Nick

I see that in 2018, we won game 1, 8-4. We won game 2, 4-2 (D Price got the win), We won game 4 9-6. We won game 5 5-1 (D Price got the win #1). Chris Sale coming back 100% would change the equation for 2021.

If I own the Sox, I'd say we don't have the top line pitching to win the world series. As we've seen, good pitching stops good hitting. Obviously we're competitive. I'd love to identify top 3 pitchers for each of 5 contenders in American League to see how they would fare against each other. Our top 3 if everyone was pitching to potential would be E Rod, Eovaldi and Richards. This would appear to mirror high school tennis match from my state (excluding two doubles teams). I think we would be in trouble in a one, winner take it all game. I would not be comfortable in a five or seven game series either. It's very possible they can outperform expectations but I'm not seeing it. Then it goes back to are we content in 2021 just to get into the playoffs and pull the USA hockey team miracle? Don't get me wrong, I'm pleased with the progress the team has made.

I believe you're missing the calculation of service time. 172 days = 1 year of service time, usually there are 187 days in baseball season. If Duran gets called up today (assuming September 30th is the last day of baseball season), he can only accrue 21+30+31+31+30 = 143 days of service time in 2021. Thus his six year team control will not start until 2022. I think you're getting confused with those players having 4 years of arbitration in 6 years opposed to normal 3 years. Top 20% or 30% of players accruing most days this year with less than 172 days will be eligible for 4 years of arbitration. Tell me I'm all wet.

Just got home...4 hits, Santana Leading off.....I'm out.

MLB.com is showing Syracuse vs Worcester in Education Day matinee...first ever. Announcer on Cordero, "he's hitting .405 so that means he gets a hit 40% of the time". Announcer is explaining everything about baseball. Distance between bags, concept of strike zone, on and on so forth, good stuff. Imagine Mr. Rogers speaking..... Duran gets called out on third strike, Marcus Wilson homers, Cordero bunts for a hit away from the shift, Chavis a base hit to left field, OF COURSE CORDERO GETS CAUGHT BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD AND IS THROWN OUT. "Jeter Downs is 23 years old, I know many of you think that's old, but he's actually young for baseball"....that maybe the best line..... Funny stuff.....

For us old timers, are we headed for 1968? You know, one guy hitting over .300 in AL?

Throw in the obligatory Tommy John for pitchers and well you know.....yeah it's a long shot.

Wischowski is 22, not a teenager. Gambrell is 23, not a teenager. De La Rosa is 19, a teenager. Valedz is 19, a teenager. You and I agree on many things, especially when it comes to DD's contribution. I don't want to pick a fight with you. Just a FYI.

Very good article on Josh Winckowski in MassLive (subscription only). Interesting point about him changing his attitude going from pacing himself throwing fastball to throw as hard as he can mentally. He initially did it just to see how fast he can throw. He's touching 97 now and thinks he can go 7 innings maxing out on his fastball. He's also all about attacking the strike zone, so we have another pitcher that's not nibbling outside the zone. That's good news. He also worked out to build his body last year due to not having a baseball season. It's interesting you hear many athletes having done so during COVID. For pitchers like him, it may end of being more beneficial having taken the year off. It's not the year of the car, it's how many miles you have on it. I say we got rid of Beni to purchase Renfroe. And we got some lottery tickets in return. If you don't play, you can't win.

Yep, he always wanted to pitch with bases full. Walking was part of his strategy.

The guy hits 96-97 with his fastball and 93 on a splitter. Not bad for a 33 year old.

Keep an eye on Sawamura....I think we have him for 3 years with options.....bargain.

Per OverTheMonster Baseball America updated their top 100 list on Monday, and we saw two risers in the Red Sox system, plus one slight faller. We’ll start with the positive side here and go to the top-ranked Red Sox prospect, which is still Triston Casas. This is not a surprise, but it is nice to see how high he is climbing. After coming in at number 38 in their last ranking, the first baseman has moved up to the top 30, coming in at #27. He’s ranked between Guardians infielder Tyler Freeman and Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach. Casas is just coming off a strong showing for Team USA at Olympic qualifying and he is hitting .328/.400/.552 in 75 plate appearances with Double-A Portland. The 21-year-old should return to the Sea Dogs this week. Coming in right behind him is Casas’s Team USA teammate and the biggest Red Sox riser in Jarren Duran. As he continues to show his newfound power is indeed for real, it’s not surprising to see his stock rising in the way that it is. Duran comes in at number #29 after being 86th in the last iteration. He’s ranked between the aforementioned Larnach and Yankees phenom Jasson Dominguez. Duran also played well for Team USA, and he’s hitting .278/.366/.625 at Triple-A Worcester. Like Casas, he should be back playing affiliated ball this week. On a more sour note, the Red Sox did have one guy fall a bit as well, with Jeter Downs falling from 59 to #69. He’s ranked between Cubs pitcher Brailyn Marquez and Cubs outfielder Brennen Davis. Downs was also away from the club playing for Colombia in Olympic qualifying, and he’s hitting .244/.337/.385 in Worcester so far this year.

Having Arroyo leading off and playing second base further lengthens our line up if he keeps hitting well. I did not realize that he was a first round draft pick coming out of college. (i hope i have the right player, going on memory). That will force Kike to play CF primarily and that's where he's needed. With low BA, I'm not sure platooning Santana with Dalbec is a great idea. Who knows, maybe Santana will get on a tear. I'm leaning towards acquiring a low cost left handed hitter with proven track record. 1B is the next fix. Do it, Bloom. (And quit telling me we lead the majors in runs scored. It it's bad, you need to fix it. It's always about making the team better). Watching Dalbec come to bat with runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out and striking out on a pitch not even close was the final straw for me. He needs to start hitting bombs if he continues to strike out. I'm pulling for him. I want both Dalbec and Whitlock to succeed.

You need guys like Whitlock and Houck to keep the team below the luxury tax payroll threashhold. We can't keep buying every pitcher. Bloom has already made his mark by getting Nick Privetta from the Phillies. We have one of those pitchers back, Workman. It couldn't have come at a better time with injury to Brasier, who has been put on 60 day IL. Richards and Perez signings also look like winners. They are exceeding expectations and the risk was low due to one year deal and high reward due to having club option for second year if they pitched well. Sox can also trade them after exercising club options. Win-win in my books.

He has unbelievable stuff. It's kind of amusing that he picked up his change up from a teammate during spring training. (I hope I'm not getting the pitchers confused). An article stated that he's working on a slider and he's been mixing in that pitch recently. He attacks the strike zone and that's what I like most about any pitcher. At some point, starters will need a break and I'm hoping to see Whitlock be the opener and let him go as long as he can.

Christian Arroyo will leadoff for the sixth time this year, as Kiké Hernández is staying in the bottom third of the Red Sox lineup. In his previous appearances in the leadoff spot, Arroyo is batting .292 (7-for-24) with three doubles and a .320 on-base percentage. Cora explained there’s no analytical reason for Arroyo getting a crack batting first, the Sox are just trying to see who runs with the opportunity. I'll give Cora credit for never throwing a player under the bus.

Geez the wrist injury must be worse than what they lead us to believe initially. He was available for pinch hit on Saturday.

great hustle play by our captain.....

That's what I'm afraid of.....

One of three leads off....

That would be great......if you get beat three times, you don't deserve to advance.

Unless Sale comes back as his old self, I sure don't want to play in a one game winner take it all scenario. I just don't think single game defines the best team.

Little bit surprised that Sawamura didn't get the call in the 10th.

And to have a Rule5 guy from Yankees play a role in a win....sweet.