Daily Red Sox Links: Jon Lester, Carl Crawford, Ryan Kalish

Rejoice, for the Red Sox just won two out of three in New York! Now, obviously one series doesn't drastically change the outlook for any team, but it was still nice to see the team perform well against elite competition. Saturday's game represented one particularly encouraging performance from the much-maligned Jon Lester. While his performance wasn't ace-like by any stretch of the imagination, it was still a step in the right direction. (Rob Bradford; WEEI.com)

• Carl Crawford has not looked good since coming back from the disabled list, and his elbow injury has clearly been affecting his throwing abilities in left field. Now, the team has him on a "four-day program," which he doesn't seem to be a huge fan of. (Nick Cafardo; Boston.com)
• This season, Red Sox fans have been unnecessarily looking for a single person, or small group of people, to blame for the inconsistent and disappointing play. Unfortunately, Gordon Edes has fallen into this trap, blaming this season on the manager. (Gordon Edes; ESPN Boston)
• There have been rumors swirling about many possible players the Red Sox could move before the July 31st deadline. One of the more realistic names being thrown around has been Ryan Sweeney. A possible replacement for him has been trying to get back into the swing of things down in Pawtucket. (Mike Scandura; Fire Brand of the AL)

• Speaking of the trade deadline, many people see it as an almost sure-fire way to improve a team enough to push it into the playoffs. The great Jay Jaffe looked into the accuracy of this claim, and came up with some interesting finds. (Jay Jaffe; Sports Illustrated)
• This time of year is an interesting one for the baseball blogosphere, as everyone has an opinion on every move that every team makes. Most of the time, we try to make trades too black and white, feeling a need to declare a winner and a loser. Chris Lund cautions us against doing this. (Chris Lund; Hardball Times)
• Even after this weekend's series win in New York, the Red Sox still have an uphill battle to reach the postseason. Brian MacPherson took a look at some possible trades Ben Cherington could make if the team decides to become a seller. (Brian MacPherson; Providence Journal)
• One of the things you will hear the most when reading about a pitching prospect is his delivery. Some have a delivery that can be described as "effortless," while others are branded with the label of "violent." In an incredibly fascinating read, Doug Thorburn looks in-depth as to whether these terms are really fair labels. (Doug Thorburn; Baseball Prospectus)
• After this weekend, it's all Pedro Ciriaco all the time for Red Sox fans. (Matthew Pouliot; Hardball Talk)