By Jeff Louderback Before he started encountering elbow troubles in 2008, John Lackey was one of the most durable and effective right-handed starting pitchers in the American League, routinely eclipsing 30 starts and 200 innings. He continues to show signs that he is fully recovered from Tommy John surgery and is once again the quality [...]
By Jeff Louderback What are Boston’s plans for Jose Iglesias? How he performs in his current stint with the Major League club could determine the answer. The 23-year-old Iglesias, who was 9-for-20 to open the season as the team’s starting shortstop but was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket when Stephen Drew was activated from the disabled [...]
By Jeff Louderback His offensive numbers are not impressive – a .209 average, though he does have four home runs in 50 plate appearances – but hitting stats do not define the importance of David Ross. The 36-year-old catcher, who was activated from the 7-day concussion disabled list on Friday, is valuable because of his [...]
By Jeff Louderback First, it was billed as Terry Francona’s return to Fenway Park – his first as manager of the Cleveland Indians. Then, after the Tribe pounded the Red Sox on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series, it was termed “Francona’s triumphant return” to Fenway Park. Leave it to the Boston [...]
By Jeff Louderback Though I am fully immersed in the sports that I follow – namely baseball, basketball and football – like everyone else, sometimes my predictions are accurate, and other times they are sorely wrong. I firmly believe in the forecast that Ryan Dempster will soon land on the disabled list. On Thursday night, [...]
By Jeff Louderback Clay Buchholz allowed the leadoff hitter to reach in five of the seven innings he tossed on Wednesday, but the 28-year-old right-hander minimized the damage to an RBI ground out from Alex Rios in the third inning as the Red Sox salvaged the finale of a three-game series in Chicago with a [...]
By Jeff Louderback The pitcher-catcher tandem at Double-A Portland on Thursday will soon be featured at Fenway Park as well, health permitting. Catcher David Ross, who is recovering from concussion symptoms, will serve as the backstop for the Sea Dogs on Thursday while 27-year-old left-hander Franklin Morales will make another rehab start. According to media [...]
By Jeff Louderback You gotta love Koji Uehara. The 38-year-old right-hander from Japan has provided a steady presence in the Red Sox bullpen this season, posting a 1.93 ERA in 20 games and logging a save while closer Andrew Bailey was on the disabled list. Yet what differentiates Uehara from about every pitcher in Major [...]
By Jeff Louderback Another nagging injury to Shane Victorino has outfielders at Triple-A Pawtucket on notice. Victorino, who has dealt with back soreness this season, reportedly mildly tweaked his hamstring on Monday against the White Sox. He was sidelined on Tuesday and Wednesday, but the Red Sox are hopeful that the 32-year-old switch-hitter will avoid [...]
By Jeff Louderback Is Ryan Dempster injured? That is a legitimate question after his last outing, a forgettable evening against Minnesota when he needed 127 pitches to log 4.2 innings in a no-decision. The 36-year-old right-hander was erratic all night, facing numerous deep counts while walking six and allowing five earned runs and eight hits [...]
