By: Dan Podheiser, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Red Sox fans, but I think you already know what I’m about to say.

The Boston Red Sox are not going to make the playoffs.

This is usually the time to start pointing fingers at reasons why the Sox fell short this year.

Obviously, injuries were the key reason. When the team loses its two best players, Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia, it doesn’t have much of a shot to compete with the two best teams in baseball.

One could also point out Boston’s shaky starting pitching, which was supposed to be the team’s strong suit in 2010. John Lackey (12-9, 4.48 ERA) has been inconsistent all year, Josh Beckett (4-4, 6.21 ERA) has been ridden with injuries and Jon Lester (15-8, 3.27 ERA), who was arguably the AL’s best pitcher halfway through the season, is just 4-5 with a 4.34 ERA since the All-Star break.

But that’s enough whining. There are still four weeks left in the regular season, and even though the Red Sox have no chance — I repeat, no chance — of playing postseason ball, there are still some important players to watch in the final month.

So don’t turn off NESN just yet (except on Sundays; you can watch the Pats). These are five Red Sox players to continue to watch the rest of the way.

Daniel Bard – Many Red Sox fans have been going for Jonathan Papelbon’s head this year, as the closer has seven blown saves in 2010. Cue Daniel Bard. The 25 year old has burst onto the scene this year as one of the most dominant setup men in the AL, with a 1.82 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. His fastball is faster than Papelbon’s, his slider crisper and his ability to get hitters out — well that’s pretty self explanatory. Look for Bard, who is without a doubt Boston’s closer of the future, to get a few save opportunities down the stretch.

Clay Buchholz – With the exception of a four-week stretch on the DL, Buchholz has been one of the few consistent Red Sox players in 2010, and the only one in the starting rotation to continue to put up good numbers. Buchholz is 15-6, and his 2.25 ERA is best in the AL. Buchholz should have five more starts this year, which means he has five more chances to gain the respect of the AL Cy Young voters. If he wins it, he’ll become the first Boston pitcher to win the award since Pedro Martinez in 2000.

Victor Martinez – The Red Sox have still not worked out a contract with “V-Mart”, and it doesn’t appear that the two parties will negotiate until after the season. That said, the final four weeks are an audition for Martinez, whose .742 OPS after the All-Star break is much lower than his .824 mark before the break. Martinez will be the top free agent catcher on the market if the Red Sox doesn’t resign him, but you have to think he’ll be back in Fenway Park next April, given Boston’s obvious lack of catching depth beyond him. How much they pay him could depend on the next four weeks.

David Ortiz – Much like Martinez, Ortiz is playing for a contract in September. “Big Papi” has been a consistent threat since May, and will finish the season somewhere around 30 home runs and 100 RBIs if he maintains his pace. But Ortiz might need to turn it on if he wants the multi-year deal he requested after winning the Home Run Derby in July. The Red Sox know he can hit during the summer, but it’s how the 34 year old’s legs hold up in September (and inevitably, October) which will really spark the interest of the powers that be.

Ryan Kalish – After Kalish’s first 13 major league games, in which the 22 year old hit .326 (14-for-43), everyone thought the Red Sox had finally found their center fielder. Since then, Kalish has completely tailed off. He enters Monday with a .233 average and just a .278 on-base percentage. But September is made for rookies to showcase their skills. Kalish, who made his major league debut on July 31, has a head start on many of the other September call-ups around the league. A solid month could give him a decent shot of making the team next year; a team that should have high hopes for the postseason.

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