:) Red Sox Nation Corner
    written by Christopher Linldblom





May 5, 2012
TASTING THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE RED SOX MAY BE A MIRAGE

Giving up on the Red Sox is never an option. Never. But our eyes are not deceiving us as we watch this 2012 Red Sox team. We are walking through the desert in the first 26 games, and we are praying for some water. An 11 and 15 record is not pretty in any circumstances, and the competition in the American League East is looking extremely challenging.

Let's first focus on our own team. The bullpen is in shambles. Aceves has been shaky as a closer - and Melancon took his 49.50 (no that is not a typo) earned run average down to Pawtucket. Yes, this is the Melancon who was supposed to be our eighth inning specialist. Morales is undependable at best. Albers is good for garbage time. Enough said.

Lester has not been the ace with his 4.62 ERA and Beckett is now missing a start. Clay Bucholz has truly been awful. And I'm not sure whether to hope his back is not right yet or not. Bard actually looks like he may be a good starting pitcher. And Doubront is a promising lefty starter. Dice K is rehabbing and supposedly coming back soon.

The hitting has been inconsistent... and the injuries are hurting here. Ellsbury and Crawford are both out of the line-up. Youkilis is on the disabled list, but with the way he is playing... that may not be a big negative. We'll all get a good luck at Middlebrook, a top prospect. Aviles has been a pleasant surprise at shortstop, with a pretty good bat so far. Ryan Sweeney is another pleasant surprise (he came in the same trade that brought us Bailey, our hurt closer). Ortiz has truly been unbelievable at the plate. Gonzalez is really scaring me that he is simply not clutch. If we have the bases loaded with two outs late in the game down a run... I am not excited to see Adrian come up to the plate. Ouch!

I'm not a pessimist... and I'm not starting now. The season is still young. But we'll all have to at least start to think about the rebuilding process for the Sox. We could be looking a the 2008 version of the New York Yankees... or the 2006 version of the Boston Red Sox. The Sox were very quiet this past offseason... maybe they are saving their powder for next year....

OK... let's put back on our rose colored glasses. We still have a lot of time left this season. Dan Duquette's Baltimore Orioles can't keep staying this hot... can they? The Rays are going to win the division... but there are two wild cards now, right? Let's root, root, root for our team. I stayed up late last night finishing the book The Hunger Games. I will not give away any secrets here, but what do you think Katniss' chances for survival are at the beginning of the book?

I went to one game this season so far and at least saw a win. So I am not the "dark cloud" this season - at least so far.

Keep the faith everyone! I hope to be more upbeat in my next update. Yankee disciples Bernie Breiter and Ron Vigliotta are savoring this Red Sox Nation!

Have a good week everyone.

- Chris Lindblom



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March 31, 2012
HEADING INTO THE RED SOX REGULAR SEASON IN THE BOBBY AND BEN ERA



The Bobby Valentine and Ben Cherington era starts for real on Thursday, April 5 at 1 pm in Detroit for the first regular season game. The 2011 season obviously ended in ugly fashion ... and there was humongous changes with the general manager and manager. Theo Epstein bolted off to the Cubbies in Chicago, and Terry Francona is chatting up television viewers at ESPN. Theo and Terry proved to be an effective duo throughout their tenure with the Red Sox. But let's all close our eyes and think back to when the Theo / Terry duo started off together for the regular season in 2004. I for one can admit I did not brim with absolute excitement in April 2004. Two World Series wins later... and we are all in a different place.

I am not brimming with absolute excitement in April 2012! Ben Cherington, new general manager, made few moves in the offseason. Cody Ross, former hero of the San Fran Giants in 2010, is helping to bolster the outfield - especially with Carl Crawford hurt to start the season. Melancon and Bailey are the new back-ends of the bullpen, as Papelbon moved to Philadelphia for the big bucks. And my godson Joey Reed's boy Marco Scutaro was traded off to Colorado. We are really counting on the team from last year dusting itself off - and making it happen in 2012.

So what are the keys so far to a successful Red Sox season... you may ask?

1. Let's get off to a good start. The 2011 Sox started out woefully, and we do not need that ugliness for this season.
2. We need Josh Beckett, Clay Bucholz and Jon Lester to pitch well for the starting rotation. We all know pitching wins... and these three are the absolute keys to the season. Josh Beckett historically has been strong in the "odd-year" seasons (2007, 2011) - and thus weak in 2006 and 2008. Josh needs to get it done this year. Period. Clay's stress fractures in his back need to be all fine. Case closed. Same with Jon Lester. We need the good Lester... not the shadow of himself we saw in September 2011 when the Sox needed him the most. And I think Bard will be a solid #4 starter... let's give him a chance. His Calvin Schiraldi eyes in the bullpen are not going to work for me!
3. The new bullpen needs to pan out. Bailey and Melancon need to close out games - and Aceves (I would vote to keep him in the bullpen), Albers and Morales need to hold the leads.
4. The left side of the infield needs to make some plays. Youkilis has lost a great deal of his range and is hurt often. And we are counting on Mike Aviles to gobble up the ground balls at shortstop. I would not hesitate to call up Jose Iglesias if Aviles struggles. Defense at shortstop - especially with a pitching staff with question marks - is essential.
I am not worried about the offense. This may be a jinx ("the dark cloud" accusations are all fair) - but I feel good. Dustin Pedroia, Ellsbury, Gonzalez, Big Papi, Youkilis and others... we will hit the ball. I just do not want to try to win all of our games 8 to 6 - that's all.
I am writing this installment for the Red Sox Nation from the Left Coast. We are visiting Kevin and Cristina O'Brien - and newest Red Sox Nation member Cecily Molly O'Brien. Let me tell you - Cecily is a beautiful baby... and will be a huge Red Sox fan!

Let's all stay positive and root, root, root for the Sox. Ben and Bobby may be just what the Sox need to shake it up. "All things must pass" said the one and only George Harrison - and the Theo / Terry duo had to end sometime (I just wish the Terry piece did not end quite so ugly).

Have a great week everyone.

- Chris Lindblom

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January 2, 2012 - RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR FOR THE RED SOX NATION



Elvis Presley can lead the Nation into pennant fever in the cold of January 2012.

Roll the clock back to November... and all we had were questions. The Red Sox were taking the deliberate approach. The Sox top brass were just preaching patience. This leads me to a good Elvis tune.

"A little less conversation, a little more action please. All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning me..." (A Little Less Conversation)

Now on January 2, 2012, the Sox have actually made some moves to make us happy. The trade for Bailey from Oakland really helps solidify the bullpen. Both the trade for Melancon from the Astros and the trade for Bailey from Oakland are good trades for Ben Cherington (at least in my humble opinion). Losing Josh Reddick and Jed Lowrie are not killers at all.

Now, we just need to add another starter to the mix. Adding another solid outfielder would be nice, too. Kalish will be out with an injury to start the season. Then we can really be belting out an Elvis tune.

"Lord almighty. I feel my temperature rising. Higher, higher. It's burning through to my soul." (Burning Love)

Let's hope Bobby Valentine's meetings with Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford go well. We need both those players to really produce in 2012!

Happy New Year everyone. Have a good week.

- Chris Lindblom

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