It's the last Monday of the MLB season, and the AL playoff picture is beginning to take shape.

However, while three teams secured their berths into the postseason on Sunday, two spots remain, with divisional and wild card spots still up for grabs.

The Tigers are one small step from winning the AL Central and becoming a team no one wants to face in a short series. The Yankees and Orioles look primed to fight to Game 162 for the AL East crown, and the Rangers and Athletics will have plenty of fans staying up late for their season-ending series.

On the final Red Sox Monster Monday of 2012, check out the video above to see Tom Caron and Dennis Eckerlsey break down the AL postseason picture.

Randy Niemann knows what to expect each time Aaron Cook takes the mound.

If Cook is getting his sinker down early and causing ground ball outs, then the Red Sox pitching coach knows his starter can be expected to have a nice long outing . The right-hander may not strike many batters out, but he can still be very effective when he’s throwing strikes.

To hear Niemann’s thoughts on Cook, watch the video above.

Jesus Montero may be known to most baseball fans as the player that the Yankees traded for Michael Pineda, but Jered Weaver just knows him as a pain in the butt.

Montero has owned Weaver while playing for the Mariners, going 5-for-9 with four home runs against the Angels ace. He was at it again on Sunday, blasting another home run during Seattle’s 2-1 win over L.A.

NESN’s Naoko Funayama caught up with the Mariners catcher before the Red Sox took the field against Seattle on Monday. Check out the above video from Red Sox Monster Monday.

Ryan Lavarnway's continued development made it easier for the Red Sox to part ways with Kelly Shoppach a few weeks ago. The young catcher is now ready to prove the team made the right move by giving him more of an opportunity.

Lavarnway's offense hasn't quite been where he'd like it to be since getting a major league call-up this season, but the 25-year-old knows that the talent is there and that his numbers will also be in due time. Lavarnway is pleased with the improvements he's made defensively, though, as he was even recognized as the International League's best defensive catcher while with Triple-A Pawtucket.

The newfound defensive prowess is somewhat of a surprise to those who've followed Lavarnway's progression since he was drafted in the sixth round in 2008. He's always been known more for his bat, and defense was always viewed as secondary. That's hardly the case anymore, and Lavarnway admits he'd love to continue developing to the point where he could contend for a Gold Glove.

Check out the video above to hear more from Lavarnway.

Between injuries to key players and battling to stay above .500, the Red Sox have had their share of struggles in the 2012 season.

The trend continued over the weekend when they dropped three out of four games to the Minnesota Twins. With the team's struggles at the front of fans' minds, rumors had started to swirl about the fate of the man who leads the team — manager Bobby Valentine.

The Boston Globe's Michael Vega joined NESN's Dale Arnold to talk about how Valentine has managed with a team plagued by injuries and the rumors that he is managing for his job.

Check out the video above for more.

The Red Sox have played .500 baseball and enter the trade deadline sitting at the bottom of their division.

While they're not in line to win the AL East, the Sox are only four games out of the wild card race, leading many -– including NESN's Don Orsillo — to believe that the Red Sox can't be counted out quite yet.

Orsillo also believes that pitcher Josh Beckett is going to be around to help the Sox in their run toward the playoffs. Beckett has had a less-than-stellar season, leading to speculation that the hurler won't be in Boston for much longer.

Check out the video above to hear what Orsillo has to say about the fates of both the Red Sox and Beckett.

It's no secret that the Red Sox have struggled this season, and a sweep by the Blue Jays at Fenway Park has left the team at .500 and at the bottom of their division.

The Red Sox pitching staff owns an MLB-worst 7.03 ERA in the first inning, and hasn't been able to escape the first unscathed.

While the decline of the pitching staff is concerning, it's not the only thing on the minds of the Red Sox and fans alike. The trade deadline is quickly approaching and the Sox have some decisions to make about what the team is going to look like as they finish out the season.

Check out the video above to hear what the Boston Globe's Peter Abraham had to say about the pitching problems, the trade deadline and more.

During the first half of the season, the Red Sox found themselves in the position of having two third basemen competing for the role of everyday starter.

To remedy this, the Red Sox traded Kevin Youkilis to the Chicago White Sox and gave the starting job to Will Middlebrooks. But the transition wasn’t as smooth as the Sox had hoped, as Middlebrooks injured his hamstring soon after taking over at the hot corner.

Middlebrooks’ injury could have been trouble for the Sox, but time off during the All-Star break and a trip home to Texas gave the third baseman the rest he needed to get back in the lineup and start producing.

Check out the video below to hear Middlebrooks talk about his recovery, his relationship with Youkilis and more.

Well, after the Kevin Youkilis trade, this is just the application of Murphy's Law, right?

After tweaking his hamstring in Sunday afternoon's game in Seattle while sliding in to second, Will Middlebrooks figures to miss a little time. What remains to be seen is just how long the 23-year-old third baseman will be out, but it figures that a few Red Sox armchair general managers will be saying "I told you so" after the Sox traded away Youkilis and some of their infield depth.

The problem for the Red Sox is that, though Middlebrooks injury may not take two weeks to heal, carrying 13 pitchers with a six man rotation, the bench is very thin as the Sox open a series in Oakland against the Athletics. That may well force Boston to make a roster move or place Middlebrooks on the disabled list, but that's all speculation at this point.

Watch the video above to hear NESN broadcaster Don Orsillo break down the Middlebrooks situation, the Sox' tough series in Seattle and a few other topics on Red Sox Monster Monday.

The comeback trail has been some rough riding for Daniel Bard thus far.

The right-hander's struggles with his command were well-documented during his ill-fated transition to the starting rotation with Boston, but it seems even a move back to the bullpen hasn't been a cure-all for Bard's control problems. On Sunday Bard came oh so close to putting together a very solid outing out of the 'pen.

Then the wheels came off.

After pitching 1 2/3 inning and giving up nothing more than one hit, one out away from the end of his evening, Bard walked three consecutive batters and was pulled from the game. After initially struggling in 2012, the Red Sox bullpen has come around of late, posting a solid 1.18 WHIP on the season. While Bard certainly used to be a force coming out of the bullpen for the big club, without an immediate need in Boston, it will make it that much more difficult for Bard to get recalled.

Watch the video above to hear the Boston Globe's Michael Vega break it all down.

Much was made about the Miami Marlins' offseason, namely the organization's free agent splurge to go along with the opening of its new ballpark. However, the new star additions to the club are only adding to an existing trove of talent in Little Havana.

One of the most noted storylines during the winter was the signing of Jose Reyes and the move of former All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez to third base, which reportedly caused some friction between Ramirez and the team. But to hear Reyes tell it, it hasn't been a difficult transition at all, and, in fact, the two have gotten along great manning the left side of the Marlins' infield.

Watch the video above for Jenny Dell's interview with Reyes.

Daniel Nava burst onto the baseball scene in 2010, blasting a grand slam on the first pitch he saw. After that moment, however, Nava's big league career never really got off the ground.

The Red Sox outfielder was decent for the remainder of that season, filling in for a banged-up outfield, but he never made it back to Boston in 2011. This season, he's come seemingly out of nowhere to grab a lineup spot in the wake of some unfortunate injuries, and he looks like a completely different player.

Nava has been fantastic both offensively and defensively, forcing manager Bobby Valentine to keep him in the lineup each game. In fact, Nava's ability to get on base was rewarded with a spot atop the Boston order on Monday.

Check out the video above to hear more about Nava's season, as well Alfredo Aceves' job as the team's closer and the Tigers' recent struggles.

Sunday's Run to Home Base was a huge success and saw plenty of people from across New England come lend their support and raise money for U.S. military veterans.

A few of the participants in the Run/Walk were NESN's Jenny Dell and Tom Caron. The two had a big presence in the event and were able to benefit a great cause.

Check out the video above from Red Sox Monster Monday, presented by Bob's Stores to see Dell, TC, Senator Scott Brown and many U.S. veterans recount the amazing events of the day.

Fenway Park boasts plenty of history within its walls.

The seats in the stadium’s grandstand section are their own special piece of history. The seats are the only remaining wooden seats in all of baseball, and they’ve become a staple of the Fenway Park experience.

Check out the video above from Red Sox Monster Monday to learn more about their history.

It's the place where legends have sat and new stars are making their names: the Red Sox clubhouse.

Of all of the parts of Fenway Park that have changed over the years, the clubhouse has seen perhaps the biggest upgrades, especially with the current ownership group. Recent improvements include a new batting cage, a family room and a therapeutic swimming pool.

Take a look inside the baseball home of David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia, Carl Yastrzemski and Carlton Fisk, and Dom DiMaggio and Ted Williams on Red Sox Monster Monday presented by Bob's Stores.

The Red Sox have spent the early part of the 2012 season celebrating 100 years inside Fenway Park. And for good reason.

The success of the Red Sox' first season inside the historic ballpark was outstanding, and that 1912 team deserves a lot of credit for making Fenway such a history-laden gem.

NESN's Randy Scott helps guide fans through the journey of Fenway Park's first season in the video above.

Thumbnail via Library of Congress

Injuries have plagued the Red Sox in the early going this season.

First it was Andrew Bailey's thumb costing him three to four months, then of course Jacoby Ellsbury's shoulder injury that could cost the talented center fielder a few months as well. Ellsbury's replacement, Jason Repko, joined that list over the weekend with a shoulder injury of his own.

The injury problem led Boston to acquire former All-Star outfielder Marlon Byrd from the Cubs. But Red Sox broadcaster Don Orsillo says the bullpen issues should have been settled before a deal for a position player was ever made.

Check out the video above to get Orsillo's take on the move and the bullpen during Monday's Red Sox Monster Monday presented by Bob's Stores.

Patriots' Day is always a crazy morning for the Red Sox, who have to be at Fenway Park bright and early for the annual 11 a.m. start. Things were even crazier this year, though.

Bobby Valentine's comments about Kevin Youkilis were the talk of the clubhouse on Monday, and it was Dustin Pedroia who came to the third baseman's defense with some pretty strong words.

See what he had to say in the video above.

The closer question is on the front of everyone's mind going into Monday night's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Daniel Bard continues to get support from those who would rather see the newest member of the Red Sox rotation closing games instead.

Following a tumultuous opening series against Detroit, where Alfredo Aceves and Mark Melancon both failed to hold leads, Don Orsillo gives his view on what the Sox need moving forward on Red Sox Monster Monday presented by Bob’s Stores.

Orsillo also looks at Bobby Valentine's unconventional lineup choices in Sunday's loss to Detroit.

The Red Sox' three-game series with the San Diego Padres at Fenway marks the first time that Adrian Gonzalez will play against the team he spent five seasons with.

Gonzalez was a three-time All-Star as a member of the Padres prior to this season before being traded to Boston. He is excited to catch up with some old friends this week, but says when it comes to stepping foot onto the diamond, his San Diego friends will quickly turn into his counterparts.

Gonzalez also discussed his game plan, which has often included driving the ball to left field this season. And while he admits he doesn't own an outfielder's glove, he says there is still a possibility that manager Terry Francona could put him in the outfield during the team's upcoming road interleague series in order to get David Ortiz into the lineup.

To hear what else Gonzalez had to say about his game plan, as well as his thoughts on his first series against his former team, check out the video above.