Fireside Chats at MVN
Did you really think the Red Sox were going to pull out that game? Bob [8:27 pm]: yeah, we’re done Tessie’s Dad [8:30 pm]: Believe While some of us had all but packed it in early last night, others were more prescient than even they would know at the time...
Fireside Chats at MVN
The last trivia question revealed that JKevin Youkilis is statistically the best hitter in ALCS history (minimum 30 at-bats). The new trivia question: David Ortiz now has 11 postseason homers for the Red Sox, most in Sox history. Who was he previously tied with? HONOR CODE: No search engines...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Down seven runs in the seventh inning the Boston Red Sox looked done. And as usual the Fenway Magic started to happen. J. D. Drew led the charge with a two-run homer and the game winning single as the Red Sox now send the series back to Tampa...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
Note:I am going to post a few rants throughout the day today. Part 1: Devastated. I think that’s the best word to describe my emotional state since the Rays starting launching bombs off Beckett, lasers off Lester, and whacked Wakefield...
Fireside Chats at MVN
From Peter Gammons’ ESPN Insider column: Walking down Brookline Avenue outside Fenway Park on Tuesday night, one Red Sox player said virtually the same thing. “If there’s anyone who can turn this series around, it’s The Magic Man [Daisuke Matsuzaka],” the player said...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fire Brand is moving to its much trumpeted layout and location sometime tomorrow. If you haven’t done so yet, please update your bookmarks to FireBrandAL.com...
Fireside Chats at MVN
IN THE FIELD Tim Wakefield last pitched in a game on September 28, meaning that while he will be extremely well-rested, the potential exists that he will be far too rusty to make a meaningful contribution. The question then becomes: how long of a leash do we offer Tim...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
Should the Red Sox make a move to insert Coco Crisp into the lineup in place of the struggling Jacoby Ellsbury? Jacoby’s line this postseason is .207/.258/.310 in 29 AB, Coco’s is .400/.455/.600 in 10 AB. I plan on writing about this very question tomorrow, so help me figure out what we should
Fireside Chats at MVN
Yesterday, I asked if Terry Francona should start Coco Crisp over Jacoby Ellsbury in Game 3, as Coco ended the season hot and Jacoby has been ice cold. Jacoby has shown that he can disrupt pitchers and when he is hot, he directly impacts the games that he plays...
Fireside Chats at MVN
The funny is not happening right now, guys. This series is just freaking me out too much: Rays! scary! unpredictable! Longorian evils! mohawks! aargh! So in lieu of the usual bad Terrible Cartoons jokes, instead you get a series of Terrible Cartoons sketch cards of the ALCS roster...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Welcome to October, Tampa Bay. The Rays and their fans, who created an atmosphere like that of a cicada-infestation with their cowbells echoing throughout Tropicana Field, learned an important lesson in their first ALCS game. Sometimes, it is better to be lucky than good...
Fireside Chats at MVN
The last trivia question revealed that Jackie Jensen used to hold the major league record of walks with the bases loaded (8) before Carlos Pena this year broke it. The new trivia question: The best ALCS hitter lifetime (min. 30 at-bats) is a Red Sox and has a career .531/.595/.969 line in the ALCS...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
As Rays and Red Sox fans alike sit with baited breath awaiting tonight’s first pitch by James Shields at the Trop, I thought it apropos to look back at the 2008 season series between the two teams and pull together the five most important moments of 2008 (in chronological order). 1...
Fireside Chats at MVN
The previous poll asked: Who was the 2008 ALDS MVP? Jon Lester 69% of all votes ...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
Tomorrow, the series to decide the 2008 A.L. Champion will commence. In one corner will be the former whipping boys of fate, now the most successful baseball franchise of the last five years...
Fireside Chats at MVN
What in the name of Mike Benjamin is AccuScore...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Once a week, you’ll hear from numerous Red Sox bloggers on the Internet on a Red Sox related issue, and we’ll aggregate the answers here. Answers are placed in the order they were received. Thanks to everyone for participating...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Take a moment to reflect on a season that never really happened. To understandwhat’s happening here, I need you to takea fewjumps toward the future and a few to the side, andremember the bizarro version of 2008. Psychedelics are optional...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Game 1: Daisuke Matsuzaka Game 2: Josh Beckett Game 3: Jon Lester Game 4: Tim Wakefield Game 5: Matsuzaka...
Fireside Chats at MVN
The last trivia question revealed that Gene Stephens was the last player before Rajai Davis this year to enter a game as a pinch-runner and then hit a grand slam later in the inning. The new trivia question: Carlos Pena set a major league record this year with nine walks with the bases loaded...
Fireside Chats at MVN
The Angels were expected to win at least one game in this series, but after falling behind 0-2 in the ALDS, the Boston Red Sox did not expect that win to come tonight. Mike Napoli homered twice and scored the game winning run as Los Angeles won 5-4 in 12 innings...
Fireside Chats at MVN
The previous poll asked: Which line is most likely for Daisuke Matsuzaka tonight...
Fireside Chats at MVN
I just wanted to throw up a quickpost and apoligize, again, for the technical difficulties I had over the weekend. My keyboard is no longer functional on my laptop, well the majority of the keys work and some do not...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
Make that 11 in a row. Tied at 5-5, J. D. Drew smacked a two-run homer off of Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez giving the Boston Red Sox the lead for good at 7-5. In his second inning of relief, Jonathan Papelbon closed the door for his first post season win...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Confession #1: When I wrote my series preview article, I wrote the entire thing believing it was going to end with something like Orange County 3, Boston 1. It wasn’t until I was writing the last sentence that a force inside me wouldn’t allow it, I took Boston against all logic...
Fireside Chats at MVN
This is not 1986. This is not 2004. This is not 2007. The 2008 Halos are 100-62 and, on paper, the most complete team in baseball...
Fireside Chats at MVN
The last trivia question revealed that Tris Speaker, Duffy Lewis, and Hal Janvrin were the last Red Sox (in 1914) to have at least three players with 20 steals or more until this year...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Join the Fireside Chat’s crew tonight live one hour before game time as we do a live pre-game call in show previewing the 2008 ALDS vs. the Angels...
Fireside Chats at MVN
When the news of Josh Beckett’s strained oblique broke, I’ll admit it, my heart dropped and my shoulders sagged. The one thing that fans and pundits alike thought that the Red Sox had going for them in the post-season was the best post-season, big game pitcher since Curt Schilling...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
The previous poll asked: Assuming Beckett, Lester & Matsuzaka have the top three spots in the post-season rotation, who should be #4...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
From Buster Olney’s blog on ESPN.com: Earlier this week, Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press speculated on a possible trade match between the Red Sox and Tigers of shortstop Julio Lugo for Dontrelle Willis...
Fireside Chats at MVN
What better on a rainy day than a little open baseball conversation. On this week’s podcast, Paul and I looked back at the regular season and answered a few questions that I would love to hear your thoughts and answers on. Did the Red Sox live up to expectations this season...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Jon Lester threw a two-hitter through 6 innings as the Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 6-1...
Fireside Chats at MVN
The previous poll asked: What’s the most important thing about the final ten games? Getting healthy (Lowell, Drew) 44% of all votes ...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Boston Red Sox podcast for MVN Radio Episode 24 where we wrap the 2008 regular season up in a nice pretty bow. Episode #24 Hosts: Paul Testa, Tim Daloisio Guests: none Did the 2008 Boston Red Sox live up to expectations? What were the signature moments of the 2008 regular season...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
The last trivia question revealed that Ken Griffey Jr. was the superstar at the 1999 Home Run Derby that had a young boy jump out of the crowd and run to home plate to shake his hand...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
In the bottom of the eighth inning Jeff Bailey pinch hit for Jon Van Every and roped a triple to deep center setting the stage for Mark Kotsay...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
Wow, can you believe it? 25 weeks ago everyone thought they were a contender, after weeks of uncertainity and drama, we finally know who won the Emmys. Thank goodness that’s over, now we can focus on baseball again...
Fireside Chats at MVN
With runners on second and third, the Boston Red Sox squandered a chance to clinch playoff spot as Jed Lowrie stuck out to end the game. David Ortiz homered in the loss - his 23rd of the season - which made it a 4-3 game...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Two years after the Japanese phenom known as Daisuke Matsuzaka became a Red Sox, he’s certainly been worth the money if all you care about are wins. Only Brandon Webb, Roy Halladay and CC Sabathia have won more games over the last two seasons...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Daisuke Matsuzaka went 7-strong on two hits to earn his 18th win of the season.  Matsuzaka struck out six in the win. David Ortiz homered in the third inning - a two run shot - to give Boston the lead for good at 3-0...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
Maybe the confines in which the Pawtucket Red Sox played this season weren’t baseball’s equivalent of a perfect world. But they were close...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
Thanks to the artistic drawings of Samara Pearlstein, the second Fire Brand t-shirt is now available, this celebrating our diminutive second baseman...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Once a week, you’ll hear from numerous Red Sox bloggers on the Internet on a Red Sox related issue, and we’ll aggregate the answers here. Answers are placed in the order they were received. Thanks to everyone for participating...
Fireside Chats at MVN
In what was an obvious move from the day the Red Sox became part owners of the Salem Avalanche, the Red Sox have inked a two-year deal with the team to have their High-A team relocate there from Lancaster...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
The Red Sox will open the 2009 season at home for the first time since 2002. Their opponent will be (surprise!) the Tampa Bay Rays. They’ll then head west for a West Coast swing. Patriots’ Day will be celebrated against the Baltimore Orioles. On April 24, the Yankees will come to town...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Theo Epstein has reportedly signed for three additional years, guaranteeing him at the helm of the Red Sox through 2011. Two interesting Yankee tidbits come today, via Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman...
Fireside Chats at MVN
As Wednesday night turned into Thursday morning, fans watched with dismay as the Red Sox left seven runners on base in extra innings. Making the matters worse, on two different occasions with two men on and two outs, the balance of the game fell twice to, of all people, Alex Cora...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
Tim Wakefield went 8 strong scoreless innings to help lead the Boston Red Sox past the Toronto Blue Jays 7-0. Wakefield only allowed three hits and struck out four while walking none...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Boston Red Sox podcast for MVN Radio Episode 23 where we host our first live post game show and lament a series loss to the Rays...
Fireside Chats at MVN
The last trivia question asked what year the Red Sox had six games of allowing 15 or more runs (this year they have four). The answer is 1923, the year they gave up up 27 to Cleveland (July 7) and 24 to the Yankees (September 28). Leaderboard is updated...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Looks like the Red Sox are in the hunt to chase down another Japanese pitcher. 22-year old Tawaza Junichi has declared that he will sign with a MLB club next year, foregoing the amateur draft in Japan...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
Paul and I are happy to announce our first edition of Fireside Chats Live tonight after the rubber match of this three game battle for A.L. East supremacy. Rays fans, Red Sox fans…come one, come all...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Join Paul and I live for a special edition of Fireside Chats as we react to tonight’s game and the big showdown series… Show Details: http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/26350 Call In Number: (724) 444-7444, Call ID: 26350, then hit 1# to join the call as a guest...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Devern Hansack was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket today. It’ll be his season debut; he’s also been up the last two years with the Sox. This year he’s 6-10 with a 4.08 ERA in 25 starts for Pawtucket...
Fireside Chats at MVN
One big inning - a seven run inning - was all it took to knock the Red Sox out of the game for the time being and Tim Wakefield out of the game for good. Wakefield only lasted 1 1/2’s innings, on four hits, seven runs, four walks, and zero strikeouts...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
We’re close to finding a new sponsor and prize… should be announced next week. The last trivia question asked who scored the most runs in a month since 1950 for the Red Sox on the heels of Pedroia’s 33 in August. The answer was 35 runs by Bobby Doerr and Billy Goodman. Leaderboard is updated...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
Sorry for the dearth of trivia questions lately. Please accept my humble apologies. I try to get at least two questions a week, but sometimes life intervenes… The last trivia question asked what Buffalo, New York meant to the Sox...
Fireside Chats at MVN
We’re starting a new series here at Fire Brand. Once a week, you’ll hear from numerous Red Sox bloggers on the Internet on a Red Sox related issue, and we’ll aggregate the answers here. Answers are placed in the order they were received. Thanks to everyone for participating! When J.D...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Boston Red Sox podcast for MVN Radio Episode 22 where we gush over Dustin Destroya, chase down the Rays, and welcome Gary’s Nuggetpalooza...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Fireside Chats at MVN
Per Ken Rosenthal: The Red Sox are planning a major push for Blue Jays right-hander A.J. Burnett, according to a rival executive. Burnett, 31, is almost certain to opt out of his contract and become a free agent at the end of the season...
Fireside Chats at MVN
The recent discussion on A.J. Burnett got me thinking, so I’d like to open up a bit of a fun exercise for all of us. Let us pretend that you’re the general manager of the Red Sox right now...
Fireside Chats at MVN
September is officially upon us, queue Green Day in the background… Summer has come and passed The innocent can never last Wake me up when September ends Ring out the bells again...
Fireside Chats at MVN
Has it really come down to this? With the main competition, the Tampa Bay Rays, facing off against the only A.L. East rival that has mattered for as long as I can remember, the New York Yankees is this the week we finally see Red Sox Nation don the pinstriped boxers to match their red socks...
Fireside Chats at MVN