Boston Red Sox

David Ortiz struck out three more times yesterday, reminding us that he has truly become an all-or-nothing hitter. 

Ortiz now has 109 whiffs in 340 at-bats this season, which means he's striking out a whopping 32 percent of the time.

The Boston DH's strikeout total is third highest in the AL, behind Austin Jackson (114) and Carlos Pena (111). For the record, the latter two are both position players who make an impact defensively, at least mitigating some of the impact of their frequent strike outs.

In my opinion, the Boston Red Sox suffered the death blow to their season when they learned on Friday that first baseman Kevin Youkilis would be out for the season. It’s going to be really hard to lose someone of Youkilis’ caliber and still try to make up five or six games on the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays in the competitive American League East.

Mythbusters: Lance Berkman w/ two strikes

FOX broadcaster Tim McCarver took it upon himself to call Lance Berkman a “good two strike hitter” after he walked against Red Sox starting pitcher John Lackey. The stats, however, show that Berkman is not a bad two strike hitter, but certainly not a good two strike hitter.

Berkman with two-strikes (career): .193 BA

Ortiz’s AB

The last time the Boston Red Sox missed the playoffs was in 2006. Much like this season, 2006 was an injury-riddled year that most fans considered a write-off. The organization would never admit it, but it felt the same way as this year.

Carlos Delgado joined the Boston Red Sox this morning when he agreed to a minor league contract with Boston's front office, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

The contractual details include a $20,000 salary per month at the minor league level and a pro-rated $3 million yearly salary when Delgado reaches the bigs.

Should the Red Sox make the playoffs, postseason performance incentives have been included that could add to those numbers. Conversely, if Boston fails to bring Delgado up to The Show by Sept. 1, he can opt out and again hit the open market.

He was over the hill. He couldn't hit without Manny behind him. He's older than he lets on. He was on steroids. The injuries got to him. Even some Fenway Faithful began calling him "Big Pop-up." Then, all of a sudden, David Ortiz started to hit again. The past two years have been the toughest in his tenure in Boston, which may be coming to an end. 

On what was a seemingly routine August night in Baltimore in 2008, Red Sox DH David Ortiz dug in to the box. He fouled off an outside fastball, then grabbed his right hand in agony.

The Red Sox' interest in free-agent first baseman Carlos Delgado seems to have intensified after the 38-year-old worked out for Boston today, and Delgado could sign as early as tonight, according to The Boston Herald's Scott Lauber.

Every team has to deal with injuries.

During 2010, no team has had to deal with a greater number of injuries and illnesses than the Boston Red Sox, culminating Wednesday when it was announced that Gold Glove first baseman Kevin Youkilis, arguably the team's most important player, was to have season-ending surgery on his right thumb.

Considering the injuries this season, it is incredible that the Sox have been able to remain in touching distance of the league leading Yankees and Rays.

By no stretch of the imagination does the phrase “Showdown in the Bronx” hold any unjust meaning.

Time and space do not favor the Red Sox in their quest to chase down the American League Wildcard spot.

53 games appear plenty of time to gradually sneak up and steal the one and only AL Wild Card slot, let alone outright win the AL East.

Boston comes into New York after splitting a four game set against the struggling Cleveland Indians.