After last week's armageddon episode, it's time to refocus and make one last push to secure a wild card spot. That's right: it's put up or shut up time for the Boston Red Sox.

This week had some stinky parts, this week had some not stinky parts. Going into Chicago, the tone for the remainder of the regular season will be set. Hold onto your butts.

And hold onto those butts with me on Twitter--@FitzyMoPena!

Opening song is "Baseball" by Hippo Campus, closing song is "When I Come Around" by Green Day.

Is baseball even good? Well, it hard to say,

@FitzyMoPena on Twitter, follow me with my pain.

Opening song is "Baseball" by Hippo Campus, closing song is "I Wanna Be Your Lover" by Prince--I needed a pick-me-up.

The Red Sox had a real bad stretch of games. Wednesday night against Tampa was NOT one of those bad games! Maybe that's exactly what the team needs--a fresh start, a new jolt, a turning point.

Or, maybe I'm too optimistic right now after the mere sight of a good Sox game. Idk.

Follow me on Twitter and tell me if I'm thinking too optimistically; @FitzyMoPena is the handle.

Opening song is "Baseball" by Hippo Campus, closing song is "Hard Times" by Paramore.

The good news: I went on a great podcast hosted by friends of the show! Clicky with Stealing Second was kind enough to invite me on to help create a Jud Fabian breakup playlist, and I dropped a little snippet of our conversation. Jud, look what you've done to us.

Their show's Twitter account is here; that'll give ya all the info you need to listen! Go ahead and do so; great program they've got: https://twitter.com/Stealing2ndPod

The bad news: The Boston Red Sox sorta suck right now!!!!!! I'm not happy, and neither are you (unless you're a Yankees fan or summin').

I'm not panicking, but I'm not pretending this is all sunshine and candy. I went on a bit of a ramble here, so thanks for your patience, but I think it's important to look at the big picture here with the Sox.

Nervous about the rest of the season? Optimistic? A bit of both? Tell me on Twitter, @FitzyMoPena.

Opening song is "Baseball" by Hippo Campus, closing song is "Emotions" by Mariah Carey. Those high notes, man. OOOOWEE.

By live studio audience, I mean just my fiancée Alexahhhhhndraaaa.

The trade deadline looms, so let's talk about some potential trade targets to play first base. Some are named Anthony Rizzo, some aren't!

Also, Alex Cora done did it again with the lineup changes against the Blue Jays. I liked 'em, and I'll tell ya why.

Finally, a hat tip to an Olympian.

Shoot the shite with me on Twitter, @FitzyMoPena!

Opening song is "Baseball" by Hippo Campus, closing song is "Tighten Up" by The Black Keys.

Happy Duran Day!!!!! It *was* Duran Day, but then it *wasn't* Duran Day, but now it *is* indeed Duran Day again.

Jarren Duran is about to begin his MLB career; what does that mean for some other members of the 2021 Red Sox?

Before Duran Day, there was MLB All-Star Week! We take a lil' look into what happened, including Jojo Siwi hitting frozen ropes and our newest baby boy in Boston.

Tell me your favorite Celebrity All-Star Softball Game memories on Twitter, @FitzyMoPena!

Opening song is "Baseball" by Hippo Campus, closing song is "Rio" by Duran Duran. You can guess why I picked that song.

New Era's creative team is AT! IT! AGAIN! with the bad hats. They're somehow even worse than before???? I don't know how they pulled that off, but alas!

Also: we need to have a strong, but fair, conversation about...uh...let's call him "Number 35."

Hat tip of the week should come as no surprise if you know me at all.

Tell me YOUR least favorite New Era hat on Twitter, @FitzyMoPena!

Opening song is "Baseball" by Hippo Campus, closing song is "Little Red Corvette" by Prince. Been stuck in my head all day.

The Red Sox have a glaring issue to address right at the tippy top of their lineup, and I highlighted three (3) guys who just might do the trick to solve that problem.

But first...let's dive into the wonderful sport we all know and love: Bananaball. It's new, it's fum, it's electric, it's the future of sports as we know it.

Also: a hat tip to, once again, the man who made magic happen on live TV last August.

Tell me how much you love Bananaball on Twitter, @FitzyMoPena!

Opening song is "Baseball" by Hippo Campus, closing song is "Happy" by The Rolling Stones. I did a bad Mick impression to end the episode, but this is a song sang by Keith. Go figure!

Can we all take a deep breath about the Red Sox's pitching, please????

ALSO: I, the one and only @FitzyMoPena on Twitter, give YOU, the loyal listener, MY All-Star Game ballot. It features some obvious picks, some bold ones, and one outfielder who gave us one of the most infamous broadcasting moments in the modern era.

If you disagree with me, yell on me on Twitter @FitzyMoPena. Yell at me if you agree with me, too! I could use the yelling! Help wake me up in the morning!

Opening song is "Baseball" by Hippo Campus, closing song is "Mr. Blue Sky" by ELO. Have fun having that stuck in your head all day!

The Sox have been lookin' good--they swept the Yankees in New York, in case you haven't heard.

To celebrate, let's do a mailbag episode! Which pitchers are overrated and underrated? Would pitchers prefer long or short hair? Did Babe Ruth k*ll his wife? I'm not so sure about that last part, but those questions and more are on this here episode.

Let me know if you think long hair makes you a better or worse pitcher on Twitter, @FitzyMoPena.

Opening song is "Baseball" by Hippo Campus, closing song is "Our Own House" by Misterwives. They're coming to the House of Blues in December and I'm #tempted to pull the trigger on those tickets.