Buster Olney from ESPN joins the Home Team with Matt Perrault talking about the American League as well as the Boston Red Sox and their off season full of moves, where they traded Marco scutaro, watched their GM and manager leave, and will they sign either Roy Oswalt or Edwin Jackson

Guest: Buster Olney from ESPN joins the Home Team with Matt Perrault talking about the American League as well as the Boston Red Sox and their off season full of moves, where they traded Marco scutaro, watched their GM and manager leave, and will they sign either Roy Oswalt or Edwin Jackson

Audio quick hits and Matt and Justin expound on the discussion about the Boston Red Sox

Bryant Lilley

The second half of the season is just under way, as the Red Sox hold a one game lead over the New York Yankees in the A.L. East. After a dismal performance during interleague play, Boston has won eight out of their last 10 and 11 out of their last 13. The Sox are currently the top team in the American League and just two games behind the Phillies for the top spot in the MLB.

As he has done all season, Adrian Gonzalez has propelled the Red Sox to first place as he leads the team in batting average, RBI, and runs. His .346 batting average and 77 RBI tops the American League. However, the big story over the last two weeks has been 24-year-old outfielder, Josh Reddick. Reddick has seen significant time in the recent weeks, due to an injury to Carl Crawford. In 25 games played this season, Reddick is batting .379 with 3 home runs and 17 RBI. The kid has been phenomenal. It is my belief that Reddick should be in the starting line up in most games. JD Drew has been a huge disappointment, so why not start a young kid with a promising future. Now is the time to get him some game experience and prepare him for the next few years and beyond.

The pitching staff for Boston has not exactly been reliable. Josh Beckett and John Lester have both performed well when they are healthy. However, both missed a start due to injuries. Jonathan Papelbon has raised many questions amongst Red Sox nation. He is in his last year of his contract and many believe it may be his last in a Red Sox uniform. Papelbon has not been the same over the past year and half and may be worn out. Daniel Bard was brought in to take on the roll as the future closer, but some believe he is not quite ready. There has also been speculation of the Sox trading for Padres closer, Heath Bell. To bring in Bell, Boston would likely have to give up some of their top prospects.

Since the halfway point of the season has passed, I think some predictions are in order. I will predict the division winners all the way through the World Series winner.

American League:
East: Red Sox
Central: Tigers
West: Rangers
Wildcard: Yankees

National League:
East: Phillies
Central: Brewers
West: Giants
Wildcard: Braves

A.L Championship: Red Sox over Rangers
N.L Championship: Phillies over Brewers
World Series: Red Sox over Phillies in six.

Bryant Lilley

After winning nine straight games and claiming the top spot in the American League, the Red Sox have just one victory in their last five games. Injuries have plagued the Sox, causing them to drop a half game behind the Yankees in the A.L East. Outfielder, J.D. Drew has seen very little action in the last 5 games due to a bruised left eye. He has made just 11 plate appearances where he managed just two hits and struck out five times. Carl Crawford and Jed Lowrie have also missed some time. Crawford found his way on to the 15-day Disabled List (DL) with a sore hamstring. He is expected to be back in the lineup this weekend when the Sox take on the Houston Astros. Lowrie joined him on the 15-day DL with a bruised nerve on the left shoulder. He is expected to miss 2-3 weeks.

Losing three starters in the field have not been Boston’s only injuries. Starting pitcher, Clay Buchholz made his way on to the 15-day DL with a sore back. In his last start, Buchholz left the game in the sixth inning with tightness in his lower back. He still managed to pick the win. In his last two starts, Buchholz was 2-0, while giving up just two runs. Josh Beckett also missed his last start due to an illness. Boston was forced to call upon Andrew Miller to make the start against the Padres. Beckett is expected to start on Tuesday at Philadelphia. Relief pitcher Bobby Jenks spent some time on DL, but has been activated for Tuesday’s match up against the Phillies.

Boston is currently in the midst of a nine game road trip, as they head to Philadelphia for a three game series, in which many people believe is a preview of the 2011 World Series. Is this series really all that important? Some think yes, I think no. In my eyes this series does not mean a whole lot. Both teams are recovering from injuries, the season isn’t even at the midpoint yet and the two teams are in separate leagues. However, it is still important the Sox take at least two games in this series so they can hopefully reclaim the top spot in the A.L East. But this can be said for every series. If they lose more than one game per series, they will never pass the Yankees. Following a three game series with the Phillies, the Red Sox will wrap up their road trip in Houston with three games against the Astros.

Bryant Lilley

After just one week after asking the question of “who are the Boston Red Sox,” the Sox have answered the question with a pretty clear statement. Following last week’s blog, the Sox went on to win six straight games, including sweeps over the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. With the sweep over the Yankees, Boston has put themselves two games ahead of the Yanks in the A.L East. Since April 15, the Sox have transitioned themselves from the worst team in baseball to the best team in the American League. The Red Sox have won nine straight as they head to Tampa Bay to finish a nine game road trip.

The Red Sox are currently the hottest team in baseball, by far, and they have everything working for them. Through Boston’s nine game win streak, the starting pitchers are 7-0, giving up just 28 runs. A sox starter has not suffered a loss since May 30 against the White Sox. Jon Lester is 9-2 with a 3.73 ERA. Lester’s nine wins put him in a tie for first with Roy Halladay of the Phillies. Josh Beckett is 5-2 with an A.L. best 2.06 ERA.

The offense for the Red Sox has come alive from top to bottom. The Sox have piled up 83 runs in the last nine games. They currently lead the league in runs scored with 350. That is 20 more than the Yankees who are second behind Boston. Adrian Gonzalez leads the American League in batting average at .341 and RBI with 60. David Ortiz is still on fire. He is batting .325 with 17 home runs and 43 RBI.

The Red Sox continue their road trip on Tuesday with a three game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Boston will then head home to Fenway for six interleague games against the Brewers and the Padres.

Bryant Lilley

The Red Sox are now two months into the season and they have left Red Sox nation with the big question, who are the Boston Red Sox? Fans all over have seen two completely different teams in the Sox this season. After starting off the season just 2-10, Boston came back to take over first place in the A.L. East division. After taking first place, the Sox proceeded to get swept by a sub-par White Sox team. Immediately following the series, Boston swept the Oakland Athletics. So, who are they? Are the Sox World Series contenders or are they giving Red Sox nation false hope? It is my belief that the Sox are true World Series contenders. Here are some reasons why:

Pitching
John Lackey made his first start after coming off the disabled list and pitched well. Lackey gave up just three runs on three hits in the Sox 6-3 win over the A’s. Meanwhile, Josh Beckett, John Lester and Clay Bucholz are also pitching well. The only concern I have with the Red Sox pitching at the moment is they do not have a “true” fifth starter. With Daisuke Matsuzaka out for the season with Tommy John surgery, Tim Wakefield has taken on the roll as Boston’s fifth starter. I’m not sure how long Wakefield will last as a starter. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tim Wakefield, but he belongs in the bullpen. Wakefield is the anchor of the bullpen. He can pitch multiple innings day after day, giving the rest of the bullpen a rest. I think Terry Francona and Theo Epstein will look to make moves for a fifth starter fairly soon.

Hitting
David Ortiz is on fire! Over the last 10 games, Ortiz is batting .411 with three home runs and seven RBI. In recent years, Ortiz has only gotten better as the season progresses. This could be bad news for opposing pitchers. Adrian Gonzalez has also been hot for the Red Sox. He is currently third in the league in batting at .339, seventh in home runs with 12, and first in RBI with 50. After a miserable start to the season, Carl Crawford has finally come around. In his last seven games, Crawford is batting .348 with one home run and eight RBI.

Team To Beat?
Who is the team to beat this year in the MLB? Honestly, I do not think there is that one team that everyone is after. Currently, there is no team that really stands out. Every division has multiple teams that are capable of winning the division. The league is fairly weak this year. The Yankees are no powerhouse. Jeter is struggling, as well as their pitchers. They will not stay atop the division for very long. Defending A.L. Champion Rangers are only a half game better than the Red Sox, even after the Sox started just 2-10. So, my point is the league is wide open. The Red Sox are arguably the most talented team in baseball. Come September, I believe the Red Sox will have a strong hold on the division. I do not think there are many teams that will be able to stay with the Sox.

So we ask ourselves, who are the Boston Red Sox. I believe the Red Sox are a team that will dominate once they get into mid-season form. They can hit, pitch, field and win. They will be a very tough team to beat.

With the Red Sox not happy with their left handed pitching options of the pen, the Red Sox have announced that they signed 40 year old left handed relief pitcher, Alan Embree to a minor league deal that included an invitation to spring training. This spring lefty veteran Brian Shouse has not been really impressive and prospect Dustin Richardson getting hurt and then quickly optioned out. The Sox were looking for a lefthander who could be a southpaw option out of the pen with Hideki Okajima.

Embree spent 2009 with the Colorado Rockies, going 2-2 with a 5.84 ERA in 36 relief appearances. His season was cut short when a batted ball fractured his right tibia on July 10. He ranks ninth all-time among Major League left-handers and second among active lefthanders with 878 career relief outings.

He returns for a second stint in the Red Sox organization after going 8-9 with four saves and a 4.69 ERA in 211 relief appearances with the club from 2002-05. He allowed earned runs in just one of his 19 postseason games with Boston, going 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA (2 ER/14.0 IP).

The Red Sox announced some roster moves after today’s  game. LHP Felix Doubront and catcher Mark Wagner were optioned to Class AAA Pawtucket and infielder Gil Velazquez was reassigned to the minor league camp. The Sox now have 43 players in camp.