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 [...]

Congratulations to Big Papi for killing it at the Home Run Derby, hitting 32 homers. I think the big guy needed it. I also think it’s finally safe to say, that he’s got his swing back. No, not just because he hit all those BP balls out of the park, but because he really has come back from the dark months of April and May when he found himself even getting benched. He kept telling us he’d figure it out and now he’s up to .263 and has hit 18 homers, tied for eighth in the AL, tied for first with YOUKK (who once again got screwed on the All-Star cut) on the Sox. Well done.
BUT, if his decision to participate in the derby screws up his swing and he slumps again, this congratulations might be withdrawn.
Also, Papi needs to chill. Now he wants an extension? Does he realize that he’s about to be 35? Does he realize that the last time he hit over 50 homers was in 2006? That the last time he hit over 30 was in 2007? Boston loves their Teddy Bear, but there’s still half a season left, and he needs to prove he’s worth [...]

By: Dan Podheiser, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
Theo Epstein became the general manager of the Red Sox in November 2002. Since then, he’s orchestrated two World Series champions, four other playoff teams and developed a plethora of unknown players into All-Stars.
Epstein’s track record has been pretty incredible for a guy who was hired as a 28 year-old, the youngest GM in the history of Major League Baseball.
His tenure as Red Sox GM has arguably been the best run in team history.
So, in lieu of the 2010 MLB All-Star Game, we here at Yawkey Talkies have decided to put our own spin on the midsummer classic.
It’s the “Theo All-Stars,” featuring the best players ever to put on a Red Sox uniform during Epstein’s career in Boston.
This is not just the best Red Sox players during that time. The players on this team are judged by their career stats, whether they played 20 years or 20 games with the Sox.
And I might as well say it now: Possible steroid use is not a factor.
Let the snub-talk begin!
Catcher – Victor Martinez
Martinez has been spectacular for the Red Sox since coming over in a trade last July, but he made his bones playing for Cleveland for [...]

By: JessLander, YawkeyTalkies Editor
What do you do when you have a slumping player and need to get them motivated?
Threaten to trade them.
This might seem drastic, but in Boston, it seems to often work.
Back in January/February rumors circled about possibly trading Celtics’ Ray Allen who had been inconsistent all season. His age, along with the rest of his teammates, showed. But then right as the deadline was passing, Allen stepped it up. The deadline was on Feb 19 and for five straight games starting with February 18th, Allen had the high for points, averaging 23 points a game.
Despite denying that was the reason for an improvement in his play, the timing couldn’t seem like less of a coincidence. His numbers are up right around where they were last year and he’s second behind Paul Pierce for points. Especially now, Boston is glad we kept him, as he’s averaging 19 points a game in the playoffs.
Our newest example is good ole’ Mikey Lowell. The Red Sox have discussed trading Lowell since the end of the 2009 season. None of the trades went through, and Lowell humbly took his place on the bench. He’s been a great sport, stating that there’s nothing he [...]

By: Zach Comtois, YawkeyTalkies Correspondent
We’ve all been thinking about this for a month. Some of us have given up wondering, some are angry, and some remain hopeful. It’s time for us to get it out into the open. What’s going on with Ortiz? I’d like to take a moment of your time and explain what I feel is going on with the former big slugger.
We all know his history with the Red Sox not only as a power home run hitter with a high batting average, but easily the most clutch hitter in Red Sox history. I’m not going to get into the steroid aspect of this debate, because the only solid proof we’ve had is that someone sprung said fact onto Ortiz before a ballgame, and he dealt with that by smacking out a few homers.
So let’s look at the current situation: Ortiz is currently batting a .156 with 7 hits per 45 at bats. He has walked five times, was caught stealing in his only attempt, snapped his homerless streak the other night with a big fly, and has three RBI’s. This puts him on pace to not do too much (if any) damage this season.
Don’t get me [...]