Nick

Lets see... Kike continues to thrive in #1 spot. No one, no one has explained to me what harm will our #2-#6 do batting #1-#5. I only care who bats in front of me. Santana continues to march towards sub .100 avg. Now batting .111.

It was Bloom, not Cora.

I follow Cot's and JD already had two chances opt out. No mention of third opt out. I would think Boston newspapers would have reported possible opt out if he had one this year. I've e-mailed couple of writers but no response.

But when your top baseball guy says Duran has chance to be "great", Bloom's words, not mine, you take notice.

Great throw by Kike...that double play doesn't happen without Vaz dropping the popup.

Has Kike ever gotten a hit in 1st inning?

Yes. If a starter goes down today, he may get the call up.

Old adage is true...you just can't have enough good pitching. I'm stunned by number of injuries to minor league pitchers for the Sox.

Bullpen 5 More YRS of Team Control Garrett Whitlock (25) $570.5K, 5 more years of team control (22-26). Maybe a starter in 2022. 4 More YRS of Team Control Josh Taylor (28) $580.5K, 4 arbitration years coming up (22-25). Darwinzon (24) $578.5K, 4 more years of team control (22-25) Phiilips Valdez (29) $578.5K, 4 more years of team control (22-25) 2 More YRS of Team Control Ryan Brasier (33) $1.250M, 2 more arbitration years (22-23). Sawamura (33) 2 year/ $3M, with 23 option. 2 more years (22-23). 1 More YR of Team Control Matt Andriese (31) 1 year/$2.1M, 22 club option, 1 more year (22) Free Agents Adam Ottavino (35) $8.85M. last year of contract, FA for 2022. Matt Barnes (31) $4.5M, last year of contract, FA for 2022

Future Catcher: my hope is that the Red Sox draft H.Davis. The Red Sox need a stud catching prospect more than anything. Vazquez isn't going to last forever and he has a funny body to begin with. He is already 30 years old and I could see him breaking down over the next few years and we are arguably seeing a decline in his bat this season. Remember a few years ago, the Red Sox signed D.Flores to a 3 million dollar international contract--he tragically passed away at such a young age. Davis is needed to fill that gap I'd still prefer a college pitcher with our first pick if one is still available.

Per OvertheMonster, recap of our AAA team from last night's game. It was nice to see Chavis continue his hot run down in Triple-A over the last few days, but the pitching is what stands out about this game. First of all, Gonsalves continues to work after an opener, which continues to be interesting to me. There must be at least some consideration for him being the guy to come up if there’s a rotation injury before Tanner Houck is set to return. And Gonsalves is making his case, too, having tossed five scoreless innings in each of his last two outings. The lefty has interesting stuff, and he may not be able to give more than four or five even in a best-case scenario, so getting him used to coming in after an opener may be best for everyone involved. It’s interesting that he seems to be the only one getting this treatment. And then at the end of games, Ort continues to rack up saves and may be the most intriguing reliever in Worcester right now. He has an 0.60 ERA over 15 innings with 21 strikeouts and seven walks. Ort has been lights out. Another Yankee Rule-5 Minor League player. Stands 6-4, 240 lbs. Not drafted. 29 years old. Primarily pitch is fastball, average slider.

Staying Patient with Bobby Dalbec http://https://www.pitcherlist.com/staying-patient-with-bobby-dalbec/ Here's a great read on Dalbec hitting analytics. Compares it to why Trout is so successful. Must read. Lets try it again.

Staying Patient with Bobby Dalbec http://https://www.pitcherlist.com/staying-patient-with-bobby-dalbec/ Here's a great read on Dalbec hitting analytics. Compares it to why Trout is so successful. Must read.

Bloom stole Arroyo for nothing, and Red Sox are better for it http://https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/chaim-bloom-stole-christian-arroyo-nothing-and-red-sox-are-reaping-reward Very good read on Arroyo..... (I hear Bloom's password is Master-Thief)

Yep, I'm talking crazy when it comes to getting a #1, not very realistic and probably not what the Sox brass is thinking. Syndergard is very intriguing. I'd be happy if Whitlock becomes a starter. I think he has something intangible to go with his stuff.

He's my favorite and I don't want to show bias. Not sure why, but I love watching him pitch.

I'd like to see this: Moon 1. Arroyo 2B 1 yr/$581.5K A1-A3 (22-24) age 26 2. Verdugo LF 1 yr/$649.5K A1-A3 (22-24) age 25 3. JD DH 5 yr/$110M (18-22) age 33 4. Bogey SS 6 y/$120M (20-25)+26 opt (opt out after 22) age 28 5. Devers 3B 1 yr/$4.575M (21) A2-A3 (22-23) age 24 6. Renfroe RF 1yr/$3.1M (21) A3 22 age 29 7. Vaz C 3yr/13.55M (19-21) 22 opt age 30 8. Dalbec 1B $575K, A1-A3, (22-24) age 26 9. Hernandez CF 2yr/$14M (21-22) age 29 Biggest bargain, Verdugo (25). Arroyo has chance to make the 'core group' going forward. As Cora said, he was 1st round draft pick because someone saw talent in him. Dalbec (26), will be under team control for 5 mores years (22-26) Arroyo (26) and Verdugo (25) with 3 more years of team control. Devers (24) with two more years of team control via arbitrations. Xander (28) under team control for another 5 years if he does not opt out (chances are Sox extend with better contract). Kike (29) and Renfroe (29) will return for 2022 season. Vaz (30) and JD (33) will return for 2022 season. Some say JD has an opt out after 21. Some improvements can be had but this is pretty good hitting team.

We won last night with pen guys Sawamura, Workman (struggled), J Taylor and Whitlock. Darwinzon, Ottavino and Barnes should be available tonight. Ranking based on my eyes only 1 Barnes 2 Taylor 3 Ottavino 4 Sawamura (glad his hip issue wasn't serious) 5 Darwinzon 6 Whitlock

Our rotation is made up of better than average pitchers but I don't see a shut down guy on a consistent basis. They are what they are. Maybe the best example is Eovaldi. Announcers go on and on about his 'heater' but he does not generate swing and miss with it, or it seems. Our guys are hittable. This is why you and I agree on signing a #1 and slotting Chris Sale as our #2 guy.

It was good to see Whitlock go 8/9th innings. I mentioned that in an article he was working on his slider. He's beginning to use it. I just enjoy watching him pitch.

I like it.... We're now limiting Santana's at bats. Marwin really does a nice job defensively. He's needed. He can play everywhere, but we don't need a duplicate.

0-5 night bailed out by ss throwing error...ugh Maybe we now have our second baseman.....I think I rather see him get the 5 at bats.

I'll take seventh year of service of a player, albeit possibility for higher compensation than to have six years and having to offer another 5 year deal for his past performance. You can always trade him the summer of year 6. There will be takers knowing the guy is on the hook for another year. This board now wants nothing to do with seventh year team control due to 4 arbitrations? Unreal.

No one has responded to my comment about the Sox losing a year's control if a player is called up TODAY. They can not accrue one year of service time this year any longer. Thus if Duran is called up, he'll be here for 2021,2022,2023,2024,2025,2026 and 2027. Only issue is if they can qualify for four years of arbitration. Now that becomes a money issue and not player control issue. That's how I understand the rule.

Maybe he can pitch. At least scared the hell out of hitters.