With a payroll of more than $160 million and a lineup hailed last winter as one of the best ever, you'd think that the 2011 Boston Red Sox could have field half an All-Star roster. Instead, the injury-plagued team is sending just four players to the Midsummer Classic next week in Arizona.

It's no secret that the Red Sox have had some great and not-so-great moments, from starting 2-6 in early April to going 8-1 on their best roadtrip since 1977 in early June.

With the State Farm Home Run Derby set for later tonight at Chase Field in Phoenix, American League captain David Ortiz looks to carry his squad to victory in what has become a brand-new derby format.

Each league will have one captain -- last year's champion, Ortiz, for the AL and Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder, the 2009 Home Run Derby champion for the NL.

At just $3, there’s no doubt that frozen lemonde (as they call it) is the best buy at Fenway. Not to mention that it’s not exactly something you can sneak in in your shorts. I like to stick one in my pants for a few minutes, cool off, then crush it like a python. Pun intended, but I’m pretty sure that’s not a pun.

That Youkilis home run was just about the most spectacular thing I’ve seen out here in two seasons. Plus I swear a cool breeze blew through as soon as his heater cleared the Green Monster.

In the past two weeks, there have been a lot less tickets on the street. I just scored something decent at a good price, but there’s something fishy going on here. Has Ace Tixx tigtened the noose? Perhaps an investigation is in order.

For the first time ever, I understand why most sane people despise soccer fans. At the Bolocco near Fenway Park - five minutes into the Sox game - and these geeks and assorted international students are watching the USA women’s match. I’m more confused than anything else, really.

At Bleacher Bar watching the game since I couldn’t get a ticket (hey where you at all my scalpers???). And shit is strange in here; there’s like a ten second delay, so it kind of feels like we’re in the future. Or in between. Or just drunk. Whatever it is, whatever. We’re here. Or we’re going there. Or…

^{Adrian Gonzalez stands on first base after singling in a game against the Balitimore Orioles in April}

When Adrian Gonzalez was traded to the Red Sox, the first feeling that came over hometown fans was happiness. Because for two years, Theo Epstein & Co. have flirted with Epstein protégé Jed Hoyer, executive VP and general manager of the San Diego Padres, regarding the availability of a guy Epstein has coveted since before the 2004 season.