More photos » by LM Otero - AP

Texas Rangers' Ian Kinsler lays on the ground after being hit by a pitch in the head during the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009. Kinsler stayed in the game and took first base. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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Sorry, Ian. Sure hope Cabrera didn't do that intentionally. Can we avoid the retaliation stuff tomorrow?

Let's get the messy stuff out of the way - HUGE crash after Friday's amazing win.

NESN - Penny, Red Sox Knocked Around in 7-2 Loss to Texas

ProJo - Rangers 7, Red Sox 2

ProJo - To blame or not to blame, that is the question

There may even be a few people who fully believe none of it was the captain's fault. This season he's allowed 92 stolen bases and has thrown out only nine runners. While those are pretty disparaging numbers, the Sox' pitching staff needs to take responsibility, too.

Considering the two biggest failures to control the baserunners in a specific game BOTH came when Brad Penny was pitching, there has to be some sort of credit given to Tek. Hopefully this doesn't cost us many more wins, especially considering that there's not much the Sox can do to improve in this aspect this season.

We're still 0.5 games ahead of the Rangers, but that could change if Tazawa doesn't pitch well today. It would also be nice if there was minimal violence in today's series finale.

Some of the Wild Card contenders crept a little closer as well:

Some intriguing stuff after the jump, including prospect news, some pieces about the glut of roster moves this season, and thoughts about the futures of two important Sox.

Prospects soon to be playing

@SoxProspects - Rizzo's Back

You may stop holding your breath - Anthony Rizzo off the DL in Salem! #redsox

USG mentioned this in the comments of yesterday's Laundry, but it's kinda worth repeating. Hopefully Rizzo can bounce back from this and continue his ascent through the minors.

@SoxProspects - Webb Signs, Pivach Might

Theo, McLeod and co. keep at it - LHP Timmy Webb ([31st] rd) signed, and we're hearing RHP John Pivach (46th) might have too #RedSox

Not sure if these are just quick deals done while working on the higher picks or if the FO has moved on to focusing these kids.

@SoxProspects - No option burnt for Reddick if back on 9/1

Reddick optioned to Pawtucket, Brian Anderson up. Reddick can be called up on 9/1 and not burn an option this year. #redsox

The Chronicles of Reddick skipped a chapter, so he's going back to make sure he's developed properly for when the Sox decide he's ready to be a Major Leaguer for real - which, might be sooner than previously thought...

Always thinking of the future

Fire Brand of the American League - Are we better off letting Jason Bay walk?

But would the Red Sox be better off letting Jason Bay walk? Would they be better off taking the draft picks, finding a one-year stopgap. And hopefully letting Josh Reddick take over the position, at a very cheap price, and under club control for a while?

If Reddick is going to be startin next year, I'd prefer that he be in right field, shifting the aging JD Drew to left field. What's your preferred solution to the LF spot?

Fire Brand of the American League - Buchholz a groundball pitcher?

Currently his groundball rate, is a rate of 60 percent. Really, really high. That number probably won't be sustained. But a definite improved groundball rate most likely will.

Pitching to contact would help Clay see more batters and go deeper into games, but with his stuff, strikeouts are always going to be a big part of his game.

Extra Bases - What's next for Woodward, Matsuzaka

Not that anyone really cares about Woodward, but here's Dice-K's schedule for the next week or so:

Matsuzaka will throw another bullpen Monday, with an increased pitch count. On Thursday, he'll throw another bullpen with the intensity dialed down. His next appearance would be a few innings of a rehab start, likely in the Gulf Coast League.

Extra Bases - Gonzalez glad to be back

"I know these guys," Gonzalez said. "I don’t feel like a stranger, you know? I feel like I’m with family again."

Great. Now can you please be the over-athletic sibling who excels at every thing he does? I mean, we've already got the fat uncle who sits on the bench during family softball games, eating his turkey leg covered in gravy - yeah, this guy:

SoSH - The Penny Problem

That means one pitcher, either Brad Penny or Junichi Tazawa, will be removed from the rotation. Given Tazawa's inexperience and roster flexibility (he can be optioned at any time), it's easy to presume him the odd man out. But after watching Penny labor through yet another outing tonight, it might be time to seriously question his viability going forward.

I'd assume Penny would be claimed by SOMEONE if we placed him on waivers, but will Theo be willing to trust Taz, Bowden, Byrd, and Dice-K to fill the 5th spot once Wake comes back? Speaking of Wake...

Extra Bases - Wakefield's rehab start

Tim Wakefield has concluded his rehab start with Triple A Pawtucket at Gwinnett. He allowed two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings on three hits, a walk, and, strangely enough, a balk. Wakefield struck out three and threw 63 pitches.

Should be ready to go soon. Now, about the other member of the DL Loyalty Club:

Extra Bases - Drew out until Wednesday

Drew's sore groin will keep him out tonight and tomorrow. On Monday, the Sox have an offday. On Tuesday, the Sox are scheduled to face Toronto lefthander Ricky Romero, a game Francona likely would have sat Drew for, anyway. So Drew will get four days off to rest his groin.

And now, on a COMPLETELY unrelated note:

MLB Daily Dish - Investigation slows prospects negotiations

Not much to say here - we need to know who we're offering millions to, and teams should be more than willing to wait for the MLB to determine if an international prospect is telling the truth.

Maybe we should think about the future a little more

ProJo - There seems to be no end to the Red Sox’ roster shakeups

Boston has made seven roster moves in the last 11 days, and 10 in the last 16. A total of 46 different players have appeared in games for the Red Sox this season, which is one shy of last year’s total of 47. On the mound, 22 pitchers have been used, also one shy of last year’s mark, 23.

We're not alone in our proclivity for changing our roster - and other teams are paying for their mistakes just like we are:

MLB Daily Dish - Teams Paying $70M to Released Players This Season

Sometimes just thinking about the present is difficult

BtB - UZR's (and Most Other Defensive Metrics) Limitation in Year to Year Analysis
Since E-Coli busts out the UZR every once in a while, I thought you guys would like to understand more about the stat, and it's issues.

P.S. - Pitch F/X School

Yesterday I asked which of Frank Francisco's pitches were labeled suspiciously. If you couldn't tell just based off of a green dot in a bunch of yellow dots (or vice-versa, if you noticed that one too), here's a guide for movement graphs that shows where each type of pitch USUALLY can be found. I'd say either of the suspicious pitches could be labeled a splitter, based off this.