Anderson Espinoza strikes out hitters at almost the same rate as Price, nearly one in three. He's the youngest player in the South Atlantic League, rewarded the largest signing bonus in the history of Venezuela. The Sally's average hitter is four developmental years his senior, but he Ked 11 of them in 5 innings last week anyway like some bizarro Henry Owens. He runs it up to 99 with audacious sink, the author of a 2.45 FIP without a wisp of facial hair. If you haven't read the beautiful things he's spouted off to the press, I encourage you to do so. Apparently his heart is set on reaching the Major Leagues as a teenager. May he spell the end of Buchholz. He and I expect a long and colorful career.
I hope Benintendi and Moncada go right to Boston. They're high-pedigree players both, one a record breaking bonus baby built like a warship, the other College Player of the Year and a steal at number seven. Who here opposed Xander Bogaerts, then 20, a spring lamb, playing in the World Series? It was that or a blind wombat, I grant you, but still. These guys deserve the same chance to draw gutsy walks.
To this point: Ortiz is really, extremely extroverted. He treats opposing teams' players like closest kin. There's a real good chance of us introducing a pair of trumped up, wet behind the ears wunderkids to this team for one ultimate playoff run, possibly in the filling out of a stacked offense.... Rejubilated Papi is fearsome Papi, and Fenway Pahk will really let him hear it this go round. Our standout competitor in the NL is cursed and their president's a gorilla.
The Hanley Ramírez situation has "gone right." Still not a credit to team OPS, the poor thing, but he's really playing quality baseball and I think he's been the most likable Red Sox so far. He's hitting the ball "hard as fuck," you might describe, with upper crust mean flyball distances and indeed, Remy, exit velocities. That Asian fellow with the hair informed me Han-Ram cracked the center field wall this morning with a line drive during batting practice. (I, for one, remember that happening before. I think maybe Youk did it?) The home run he hit was just a masterstroke of impeccable beauty.
What I hope will continue going right in the future: everyone please stay healthy. Cryogenically freeze Koji if we crack open a division lead, really leverage those innings.
It interests me that Price has been given so much rope at times this season. He's had outings of 114 and now 113 pitches, dominating Atlanta and then last night, accumulating Ks when he really needn't have been in there. It seems the Red Sox are willing to bet on his slate of health—reassuring, I suppose, in exchange for almost a quarter billion dollars. That or Price calls the shots.
What hasn't gone right? I bit my tongue once cheering a Travis Shoore home run. He only went 2-for-4 that game.