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
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 [...]