Hideki Okajima News

The World Series may still be fresh in your mind, but MLB GMs are already focusing on next season.

It's Mole Day!!! /chemistry nerd who wishes he could have set this to publish at 6:02 Wakefield looking for 200 wins - Extra Bases Hope he can get a lot closer after next season - would be nice if he's healthy for the entire year and gets within single digits.

In their bid to become big-time players in the burgeoning international talent market, the Rangers are doing everything they can to woo 18-year-old Yusei Kikuchi to bypass professional baseball in Japan, stiff-arm a dozen MLB clubs, and sign with Texas.

Rule of thumb: When Hideki Okajima is relieving Jonathan Papelbon with two on and two on in the ninth, you need not check the scoreboard to confirm that it's not looking good for the Red Sox.

They firmly expect to be there again in 2010, fighting for a chance to go deep into October.

The Boston Red Sox are among several major league teams lining up to woo Japanese high school pitcher Yusei Kikuchi.

For Vladimir Guerrero, season 13 in the Major Leagues turned out not to be so unlucky after all.

News: Rocco Baldelli has been left off the Red Sox's ALDS roster due to his hip flexor injury, according to the Providence Journal.

ANAHEIM The recession is cutting into peoples' ability to pay outrageous prices for playoff tickets.

Dana Bullen, general manager of Sunday River Ski Resort, talks with Darren Buker behind the Newry Town Office on Wednesday.

As they continue to get their house in order leading into the postseason, the Red Sox had a plethora of positive developments on the injury front before Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays.

Even with the memory of last season's injury-marred playoffs, and after having woken up with back spasms before his scheduled start Monday, Josh Beckett yesterday said he anticipated no further issues with his back.

News: Lester's right quadriceps did not swell up overnight, giving hope that he can make his next scheduled start on Thursday, the Boston Herald reports.

Rather than just sign their high-priced talent to straight salaries and hope everything works out, Red Sox management has in recent years mirrored the rest of baseball in offering roster bonuses and performance incentives to their players.

With a berth in the postseason all but locked up, it might be time for the Red Sox to ease off the throttle and give a little bit of a break to the pitchers who have done so much to get them to this point.

Just like Josh Beckett never sees any reason for enthusiasm when he turns in a dominant performance and loses, he probably won't apologize for nearly equaling his career high for hits allowed and still leading the Red Sox to a 9-2 victory over the Royals on Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium.

As many of you know, I was the Yankees beat reporter for many years until we discontinued the job in 2007.

Seems like only yesterday that anxious Red Sox fans were worried about their team's starting pitching.

Back in mid-May, Daniel Bard was just a young reliever trying to find his place in a loaded Red Sox bullpen.

Boston's Clay Buchholz limited Tampa Bay to a run and five hits in seven innings Sunday, leading a 3-1 Red Sox win in the first game of a doubleheader.