moonslav59

I'm rooting for your guys! Don't jinx this!

The guy with the .357 minor league OBP, which reminds me of Alew Hassan and his .383 minor league OBP that earned him 9 MLB PAs.

With 2 days off in the next 5 days, our starters can get some extra rest, or we can skip a start by someone and or allow Eovaldi to jump someone else's start. I'm not sure how much longer we can stick with some of these guys. At least we still get 4 or more IP for all but Perez's starts ... In reverse order: IP Runs (not ER) Pitcher 4.0 -6 Richards 4.0 -4 ERod 6.2 -0 Eovaldi 1.1 -5 Perez 5.0 -6 Pivetta 5.1 -4 Richards 4.2 -6 ERod 5.2 -5 Eovaldi 2.0 -6 Perez

I wasn't thinking of using either as an "opener" or a pitcher going after an "opener," but you are right about Gonsalves not being shelled recently.

I agree, and maybe we have some prospects that will blast their way into the top 100 or 150 in the next year or two- maybe even someone we wouldn't expect to do so. One reason we don't have many recently drafted and mostly untested draft picks in the top 100 rankings is because we have not drafted in the top 10 since Beni in 2015. Getting Casas at #26 in 2018 looks real good (props to DD for that.) We also got Duran in the 7th round, that year (#220). We got Houck at #24 in 2017, and he has not disappointed, but nobody else from that draft looks too promising, although there is still time for a surprise or two. Back 5 years ago, 2016, we had the 12th pick, which is not bad, and we took Groome. We traded our 3rd pick, Shaun Anderson) for Nunez. We drafted Dalbec in the 4th (#118), Shawaryn #148 and Nogosek #178. Back far enough to be able to at least partially judge: 2015: 7 Beni, 111 Matheny, 171 Lakins, 201 Ben Taylor, 231 Logan Allen 2014: 26 Chavis, 33 Kopeck (Ellsbury comp pick), 67 Sam Travis, 164 Ockimey The 2013 disaster: 7 T Ball, 45 Stanki, 81 Denney + nothing 2012: 24 Marrero, 31 Johnson, 37 Light, 151 Buttrey The Theo years: 2011: 19 Barnes, 26 Swihart, 36 Owens, 40 JBJ, 143 Noe Ramirez, 172 Betts 2010: 20 Vitek, 36 Brentz, 39 Ranaudo, 57 Workman,110 Coyle 2009: 28 Fuentes, 77 Alex Wilson 2008: 30 Kelly (traded with Rizzo for AGon), 45 B Price, 85 Fife, 108 Weiland, Westmoreland and Lava taken in 5th & 6th rounds, Vaz taken in 9th round. 2007: 55 Hagadone, 5th rd Middlebrooks, 6th Rizzo 2006: nothing until Masterson at #71 2005: 23 Ellsbury, 26 Hansen, 42 Buchholz, 45 Lowrie, 47 Bowden 2004: 2nd rd Pedey, 6th Meredith 2003: 1st David Murphy, 4th Papelbon Pre Theo 2002: 2nd Lester 2001: 2nd Shoppach

We have very little knowledge on who Leiter is as a person.

We really may end up needing a SP'er more than a new RP'er. Houck is not ready. Whitlock was never "stretched out." Seabold is on the IL. Ward & Mata had TJS. Gossett & Gonsalves are not on the 40 and have been shelled, recently. We could maybe get 2-3 innings from Whitlock, Sawamura, DHern and Andriese in some sort of pen or "opener" style game, but no long term fix, as of now. One has to think ERod is one big shelling away from an IL assignment- phantom or otherwise. OPS Against last 2 weeks: 1.129 Perez (.946 last 28 days) 1.123 Pivetta (.909 last 28 days) .978 Richards (.891 last 28 days) .849 ERod (.897 last 28) .793 Eovaldi (.744 in 28)

...and be noticed.

Yes, Taylor is a keeper, but he's also an example of a pitcher who struggled through 2020 and the start of his 2021 season and turned it around. I doubt Workman does what Taylor just did, but he has a good history and may not be any longer of a shot than Brennan or Ort. I wish we had Brasier ready for a look-see. What's up with Bazardo?

I guess I had bad pitching on my mind. Yes, last in BB's, 3rd in BA and T9th in OBP at .317. 3rd in SLG T3rd in OPS 3rd in runs scored

How many more clowns can we fit on that ship? I have a few more names.

The exact kind of thing the Rays are good at. Have they just been lucky, or do they see tweaks to a player's approach that can be made that the other teams don't see?

But, ironically, doesn't he kind of have to demand top bonus money from Pit and others to maybe fall to the Sox?

According to soxprospects.com, Rios has 1 option remaining. BTW, despite Dalbec's 3 hapless K's, last night, he has actually begun to show some signs of snapping out of his funk, a little bit. .767 OPS in his last 11 games (3 HR, 1 2B, 1 3B and 7 rbi) I think Cora may see that as deserving a longer look, but I'd like to see Chavis get a few chances in the next few games. I'm usually a long sample size kinda guy, but I'm done with Santana. I hope he proves me wrong, but I'm done. Workman is not looking too good, but his history may indicate he needs a longer look. He does have a better WHIP than these "keepers:" 1.714 Andriese 1.667 Brennan 1.614 Richards 1.571 DHern 1.500 Worman 1.470 ERod 1.457 Taylor 1.452 Houck 1.427 Perez Have you ever seen so many pathetic WHIP on a Sox staff? Oh yeah, I already forgot about 2020. LOL!

MLB.com just released its updated Top Draft Prospect Rankings 2021 (not a mock draft) 1. Mayer (HS SS) 2. Lawlar (HS SS) 3. Leiter (Vandy SP) 4. Watson (WF SS) 5. Davis (Louisville C) 6. Rocker (Vandy SP) 7. House (HS SS) 8. Jobe (HS SP) 9. Madden (Texas SP) 10. Cowser (Sam Houston OF) 11. Frelick (Boston College OF) 12. McLain (UCLA SS)

I'm not arguing against all these points, but would you rather have untested prospects in the top 100 or not? Even top 150?

No doubt. Maybe 3-4 years to have a pretty good idea and 5 or even more to know enough.

Our top prospects by age groupings: 20 or under 4. Jimenez 8. Aldo Ramirez 10. Yorke 15. Lugo 16.Bonaci 18. Jordan 19. Freddy Valdez (PTBNL) 27. Blalock 47. Luis de la Rosa (PTBNL) 21-22 1. Casas 2. Downs 9. Bello 11. Mata (TJS) 14. Groome 20. Rosario 22. Arauz 23. Potts 25. Winckoski 35. Howlett 23-24 3. Duran 4. Houck 7. Ward (just had TJS) 12.Song 13. Ronaldo Hernandez 30. Grant Gambrell (PTBNL) 36.Marcus Wilson 60. Tyreque Reed (Rule 5) 25 or older 6. Seabold (on IL) 17. Wong 21. Bazardo 43. Kaleb Ort Major Leaguers younger than some on this list: 24 DHern 24 Devers 25 Whitlock (just turned 25 a few days ago) 25 Verdugo (turned 25 in May) 26 Dalbec & Arroyo

Our starters are struggling, but one reason the KC SP'er for tomorrow's game is named TBD is this... Possible starters the Sox will face and the team's recent numbers in their starts: IP H ER BB J Kower 8.0 14 11 6 8.0 9 8 5 K Bubic 8.0 9 6 4 8.0 9 8 3 9.0 10 4 3 B Keller 9.0 12 9 1 8.0 9 6 5 9.0 11 5 3 The Royals leaders in OPS in order of most PAs, this season: .715 Merrifield .767 Carlos Santana .853 S Perez .625 Soler .769 Beni (on 10 day IL, so we will not see him) .629 M Taylor ,563 Dozier .638 N Lopez .671 Alberto .592 Gutierez (Nobody else has more than 57 PAs) ERA leaders listed in order of most IP, this season 4.63 Minor 4.76 Singer (we will not face him) 6.14 Keller 4.01 Bubic 1.94 Duffy (on 10 day IL) 5.19 J Junis 1.85 S Barlow 1.99 J Brentz 3.99 E Santana 3.38 Staumont 4.32 G Holland 2.19 K Zimmer 8.35 Wade Davis 6.35 T Zuber 6.00 C Hernandez (No other pitchers with more than 11 IP)

They do pretty well with their rankings but certainly miss a lot. Also, some 2019 draftees did play some games in 2019 and some '19 and '20 draftees played fall or winter ball, but maybe not too much can be learned from that.

Very true, but many other teams have players drafted in 2019 and 2020 in the top 100 prospects list. None of ours are even close. Yorke might be top 200.

Big road series for the Sox. Can we keep the bats going? Will the extra day or rest help our pitchers? (We also have another off day after this 3 game series and before going to Tampa, next week.) Nick Pivetta (RHP) needs to turn things around. 6-2, 4.28 ERA, 80 SO After a fast start, Pivetta has struggled of late, posting a 6.08 ERA in his last five starts. This will be his first career start against the Royals. Pivetta is 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA on the road this season. Go Sox! Keep the mojo risin'!

TBR @ SEA: Let's hope their woes continue. NYY @ TOR: Hoping the Jays come to play, but someone has to lose, so either way, someone loses ground to the Sox, here. CWS @ HOU: Again, someone has to lose a half game to the Sox. Let's see if we can keep the bats white hot in KC, starting tomorrow.

It's the leadoff walks that really have killed us- many to weak hitters before the top of the order comes up to drive them in. 46 BBs to batters leading off an inning! (608 PAs)

Only 2 of 14 inherited runners allowed to score, since then, too. Both on May 6th, so no runs or IR's since May 6th!