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I'm out
Baseball and I had a good run. Maybe I'll check back in at some point. June 16

Even with the rain, it's just a game
The Red Sox lost one game and had another paused for three weeks by rain. It happens. Aug. 8

We now go live to Brock Holt...
Holt had some words for the umpire after being called out on strikes. It was a good time. July 26

161 and counting with Mookie Betts
Regardless of October, this has been a special season, with Mookie in the middle of it all. Sept. 30

Protection for fans is a net gain for Red Sox
I'm in the controversial camp that is generally against horrifying fan injuries at games. Jan. 28

Roy Halladay was a throwback when baseball was relatively starved for pitching
Halladay was a hard-working machine on the mound, he amazed and he'll be missed. Nov. 12

Let's revisit just how wacky Cubs-Nationals Game 5 was
This was later topped by other ridiculous games in the playoffs, but the point stands. Oct. 15

C'mon, let the pitchers hit
The DH is assembly line nonsense. Embrace the chaos of pitchers hitting. Oct. 8

Diamondbacks are cruising under the radar
Arizona spent a good chunk of the year about 20 games behind the Dodgers in their division. But that doesn't mean they haven't been good. Sept. 24

No need to panic on Xander Bogaerts, it's just a slump
I basically wrote this because I saw one actually serious opinion on whether the Red Sox should trade him because he bad a bad couple of weeks. Aug. 20

Why Edgar Martinez deserves to be in the Hall of Fame
He just got his number retired by the Mariners, and he probaby has more acclaim coming his way soon. Aug. 13

Eduardo Nunez has made a big splash in a short time
In just over a week, Nunez has joined a short group of small-time acquisitions who have made big-time impacts. Aug. 6

Adrian Beltre is, objectively, awesome
In a funny moment on his way to 3,000 hits, Beltre reminded us that he's a character, and that the umpire didn't deserve to be there. July 30

Chris Sale is a modern-day Pedro
If he's not quite the master that Pedro Martinez was (no one is), he's the best week-to-week attraction on a pitcher's mound since Pedro's heyday. June 4

Is this the best Red Sox outfield ever?
No it is not. March 26

Hanley Ramirez and the long, repeated thaw
With David Ortiz gone, there's something comforting about watching Hanley Ramirez repeatedly go deep in Spring Training. March 21

Is baseball trying to turn extra innings into a shootout?
There's nothing quite like watching a sport attempt to fix something that isn't broken. Feb. 12

Joy in Wrigleyville reminds us of the emotional power of sports
There are actually people out there complaining about the Cubs celebrating. That's the last stand of the miserable. Nov. 6

There's no Cliffs Notes for bullpen management
Pulling strings with the bullpen in the playoffs is one part crapshoot, one part feel.Oct. 16

Goodbye, Papi
Travis Shaw flied out to end Game 3 of the ALDS, and that marked the end of David Ortiz's final game. Oct. 11

David Ortiz pulled it together in 2009 and made history
This is dedicated to every fool who wanted to bail on Ortiz at the first sign of turbulence. Oct. 2

Erstwhile ace David Price has finally rounded into form
My point was that Price has been good since June, but was still getting screamed at by fans and on the radio as if he was still bad. Sept. 11

Betts and Bradley Jr. are playing like the next Lynn and Rice
This has been a year where there aren't enough good things to say about Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. Aug. 21

Don't look now, but Dustin Pedroia is turning in one of his finest seasons
It's easy to get lost on a team with Ortiz going nuts every night, but Pedroia is back on his elite path. July 24

The night Boston climbed on Hanley Ramirez's back
Ramirez chose this night to be ridiculous in an especially ridiculous game. July 21

Why David Ortiz should be the American League MVP, and it's only July
Capping a ridiculous career with a ridiculous season would become even more ridiculous with that elusive MVP trophy. July 17

Behold the glory that is Big Papi
The first 10 weeks of the season have been monstrous for David Ortiz, who seems determined to have the greatest final season Boston's ever seen. June 19

Ichiro maintains stylish play on run to 3,000 hits
Having two 4-hit games in a week in his early 40s is just the most recent ridiculous accomplishment by Ichiro. May 29

On the occasion of his Hall of Fame induction, a tribute to Jason Varitek
Jason Varitek was my favorite Red Sock after Pedro Martinez went to New York because he could do things behind the plate no one else could. May 22

Watch out, the Chicago Cubs might be historically good
It's early in the season but good lord the Cubs have been murdering everyone. May 8

Sit back and enjoy everything that is Adrian Beltre
There have been few third basemen as good as Beltre and I'll bet none of them as weirdly entertaining as him. April 25

How Bartolo Colon keeps proving baseball wrong
I don't actually know how he's doing it, but I'm very happy he is. March 27

Hey Goose, baseball players just want to have fun
I might have been the only person to write about Gossage and not reference "Old Man Yells At Cloud." March 20

Isn't it possible that Hanley Ramirez won't be terrible at first base?
I'm just saying that it's within the realm of possibility that a professional baseball player who played shortstop for years might be okay. Feb. 28

Dave Henderson's legacy will be his smile
Baseball lost a huge personality with the death of the former Red Sox and A's center fielder. Jan. 3

More memories are ahead for David Ortiz
2016 will be Big Papi's last trip around the bases, and a few of them will certainly be earth-shattering. Nov. 22

Royals take a novel approach to hitting —  just swing
The Kansas City Royals are the opposite of a "three true outcomes" team, and that's what makes them so much fun to watch. Nov. 1

Rich Hill at the summer's end
It's cold again and the Red Sox are winding it down, while Rich Hill keeps doing the impossible. Sept. 28

Theo Epstein's genius has revived the Cubs and is still benefiting the Red Sox
The Cubs' recent run is obvious enough, but watching Mookie Betts and company lead the next wave in Boston is more evidence that Epstein knows what he's doing. Aug. 30

Pedro Martinez was — and is — worth it
Getting to Fenway Park to see Pedro have his number 45 retired was a borderline nightmare. But in the end, that didn't matter. July 29

Pedro Martinez' Hall of Fame induction will cap an amazing career
On the day he'll get his plaque and give his speech, I expected nothing but greatness from a man who approached his entire career with brilliant artistry. July 26

Could a move to the bullpen resurrect the Red Sox' Joe Kelly?
Kelly has seen ups and downs since coming to Boston, and his best moments suggest that he could be a force out of the bullpen. June 28

Hey ump, take a back seat
When an umpire decides to let everyone on the field know who's boss, it's the game that suffers. May 24

Brock Holt an invaluable piece to Red Sox' success
It's fun to watch Holt play like the best guy on the field, no matter where John Farrell sticks him. May 3

Josh Hamilton, human being and baseball player
The Angels paid for the honor of dumping Hamilton, a recovering drug addict, back onto the Texas Rangers after they realized they weren't equipped or sympathetic enough to deal with what that means. April 28

Mookie Betts in a blur
In his first Opening Day at Fenway Park, Mookie Betts did everything but throw a no-hitter. April 13

Kris Bryant could be final piece for Cubs
Theo Epstein's three-year makeover of the Chicago Cubs is already paying off, and Bryant could wind up being the centerpiece of a future championship. March 29

Remembering Jackie Bradley Jr., the Red Sox' forgotten man
Bradley Jr.'s progress was pushed into the spotlight thanks to a great Spring Training in 2013, but he's on the outside looking in on the Red Sox' outfield shuffle. Feb. 8

Great players are great, regardless of HOF voting
Pedro Martinez's induction into the Hall of Fame was certainly a personal triumph, but it really shouldn't mean anything. Jan. 11

Marco Scutaro's career always scooted under the radar
The 39-year-old All-Star second baseman had a career-threatening back surgery, so this prompted a look-back at his unique career. Dec. 28

Kershaw's MVP award a win for pitchers and common sense
This is the second time in four years that a pitcher has walked away with one of the league's MVP awards, and hopefully that's the start of a trend. Nov. 16

Madison Bumgarner's blinding, historic greatness
On two days rest after shutting out the Royals in Game 5, Bumgarner rescued the Giants again, pitching five more shutout innings in an incredible display. Oct. 30

Don't forget to say goodbye to Paul Konerko
The White Sox captain is retiring after 18 years in the league, and he's doing so as quietly as he's done everything else in his incredible career. Sept. 28

Epstein's patience soon to pay off for the Cubs
Theo Epstein had a gigantic task waiting for him when he took over the Cubs, but three years into his tenure, the team is starting to show they're close to becoming elite. Aug. 31

David Ortiz, the saving grace of the 2014 Boston Red Sox
In 1983, with the Red Sox out of contention, a lot of fans kept tuning in just to see Carl Yastrzemski defy time for another year. There's a little of that with Ortiz, 31 years later. Aug. 24

Setting the table for 2015, via 1987
The Red Sox are following up a World Series title with a stumble and an opportunity to let the next generation get their feet wet in the Majors. It's worked before. July 21

Brock Holt securing his spot, wherever it might be
Holt started the year as an extra infielder stashed in the minors and has emerged as Boston's most consistent hitter not named "Ortiz." June 10

Belief, redemption and Manny Ramirez
As recently as the morning before, I couldn't have envisioned Manny Ramirez returning to Fenway Park a changed man and receiving such a warm welcome. But, so it was. May 29

May the harassment of the Marlins continue
The Miami Marlins were crying foul because the Red Sox wouldn't play along with their latest ploy to suck money out of their fans. Too bad. March 7

How Brandon Workman wound up with Koji Uehara's World Series loss
The inspiration for this tale of a misappropriated stat goes to my friend Shawn Wright, a postdoctural fellow in Geology at Auburn. March 9

Waking from a World Series dream
Two days later, and after filing a column for the Standard-Times, I thought I should really talk about how it felt to see the Red Sox win the World Series. Nov. 1

Xander, Victorino, the couch and the pennant
Watching Xander Boegarts work the count and Shane Victorino battle through injuries to push the Red Sox into the World Series was pretty damn amazing, okay? Oct. 20

Uehara's journey mirrors rest of team
The "team" in this case is the 2013 Red Sox, and Koji Uehara's dominance out of the closer role offers a nice timeline to their success. Oct. 19

David Price aces game 163
Watching Price battle through less-than-stellar physical health to pitch Tampa Bay past Texas in the 163rd game to get into a Wild Card position reminded me of watching some of the aces from years past. Oct. 1

Coming home to the Red Sox
I watched the Red Sox clinch the American League East alone in my apartment with a six-pack. It's strange, but I've come a long way. Sept. 21

Dennis Eckersley puts the 'color' in color commentary
With Jerry Remy stepping aside for the rest of the 2013 season for personal reasons, Dennis Eckersley has been filling in alongside Don Orsillo, and he's been a riot. Sept. 8

Daniel Bard's downward spiral
The news of the Red Sox designating Daniel Bard for assignment seemed unthinkable two years ago. But when it happened, it was just the next, inevitable step. Sept. 1

From 1993 to the future
No matter how much distance comes between my 11-year-old self and the present, I always remember the 1993 Sox fondly. More fondly than most, anyway. Sept. 1

Racking up more hits than can be believed
While sick, I rewatched part of Ken Burns' Baseball and realized that Ty Cobb had 1,157 more hits than games played. That seemed insane, so I dug around for more. Aug. 31

Turning two and tuning out
In the middle of watching a game and trying to fall asleep, Stephen Drew, Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz spun a gem against San Francisco. Aug. 20

Yankees didn't need saving, but Rivera still generated excitement
I like breaking down small moments that really don't have much to do with a specific game and more to do with watching the game in general. And Mariano Rivera is awesome. Aug. 18

Daniel Nava, a curious near-All Star
The transformation of Daniel Nava from fringe Major Leaguer to defensive wiz and power hitter was one of the more unexpected turnarounds I've ever seen. July 4

David Ortiz and the city of Boston
Since coming back from injury, David Ortiz has been hitting everything in sight. He's also done his small part to help bring a little joy and pride into the city. April 30

Toasting the Oakland A's
Oakland is in Boston to take on the Red Sox, and that was a good excuse to talk up old times of catching the A's in Spring Training in Phoenix. April 23

Boston
Some thoughts on my city. April 16

Just how dominating is Mariano Rivera?
A random stat that flew my way — relating to Rivera and the moon — led to a quick look at some impressive numbers as the closer prepares for his last season in the majors. March 9

Turning enemies into allies with Mike Napoli
After terrorizing the Red Sox for five seasons, Mike Napoli has come to Boston to man first base and not give Jon Lester nightmares. Feb. 11

Brandon Webb's quiet brilliance
Webb announced his retirement after three years away from the game due to injury, and I looked back on one of my favorite Arizona Diamondbacks. Feb. 5

Alex Gonzalez and the art of fielding
Early on in Chad Harbach's incredible book The Art of Fielding, my mind flashed back to Alex Gonzalez and the 2006 Red Sox. Jan. 18

With Dickey trade, the Mets remain amazin'
Only the Mets could take all the goodwill that R.A. Dickey received in his Cy Young Award-winning season and flush it down the toilet like the chances of another pennant. Dec. 17

The Giants cap a run to remember
Quite simply, I cannot remember liking a team outside of Boston as much as I did the 2012 San Francisco Giants. They were everything a great baseball team should be. Oct. 29

Marco Scutaro, an MVP to be named later
It didn't take long for Scutaro to become an all-time favorite while he was Boston's shortstop, so seeing him push the San Francisco Giants into the World Series was special. Oct. 24

In defense of honest debate and the Triple Crown
I'll be honest; when I saw that Keith Law called Mike Trout "the only rational choice" for MVP, I had kind of had enough. Let's cool it with the end-all, be-all of baseball debates. Oct. 2

The Red Sox have gone LA
Tired of the middling performances and looking to start over, the Red Sox and Dodgers pulled off the biggest baseball trade in ages. One of the few instances where "shocking" is an apt description. Aug. 25

Pesky
Johnny Pesky loved baseball, and in turn he was loved by players, fans and the baseball world. Aug. 13

Making a difference, one Wiffle Ball loss at a time
I took part in a Wiffle Ball tournament to help fight Type 1 diabetes. We lost, and it wasn't close, but it was still a great time. July 31

Like Fisk, Youkilis made his South Side mark quickly
Kevin Youkilis wasted no time in turning his season around after being unceremoniously traded to the White Sox. It's reminiscent of the fast start Carlton Fisk jumped out to in 1981. July 19

For David Ortiz, home runs can't buy respect
Despite being the most consistent hitter in the Red Sox lineup, Ortiz can't seem to get much momentum towards a two-year contract. It's not hard to sympathize with him. July 5

Rajon Rondo, basketball's answer to Pedro Martinez
Quite simply, Rondo is the most cerebral athlete I've seen in years, and the only comparable player I can think of is a pitcher who also seemed to impose his will on his opponents. May 6

A toast to Fenway Park's first 100 years
Fenway is a marvel of resilience and organic architecture. As a note, I've only been alive for 30 of Fenway's 100 seasons, so this leans a little heavily on that. April 20

Terry Francona the latest to battle Boston's institutional paranoia
Though he wound up going, Francona's initial resistance to attending Fenway Park's 100th anniversary celebration was understandable. What isn't understandable is why everyone seems to be bad-mouthed when leaving the Red Sox. April 12

Uncovering the history of the hidden leagues
I just about flipped when Baseball Reference unveiled their Negro Leagues statistical database. While it's not as complete as I would've hoped, it's still pretty amazing. March 23

Dustin Pedroia, swinging through history
I wrapped up my Favorites Week with a graphic and thoughts on the current heart and soul of the Red Sox, Dustin Pedroia. Also, there's no way he's actually 5'9", but that's neither here nor there. Feb. 25

Jason Varitek, a favorite through thick and thin
Rooting for the Red Sox' captain in 2005 was a fairly easy task. Rooting for him after his game started to slip became much tougher, but far more rewarding. Feb. 24

The furious reign of Pedro Martinez
One aspect of Pedro Martinez's game that pushed him past many of his peers was his ability to take anger and channel it into pure, inspired performance. He was Hulk-like. Feb. 23

Tim Naehring and embracing the underdog
I'm not kidding when I say it still bothers me that Naehring was left off the 1995 and '96 All-Star games. It was an injustice that laid the seeds of my not caring about the All-Star game anymore. Anyway, yeah, he was great. Feb. 22

Mike Greenwell, an original
I can't think of many players like Mike Greenwell. No agent, shaved head, beard, power ability but the preference was on hitting .300 year in and year out. And instead of taking a seat on the bench, he left the game early. Feb. 21

Dwight Evans, and the timeline of favorite players
To mark the true beginning of Spring Training, I started a week-long series looking at my favorite players, one by one, starting with Dewey. Feb. 20

Tim Wakefield, a picture of defiance
After 19 years throwing a ridiculous pitch in the major leagues, Tim Wakefield announced that he was calling it a career. Feb. 17

David Ortiz: a vital cog and an institution
Now here's something we can all get behind, the Red Sox signing David Ortiz for another year. He can still hit, and he gets to keep playing in the right uniform. Feb. 13

Requiem for a shortstop: Marco Scutaro
Finances led the Red Sox to trade Scutaro away to the Colorado Rockies before the 2012 season, so I spent 500 words mourning the departure of a true ballplayer. Jan. 23

Let the A's move to San Jose
Why haven't the A's been allowed to move 45 minutes down the Bay? Because of a territory claim by the Giants that has them stuck in a near-impossible situation. It's un-American. Dec. 29

No, really, pitchers are valuable
The idea that pitchers shouldn't win the MVP, ever, is ridiculous. Sometimes, a pitcher has a season that's too good to ignore, and 2011, Justin Verlander had such a season. Nov. 17

Freese, October legends and late nights
This entire story was borne out of me wanting to document how it felt to watch the greatest World Series game I've ever seen. My World Series watching goes back to about 1988, but not seriously until 1992 or so (in case you're trying to pin down my age). Oct. 28

Baseball, rock and the order of things
After the Red Sox were wiped from the baseball season in sudden, horrifying fashion, I stepped away from the game for a bit into my other passion, music. And then they intertwined. Life is funny, right? Oct. 25

Francona the first to fall?
Not only did the Red Sox miss out on the playoffs, it looked like they'd lose their manager in the aftermath. Shortly after writing this, the option years on Terry Francona's contract were declined by Boston. Sept. 30

With a bang and a whimper
The drama and calamity present in the Red Sox finishing a historic September slide, coupled with the Rays' rise through the standings, was amazing, pathetic and all too much for a diehard to take. Sept. 29

Ryan Lavarnway and 162
Keeping the Red Sox in a dead heat with the Tampa Bay Rays was, in game no. 161, a rookie catcher making his first start behind a major league plate. And hopes were high for this writer entering the final game of the season. Sept. 28

Carl Yastrzemski: Powered by infinity
I have a lot of nice things to say about a player who retired when I was a year-and-a-half old. And another graphic! Aug. 23

Remembering Tony C.
I got hung up on an anecdote from a Fred Lynn radio interview, and wound up finding a random pinch-hitting performance by Tony Conigliaro. Aug. 18

Reddick, Drew and aging gracefully
Whether or not Josh Reddick is the Red Sox' right fielder of the future, J.D. Drew's time is running out. Both have handled that pretty nicely. Aug. 8

Rooting for Dontrelle Willis
Coming home from a trip on a Sunday night, I was pleasantly surprised to see Willis pitching for a contender in prime time. July 25

Red Sox, Rays play a marathon, keep me up late
There's little as memorable in baseball's regular season as games that seem like they'll never end. Also, Dustin Pedroia is amazing. July 18

The brutal art of blocking the plate
The catcher blocking the path of the runner to home plate can be cruel, cringe-worthy and exciting, and it's a part of the game of baseball. July 7

Summer, baseball and your Bay State options
Coming off the excitement of the Bruins' Stanley Cup run, getting back into baseball was a little difficult. This also includes my Bay State Dreams graphic. July 3

Pedro works and works through the Angels
I can vividly recall sitting in my cubicle and watching this game on the sports desk. I still get giddy and nervous, too. May 26

The Year of the Pitcher
When Pedro Martinez tore through the American League in 1999 ... I'm sorry, I just got flustered. I've never seen anything like it. May 24

An unknown Dodger
The first full post of Pedro Week, which was a project that popped in my head when I remembered that Pedro Martinez was awesome. No, really. May 23

The chronicles of Ichiro
The best part about going to Fenway Park is usually the Red Sox, unless Ichiro is in town with the Mariners. May 2

Dodger blues dragging down baseball
There have been many, many embarrassing folks associated with Major League Baseball through the years, and the McCourts have taken their place among them. April 21

Beckett blows through the Yankees
Early in the 2011 season, Josh Beckett found his mojo. April 11

Another Opening Day for the Captain and Wake
I'm nothing if not sentimental, so it makes me feel good that Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield are still on the Red Sox in 2011. April 1

The Red Sox' radio cure
Who needs cable when I have a radio and my imagination? Also, radio is free. March 25

Everything you'll need for Opening Day
I don't know if I'm ever a bigger baseball fan than in March, so assembling a story listing everything that gets me excited for the next season seemed natural. March 16

Thanks, Mike
Mike Lowell played his last game in the major leagues at Fenway Park for the Red Sox. He was a classy guy, and he'll be missed. Oct. 2

Tim Wakefield' standing ovation
Random acts of kindness by a fanbase really makes me happy, as when Sox fans gave Tim Wakefield a standing ovation as he entered a blowout loss to the Blue Jays. Sept. 17

Mike Lowell answers the call
Lowell has had a terrible season, and it could be his last as a Major Leaguer. So it's been great to see him make the most of another chance to play. Aug. 3

Whatever happens, what a season!
It might have been the most exciting Red Sox game of the year at that point, and I got to spend it on I-495 in my car. Still, I have a feeling I'll keep the memory of listening to that game for a long, long time. July 31

The Hawk and the Hall of Fame
Congratulations to Andre Dawson. His career intersected with my fandom when he was forced to limp around the diamond, but I admired him anyway. July 26

Remembering the Mickey Mantle of the '90s
I was caught a little off-guard by how much Ken Griffey Jr.'s retirement meant to me. Mostly because I didn't like him much during his Seattle heyday. June 3

In which I wax poetic on the greatest pitcher alive, Roy Halladay
Halladay throwing a perfect game seems fitting, since it seems like he should every time he takes the mound. Thanks for taking that to the National League, buddy! May 30

Being for the benefit of Big Papi
In terms of individual performance, little has made me as happy as the resurgence of David Ortiz. And oh, how the Red Sox needed it. May 27

Clay, Cardboard Gods and a ridiculous night at Fenway Park
This was, far and away, the greatest baseball game I've ever been to. I met Josh Wilker, watched Clay Buchholz toss another gem, got to sit in the second row next to the Minnesota Twins dugout, saw Daniel Bard throw 100 mph about five feet from my face, and it had great company. This wil not be topped. May 20