5GoldGlovesOF,75

Bloom said if the pandemic didn't cancel the '20 high school season that the Sox expected Yorke to be ranked as a pre-draft first rounder. He is progressing towards the majors, but it's interesting that of the 13 Sox listed by career minor league stats, Yorke is the only one right now with a sub-.800 OPS.

Glasnow was at least drafted by Pittsburgh -- but let's not get all Andrew Miller about trading him away. Last year was the first that Glasnow ever made 20 starts, and this season it looks like he's finally a star... at age 30. The Red Sox may have had bad luck and bad skill drafting pitchers the past decade or so -- but that doesn't mean they should just take six more high school shortstops over six D1 college starters, either. Not that they would ever trade one of the pitchers, even if they all made the majors... unless a guy is about to go free agent, and has become too expensive for John Fenway.

Totally on board with getting those two for a guy who had worn out his welcome and a veteran bullpen piece. I'm just blabbing about stockpiling all the "best" players drafted who "can be flipped for pitching" -- when they never are. And it rarely seems like it goes the other way -- Seattle wouldn't even budge on its #5 starter this winter... unless you're the Rays, and can afford to trade Joe Ryan for a 40-year old DH, or a first-rounder like Liberatore for a Cuban signee like Arozarena, targeted as an instant star (but knowing Tampa, will probably soon be dealt for another arm that throws 100 mph with a sweeping dirtball change-up that comes from the side and no batter can see).

Minor League Stats ..............BA ..OPS ..G Grissom .320 .883 338 Mookie.. .316 .880 299 Duran.........299 .834 338 Devers...... .297 .838 406 Rafaela...... .280 .806 424 O’Neill....... .272 .871 579 Casas........ .269 .858 284 Abreu........ .259 .811 431 Dalbec.........261 .879 521 Teel.. ......... .307 .868 51 Yorke.......... .276 .795 315 Anthony...... .268 .824 156 Mayer......... .265 .818 224 Kavadas...... .258 .930 284

That's the whole point about drafting "best" players to trade for pitchers later. The Pirates aren't going to trade Jared Jones, the Dodgers aren't going to trade Bobby Miller, and the Giants aren't going to trade Kyle Harrison for Yorke and Jordan. All three of those MLB starting pitchers were draft picks after Yorke in 2020. It's even doubtful any of those clubs would swap those arms for Mikey Romero and Roman Anthony right now. The latter is a good prospect, but at this point that's all he is, while Romero so far isn't even Jeter Downs. Meanwhile, there were almost two dozen pitchers chosen between Romero and Anthony in the 2022 draft. Starting pitching is just too valuable, especially with mound injury rates increasing by the day. There is an assumption that stockpiling toolsy athletic draft picks is a smart strategy for dealing for pitching later. But how often do clubs ever really give up promising young pitchers?

Outsmarting everyone, just like in the 2020 draft. I'm not saying Nick Yorke is a bad player, but the assumption was he was taken so high because he'd sign for less than projected first-rounders... which, in turn, allowed the Sox to draft -- and sign -- Blaze Jordan. Both guys are doing ok in Double A, so I won't post If-Onlys on current big leaguers taken after Yorke, like Westburg or Evan Carter or a few Cardinals (because they're in last again). But there has to be at least a dozen pitchers taken after Yorke who are already in the majors, and some of them are pretty good. Despite all the draft book instructions, Bloom -- and his front office full of Asst. VPs -- didn't pick the best player available, but instead opted for two for the price of maybe one surer thing... ... but why draft pitchers, when we can just trade Yorke or Jordan for one. Someday.

Nats were trying to decide which one was the more thick-headed hacker, and chose Raffy -- but only because his knee softened the skull of Ty LOB.

Devers thread. Raffy with another two more Ks, but then lines another oppo double -- he is starting to come around to the idea that any hit, even to the opposite field, is better than strikeouts. He also made another really nice play in the field, and would've had another assist if the Nats baserunner didn't knock the ball out of Cooper's glove -- which was somehow not Slappy ARod interference, but an error on the first baseman...

This is why even the interns that front offices assign to read these forums totally ignore dinosaurs are us. OPENER! ... (they chuckle) ... Just bring him in the second inning!

Raffy goes oppo for the game-winning hit. If Devers wanted to just focus on hitting the ball to the left side -- the area of the plate where every lefty specialist throws to him -- then he could become the best hitter in the league. Hyperbole? According to baseball-reference data on Hit Location, Rafael Devers is a career .405 batter with a 1.135 OPS in Opp Fld-LHB. This year Raffy is batting .600 -- 6-for-10 -- going the other way. So what if he doesn't hit 35 home runs; he already has his contract, and there are different ways to be a star and earn it. Tris Casas, whose tender trunk would prefer he turns down the torque, should also take aim at the Green Monster: protect his abs, up his BA, drive in runs. Two southpaw swinging Miggy Cabreras on the Red Sox wouldn't be so bad...

31-8 all-time in the City Connect yellow jerseys! According to iconoclasts, today's win would only be a W in two other uniforms: Fredericks of Hollywood camisoles and the assorted costumes of icons from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Soon, some other team's front office will say the same thing about Cora and Boston, and make him an offer he can't refuse.

The goal is the 1939 Yankees. When you get a chance, check out their run differentials, especially on the road.

Yanks had Ruth and Gehrig... but those guys were on nicotine, rotgut and lactose.

NESN pregame last night, trying to contrive optimism as usual, Youk said that Raffy drawing more walks lately was "impressive." I call it "DEpressing." Opposing pitchers have absolutely no reason whatsoever to throw Devers a strike down the middle -- especially with men on base or in a big spot. I even predicted that in the offseason, when Story was supposed to be the #3 batter behind Raffy. If Devers is supposed to be the next Oritz, who is going to be the next Manny to protect him... Machado?

The worst part is: it's not a slump. This is the offense. Can't blame Wong, who is doing all he can. Can't blame Duran and Abreu, the Sox' two best players this year in WAR -- young guys who still strikeout twice as much as they walk. Can't blame Ceddanne, who is slowly coming around... but don't expect huge plate discipline from a guy who made the majors as a free-swinger. Can't blame O'Neill -- a lifetime 30% K-rate whiffer who has only driven in more than 58 runs once in his career, when he had 80 RBI in the season he hit 34 homers (look familiar?). Finally, can't blame Raffy. No matter what he gets paid, Devers is always better with guys around him: Bogaerts his buddy on the left side of the infield, and X, JD, Schwarbs, Mookie etc providing protection in the batting order -- now he has neither; Raf understands every interview question in English, but still prefers a translator to deliver his replies. Devers thrives on being one of the guys; not THE guy. Story is still a what-if, Casas has to someday hit again without swinging too hard, and the Big Three hopefuls are learning their profession, two levels away. And that's it.

We were also saying the two-out approach is "scoring on contact" but the Sox are sending him even with Clemente in right -- because, as we all know, there are no hitters after Wong batting 5th.

Another Washington run on a hit with an exit velo of a Ford Pinto. Before someone says the Sox are snakebit tonight, I would imagine a snakebite hurts. This Nats attack is more like a wormbite -- in the middle of the night when you're asleep -- that eats at you brain until the worm dies... ... because we all know Red Sox gray matter is ultimately toxic.

Do boats offer free trucking? Or Prime vanning? Fan mail from some flounder.

But we do know how much better, in terms of syllabication. Yell this aloud: "Yeah, Mookie!" Now try this: "Yeah, Zach Short Time In Boston - Oh For Seven With Four Kaaaaaaays!"

Booser may be the only player ever to hit his professional ceiling before he got back into pro baseball.

Someone mentioned Kimbrel is already struggling for the Baltimore Young Superstar Darlings. He's the same closer who began to lose his command and control in crunch time for the greatest Red Sox team of last decade. Kimbrel was 30 years old way back in 2018. It's amazing he hasn't regained his glory since then; his arm has had another half decade of overthrowing to get stronger -- you'd think the scar tissue from micro tears of finishing all those high leverage games must have calcified into internal armor by now! And I can't believe my hair hasn't grown back. Or that I lose more muscle mass every year. Or chicks who used to do a double-take when they saw me, now look away quickly -- as if I'm some creepy old guy...

They're about to thin the herd... and I bet Theo suggested to Brez the outside consulting firm -- so no one new looks like a Molly Hatchet album cover.

... except in late innings of every close game the Red Sox play with their totally unbalanced lefty batting order.

Realists would say he's half bad vs. lefties. Fakests would say he's twice as good vs. righties.