Are any playoff pairings set for the Sea Dogs? That's too bad about the playoff format.
The PawSox still have the Wild Card lead for the last IL playoff spot, but there are still two other teams (Buffalo and Rochester) in the hunt with just 5 games to go. Pawtucket still has a outside shot of taking their division, since they have a 2 game series against division leading Syracuse this weekend.
Jackie Bradley Jr is still struggling after 49 AB with a .204/.220/.286 line, 10 for 49 with one double, one HR.
Double A Portland has wrapped up a playoff spot.
Triple A Pawtucket is up by 3 games for the last International League playoff spot, and only 3 games behind Syracuse for the IL North Division with 12 games left to play.
So although Boston limps along, our minor league teams are ready for the postseason.
I live in Rhode Island right near Pawtucket so I can keep you posted on the PawSox.
A telling box score... Cespedes 0-5, Napoli 0-4, Middlebrooks 0-3, Bogaerts 0-4. That's your 4,5,6, 7 hitters without a hit although Nap and Middlebrooks each walked once.
Hmmm Price vs Lester in the ALCS ??
FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Tigers have acquired David Price from the Rays. It's part of a three-team swap that also involves the Mariners, as suggested earlier by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The Rays will get shortstop prospect Nick Franklin from Seattle and left-handed starter Drew Smyly from Detroit. The Mariners get center fielder Austin Jackson. And the Tigers wind up with another ace to add to a rotation that already includes Max Scherzer, Anibal Sanchez, and Justin Verlander.
Not bad. I will miss Lester and Gomes, but Cespedes is a decent bat, decent OF.
Of course Cespedes is Cuban, so he may be 35 years old and not really 28.
Luchino said something interesting on WEEI this morning - even the 2012 wasn't this bad at the trade deadline. In 2012 they were 53-51 at the end of July. After today they will be 47-55. Perhaps he is hinting that the Sox will be sellers?
Do you think the Yankees are happy with CC Sabathia now? He was signed for 8 years 182 million for 2009-2016. He was 28 in 2009, now he's a washed up 33 year old. Sure Lester doesn't have the weight issues CC has, but maybe the Sox know what they're doing? Then again, maybe not.