HOT SOX:

Sternieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Adam Stern made two amazing catches in centerfield this week. From the diving catch to bail out Jon Papelbon to the gutsy effort smacking into the left-centerfield wall the next night, he showed exactly what a young Johnny Damon showed in Kansas City: pure, all-out hustle and no fear of flying. Of course, Sternie hit below the Mendoza line, which explains why he will be the latest Todd Benzinger/Chico Walker/Reggie Whittemore type cult favorite in Pawtucket this summer.

With the pending return of Coco Crisp, it makes sense to get Stern down to AAA and play everyday, as he really has not had a lot of at-bats; however, I would rather have Stern in Boston for two weeks and take my chances on Willie Harris taking a hike and bringing up someone like Machado to be utility/emergency outfielder.

Youkkkkkkkkkkk!!!

Everybody loves the Greek God of Walks. No, not just for that .433 on-base percentage, but because of that power he has exhibited at the plate. Youkilis has looked decent at first base, and he has toiled long behind a decent, but in no way all-star, third baseman these last two years. Funny, but with Mike Lowell denting the Green Monster and Kevin Youkilis leading the offense, there has been nary a Bill Mueller reference for a while. Funny what performing does to quiet down whining idiots.

Hard to be Bard

Another passed ball, another bake sale for the Doug Mirabelli Hall of Fame enshrinement fund. Look, Mirabelli was a decent back-up who finally caught on to catching Tim Wakefield in his third season as his personal caddy. Queer Eye fave Dougie was a decent bat early on, until he lost all semblance of control at the plate last year and started hacking like Reggie Jackson. I understand Josh Bard is learning on the job and has hit at a .167 clip, but cut the guy some slack. Mirabelli is gone, but Mark Get Back Loretta is the best all-around second baseman the Sox have had since Jerry Remy (if anyone emails me about Jeff Frey, they will just get a smack).

The Future is so Bright, I have to Wear Shades


That title is just for Brigs. Anyway, the pitching of Jonathan Papelbon just further underscores how good things look in the future for the Red Sox. Next year they can add Papelbon to the rotation and slide Craig Hansen into the bullpen. Manny Delcarmen should be ready for the big time. Lenny DiNardo, Jon Lester and Abe Alvarez may be ready to help-out in the starting rotation. The Sox braintrust has really nailed the formula for being a large market team operating like a small market team. There is young talent pouring through the system at long last. Some of it was traded, but not for veterans on the downslope, but rather young veterans (Josh Beckett, Coco Crisp) who will play a major role with the team into the next decade.

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