)

After discussing Major League Baseball’s most undervalued players based on salary, I now turn my attention to those who are overvalued. Alex Rodriguez is not active, but if he were, my guess is that he would have taken the top spot with his horrendous contract. Let's get right to it.

The Top-5 Hitters in the National League

Andrew McCutchen ended Pittsburgh's 21-year playoff drought and earned the NL MVP in 2013.

By Adam Lowenstein (@StatsAdam)

I talked a lot about power when ranking the best hitters in the American League, but the National League is more about all-around players. Most of the best power-speed combination players come from the senior circuit this season. You can find many of those players in the following rankings of the best NL hitters:

Just What Happened to the Red Sox? From Worst to First and Back Again

Manager John Farrell transformed the Red Sox from a last place team to a World Series champion in his first season at the helm, but year two hasn't been nearly as magical.

By Adam Lowenstein (@StatsAdam)

Heading into Wednesday night, the Red Sox had lost four games in a row, and seven of their last eight, to drop to a season-worst 12-games below .500. The last-place team in the American League East avoided their 52nd loss of the season in yet another one-run game Wednesday when Brock Holt delivered his first walk-off hit of his young career.

Mike Carp would follow those heroics with a 10th-inning walk off Thursday night against Chicago, but the Red Sox are still sitting in last place, 9.5 games out in the American League East, and eight games out of the Wild Card, heading into this weekend's All Star break.

Bob Lobel: Fenway's Obession With the Wave and Other Sports "Stuff"

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Just stuff sometimes says it all.

By this weekend the World Cup comes to an end. Soccer goes away and hides for another four years. There could be an attempt by the USA to hold a tournament to rival the World Cup, it's what we do.

If we can't win it, then let's at least try to own it.  

Bob Lobel: Baseball Hoping David Ortiz is Clean This Time Around

By Bob Lobel  @boblobel

Editor's Note: Bob wanted it to be known that the point of his blog this week was not to assert that David Ortiz is using any type of performance enhancing drug, but rather to explain that Major League Baseball is hoping Ortiz is clean, given the backlash from the steroid era. The original blog title has been changed.

Remember when a Red Sox player interrupted manager Tito Francona’s press conference to complain about an official scorer’s ruling that took an RBI away from him, by calling a hit an error? 

It was rude, childish and selfish behavior, all done with no regard for public opinion.

David Ortiz wanted that RBI.  

Everything You Need to Know About the Red Sox-Rays ALDS

Will David Ortiz and the potent Red Sox offense be able to overcome Tampa's deep pitching staff?

 By Bennett Corcoran

Tomorrow night, the scorching Tampa Bay Rays will encounter yet another playoff game on the road, taking on the division rival Boston Red Sox.

This series will mostly be a battle of pitching versus hitting, as the deep Rays pitching staff will face one of the most potent offenses in the league in Boston. Will the Red Sox and their big bats prevail, or will Tampa Bay’s pitching staff limit their opportunities, squeak together some runs and grind out the series win?

Bob Lobel: The Two Moments that Built These Sox

By Bob Lobel  @boblobel

Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe better…

I don’t have a clue how this is all going to play out for the Red Sox. Why should I sit down at the computer and pound out a column of guess work? When you live in a sports universe occupied by the Boston Red Sox, you have to be prepared for anything and everything. 

The Appeal of Alex Rodriguez

 By Bob Lobel  @boblobel

A-Rod is appealing. 

He was appealing to the Seattle Mariners. He was appealing to the Texas Rangers. He was very appealing to the Boston Red Sox and, of course, was ultimately appealing to the New York Yankees. 

Now he is appealing to an arbitrator to cut down or eliminate his suspension handed down by the commissioner of baseball for 211 games. That suspension is for the rest of this season and all of next, but with an appeal comes a hold on suspensions. 

Catching Up With Bob Lobel: Questions for the Sox Down the Stretch

Join legendary sportscaster Bob Lobel and host Joe Parello as they discuss the biggest sports stories of the day and some of the most memorable moments in New England sports history.

This week Bob and Joe discuss the legacy of Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, the biggest questions for the Red Sox the rest of the way, and which Boston sports teams are likely to reach the postseason. That, and more, on this week's edition of "Catching Up With Bob Lobel."

Listen to internet radio with RF Sports Radio on BlogTalkRadio

Bob Lobel: It's Winning Time for the Sox

By Bob Lobel

Everyone is so used to saying the All Star game is half way through the season, and everyone is wrong. We are so far beyond the half way point that it's all serious now.  

Red Sox GM Ben Cherington told us before the season that the first two months you find out what you have, the next two months you try to fix what needs to be fixed, and the last two months you do the best you can to win what you prepared for. 

Well, welcome to the winning (or losing) part of the season. 

On This Date in MLB History: No-Hitter Hysteria

Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan registered his sixth no-hitter on this day 23 years ago.

By Adam Lowenstein

Some of the more notable no-hitters in MLB history happened on June 11. The most recent was the Houston Astros’ combined no-no in 2003. This set the record for the most pitchers in a no-hitter as Roy Oswalt, Peter Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner led the Astros to an 8-0 victory.

On This Date in MLB History: The Day of the Home Run

By Adam Lowenstein

Many important home runs were hit on June 10, including a special day in 1962. It is one of the only dates in Major League Baseball history when at least 50 home runs were hit. MLB players hit an impressive 54 home runs in 20 games on June 10, 1962. That remained the MLB record for several decades, but has been since broken.

The Suddenly "Normal" Yankees Lead the AL East

By Adam Lowenstein 

Although the Yankees lost to the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, they are still nine games above .500 and own the second-best record in the American League. They may finish as bottom feeders in 2013, as the experts predicted, but the first month and a half has been a success for the Bronx Bombers.

On This Date in MLB History: There's a First Time for Everything

Shribe Park hosted the first night game in American League history.

By Adam Lowenstein


On May 16, 1939, the Indians scored two in the eighth inning to tie the game and then put five on the board in the 10th as they defeated the Athletics, 8-3.

The Cincinnati Red Stockings were the original baseball team that can be traced to the modern-day Cincinnati Reds. It is reported that those Red Stockings became the first fully professional team after playing the first professional baseball game. On May 16, 1869, Cincinnati won, 41-7, as a part of the National Association of Base Ball Players.

Then in 1939 at Shibe Park, the Philadelphia Athletics hosted the Cleveland Indians in the first night game in American League history. The Athletics became just the third team in MLB history to play home games at night after the Reds did so in 1935 and the Brooklyn Dodgers came around in 1938.

On May 16, 1939, the Indians scored two in the eighth inning to tie the game and then put five on the board in the 10th as they defeated the Athletics, 8-3.

For more MLB coverage, follow Adam Lowenstein on Twitter at @StatsAdam.

Baseball's Rising Stars: The American League

The Red Sox are expecting big things from Felix Doubront

By Bennett Corcoran

New SuiteSports contributor Bennett Corcoran continues his look at baseball's rising stars with the American League's best up-and-coming players. You can check out his look at the National League here.

Baltimore Orioles
Manny Machado, 3B, Age 20
Although he has struggled somewhat at the plate to start off the season, there is no doubt that Machado is a star in the making. A natural shortstop, Machado proved to be a vital piece of one of the most surprising teams in baseball last season. Now, he will look to continue providing solid defense at the corner and a reliable option at the plate, despite a lack of patience at times. If the Orioles have any magic left this year, Machado will certainly be in the mix.

Boston Red Sox
Felix Doubront, SP, Age 25
As Will Middlebrooks endures a difficult start to the season after returning from injury, I felt Doubront deserved the nod here. With so many injuries and inconsistencies in Boston’s rotation last year, Doubront may have been the most stable option on the mound for the Red Sox. The lefty doesn’t have numbers that blow you away, but he has done a solid job for Boston so far. If he can start pitching deeper into games to take some pressure off of the bullpen, the effective Red Sox rotation might be back for good.