Though the clinching’s circumstances merit such a disclaimer, don’t tell anyone from the Red Sox that they backed into the American League wild-card berth. Yes, they’ve lost five straight games, and yes, players left Fenway Park after Tuesday night’s 8-7 loss to Toronto and then returned to celebrate the Angels’ 5-2 win over Texas in [...]

His career record is 78-76 with an earned run average of 3.90. In 2009, his record against teams not hailing from the Fenway section of Boston is 5-8 with an earned run average of 4.00; in four starts against the Red Sox he is 2-0 with an ERA of 1.88.In his career against Boston he [...]

Now that Kevin Youkilis has landed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique muscle, one of the more maddening injuries a ballplayer can endure, it is worth recap just what the Red Sox have fought through to reach a 21-12 record, third best in the big leagues.
They lost their Opening Day starting shortstop, [...]

Ah, the tyranny of numbers. Ballplayers know all too well that whatever they say, however they feel, there are numbers that will either ratify or invalidate them.
And so it is with Jon Lester this morning. For the second time in the season’s first week, Lester got rocked Monday night as the Oakland A’s ripped him [...]

In the least surprising news to come from Fort Myers this spring, Red Sox manager Terry Franconca confirmed this morning that The Ace, Josh Beckett, will get the ball on Monday afternoon, April 6, for the season opener at Fenway against the defending AL champion Tampa Bay Rays.
Right-hander Josh Beckett will start for the Boston [...]

Before anyone’s jaw hits the table in amazement over word that Jon Lester has signed a one-year deal to stay with the Red Sox, be advised that in the context of the much-discussed negotiations on a long-term contract, today’s news means nothing.
All players on a club’s 40-man roster must be signed to a contract by [...]

Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia and, now, Jon Lester. Two of them have signed long-term deals with the Red Sox that, at first blush, seem to be terms that would make Players Association chief Don Fehr and any money-grubbing agent seethe. And now Lester looks ready to join them.
Lester’s reported agreement comes in at five years for [...]