Nick

Porcello pitched three strong innings today. Benni is right now 3-3 with 2 doubles. Kid can swing the bat. No worries.

Why do we want to keep picking up everyone else's trash? We got enough fat f***s already on the team.

Sox is now up 17-1 on the Rays. I contend this is typical Sox offense. They really feast on bad pitching, bringing up their offensive averages. Many here will say our offense is great. Is it? I wonder what the run differential in 2016 would have been if we capped the single game differentials at 5 runs, plus or minus either way. Thus if this game ends at 17-1, Sox would be given a credit for 6-1 win. Why the 5 run cap? Yep stupid logic, losing team can hit a grand slam and still be one run short with a 5 run deficit. My guess is that Sox win more 'huge' run differential games than losing them. 17-1 win combined with 5-2, 7-3, 2-1 loss becomes meaningless when you 'average' these 4 games. We've outscored our opponent 23-15, yet we're 1-3. If we capped it, it becomes 12-15, better explanation for going 1-3. Any math geniuses out there?

Per Sox Prospects on Devers Summation:*All-Star potential regardless of position due to his value at the plate. Potential to be a plus hitter for average with plus-to-better power. One of the most exciting young players in the system in years. Mature approach for his age, has shown the ability to handle aggressive assignments. Will stick at third base for the foreseeable future, but if his bat develops as projected, it would profile at first base.

My take away for Dalbec over last 12 months. Was not crazy about pitching, but he did what he was asked in college Always preferred wooden bat Changed his stance back to his Cape Cod days, opening up his stance. Offensively, it's just matter of making enough contacts (easier said than done), but there's no denying his power. I know that people here hate to talk about prospects as DH but there's really nothing wrong with it. Travis at 1B and Devers at 3B. Those two need to be in the lineup at some point. Groome is a must at this point. More than likely he's a replacement for either Sale or Porcello. I'm not sure if we can sign both of them when that time comes.

Beni, Beni, Beni....6 freaking years of team control.

Holt sucks.....only reason I wouldn't trade him is because we'd get nothing in return. At least the Phillies took $12M off of our hands for Clay. He made several miscues in outfield last year. Just because a guy 'tries' doesn't make him a good player. It's not T ball. Yeah, I appreciate that he gave the old college try but I rather not see him in OF, I'd take Travis over him at 1B, TODAY. I can't imagine he's our second best option at 3B, SS or 2B. Okay, he doesn't suck....he's a bench player and he's on the team only because he can be the third option at 7 positions if you count DH.

In reality, Pablo and Hanley's contract ends at same time, assuming 1 Hanley does not get hurt next two years and 2 Sox does not pick up option year on Pablo. They are both with us for next 3 years.

Chatam and Ockimey at #7 & #9. This is why to me I'd sign Betts, Sale, Bradley Jr and Porcello in that order. Xander is my 5th guy. If Xander costs more than $25M, I'd pass. Our OF depth is very thin in our organization. Dalbec and Ockimey can take over for Hanley when that time comes. For 2020 season 3B Devers SS Chatam 2B Pedy 1B Travis DH Dalbec C Vazquez/Leon LF Beni CF Bradley JR RF Betts SP Price SP Porcello SP Sale SP E Rod SP Wright If we need to, we can insert Swihart in LF, move Beni to CF, Betts in RF. It's not unreasonable to believe Boras will oversell Bradley Jr......I can live with Sale, Porcello, Betts extensions. If Groome is ready in 2020, then I suppose we can pass on Porcello. Don't get me wrong, I want Xander, Bradley Jr and Porcello along with Betts/Sale (two must gets), but I have a feeling we won't be able to sign them all.

Other teams want Holt because he is cheap. You are not going to get much of value in return.....that's what the market value means. You may think you live in a nice house in a good neighborhood, but if there are no buyers at your asking price, then your house is worth more to you to keep it than sell it.

I don't see DD kissing ass of media, fans nor players. He's very forthright.

I appreciate everyone's input. But, I seem to recall DD saying Swihart will work at catching. What he says matter more than what any of you think. Now he may change his mind but I'm pretty positive the plan is for Swihart to catch until further notice.

I'm also anxious to see development from Dalbec, Chatam and Oakimey in 2017. Chatam is athletic 6-4 at SS. Both Dalbec and Oakimey has raw power. Chatam may give us a viable option if Xander bolts. It's really unfortunate that we bombed with Trey Ball.....no excuse on missing out that badly. 2013 draft was a bust.

We'll have Beni for 6 more years and Betts/Bradley for 4 years. Our outfield depth maybe iffy but that's quite a trio. It's given that they can chase down balls. Sale will be the biggest benefactor of our defense. Vazques/Leon under control for 4 years, Swihart for 5. If Travis comes up later in the year, we'll have 7 years of team control on him. Pedy is with us for 5 more years. Hanley and Pablo for 3 years.

More on Sam Travis....when DD is high on a player, we ought to listen. "There was a large number of corner bats that were DH/first base/outfielders," Dombrowski said. "So when you looked at it, it looked like there were more players than needs with clubs when you analyze that. So we felt somebody would be left at the end in a position where they would be looking to get a job or not getting the dollars they wanted. There are still some people who are even out there at this point. So it really hasn't surprised me a great deal." Dombrowski said he really likes the dynamic with Moreland and the way the club has shaped up. He said replacing David Ortiz with one player is impossible. Sure, the Red Sox aren't as good offensively. But Dombrowski said the team is better defensively with Moreland, a 2016 Gold Glove winner, at first, and with Chris Sale in the starting rotation. He also pointed out first base prospect Sam Travis' talent/promise gave him motivation not to sign a first baseman/DH to a longterm contract. "I think the other thing in our mind is that we really like Sam Travis a lot," Dombrowski said. "We don't think he's going to be ready this year at the beginning of the season because of the injury last year. But if you sign somebody for an extended time period as a first baseman/DH, you don't have room for Sam Travis as you go forward because you've got Hanley and you've got that other person. And so for us, we really felt it would be better to go on a short-term basis."

Sam Travis...looks to be our future 1B "Hard-nosed player," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "A grinder type, a blue-collar player. The way he went through drill work the first couple of days, there's no evidence of the ACL surgery that he had. He feels great. The work he put in on the rehab is certainly paying off." The Chicago native has posted a .303 batting average, .364 on-base percentage, .453 slugging percentage, .816 OPS, 22 homers, 58 doubles, eight triples and 151 RBIs in 245 minor league games. "He impressed last year in his first camp with his ability to impact the baseball and maybe the determination and aggressiveness he exudes when he's on the field," Farrell said. Travis bats from the right side and has had success vs. both righties and lefties in his minor league career. That said, as written on MassLive.com in the offseason, he could potentially be eased into the majors at some point this year by platooning at first base with the left-handed hitting Mitch Moreland. In that scenario, Hanley Ramirez then would become the full-time DH

He's going to be the Rookie of the Year...that's all.

I was fortunate that I was poor. I came out of college with $1500 debt. During my time, I BEOG/SEOG were available. I also had a very good summer job earning close to $2500 each summer. Of course the tuition for my state school was around $1800 for the year. It was the middle class kids that got hurt. My last comment on social issue....each child is deserving of good education. That's the only way out of poverty.

Hopefully starters can finish seven innings.....that will minimize bullpen, slightly.

before, during and after school meals are available at may public schools.

So everyone here agrees that Blake should be fighting for another position? Who is he better than?

Per Fangraph Rafael Devers slashed a solid .282/.335/.443 at high-A Salem last year. Those numbers don’t leap off the page, but there is no denying his ceiling. The left-handed-hitting third baseman is the top prospect in the Red Sox organization among those with no MLB experience. Devers, who didn’t turn 20 until after the season, started slow in 2016. Then he caught fire. From June onward, the promising young power hitter put up an .883 OPS. By all accounts, his turnaround wasn’t fueled by a specific adjustment. Devers said after the season that he stuck with the routine he’s always had, and that it was “basically about putting in the work every day, and trying to be consistent.” He told me that he couldn’t explain it any other way. Farm director Ben Crockett couldn’t point to any major changes either. He said that high-A hitting coach Nelson Paulino primarily focused on helping Devers be ready on time, and be short to the ball. The long balls started coming in July, but despite the second-half power surge, he finished the campaign with just 11 home runs. I asked Devers if he was disappointed with that number. “I actually feel happy,” answered Devers. “Early in the year, I didn’t think I was going to even hit five, so to end up with 11 made me feel good. I think I can hit a lot more than that, though.”

At some point, don't we have to find out if he can catch? Beni is our LF, Devers is our 3B, Travis is at 1B and we have Hanley for 3 more years.

I think you'll see Sam Travis sometime during 2017.....book it.