Jacoby Ellsbury

The Boston Red Sox will have quite a few issues to address this off season.  While their offense has been a nice surprise this year, they still need to improve if they want to compete with the Yankees and Rays in the East. 

The strength of this team was supposed to be their pitching staff however, it has been very inconsistent.  This rotation was expected to be the best in baseball, but in reality, it has been average.  Not to mention the bullpen has been a complete disaster.

The second base position just got a whole lot beefier, as today three of the position's top guns have been activated from the disabled list. Proud owners of Dustin Pedroia, Chase Utley, and Martin Prado have been forced to plug holes with stragglers like Adam Kennedy and Blake DeWitt. Now is your time to rejoice.

As Jacoby Ellsbury left Friday night's game against Texas in the fourth inning with "side pains," speculation indicated another rib injury for Boston's speedy outfielder.

Indications were right.

Confirmed by ESPN Boston's Joe McDonald, Ellsbury has indeed re-injured his ribs and has been sent back to Boston for an MRI and a CT scan.

It is reported that Ellsbury injured himself in the first inning when he collided with Rangers pitcher Tommy Hunter

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories from yesterday’s games:

American League:

Today's 2-1 win over the Yankees may have saved the Red Sox' season.  Traveling to New York to play a four game set with the Bronx Bombers, it looked very bleak for the Sox.  The Yankees were ready to send a knockout blow and send the Red Sox ten games back with a sweep.  But the Sox wouldn't have it.

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.

There was a flurry of noteworthy stories yesterday, so let’s take a look at what fantasy owners need to know:

Weeks ago, most of Red Sox Nation seemed to give up on the idea that the Sox could overtake the Yankees and win the AL East. The conventional wisdom was that the team was now fighting to overtake the Rays for the Wild Card spot.

But things have recently changed. 

In the last 10 games, the Yankees are 5-5, while the Rays have gone 9-1, tying New York for the AL East lead. 

Sometimes one reads an article that is so far from what one believes, it makes one scream and hastily hammer out an angry comment.

ESPN’s Bill Simmons wrote such an article today, about how the Boston Red Sox have been boring this year. Many things, he says, have contributed to this.