Jack's Red Sox Blog

 I'm traveling for work and stuff right now. Bad timing re the baseball season 'cause I'm blacked out from watching the games on NESN360. The first series of the season, with the Texas Rangers started nicely, but struggled after that. We stand at 3-1 heading to Baltimore, for a series with the uncharacteristically strong Orioles. The players I predicted (hoped?) would be strong have started slowly. Story, Casas, Duran, and even Bregman have not had the first four games we had fantasized about. And Devers is really struggling. On the plus side. Abreau, Campbell and Hamilton are starting strong. It's too soon to panic. Good chance things will turn around. It's a long season. Let's be patient till we have a dozen or so games behind us.

 I'm in the middle of a long car trip, so I knew I wouldn't be able to access my NESN360 to watch the first game. But I was looking forward to listening to the radio broadcast when I got to my hotel room for the evening.  Only to discover it had been a Day Game, not 7pm. Oh well. But, we won, so that's good. Assuming today's game is actually at 8pm like it says, I'll be able to listen after arriving at my friend's home in Florida.

 And... it is Kristian Campbell on the opening day roster. Probably at second base. This breaks up the "big three" who have been playing together in the minors. Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony   have vowed to do the work to join him in the majors.  Nice story about Alex Cora's trusted position in Boston.

 I hadn't realized that **Masataka Yoshida** was recovering from a surgery. It's not very serious, it hasn't kept him from getting at-bats this spring. But he's not deemed ready to play the outfield yet.  So far they're limiting him to only throwing 100 feet. The word is that he'll start the season in a rehab assignment with the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox. The who-will-play-second-base sweepstakes seems to change daily. This morning's Globe Red Sox Notes says that **Kristian Campbell** is the new leader.

Cora is non-commital but... "Aroldis Chapman should be Red Sox closer, says fellow reliever Liam Hendriks" Julian McWilliams in the Boston Globe . 

Garret Crochet, who the Red Sox acquired from the White Sox back in December, is obviously a special player.  A few days ago Manager Alex Cora announce that Crochet would be our opening day starting pitcher.  Today we see another piece singing the praises of the lefty starter. " We’re Not Dreaming Big Enough on Garrett Crochet "

 MLB's Ian Browne reports this morning that Marcelo Mayer could be the opening day Red Sox second baseman. 

 There's gotta be a first post. This is it.