While the rest of his Boston Red Sox teammates were enjoying some R&R, David Ortiz was busy watching his American League teammates get their butts kicked by the National League 8-0 in the 2012 MLB All-Star Game last night.
The AL All-Stars managed just six hits in the game and Big Papi was responsible for one of them as he went 1-for-2. His single came in the 5th inning off of last year’s NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw.
There’s not much I really can talk about right now as regards to the first half of the season. Steve did a pretty good job of that in a post yesterday.
As far as the second half of the season, the Red Sox really need to put things together. It’s not that they didn’t in the first half, they just weren’t consistent.
They really need to put together a good run where they win at least seven games in a row and then not lose a bunch of games in a row to lose that momentum. If that can happen, good things can happen to the Red Sox.
It appears that they’ll get Jacoby Ellsbury back in the lineup and that will help matters some. Clay Buchholz is slated to come back and if he pitches like he did before getting sick and going on the DL, that’s one part of the rotation that can be counted on. If Josh Beckett and Jon Lester can find their ways on the mound, the Red Sox will be in good shape.
But that’s all speculation. They are the ones who need to make it happen.
To see the links from the overnight, please click on the read more button below.
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Harper and Trout are fans of Middlebrooks [boston globe]
Negative Sox train of thought [boston globe]
Fellow pitchers pulling for Sox’ Daniel Bard [boston herald]
Red Sox looking up at Rangers and Yankees [boston herald]
Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey floats Tim Wakefield’s name [boston herald]
Robinson Cano boos echo loudly [boston herald]
Why the All-Star Game still hasn’t found it’s way [rob bradford – weei.com]
Bradford: Valentine not at fault for documentary [csn new england]
Red Sox 2012 first-half review [csn new england]
Ortiz continues to cherish All-Star Game appearances [csn new england]
All-Star pitchers taking note of Bard’s control problems [csn new england]
Bradley making strides [espn boston]
Papelbon: Tito’s exit sealed Phils’ signing [espn boston]
Ortiz 1-for-2 in AL’s All-Star Game loss [espn boston]
Boston Red Sox’s Andrew Miller can commiserate with Daniel Bard, who’s still struggling in Triple-A Pawtucket [espn boston]
No surprise: Astros All-Star Jose Altuve looks up to Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia [full count]
Video: Viewing the Home Run Derby through the eyes of David Ortiz [full count]
Frank Thomas on David Ortiz and the DH market: ‘That’s just the way they treat DHs’ [full count]
C.J. Wilson offers Daniel Bard an offseason invitation [full count]
Jerry Remy on D&C: Don’t sleep on Jon Lester [full count]
Touching ’em all … [tony massarotti – boston globe]
Carl Crawford Has Tough Decision to Make With Injuries But Shouldn’t Be Shy About Playing for Future [nesn.com]
Ben Cherington, Red Sox Nearing Decision Time As Club Should Know Where It Stands Very Soon [nesn.com]
Reports: Jacoby Ellsbury Expected to Return to Red Sox Lineup on Friday [nesn.com]
How the construction of the 40-man roster will influence Cherington at the trade deadline [projo sox blog]
To gregarious Papi, All-Star Game never gets old [redsox.com]
After .500 first half, return to health could buoy Sox [redsox.com]
Lack of star power keeping 2012 Red Sox mired in mediocrity [alex speier – weei.com]
Podcast: Conversation with the Eck [touching all the bases]
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.
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photo credit: ap photo
