Let us begin with pitching. Both kinds.
Until Chris Sale is healthy, the starting staff remains meh. Nathan Eovaldi, Nick Pivetta and Tanner Houck form a passable #2 through #4 rotation. Rich Hill (only a matter of time until finger blisters form) and James Paxton (dl forever . . . seemingly) are better than last year’s reality of Garrett Richards and Martin Perez which is akin to comparing a car with engine problems to a car with no brakes. The bullpen did not experience the complete make over I demanded. Chaim Bloom and Brian O’Halloran are deaf to my complaints. Why are the following wearing Boston uniforms rather than Worcester: Phillips Valdez (a guaranteed hit by pitch ever other appearance), Matt Barnes (he is past his prime and pointed in a downward direction), Josh Taylor (23 walks in 47.2 innings. Go ahead. Defend him, if you dare), Ryan Brasier (I’m waiting for a neck injury given his strange in-between pitches posture) and Austin Davis (lifetime 5.50 era and a whip of 1.49 creates extreme discomfort as he approaches the mound). Be gone! I find the beginning of hope with Garrett Whitlock closing, Hirokazu Sawamura, Matt Strahm and Jake Diekman making appearances the sixth inning forward.
Signing Trevor Story closes a defensive gap in the infield (Christian Arroyo injures himself making coffee) and also offers another considerable bat. Bobby Dalbec is a 30/90 guy in the making. Rafael Devers will continue to entertain with his bat, occasional wild ass throws from third and death battle with the wad of tobacco he tosses around his mouth. Xander Bogarts must complete the season with game 1 to game 162 offensive production. He fades the second half. Jackie Bradley, Jr returns. Yay. He settles right field and keeps Kiki Hernandez in the line up. Alex Verdugo is the next great left fielder in Fenway. J.D. Martinez, the human rain delay in-between pitches, starts fast or becomes late-July trade bait. Christian Vazquez and Kevin Plawecki are the best catching combination in the A.L. A word on Jarren Duran: He needs to go away. I have no patience for Jacoby Ellsbury, II.
Minor bats to watch: Yairo Munoz, Triston Casas, Nick Yorke, Stephen Scott, Devlin Granberg, Tyreque Reed, Pedro Castellanos, Cameron Canon, Tyler Dearden and Gilberto Jimenez. Yep, I named my top ten.
Minor starting pitching to watch: Kutter Crawford, Connor Seabold, Victor Santos, Brandon Walter and Aldo Ramirez.
Minor relievers to watch: Zach Kelly, Durbin Feltman, Joan Martinez, Casey Cobb and Brendan Nail.
Finally, if Alex Erro continues with his 41% toss rate, Christian Vazquez is bound for “old man” help-the-kid status.
Go, Sox.
tipmypitch 