Sure every time the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees get together, it’s usually a big series for the two teams. Lately though it’s seemed like it was more so for the fans than the teams.
But with the Red Sox trailing the Yankees by 7.5 games, this weekend could define whether or not the local nine has a chance to win the AL East. You can’t rule out the playoffs as they trail the Baltimore Orioles by two games for the final wild card spot.
Yes I know we are only halfway through the season and you’re wondering how I can say this is a big weekend.
With these four games being the last before the All-Star break, they are huge. We’d all love to the see Red Sox win all four games and take that into the break. But lose all four and it’s the opposite.
And if that were to happen, you know the media would have a field day with it. That’s not what the Red Sox need right now. The local media has already stirred up enough trouble this season.
It appears the Red Sox are going to have to get through this weekend and the next 15 days without their fearless leader at second base, Dustin Pedroia.
Pedroia had reinjured his thumb in Tuesday night’s game and missed the last game in Oakland. While the injury is a different one to the same thumb, it appears to be enough to keep him out of the lineup. According to multiple reports, Pedro Ciriaco will get the call to replace Pedroia in the lineup.
The injury bug has really snakebitten the Red Sox more than any other team it seems. Just when it looks like the Red Sox are going to be healthy, another injury crops up. It makes you really wonder if the Red Sox will ever field the team they thought they were going to this season.
We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. So for now, let’s take at look at the overnight links from the media by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
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Full speed ahead for rehabbing Sox [boston globe]
Catching up [boston globe]
Pedroia is headed to the DL [boston globe]
He’s working for tips [boston globe]
Dustin Pedroia down, out [boston herald]
David Ortiz’s power trip still going strong [boston herald]
Big chance for Red Sox [boston herald]
Aging gracefully [boston herald]
A scout’s take: Which American League East teams are ready to separate themselves [rob bradford – weei.com]
David Ortiz, Scott Atchison Have Helped Red Sox Weather Injury Storm During Season’s First Half [tom caron – nesn.com]
Unhappy Papi – Relive all of David Ortiz’s 2012 blowups [csn new england]
Might not have heard end of Ortiz’s gripe [csn new england]
Down on the Farm: Jackie Bradley, Jr. [csn new england]
Ellsbury takes day off, as scheduled [espn boston]
Sweeney feels good after Portland debut [espn boston]
Crawford’s game marred by racial slur [espn boston]
Bard’s struggles return in disastrous outing [espn boston]
Boston Red Sox need to snap out of it against New York Yankees [espn boston]
Pedro Ciriaco will get the call [extra bases]
Buster Olney on M&M: Weekend could be ‘crossroads’ for Red Sox in AL East race [full count]
Carl Crawford, Ryan Sweeney move closer to the majors in Manchester [full count]
Red Sox Outfield Poised for Shakeup with Looming Returns of Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury [nesn.com]
Buchholz’s esophagitis a common problem [redsox.com]
Thumb will likely land Pedroia on disabled list [redsox.com]
Upcoming Yanks series could turn tide in Sox’s season [redsox.com]
MLB Notebook: Ortiz poised for run at Sox record [redsox.com]
Forget a raise, what about a pay cut? Why David Ortiz and the Red Sox could confront a challenging negotiation [alex speier – weei.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, be sure to head over to the Oakland Tribune and San Francisco Chronicle websites.
Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.
photo credit: Getty Images
