The only thing better than actually making the playoffs is SPOILING the division title for the Yankees. And we did. So good, so good, so good. It is also worth noting that we took 4 out of the last 6 against them without Ellsbury, Pedroia, and Youk–and with a team of a lot of minor-leaguers and some old-timers. I’m very proud of our boys, but it does make me sad to think where we COULD be, had we had better health this season. To next year boys, and cheers! I’ll be holding onto this until March.

By: Chris Talanian, YawkeyTalkies Fan Reaction
With five games left in the regular season, the Red Sox are finally out of the playoff race.
This is truly saddening.  Not just for the fans or the franchise, but for the local stores, business, and employees that suffer from a lack of October ball in Boston.  Personally, I have a friend that will not see a playoff berth’s worth of tips from her regulars in State Street.  That’s a whole month’s worth of mad money not earned because of untimely injuries!  Her fault?  Not a chance…
Just as it’s not the fault of Copperfield’s Bar, the Holiday Inn, or the Red Sox Team Store, who will all see an enormous drop in revenue this upcoming month.
But what is there to do?  Prepare for next year and hope for the best…GO PATS!

By: Dan Podheiser, YawkeyTalkies Assistant Editor
Just 10 days ago, I pronounced the Red Sox dead at the scene. Finished. Kaput.
I’m still standing by my proclamation. But now it’s starting to get interesting.
Boston enters the weekend six and a half games behind the Rays in the AL East and six behind the Yankees for the wild card.
Those deficits are not exactly easy to overcome midway through September, especially when the two best teams in the American League are the ones you’re trailing.
Thankfully for the Red Sox, their playoff hopes still rest in their own hands.
Boston is done with playing the Rays, but with six games left against New York, including a three-game set at Fenway Park to close the regular season, the Red Sox have the opportunity to win their way into the postseason. The problem is they don’t have any margin for error.
That’s a tall task to expect from a team that is essentially half major leaguers and half Pawtucket call-ups. Boston’s demise in 2010 is well documented — their best players haven’t played, and their reserves haven’t been able to keep up with the other two titans in the division.
Ironically, with two and a half weeks left, it’s this [...]

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 [...]

By: Dan Podheiser, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
There have been several great third basemen in Red Sox history.
Since 1901 (when the franchise was called the Boston Americans), there have been 46 different everyday third basemen.
Wade Boggs was easily the best. Boggs made eight straight All-Star teams from 1985 to 1992, and won the silver slugger at third six times in his Red Sox career.
In recent years, two fan favorites — Bill Mueller and Mike Lowell — have made great impressions at third base. Mueller won the AL batting title in 2003, and Lowell had a great 2007 season that culminated with a World Series MVP Award.
There was also George Kell — a Hall of Famer more well-known for his years with the Athletics and Tigers — who made an All-Star team playing the hot corner for Boston in 1953.
But in 2010, Adrian Beltre’s stats are quickly becoming one of the best in Red Sox third base history. Unquestionably Boston’s most consistent hitter all year, Beltre has had a career resurrection at the right time for the injury-plagued Red Sox.
So, without further ado, here are the top 10 seasons for Red Sox third basemen in franchise history.

By: Dan Podheiser, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
It was the one that got away.
In a Red Sox season filled with ups and downs, a depleted roster that takes up an entire hospital wing and gutsy performances from the most unlikely suspects, the entire thing could come down to one horrible inning.
Carrying a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning in Toronto on Thursday, Boston was set to sweep the Blue Jays and head into its tough series in Texas just three games behind the Rays in the wild card and four and a half back of the Yankees in the division.
Instead, Jonathan Papelbon decided to employ his Jekyll and Hyde act again — something Red Sox fans have seen far too often in 2010 — and the Sox ended up losing on a walk-off sacrifice fly, 6-5.
The Red Sox gave up a full game in the race, something they can’t afford to do when they’re chasing the two best teams in baseball.
As for the Rays, who lead Boston by a comfortable four games in the wild card race — they got to look forward to a nice three-game set at home over the weekend against the last-place Orioles. And while [...]

By: Dan Podheiser, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
Red Sox GM Theo Epstein did not make any big moves at the trading deadline.
Shipping reliever Ramon Ramirez to the Giants, bringing in once-promising minor league catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia from Texas and acquiring Eric Patterson from Oakland way back in late June were all shrewd moves by Epstein.
But they weren’t earth-shaking. They weren’t the kinds of moves that catapult a team that trails the two other best teams in baseball by over five games into first place.
All that said, Epstein believes that his current roster — which will eventually be healthy — has the ability to make a run at the Yankees and Rays for an AL playoff spot.
I have a tough time following that mindset. Boston is riddled by injuries, so much so that it’s been forced to call up minor leaguers like Ryan Kalish and Daniel Nava well before they probably should be.
So far, you have to give props to Epstein, Terry Francona and all of the Red Sox reserves in 2010 for the tremendous job they’ve done. With a win over the Indians on Tuesday night, Boston improved to 61-45, the sixth-best record in baseball. And that’s with a team that’s made [...]