Autumn Dreamin

Quick inning for Speas, three soft contact outs. Jacob Gonzalez makes an appearance.

Sheets goes yard again.

Remillard no doubter to LF.

It's a 2 run game in February, no one is clowning on anyone lol

Colson hit into a FC, Ortega sac fly scores Sosa from third, 3-0 Sox. Moose strikes out to end the inning. I remain unconvinced that he's making the team.

Sox get two on after a Shewmake double and Sosa walk. Shewmake steals 3rd, Benny knocks him in with a single, 2-0 Sox. Still two on with no outs for Colson.

Leasure allows a little two out traffic with a single and walk, but gets Salvy swinging to end the threat. Sox still up 1-0.

Muñoz' stuff looks great. He still couldn't stop Nicky Lopez from hitting yet another double of course, but he did strand him.

Benny hit a liner down the RF line for a double but was stranded. LRJ subbed after just his 2nd AB, didn't hear anything concerning in the call. Woodford and Banks both pitched 2 scoreless. Gavin defending his roster spot by crushing a no doubter HR.

Eloy knocks in Yo with a bloop to tie it up.

Nicky coming for Benny's leadoff spot? Leadoff walk, knocked in by a Moncada (batting RH) double to the wall. He's scored both Sox runs.

Noted speedster Gavin Sheets just stole second after working a walk.

Up early against the Mariners thanks to a Nicky Lopez leadoff double (his second XBH of ST), knocked in by Eloy who stays hot. There's also a split squad home game vs. the Royals, available via Royals audio feed. Montoyo is managing with Thome as bench coach. Woodford started that one with a perfect first. LRJ also got his first hit of spring.

If they decide to try stretching Crochet out in the majors, I want Noah Schultz/Mason Adams style piggyback starts from him and Deivi. https://www.mlb.com/video/deivi-garcia-strikes-out-three

Baseball America speculates on the Sox Spring Breakout prospect lineup: Jacob Burke, CF Colson Montgomery, SS Bryan Ramos, 3B Wilfred Veras, DH Terrell Tatum, LF Tim Elko, 1B George Wolkow, RF Edgar Quero, C Javier Mogollon, 2B Noah Schultz, LHP Nick Nastrini, RHP Jake Eder, LHP Jordan Leasure, RHP I imagine this is pretty close to what we'll see, with maybe some wiggle room at 2B/LF and another arm or two if it's supposed to be a full 9 innings. Should be fun.

I do think Colson can stick at short...but he got charged with the games first error after a ball tipped off his glove and into the outfield. No matter though, because we have outfield defense now! DeLoach made a catch in right and got the ball back to 1B quickly for the double play. He also made a running catch against the netting in foul territory for the final out. Unfortunately, in between those two plays, Sammy Peralta picked some bad timing for his first baserunners. He gave up a walk followed by a HR, and the Padres lead 2-1.

Colson was caught stealing after a HBP. Sounds like he beat the throw but his foot was off the bag at the time of the tag. Pitching and defense has been solid. LRJ made a rangy running catch at the wall, Burdick made a nice diving play in LF. Ramos made a low throw to first, but Sheets picked it well. Stassi hit a standup triple, and the Sox get on the board with a bunt to bring him in by none other than bunt king Remillard.

Moncada and Sheets have both pulled hard hit liners directly at Cronenworth. Berroa gave up a leadoff triple on a similarly pulled ball that got past Sheets into the corner, but stranded it with 2K's and a liner that Sheets did nab. Sounds like he was a bit wild, and he did walk one, but he also got a fair amount of swing and miss including the K of Cronenworth on a ball in the dirt. Don't recall a mention of velo.

Maybe Horn is that long term lefty piece in the pen to replace Bummer and Crochet (if he makes the switch to starting). Or maybe he isn't. But they turned a rental of 30yo journeyman RHRP Keynan Middleton into a RH starter who has Thompson's positives of youth (22yo) and workload (222.2 IP over the last two seasons) with better control (3.3 BB/9) and better results (3.58 ERA). Both are Rule 5 guys, but one seems closer to earning a roster spot. You can hold both and hope that Thompson makes a step this year that he hasn't made in the previous two...or you can cash in now if you think it's unlikely that he raises his value (to this team or another) before hitting minor league free agency. And in the meantime you have several years of a lefty with good stuff who you can keep or trade as you please. Horn finished 2021 at A+ with a WHIP approaching 2 and an ERA well over 5. He repeated the level the next year, and dominated with a .700 WHIP and 0 ER in 10 appearances before being promoted. His first time at AA, he struggled again with a high WHIP (but a reasonable 3.46 ERA). Repeating AA last season, he dominates again with a <1 WHIP and 2 ERA before another quick promotion. He struggles again with a high WHIP his first time in AAA...Sensing a pattern? I get that the Sox currently have Schrodinger's 40 man, where spots are either precious and limited or full of unsalvageable detritus who should be cut without hesitation, depending on what allows for the harshest judgement in the moment. But the Sox are apparently convinced by Horn's demonstrated capacity for adjustment and progression that Thompson hasn't flashed yet (and reasonably confident in their ability to backfill future needs for RHSP with guys like Juan Carela and the upcoming crop of draft arms). I'm not sure you get to accuse the move of being shortsighted if your "analysis" consists of "don't trade starters for relievers" or 23 < 26.

Some non-Statcast games will record every strikeout as 3 pitches and every ball in play as the first pitch (and every walk as 4 straight balls), but that's not what actually happened. He's had some good takes today.

Our $2 million player > their $2 million player?

Can't expect a $2 million/year player to catch up to major league velocity like this, sadly.

Can we use all of our Royals connections to get in on this arrangement?