Like the Boston Red Sox over the past few days, we enjoyed some rest and relaxation as we gear up for what should turn out to be an interesting second half to the season.
The Red Sox will enter tonight’s three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays trailing them by two games in the standings for third place. They trail the second place Baltimore Orioles by 2.5 games and the first place Yankees by 9.5 games. The deficit for the second wild card spot is 2.5 games behind the Orioles and are five games behind the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the first wild card spot.
The big question we all have as fans is whether or not the Red Sox will be contenders or pretenders. Another question is buyers or sellers?
The schedule before the July 31st trade deadline will probably determine the answer to both of those questions.
Besides the three games with the Rays, they’ll take on the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox for four games, the Toronto Blue Jays for three games, the AL West-leading Texas Rangers for three games, the AL East-leading Yankees and finish out the month with a three-game set with the Detroit Tigers that spills into August.
Not exactly the easiest of schedules.
Obviously if the Red Sox come through the stretch of 18 games at 9-9, they are at the same place they’ll start today. And that’s .500. Anything above 12-6 is not out of the question but for that to happen, the starting pitching needs to come to together.
They’ll need Josh Beckett to be, well Josh Beckett. They’ll need Jon Lester to be, well Jon Lester. They’ll need Clay Buchholz to show the turnaround from before he went on the DL. They’ll need Franklin Morales to be able to be elite teams as a starter and they’ll also need Felix Doubront to go places he’s never gone before.
The Red Sox will should get Jacoby Ellsbury back tonight and Carl Crawford in the next couple of days. Dustin Pedroia is still a few weeks away but when you look at the grand scheme of things, getting those players back is like making a trade. The first two haven’t really played this season.
Ellsbury has played just seven games while Crawford has only seen time on the field in the minors rehabbing the variety of injuries which have kept him sideline this season. And we all know what Pedroia brings to the table.
It’s up to the players whether they want to be contenders or pretenders. As fans, we want them to be contenders.
But all we can do is sit back and watch to see what unfolds over the final 76 games of the season.
We’ll be back later today with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. But for now, enjoy the overnight links from the media by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click
NESN’s ratings solid [boston globe]
Reinforcements on the way [boston globe]
Ciriaco takes chance and runs with it [boston globe]
It seems routine for Owens [boston globe]
It’s all up to them [boston globe]
Ben Cherington waits with match [boston herald]
Carl Crawford unlikely for Tommy John [boston herald]
Red Sox at their best and worst in first half [boston herald]
Jacoby Ellsbury’s return gives stumbling Sox hope [boston herald]
Alleged slur at Carl Crawford under investigation [boston herald]
Red Sox Midseason Report Card [boston herald]
Behind schedule, Red Sox in hurry to improve [boston herald]
Red Sox have lots OF spares to offer [boston herald]
Red Sox sign draftee Brandon Magee, who will play at ASU in ’12 [boston herald]
No breaks in schedule [boston herald]
Adrian Gonzalez continues his quest to find the old Adrian Gonzalez [rob bradford -weei.com]
Don’t expect to see a different Dustin Pedroia [rob bradford -weei.com]
Where Red Sox need to improve in second half [csn new england]
Crawford feels pressure as return nears [csn new england]
Lester ‘very happy’ in Boston [csn new england]
Sox may make moves sooner rather than later [csn new england]
Lester: ‘I love Boston, very happy here’ [espn boston]
Ellsbury set to return; Pedroia works out [espn boston]
Sox GM: ‘We’re not blowing it up’ [espn boston]
Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine seems to be encountering problems from all directions [espn boston]
Buster Olney on M&M: Red Sox lack ‘defined chain of command’ [full count]
Why David Price is hoping Matt Garza gets traded back to the AL East [full count]
With trade deadline looming, David Ortiz talks 10-5 rights [full count]
Tim Kurkjian on D&C: ‘I don’t think it’s a very harmonious situation’ in Red Sox clubhouse [full count]
Terry Francona on The Big Show: ‘I probably would have argued’ for leaving Daniel Bard in bullpen [full count]
Terry Francona on The Big Show: Kevin Youkilis getting traded ‘was the best thing for both situations’ [full count]
Carl Crawford: Monday ‘was the fastest time we could think of’ for my return [full count]
Carl Crawford on the boos: ‘That’s my little theme now wherever I go’ [full count]
Jon Lester, Will Middlebrooks Address Negativity Surrounding Red Sox on Twitter, Vow to Keep Playing Hard [nesn.com]
Carl Crawford Accelerates Rehab Because Of Pressure, Will Rejoin Red Sox On Monday [nesn.com]
Carl Crawford Risks Giving Naysayers Further Ammunition By Forcing Return From Elbow Injury [nesn.com]
Jarrod Saltalamacchia a Nice Surprise in First Half, But Red Sox Need More From Josh Beckett, Jon Lester [nesn.com]
How the Red Sox were able to option Scott Podsednik [projo sox blog]
Beyeler on Bogaerts: “He reminds me a lot of Hanley” [projo sox blog]
Crawford expects to return Monday: “Whether I’m ready or not, I’ll be out there” [projo sox blog]
Crawford eyes Monday return after rehab game [redsox.com]
Boston likely to remain quiet at Trade Deadline [redsox.com]
Valentine believes Ellsbury will return Friday [redsox.com]
Sox begin crucial stretch before Trade Deadline [redsox.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.
Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.
photo credit: reuters pictures
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Fans will be encouraged to share their favorite Youk memories and write special messages to the former Boston third baseman on posters that will be delivered to Youkilis himself. In addition, fans can enter to win a drawing for a pair of Red Sox tickets to the winner’s game of choice.