Boston Red Sox

Mike Lowell will be honored tonight by the Boston Red Sox with "Thanks, Mike Night", as we say goodbye to the consummate professional after 13 remarkable seasons. Lowell has announced that he will retire at the end of this season.

It's been a tumultuous year for the once slick-fielding third baseman. Lowell has been on the verge of being granted his outright release multiple times throughout the season, and has had to endure being relegated to the bench for the first time in his career.

The 2011 season is finally over for the Boston Red Sox.

The upcoming months should provide a lot of intrigue.

A number of current Red Sox could be hitting the free-agent market: David Ortiz, Adrian Beltre, and Bill Hall if their respective options aren't exercised. Also, the bullpen woes must be addressed. 

The Boston Red Sox were plagued with injuries throughout the 2010 season.

Beckett, Pedroia, Youkilis, Martinez, Varitek, and the list goes on and on.  But one factor that remained constant throughout this season was closer Jonathan Papelbon.

For somebody who claimed they had never trained harder in their life after last season's postseason ninth-inning blow-up, I don't believe it for a second.

Adrian Beltre and David Ortiz reached the 100-RBI plateau on the same night this week, creating a fitting link between two players who figure to be critical pieces in the most significant Red Sox off-season in recent memory.

Ortiz is likely to return, with the Red Sox picking up his option for next year, no matter how much the veteran slugger pushes for a multi-year contract. But Beltre remains something of a mystery, and the decision is anything but an easy one.

The Boston Red Sox are for all intents and purposes finished with their 2010 season. It has been a long and tough campaign which saw them virtually eliminated by their own inability to stay on the field.

Too many key injuries will derail any team let alone a team faced with a game of musical chairs with Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees.

The Red Sox still retain a solid core of players and with the chance that Tampa Bay may not be able to afford some its talent with expiring contracts, those Red Sox fans already moving onto the 2011 season have a few reasons to smile.

It was a good run...right?

The Yankees defeated the Red Sox 4-3 in extra innings last night, a game that featured late inning dramatics from both sides.

The Yankees had a 3-2 lead going into the top of the ninth inning with Mariano Rivera on the hill.

Yet the resilient Sox would not go away. Ryan Kalish singled with one out, stole second, stole third, and scored on a Bill Hall single.

Bill Hall did all he could, helping put Boston in the lead against Mariano Rivera (foreground), but his Red Sox ultimately fell, their playoff chances taking a huge blow. Photo: daylife)

In recent weeks a lot has been made about the American League Cy Young award and the debate has mostly surrounded CC Sabathia vs. Felix Hernandez. Last night the Yankees were blanked by Jon Lester and it was an amazing performance that should put him into that conversation as well.

First, let’s get some stats out of the way:

The offseason is looming closer than most Red Sox fans had hoped for. 

The look of the 2011 Red Sox is still very much up in the air, as the organization has a number of unanswered questions about who they will or will not choose to bring back.

It's very possible that an opening at first base or DH could appear next season for Boston, and they could very well choose to fill that void via free agency or the trade market.

One name that could be on the Red Sox opening day roster in 2011 might surprise some fans: Prince Fielder.

One month ago and this conversation would not have even scratched the surface of Red Sox nation.

But after Jed Lowrie's 4-for-4 performance (including a home run and three singles) in a 10-8 win over the New York Yankees, the debate suddenly becomes a valid one.

Lowrie has become Boston's starting shortstop after a rotator cuff injury sidelined opening day starter Marco Scutaro.

Scutaro will be healthy for 2011 and will be in the final year of his contract. Lowrie, however, will also be healthy for a change and offers more upside than the 34-year old journeyman.