You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone on a more even keel than J.D. Drew.

He’s not one for throwing his helmet in disgust after striking out, nor is he the kind of guy who’ll give a little fist pump after belting a homerun to deep right field.

No, Drew is more composed. He’s the guy who’ll hardly ever flash a smile, let alone celebrate an impressive play. Case in point:

August 7, 2009. The Red Sox and Yankees are each scoreless through 14 innings in the Bronx. It’s the second game of a crucial four-game series for these two AL East foes, and both teams are exhausted after playing over a game and a half’s worth of baseball. In the bottom of the 14th with runners on first and second, Yankees outfielder Eric Hinske crushes a 2-2 pitch to right. Just as it seems like New York is walking off with the victory, Drew sprints to the wall, fully extending every limb on his body, and swiftly snatches the ball from thin air before landing gracefully and tossing it back. Hinske’s out, the dance goes on.

Often misinterpreted and misjudged, J.D. Drew has been the victim of unwarranted criticism for years.

One man single-handedly deflates an entire stadium.

As Hinske skulks backs to the dugout in disbelief, shaking his head and swearing like a sailor along the way, Drew remains in right field just chewing his bubble gum and looking as calm and collected as he did before.

“On the field he’s almost surgeon-like,” said Marty Scott, Drew’s coach with the independent Northern League St. Paul Saints in 1997. “He’s just meticulous in his play, but again, you’ll never see him upset and you’ll never see him overly happy.”

For Drew, making plays and scoring runs is all part of his job description, which is why he fails to see the need for celebration.

“As a player it’s your responsibility to do certain things,” Drew said. “So when you do them, it’s just kind of what you expect of yourself. There’s no reason to go crazy.”

But his no-nonsense stoicism has been the subject of much criticism over the years. He’s widely perceived as someone who not only lacks emotion, but someone who as a player doesn’t exert himself to his fullest potential – a guy who does the least with the most.

A recent Sports Illustrated Players Poll surveyed 380 MLB players on this very question: “Who gets the least out of the most talent?” Drew tied Elijah Dukes for third place with six percent of the vote.

“He has the Eddie Murray curse,” said former Red Sox teammate Curt Schilling. “He’s so gifted and such a great athlete that at times he looks like he’s moving at a slower pace, when he isn’t.

“Quiet country boy who never gets too high or too low. It’s a blessing and a curse in a town that cherishes players that wear their hearts on their sleeves, and is reviled by players that don’t shout and scream and show emotion.” Read the rest of this entry »

Sure, the Red Sox have been slumping during the second-half of the season.

But finally the team from Boston is on a roll. The Sox are 7-3 in their last 10 games, and Saturday night they’ll seek their fifth win in six games. Since August 16 Boston’s once-struggling offense has rebounded, averaging 7.7 runs and batting .300 with 24 homeruns.

As the Sox prepare to face Blue Jays pitcher Ricky Romero Friday night, the prospect of keeping their resurgent offense going looks good.

In three starts against Boston this season, the rookie pitcher is 0-2 with a 10.50 ERA. Not to mention in his last start against the Sox on August 18, Romero lasted only 3.2 innings en route to surrendering five earned runs and three walks. While Romero’s season has been fairly impressive for a rookie (11-5, 3.91 ERA), he hasn’t been able to silence the Boston bats in 2009.

David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis, specifically, have been a nightmare for Romero: Ortiz is 5-7 with a homerun against Romero, while Youkilis has gone 3-5 with two homeruns and three walks.

Pitching for the Red Sox tonight is young flamethrower Clay Buchholz.

Buchholz pitched against Toronto in his first game of the 2009 season, earning the win as he went 5.2 innings and gave up only one earned run. In fact, his only two wins this season have been at Toronto’s expense. But the young pitcher has struggled overall, going 2-3 with a 5.02 ERA in eight starts. In his most recent start against the Chicago White Sox on Monday, Buchholz gave up seven earned runs and lasted only 4.2 innings.

Boston currently trails the Yankees by six games in the AL East standings, but leads Texas by 2.5 games in the Wild Card.

BLUE JAYS VS. BUCHHOLZ

Aaron Hill (10 career plate appearances against Buchholz): 2-for-10, 3 strikeouts

Lyle Overbay (10): 5-for-9, walk, strikeout

Vernon Wells (9): 2-for-7, 2 walks

Adam Lind (8): 3-for-8, strikeout

Marco Scutaro (8): 0-for-5, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts

Kevin Millar (7): 0-for-5, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts

Rod Barajas (5): 1-for-4, walk, strikeout

Randy Ruiz (3): 1-for-3, strikeout

Jose Bautista (2): 0-for-2

Travis Snider (2): 0-for-2, 2 strikeouts

John McDonald (1): 1-for-1

RED SOX VS. ROMERO

J.D. Drew (9 career plate appearances against Romero): 2-for-7, walk, 3 strikeouts

Kevin Youkilis (8): 3-for-5, 2 homers, 3 walks, strikeout

Jason Bay (7): 1-for-4, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts

David Ortiz (7): 5-for-7, homer, strikeout

Nick Green (6): 0-for-5, walk, 4 strikeouts

Mike Lowell (6): 2-for-6, 2 strikeouts

Victor Martinez (6): 2-for-5, walk

Dustin Pedroia (6): 2-for-5, homer, walk

Jacoby Ellsbury (5): 2-for-3, strikeout

Jason Varitek (4): 0-for-1, 3 walks

Rocco Baldelli (2): 0-for-2, strikeout

Alex Gonzalez (2): 1-for-2

Josh Beckett was enjoying a very productive August (2-0 with an 0.86 ERA in his first three starts) – that is, until he pitched against Toronto on August 18.

In that start, Beckett surrendered seven earned runs in only 5.1 innings pitched, allowing three homers along the way. While the Red Sox managed to hang on and ultimately beat Toronto 10-9, the team wasn’t so lucky in Beckett’s next outing against the Yankees.

Pitching at Fenway against New York in his last start, Beckett allowed eight earned runs off nine hits, five of which were homeruns. The Yankees offense pounded the Sox in the series’ rubber match, and Boston lost its second series in a row to its reviled AL East rival.

Friday night, Beckett will look to rebound as he goes for win number 15 against Toronto. In 11 career starts against the Blue Jays, the Red Sox ace is 3-5 with a bloated 6.44 ERA. These un-Beckett-like numbers can likely attributed to the immense success Toronto centerfielder Vernon Wells enjoys against Beckett: Wells is a career .323 hitter against Beckett with five homers and three walks.

On the other side of the mound, Scott Richmond will be pitching for Toronto Friday night. In only his second season with the team, the 29-year-old righty has struggled going 6-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 19 games (16 of which were starts). Richmond’s only appearance against Boston this year came in late May when he pitched in relief of teammate Ricky Romero. For his career, Richmond is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in seven innings pitched against the Red Sox.

After taking three out of four from the White Sox, the Red Sox are six games behind the Yankees in the AL East standings, and 1.5 games up on Texas in the Wild Card.

BLUE JAYS VS. BECKETT

Lyle Overbay (36 career plate appearances against Beckett): .300 average/ .417 OBP/ .367 slugging, 6 walks, 10 strikeouts

Vernon Wells (35): .323/ .400/ .871, 5 homers, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts

Aaron Hill (28): .370/ .393/ .593, 2 strikeouts

Kevin Millar (20): .263/ .300/ .368, walk, strikeout

Rod Barajas (15): .385/ .467/ 1.000, 2 homers, walk, 2 strikeouts

Marco Scutaro (10): 3-for-10, 2 strikeouts

Adam Lind (8): 5-for-8, homer, strikeout

John McDonald (6): 2-for-4, 2 walks, strikeout

Raul Chavez (5): 0-for-4, walk, 2 strikeouts

Randy Ruiz (3): 1-for-2, homer, walk

Travis Snider (2): 2-for-2, homer

RED SOX VS. RICHMOND

Jacoby Ellsbury (4 career plate appearances against Richmond): 3-for-3, walk

Dustin Pedroia (4): 0-for-3

David Ortiz (3): 1-for-3, homer

Jason Varitek (3): 0-for-3, strikeout

Kevin Youkilis (3): 0-for-2, walk, 2 strikeouts

Jason Bay (2): 0-for-2

Casey Kotchman (2): 0-for-2

Victor Martinez (2): 1-for-2

J.D. Drew (1): 0-for-1

Nick Green (1): 0-for-1

Mike Lowell (1): 1-for-1

Just when we all thought Billy Wagner was staying in New York, the left-handed reliever agreed to waive his no-trade clause just minutes before the Tuesday deadline – effectively becoming a member of the 2009 Boston Red Sox.

It’s pretty clear this season will most likely be the extent of his term in Boston following the Red Sox agreement with Wagner not to pick up his 2010 option. Still, the team does reserve the right to offer the 38-year-old pitcher arbitration, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney. In the event that they do pursue arbitration hearings, Boston will still receive two draft picks even if Wagner departs as a free agent.

Wagner has been known to reach 100 MPH effortlessly during his career.

Initial reports said Wagner was reluctant to agree to a trade in a cautious attempt to stay healthy following recent Tommy John surgery. But just as the deadline approached, the lefty evidently changed his mind and decided to take a risk on Boston with the potential reward of a championship ring in October – one notable item that’s missing from Wagner’s impressive trophy case.

A Look at Billy Wagner

Perhaps the most interesting fact about Wagner is that the southpaw used to be a righty. Growing up in Virginia, Wagner did almost everything sports-related and non sports-related as a righty. That is, until he broke his right arm twice within a short period of time while playing football and was forced to teach himself to throw left-handed through intense repetition. As the old adage goes, practice makes perfect, and in this case practice certainly made Billy Wagner almost perfect.

In 1990, he was named Baseball Player of the Year coming out of Tazewell High School and pitching exclusively as a lefty who threw heat (although he still eats and writes with his right hand). He later attended Ferrum College in Virginia where he posted a 17-3 record in three years and set the Division III record for career strikeouts with 327 in 182.1 innings pitched. Not to mention, Wagner still holds the single-season NCAA record for strikeouts per nine innings (19.1).

The Houston Astros selected Wagner in the first round of the 1993 draft (12^th pick overall), and used him exclusively as a starting pitcher throughout his two-year stint in the minors. By 1996, the flame throwing lefty had been converted to a reliever, going 2-2 with nine saves, 67 strikeouts, and a 2.44 ERA in 37 games for Houston.

Wagner ultimately saved 225 games for the Astros between 1996 and 2003 before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies just before the 2004 season. (The move was supposedly made in an attempt to free up salary that was later used for Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens to come to Houston.) Though his first season in Philadelphia was shortened by injuries, he came back in 2005 with 38 saves and a 1.51 ERA to boot.

This, of course, helped his case during free agency the following season when he signed a four-year, $43 million deal with the Mets. While New York GM Omar Minaya was certainly aggressive in his pursuit of Wagner – along with plenty of other teams with big money to spend on free agents – reports speculate that the Phillies made no attempt to re-sign their closer, considering the former Phillies closer to be somewhat of a clubhouse cancer. While in Philadelphia, Wagner reportedly criticized the team on multiple occasions, and even said his former teammates hoped he would fail because he wasn’t well liked in the clubhouse. What’s more, Wagner claimed former Phillies outfielder Pat Burrell called him “a rat.”

Between 2006 and 2008, Wagner had three very impressive seasons with Mets. He saved 40, 34, and 27 games respectively in those seasons while also posting ERAs of 2.63 or lower. In his first post-season with the Mets in 2006, Wagner recorded three saves but also allowed six runs over 5.2 innings.

In September 2008, Wagner sustained more injuries to his left elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery.

At 38 years old and coming off major elbow surgery, Wagner doesn’t seem the likeliest candidate to propel the Red Sox to a championship. But he’s stated that he’s not done playing baseball just yet, and that above all else he’d like to win a World Series. In a 2008 interview with MLB.com, Wagner said:

“Somewhere down the road, I am going to help somebody win a championship.”

For now, his sights are set on Boston. Although he has suffered plenty of injuries and setbacks during his 14-year MLB career, Wagner has enjoyed much success, too. The six-time All-Star was the NL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year in 1999, the Steve Carlton Most Valuable Pitcher in 2005, and number six all-time in saves behind Dennis Eckersley. During this crucial stretch, he’ll most likely abandon his closer role to pitch in the eighth and set the stage for Papelbon. And while this isn’t necessarily his preferred status, he’s realized that this may be the only way to fulfill his prophecy that somewhere down the road, he’s going to help somebody win a championship.

Hopefully for Boston, it’ll be the Red Sox.

Notes:

- Wagner needs 15 saves to reach 400 for his career, and 40 to pass John Franco as the left-hander with the most all-time saves.

- Though only 5’11, Wagner has been known to reach 100 MPH effortlessly throughout his career – an accomplishment not common for many lefties.

- According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal:

“The money that the Red Sox are saving on the performance bonuses that could have gone to John Smoltz and might have gone to Brad Penny — if he had remained in the rotation — will match almost dollar-for-dollar the $3.5 million that they owe Wagner in remaining salary and a $1 million buyout.”

Curt Schilling called into the Dennis & Callahan show this morning to discuss some topics in the sporting world, one of which was Billy Wagner’s recent decision to nix a trade to the Red Sox (CLICK HERE for audio):

On what Billy Wagner gains by staying in New York: I know that they’re probably not going to pick up his option, which I don’t think is the problem. I think arbitration is the problem here (in Boston).”

On Wagner’s alleged comments on “his desire to end the year healthy for the future” and that “he has a better chance lasting a month in a non-competitive environment”: I’ve known Billy Wagner a long time and I can absolutely believe that. I can believe that comment.

On Wagner being “nutty and a little strange”: No, not as much as you think. He’s left-handed, which makes him goofy to begin with.

On whether he and Papelbon could get along: They’d get along fine. Paps is Paps. There’s just not a whole lot of forethought there, and I’m one to talk. But if Billy Wagner if setting you up in the eighth, there’s a pretty good chance you’re going to get a few more save opportunities than you otherwise might. He’s always been a nightmare for left-handed hitters and when he was up around 100 (MPH) he was a nightmare for guys on both sides.

On whether he buys into the claim that Wagner was a righty at birth but broke his arm and switched to lefty, ultimately developing the ability to throw 100 MPH: I heard that story a long time ago. He says that it’s true, but I’m still calling it BS.

Red Sox Nation’s biggest fear coming into this weekend’s series against the Yankees was that it would simply become an extension of their previous series in the Bronx – the one in which the Sox were swept in four games and essentially conceded the AL East to the Yankees.

Friday night didn’t much allay that fear.

Following a good old-fashioned whooping at the hands of New York, the Sox will look to recover Saturday as they send rookie Junichi Tazawa to the mound against A.J. Burnett.

In his first two major league starts, the 23-year-old Japanese pitcher has gone 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA, issuing five walks and striking out six. In each start, however, Tazawa only lasted for a minimal five innings.

Tazawa’s first game in the majors came only a few weeks ago on August 7 in the Bronx. The Sox and Yanks were both scoreless after nine innings, and after depleting almost the entire bullpen, Boston Manager Terry Francona called upon Tazawa to pitch in the 14^th. Ultimately, the rookie let up the go-ahead two-run homer to Alex Rodriguez in the bottom of the fifteenth, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Today he’ll look to exact revenge against a Yankees lineup that isn’t too familiar with his pitching style.

His counterpart, A.J. Burnett, was actually the starting pitcher the night Tazawa blew the game at Yankee Stadium. Burnett pitched 7.2 scoreless innings that night, walking six and striking out six en route to allowing only one Red Sox hit all night. The 32-year-old Yankees pitcher has enjoyed a modestly successful season this year, going 10-6 with a 3.65 ERA and 135 strikeouts.

But in three starts against Boston in 2009, Burnett has struggled overall, going 0-1 with a 6.46 ERA and 14 walks. Look for David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia – who each have two career homers against Burnett – to try to take him deep today as the Sox attempt a rally in the AL East standings.

RED SOX VS. BURNETT

David Ortiz (31 career plate appearances against Burnett): .233 average/ .258 OBP/ .533 slugging, 2 homers, walk, 11 strikeouts

Dustin Pedroia (31): .261/ .452/ .522, 2 homers, 8 walks, 2 strikeouts

Kevin Youkilis (29): .250/ .379/ .250, 4 walks, 4 strikeouts

J.D. Drew (28): .261/ .393/ .348, 5 walks, 4 strikeouts

Jason Varitek (24): .238/ .333/ .476, homer, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts

Mike Lowell (23): .200/ .304/ .250, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts

Jacoby Ellsbury (22): .300/ .333/ .450, homer, walk, 4 strikeouts

Jason Bay (20): .333/ .400/ .556, homer, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts

Victor Martinez (20): .200/ .400/ .267, 4 walks, strikeout

Rocco Baldelli (13): 2-for-13, 4 strikeouts

Nick Green (12): 3-for-11, walk, 2 strikeouts

Casey Kotchman (11): 3-for-11, 2 strikeouts

Alex Gonzalez (4): 0-for-4, strikeout

YANKEES VS. TAZAWA

Melky Cabrera (1 career plate appearance against Tazawa): 0-for-1, strikeout

Robinson Cano (1): 1-for-1

Johnny Damon (1): 0-for-1

Eric Hinske (1): 0-for-1

Derek Jeter (1): 1-for-1

Hideki Matsui (1): 0-for-1

Jorge Posada (1): 1-for-1

Alex Rodriguez (1): 1-for-1, homer

Mark Teixeira (1): 0-for-1, strikeout

After losing two in a row in Texas, the Red Sox will look to get back on track – and more importantly, back in the Wild Card race – in Toronto Tuesday night. As they look to do so, the team is no doubt heartened by the fact that ace Josh Beckett will be on the mound.

Beckett (14-4, 3.10 ERA) has been lights out in August, giving up only two runs in his last three starts. What’s more, the AL wins leader has gone 4-1 with a 1.80 ERA in his last six starts.

But interestingly enough, he has yet to face the Blue Jays this season. In 10 career starts against Toronto, Beckett hasn’t enjoyed much success, going 3-5 with a 5.95 ERA. These less than impressive statistics can perhaps be attributed to the very impressive statistics of Blue Jays centerfielder Vernon Wells, who’s batted .321 lifetime against Beckett with five homers.

Pitching for the Blue Jays is Ricky Romero. The 24-year-old Romero is only in his first season with Toronto, but he has already proved he belongs in the big leagues. The rookie left-hander has gone 10-5 with a 3.70 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 2009. Still, he’s been the losing pitcher in both of his starts against the Sox this season. In 8.1 innings against Boston this year, Romero has a 9.72 ERA with 10 walks.

Tuesday night will also mark the return of Kevin Youkilis following his five-game suspension for charging the mound against Detroit. He two homers and two walks in six career plate appearances against Romero.

SOX VS. ROMERO

J.D. Drew (6 career plate appearances against Romero): 1-for-5, walk, 3 strikeouts

Dustin Pedroia (6): 2-for-5, homer, walk

Kevin Youkilis (6): 2-for-4, 2 homers, 2 walks, strikeout

Jason Bay (5): 1-for-3, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts

David Ortiz (5): 3-for-5, strikeout

Nick Green (4): 0-for-3, walk, 3 strikeouts

Mike Lowell (4): 1-for-4, 2 strikeouts

Jason Varitek (4): 0-for-1, 3 walks

Victor Martinez (3): 1-for-3

Jacoby Ellsbury (2): 1-for-1

BLUE JAYS VS. BECKETT

Lyle Overbay (33 career plate appearances against Beckett): .333 average/ .455 OBP/ .407 slugging, 6 walks, 7 strikeouts

Vernon Wells (32): .321/ .406/ .893, 5 homers, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts

Aaron Hill (25): .333/ .360/ .500, 2 strikeouts

Kevin Millar (20): .263/ .300/ .368, walk, strikeout

Rod Barajas (12): .400/ .500/ .900, homer, walk, 2 strikeouts

Marco Scutaro (7): 3-for-7, 2 strikeouts

John McDonald (6): 2-for-4, 2 walks, strikeout

Raul Chavez (5): 0-for-4, walk, 2 strikeouts

Joe Inglett (5): 1-for-5, strikeout

Adam Lind (5): 3-for-5, homer, strikeout

Edwin Encarnacion (3): 0-for-3