The time is now Boston Red Sox fans. It’s time to find for us to find out if the 2010 version of the Red Sox are contenders or pretenders.
You’re probably saying to yourself, Ian, they’re contenders every year. My answer to that is yes, they usually are but this season hasn’t gone exactly as planned. Then I’ll tell you to take a look at the schedule over the next thirteen days.
The Red Sox will play 11 of their next 13 games on the road and all against quality opponents. They’ll kick off this tough stretch with three games against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, then head to New York for two games against the Yankees. From there they’ll return to Boston for a brief two game homestand with the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins. After the two-game set with the Twins, they’ll start interleague play with three games against the Philadelphia Phillies before heading to Florida for a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Currently, the Red Sox sit in fourth place in the AL East at 18-17, trailing the first place Rays and Yankees by 6½ games. They’re just 1½ games behind the Blue Jays for third place in the East.
And while the Red Sox will miss Tigers ace Justin Verlander while in Detroit, it won’t be no easy picnic there as the Tigers are 12-4 at Comerica Park while the Red Sox are 6-6 on the road.
The Red Sox got some good news yesterday when injured center fielder Mike Cameron said that he would likely join the team in New York on Monday after his rehab assignment in Pawtucket. He’s been out after suffering a sports hernia. The likely candidate to go when he comes back is Jonathan Van Every who still has an option remaining.
Don’t forget tonight’s game will be shown on NESN Plus in the Red Sox television market.
We’ll be back later with the lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and the news and links from the day but for now enjoy the overnight links.
To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click
Papelbon can now be choosy with pitches [Boston Globe]
They’ll have to tough it out [Boston Globe]
Kevin Youkilis: Results trump clubhouse dynamic [Boston Herald]
Jonathan Papelbon delivers a full arsenal [Boston Herald]
Power shortage may prove costly [Boston Herald]
Dustin Pedroia Showing MVP Qualities Thus Far for Red Sox [Don Orsillo – NESN.com]
Notes, trends from the Red Sox homestand [ESPN Boston]
Remy on D&C: Ortiz strike call ‘ridiculous’ [Full Count]
It’s now or never for these Red Sox [Full Count]
Red Sox Will Truly Be Put to Test With Grueling Late-May Schedule [NESN.com]
Is it Time for Red Sox Nation to Forgive Johnny Damon? [NESN.com]
Cameron eyes Bronx return to lineup [RedSox.com]
Red Sox look to carry momentum on trip [RedSox.com]
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal and WEEI websites.
