Timmy U

Smith-Shawver going for the Stripers. He has 3K, including Montgomery. He continues to struggle against velocity.

Eder completely falls apart after that. Original hit is eventually ruled an error, but he gives up 6R 5ER in 1 inning. A lot of hard contact. The defense was absolutely putrid. Difo at 3rd and Remillard at first both looked awful.

W-S and Kanny both win their first games. Eder on the bump for Charlotte. First hitter reaches on what was a clear error, but given a hit cuz home cooking. A strikeout then a blooper that Remilliard did not do a good job with for a cheap double. As a prospect, it's like Eder borrowed Aaron Bummer's lucky rabbit's foot.

Here's my prediction for Kanny's line up the last month. Part of this is that I'm predicting Nishida finally goes to W-S. 1. *Antonacci, 2b 2. # McClain lf/dh 3. Miller-Green, 1b/dh 4. *Ronny Hernandez, c 5. Saucke, rfdh/1b? 6. Wolkow, cf-rf/dh 7. Arxy Hernandez, 3b 8. Burrowes/Sanchez, ss 9. *Archer, cf. I think McCants will get a lof of time in cf and around the diamond. Aguero goes back for fake games in AZ. Dinesen and Bethancourt are release candidates. Nishida and possibly Asigen go up to W-S. Bonemer and Mogollon could get taxi squad looks.

Counterpoint: Isn’t it better to have guys take their lumps now when these games are basically exhibition games for the Sox? The adjustment to mlb pitching has never been harder. A lot of really good prospects really struggle for their first half a season. Both Jacksons, Holliday and Churio, have both gotten their asses kicked at times. I would rather see Baldwin, Quero, Montgomery, maybe even Ramos take their lumps with an offseason to work on stuff than get thrown out in 2025 so the Sox are guaranteed to lose another 120 games. Also, I will point out it was one game.

They do NOT have a lot. Jordan Walker reclamation project? JJ Wetherholt as a PTBNL? Victor Scott II?

Lanny’s game was suspended, they will start with a 4-0 lead. Wolkow will get credit for his 2 rbi double.

$80,000 over for a guy with 30 power probably? I find that shocking. I expect him to hit in the lower levels, then we'll see.

I could imagine. He's not a ss, though. They got him playing 3b, which is a better defensive fit for him.

Iriarte is done 5IP 0H 0R 0ER 1bb 6K. Looked pretty darned good.

Iriarte so far 4IP 0H 0R 0ER 1bb 6K HBP. 3 of the outs are swinging bunts. He has looked pretty dominant.

I don't think I'd have him in the Top 30 right now. He's in that Sean Burke "should he be a reliever?" bucket for me.

I agree with James. There's a legit top 5 pitcher, 2 expensive HS, mild reaches on a couple college outfielders, then a whole lot of 5th year senior signs and college relievers. It's a top heavy class. Hard to see $15 mil unless Smith got like $9 mil.

Another 2b for Sosa. 3-3. 5-4 Knights. Iriarte 3IP, 6K.

Nastrini so far 3IP 7H 4R 2ER 2bb 1K, plus 2 guys who reached on errors. It's a miracle he hasn't given up 10 runs. Meanwhile, Iriarte looks like he has a new off-speed pitch after his session in Chi with Bannister. 4K in 2IP.

Errors on both Montgomery and Ramos around some pretty bad pitching by Nastrini. 4-4.

I am against a megadeal with the Dodgers because most of their talent is either very far away or kinda too old. Outman is 27 years old. May turns 27 in September, same for Lux in November. By the time the Sox are good again, they'll all be 30, plus they've all burned a lot of cheap service time. And if they were all that good, the Dodgers wouldn't be trading them. Rushing and Pages are 23, which is okay, but Pages never walks and is more of what the Sox have already got. Rushing would be a first baseman for the Sox and his offensive profile does not support that. DePaula makes some sense. I could do Rushing, Miller, and DePaula for Crochet maybe. The rest of it is volume that would be highly disappointing.

Sosa 2-2, single and a very hard double. He's a AAA HoF. It's 4-1.

Nastrini then bb, bloop single, bb but Fletcher makes a nice catch on a gapper, still 3-1

Nacho Alvarez long HR off Nastrini. 3-1 Charlotte leads.

Too bad for Leasure. I hope he heals up. I bet there's a bit of bullpen churn after the deadline. Coffey, AHT, Adler, and Cousin are all possibilities if they trade Kopech, Brebbia, etc.

HR Montgomery.

I have always been Team "Crochet Can Start." Now, I'm on Team "I Bet Crochet Stays Healthy." The guy is a horse who is in Tip Top shape. Yes, he did have TJS, but so has every other hard thrower, including Hagen Smith. The arm is relatively low mileage as he enters his prime and his delivery is repeatable. Plus, he's really smart. Guys like this are the ones who go to the post for years. If the Sox (or someone else) is smart about workload this year, I think he's set to be a monster for the next five years. I hope the Sox don't give him away for 50 cents on the dollar.

Didn’t the Sox draft 4 guys off Chatham this year? I bet they had scouts at that game.

I agree, for the people who actually make the majors. But Day 2 and 3 players become the underpaid career minor leaguers that we’ve seen lawsuits about. You can understand why potential 14th rounders may want to postpone their bus rides, get a degree they will most likely need, and enjoy some NIL money, even if it reduces their already slim chances of making the majors. It’s like the rest of the pay scale in baseball: things are fine for the stars, maybe not so great for the rank and file. They may have to significantly increase those day three slots or go to a hockey-style agreement with the NCAA, where they can codevelop previously drafted players while they still play in college.