Ok, so this guy isn't exactly the John Lackey equivalent in their soccer, sorry, football world. What makes Steward Downing Lackey-like, is the fact that Fenway Sports Group spent an obscene amount of money for a talent-less joke. So, why did they spend so much money on nothing? They were duped by a doctored youtube video (shown above) showing...

Shank attended the 73rd Baseball Writers Association of America annual meeting (Boston chapter). Shank's had a few months to calm down about the Red Sox and writes with far less venom, at least for now. He's also insistent that more money spent by the Red Sox is a good thing:After spending like Charlie Sheen on a weekend bender, the Sox suddenly are fiscally responsible in this bad...

The Boston Red Sox suffered an all-time meltdown in 2011, missing the playoffs despite having what looked to be a stellar roster on paper. This offseason has seen a ton of change in Beantown as the Theo Epstein and Terry Francona are gone, and there has been an attempt to change the culture of the team. On Monday the Red Sox inked a deal with Vicente Padilla, and MLB.com’s Peter...

With a few exceptions, it appears the free agent market has evened itself out when compared to previous years. Gone are the days of John Lackey and A.J. Burnett landing 5 year $82.5 million deals. Their relative comparison this offseason is Edwin Jackson, who is without a contract and is expected to sign for roughly half of what Lackey and Burnett made. But even in a more “team...

With a few exceptions, it appears the free agent market has evened itself out when compared to previous years. Gone are the days of John Lackey and A.J. Burnett landing 5 year $82.5 million deals. Their relative comparison this offseason is Edwin Jackson, who is without a contract and is expected to sign for roughly half of what Lackey and Burnett made. But even in a more “team...

After a 2011 season that saw ten different pitchers get MLB starts, the Boston Red Sox are going down a different route in 2011. None of Boston's starters thew over 200 innings, with just two, Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, qualified for the ERA title. Three of Boston's six starters who started double digit games, Tim Wakefield, John Lackey and Andrew Miller, had ERAs over 5.00...

The Red Sox luxury tax payroll currently stands at about $130M. When you add in projected arbitration awards for Ortiz, Ellsbury, Saltalamacchia, Bard, Bailey, and the bench players, that leaves the Red Sox with little to no room remaining under the luxury tax threshold. As I’ve argued, the Red Sox offseason should be understood as a specifically structured and cleverly executed...

Free Agency is dwindling down and the Red Sox still have some holes to fill up, specifically their starting pitching. Usually the Sox would boast about the depth they have in their rotation and as of right now, the Sox have two and a half pitchers that are definites in Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, and Clay Buchholz. John Lackey and Dice-K both have bum elbows and will not be a part...

I have discussed Edwin Jackson numerous times over the past several months – dating all the way back to June – and have made no effort to hide that I would be in support of the New York Yankees acquiring him.  I like Edwin Jackson’s stuff – if not his inconsistency – and I think he offers enough upside to emerge as an upgrade for the New York Yankees’ rotation.  The...

Coming out of the All Star break, The Boston Red Sox had the best record in the American League and only the Philadelphia Phillies had a better record in all of baseball. The offense led all of baseball in runs scored at that point and the pitching had allowed the sixth fewest runs in the AL. The team was clicking on all cylinders and just under two weeks after the break they would...

Know how I know it's a slow news week around Fenway Park?  Joe McDonald of ESPN Boston is trying to drum up a conversation around whether the Red Sox rotation (which currently consists of 2 1/2 pitchers) should be considered top 10 in the majors. If last season caused you to drink so much that the last five months have been wiped completely from your mind, McDonald gives you...

A year ago, the Red Sox rotation was firmly secure. With Jon Lester, John Lackey, Clay Buchholz, Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka -- three of the five recorded at least 14 wins in 2010 -- headlining the staff, there was little apprehension. One year later, holes abound. After Matsuzaka and Lackey underwent Tommy John surgery, a procedure that will cost Lackey the season and Matsuzaka...

The Red Sox starting rotation, as most fans would agree, is still up in the air. The only sure things seems to be Josh Beckett and John Lester. Clay Bucholz also may qualify, but he is coming off a long-term injury. I do not believe John Lackey should start the year in the rotation. Off his work in the last two seasons, he deserves to begin as a middle reliever and spot starter,...

The Red Sox starting rotation, as most fans would agree, is still up in the air. The only sure things seems to be Josh Beckett and John Lester. Clay Bucholz also may qualify, but he is coming off a long-term injury. I do not believe John Lackey should start the year in the rotation. Off his work in the last two seasons, he deserves to begin as a middle reliever and spot starter,...

The Boston Phoenix published their annual Unsexiest Men list, and 3 current Red Sox, 1 former Red Sox, and 3 Red Sox advertising gnomes made the 2011 edition.   The winners: #77 Manny Ramirez #62 Furniture Guys: Bob, Bernie, Jordan #29 John Henry #9 John Lackey & Josh Beckett

The Boston Phoenix published their annual Unsexiest Men list, and 3 current Red Sox, 1 former Red Sox, and 3 Red Sox advertising gnomes made the 2011 edition.   The winners: #77 Manny Ramirez #62 Furniture Guys: Bob, Bernie, Jordan #29 John Henry #9 John Lackey & Josh Beckett

Remember the Daisuke Matsuzaka hype back in 2006 when everyone thought he invented some new pitch called the "gyroball" that defied space and time? Remember when the Boston Red Sox boasted the highest negotiation bid at $51 million, ended up signing him, and he wound up just being a normal Japanese guy who wasn't any better than John Lackey? Yeah, so you can understand our skepticism...

Everyday, nothing meaningful happens with the Red Sox, and every day it makes me crankier… Is it just me, or does anyone else think that the Sox Management should be trying a bit harder in this offseason? I get the whole “looking for complementary pieces”, and “trying to be frugal” thing–OK, I don’t get it the trying to be frugal thing, when trying to be frugal is staying...

Beat reporter Ian Browne answers questions from the Inbox about Jacoby Ellsbury, John Lackey and more.

As the landscape of professional baseball continues to shift toward homegrown, cheap, controllable players, the one glaring market inefficiency has become the most prized asset on the field: The starting pitcher. It's no secret that pitchers, especially the elite ones, who reach free agency will set their families up to live extremely comfortable lives for several generations. Often...

Now that the Boston Red Sox have gotten their front office and managerial situation under control they’re hitting the free agent market. It appears they could be looking to make another big splash this winter. Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald tweeted today that the Sox plan on meeting with the agent of C.J. Wilson and Roy Oswalt at the Baseball Winter Meetings. @MikeSilvermanBB...

Image by acme401 via Flickr If you had not heard yet, ex-New York Mets skipper, turned ESPN analyst Booby Valentine has been named the new GM of the Boston Red Sox. Valentine will have his hands full in Beantown, as he will have to crackdown on the Red Sox players who preferred hosting keg parties and eating fired chicken to cheering on their teammates. Valentine knows that Boston...

The 2011 MLB winter meetings are less than a week away and the Red Sox will likely be looking to make some moves. Still without a manager, the Sox head into the month of December with question marks. Who will play right field? Who will be the designated hitter? Which pitcher will take over John Lackey's spot in the starting rotation? If you have those questions or others, fire them...

By Jonathan Northrop - Angelswin.com ColumnistA Brief History of Angelic AcesFor most of the franchise’s 51-year history, the Angels have had a clear staff ace—a pitcher who, if not always one of the best in the league, was clearly the top pitcher on the team. During the first half of the 60s it was Dean Chance who, while only playing a bit over five years for the Angels from...

With the Red Sox looking to upgrade a rotation that completely failed them during the stretch run and replace the injured John Lackey, two left-handers Wandy Rodriquez and Gio Gonzalez, have landed on the team’s radar. The two pitchers are quite similar on the mound; both feature a fastball, curve and change repertoire and get ground balls at a fair rate. The choice between the...