The Sox have now played 20 games in 20 days (Dating back to a 5-0 home win versus Detroit, when the Tiggers were winless).  I don't think its any coincidence that the Sox have started to stumble and loose momentum at the tail end of this marathon.

Now they get to return home to Fenway, where we know they play so much better.  Three versus the Jays and another three against the Jays before setting off on a 10 game road trip.

Nagging injuries, flu-like symtomps have nagged the local 9 during in the last few weeks and caused them to falter.  Their pitching has been better (not great, but better) and the offense has let them down the last two games; no question about it.

Bright spots?  Drew is a hitter again (cooling off recently but at least he's not hovering around the Mendoza line like last year).  Lugo (see Drew analysis).  Buchh pitched the game of his life (sans no-hitter) and Beckett is the horse he's been since last year.  This group can right the ship.  Oh yea, Papelbon's been alright.

What they need is to sleep in their own beds for a night and come back with a vengance.  Don't panic yet people.  It's April.  For another few days at least.

Via rotoworld.com : Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect Nick Hagadone could need Tommy John elbow surgery.

Not good news as he was killing it at Single-A Greenville, with a 33 inning scoreless streak before his last start.

I don't think Hagadone's ETA was anywhere in 2008, but this certainly delays his arrival probably delays it by a year.

Jeez, even the players in the Sox' farm teams aren't immune to the sudden Flu-Like Symptoms/Injury bug.

Link here

RedSox.com, among other places, is reporting that SP Justin Masterson will be called up to make today's afternoon start versus the L.A. Angels of Anaheim.

Just wondering what your guys' thoughts are about his expectations not just for todays game but for the year?  If he performs well against a good offense does he insert himself into that 6th "spot" starter guy?

He's been disgusting at AA Portland posting a record of 1-0 with an 0.95 ERA in four starts after being one of the centerpeices of the Johan Santana trade talks over the winter.

Update [2008-3-13 14:33:32 by Randy Booth]: OK, maybe not big news, but it has thrown a monkey wrench into our roster. I think Kevin Cash will be the backup, even though Nick Cafardo thinks Dusty Brown could take the backup job. I think that's highly unlikely though because his highest level of experience is 8 games at Pawtucket last year. But hey, George Kottaras is hitting .500 right now. Although I'm sure he won't grab the backup job out of spring, he could win a job with a solid year in Pawtucket.

Update [2008-3-13 14:2:49 by Randy Booth]: Big news here. Not sure what to think just quite yet. More news when it comes.

Per rotoworld and the Boston Herald Doug Mirabelli has been released by the Red Sox.  The Herald speculates that Kevin Cash will be the new personal catcher of 'Wake, as he demonstrated he could handle the duty late last year.  

The article also says that Mirabelli was in uniform this morning and draws that the decision must have been a sudden one.

Looks like Dougie isn't going deep with the Sox in '08.