Author Archives: @Matthew O'Halloran

The Red Sox Should Have Signed Lester, Not Price

In the winter of 2014, Jon Lester was the big name free agent to hit the market. The Cubs ended up signing him to a six-year, $155M contract. The following winter, David Price was the big name free agent. Lester’s has a $25.8M per year, with Price at $30M annually. Here’s why the Red Sox made a huge mistake.

Jon Lester

Lester said that he would take a discount, making it easier for the Red Sox to sign him. NESN reported that he probably would have signed a five-year extension worth $120M (24 per). In 113 starts as a Cub, Lester has a 3.09 ERA. Lester’s 3.09 ERA since 2015 ranks 10th in the MLB, minimum 500 innings pitched, one spot below Chris Sale. So the Red Sox could have two top-ten pitchers in the league right now. In eleven postseason starts, he has a 1.63 ERA since 2015, and he won the 2016 NLCS MVP.

David Price

After a rough 2015 when Clay Buchholz was the opening day starter, the Red Sox needed to go out and make a big move. They were competing with the Cardinals, so they upped their offer to a seven-year, $217M dollar contract (31 per). Since 2016, Price has a 3.95 ERA in Boston. Price’s 3.95 ERA ranks 27th in the majors since 2016, minimum 400 innings pitched. He ranks third in annual salary, with his 27th slot in the majors is not good enough. In three postseason games as a Red Sox, he has a 4.50 ERA and a 13.50 ERA in his only start.

The Comparison

The Red Sox have won the division both years Price has been in Boston, but they are 1-6 in the playoff games. In his only start against the Indians, Price gave up five runs in 3.1 innings and took the loss. To Price’s credit, he pitched well against the Astros in the bullpen. Lester’s Cubs went to the NLCS in 2015 and 2017 and won the World Series in 2016. Lester is more clutch and trustworthy than Price and is on a better contract. Price is 32 and could opt out of his contract after this year, but I doubt he will given his struggles. I do not like watching a 32-year-old David Price, and I am certainly not looking forward to watching a 36-year-old David Price.

I believe this is the dumbest move ownership has made in the last decade. Some may make the case for the Ramirez and Pablo signing, letting Epstein and Francona go, or something else. But with the difference in money and performance, the decision not to sign Lester and to sign Price is the worst one. There is not a huge difference in money, but the money could be better spent elsewhere. Price is going to get worse as he ages, and the contract is going to look worse and worse each year.

Down on the Farm 6/23-6/29

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*Every weekend, I will update you on weekly results from the Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA), Portland Sea Dogs (AA), Salem Red Sox (High A), and Lowell Spinners (Class A Short Season). After every team is recapped, individual stats are posted. Also, I will have a prospect of the week section at the end. Down on the Farm 6/23-6/29

Pawtucket Red Sox

Pawtucket went 2-5 on the week, and they are now 38-41 on the year. The Red Sox started off the week with a 5-3 loss against the Chiefs. Chandler Shepherd gave up four runs in 2.2 innings and the offense could not recover. They recovered and won 8-1 the next day. Adam Lind knocked in three runs and Jalen Beeks threw a shutout over seven innings. Pawtucket won again the next day, 3-2.

Adam Lind knocked in all three runs and Josh A. Smith picked up the win in two innings of relief. The bats were quiet and lost 3-1 the following day. Williams Jerez picked up the loss in relief, giving up two runs in four innings of relief. The Red Sox lost again the next day by the same score of 3-1. William Cuevas was decent, allowing two earned runs over 6.1 innings, but the offense could not pick him up. Pawtucket closed out the week with a 7-4 loss against the RailRiders. Jalen Beeks gave up five runs in 2.1 innings as if he is in the majors again.

Portland Sea Dogs

The Sea Dogs went 2-4 over the week and are now 29-49 on the season. Portland started off the week with an 8-4 loss in ten innings. Jordan Weems gave up all four runs in the tenth, and Jordan Betts drove in two runs. They rebounded and won 5-4 the next day. Austin Rei knocked in two runs and Trey Ball picked up the win by giving up no runs in two innings. The Sea Dogs continued their momentum and defeated the Fisher Cats 8-6. Tate Matheny drove in four runs and Dedgar Jimenez gave up four runs in five innings to pick up the win.

Portland lost the following day, 10-3. Kyle Hart gave up six runs in 4.1 innings to pick up the loss. They lost 11-6 on the 27th and were postponed on the 28th. Matthew Kent gave up ten runs over four innings, and the offense could not score enough to come back. The Sea Dogs closed out the week with a 3-2 loss against Binghamton. Teddy Stankiewicz only gave up three runs in six innings but the offense could not pick him up.

Salem Red Sox

The Sox started off the week with a 7-6 win against the Keys. Trenton Kemp drove in three runs and Daniel Gonzalez gave up two runs over six innings. Salem continued their momentum and won 7-1 the next day. Bobby Dalbec knocked in two runs and Bryan Mata gave up one run over five innings. They had an off day on the 25th and lost 5-4 on the 26th.

Jake Thompson gave up four runs in five innings and the offense could not score enough. They lost again the next day, by the score of 4-1. Tanner Houck gave up three runs over 5.2 innings and the offense could not pick him up. Salem lost the following day by the score of 8-3. Jerry Downs knocked in two runs but Dedgar Jimenez gave up five runs over 4.2 innings. They closed out the week with a 5-3 loss over Carolina. Bobby Dalbec drove in three runs and Daniel Gonzalez gave up zero earned runs over seven innings.

Lowell Spinners

Lowell went 2-4 over the week, and are now 6-8 on the year. The Spinners started off the week with an 8-2 loss against Tri-City. Hunter Haworth gave up five runs over three innings the offense was quiet. They had a tough loss the next day, 1-0. Alexander Montero gave up one run in five innings but the offense only recorded three hits. Lowell rebounded from the losses with an 11-2 win. Kole Cottam and Jarren Duran drove in three runs apiece and Eduard Bazardo threw a shutout over six innings.

They lost the following the day by the score of 4-3. Xavier LeGrant knocked in two runs and Brian Brown gave up two runs over four innings. They were off on the 27th and postponed on the 28th. They won the first game 4-3 and lost the second game 9-1. Jarren Duran reached on a fielder’s choice in the first game to walk it off.

Prospect of the Week- Michael Chavis

Age 22

Eligible to return from 80 game suspension on July 1st

Throws and bats right

Number one prospect in the organization

The parity of NFL quarterbacks

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The NFL released their top 100 players of the year list, with Brady coming in first. Aaron Rodgers came in tenth despite missing time with an injury. It got me thinking about the parity of NFL quarterbacks, and other than the big three of the past 18 years, you can play quarterback roulette to predict a season.

The Big Three

The Big three quarterbacks of the past 18 years are Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Peyton Manning. They all had some down years or years they were injured, but you can always count on them to dominate the NFL. For MVP’s, Brady has won three, Manning has won five, and Rodgers has won two. If you are not good at math, that is ten out of 18 years, or 55% of the time since 2000, one of the big three has won an MVP. For Super Bowls, Brady has won five, Manning has two and Rodgers has one. That is eight out of 18 years, or 44% of the time since 2000, one of the big three has won a super bowl.

Via hubwav

The Others

Other than the big three, there has been a lot of parity among NFL quarterbacks. Since 2000, there have been no two-time winners of MVP outside of the big three. A player gets hyped up after one outlier season and is never the same player after. The greatest show on turf only lasted for three years, and the Rams have not been back to the Super Bowl since. Rich Gannon won the MVP in 2002 and has not been heard from since.

Steve McNair won the award in 2003, and Shaun Alexander won it in 2005. McNair’s team, the Titans, have not been very relevant afterward. Alexander’s team, the Seahawks, were not relevant until 2013. Adrian Peterson won the award in 2013, and his career fell off after that. Cam Newton won it in 2015 and has been mediocre ever since. Matt Ryan won the award in 2016, but Steve Sarkisian did not do him any favors last year.

Other than the big three, the only repeat Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks since 2000 are Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger. For Manning, he has not been good outside of those years. Roethlisberger has not been good enough to reach the promised land. Brad Johnson was the winning quarterback in super bowl 37, not to be heard from again. Drew Brees won Super Bowl 44 and has not been good enough to get back. Joe Flacco turned into Jesus for a year and won Super Bowl 47. Then, he got a huge contract and has been awful since then. Russell Wilson won Super Bowl 48, and the Seahawks have gradually fallen off every year since then.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 11: Everson Griffen #97 of the Minnesota Vikings sacks quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints in the third quarter of the game on September 11, 2017, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

It’s fun

There is a lot of parity in the NFL, and I really enjoy it. Not knowing who the elite quarterbacks are going to be for a given year is fun. You have no idea who is going to win awards, go deep into the playoffs and fall off or make a name for themselves. In the NBA, you know who is going deep in the playoffs and who will contend for awards which is quite boring.

Down on the Farm- 6/16-6/22

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*Every weekend, I will be updating you on weekly results from the Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA), the Portland Sea Dogs (AA), the Greenville Drive (A), Salem Red Sox (High A) and Lowell Spinners (Class A Short Season). After every team is recapped, individual stats are posted. Also, I will have a prospect of the week section at the end. Down on the Farm- 6/16-6/22

Pawtucket Red Sox

Pawtucket went 4-3 on the week, making them an even 36-36 on the season. The Sox started off the week with an 8-1 loss against the IronPigs. The offense was quiet and William Cuevas gave up six runs over four innings in the loss. Pawtucket had another tough loss the next day and lost 3-2. The offense was bad again, and Tyler Thornburg gave up three runs in just 0.1 innings to blow the game. They had an off day on the 18th and split a doubleheader on the 19th.

Tzu Wei Lin hit a home run in the second game and they won 6-0. The Sox continued their momentum and won 10-2 over Buffalo. Josh D. Smith tossed a one-hitter in six innings and Aneury Tavarez hit a home run. Pawtucket defeated Buffalo again this time by the score of 4-1. Justin Haley picked up the win by giving up one run over five innings, and Sam Travis drove in two runs. They ended the week with a 5-4 win over Syracuse. The game was tied at three in the sixth but Tzu Wei Lin hit a blooping two-run single and the bullpen hung on.

Today, Tzu Wei Lin was called up to Boston.

Portland Sea Dogs

Portland went 3-4 on the week and they are now 27-45 on the year. The Sea Dogs started off the week with a 4-0 win over the Baysox. Kyle Hart gave up zero runs in seven innings and Luke Tendler’s home run led the offense. Portland shut down the Baysox again and won 5-3. The offense exploded for five runs in the first inning and Matthew Kent gave up one run over six innings. They had an off day on the 18th and dropped both games of a doubleheader on the 19th.

Mike Shawaryn was roughed up in the first game and Adam Lau picked up the loss in relief in the night game. Portland has roughed up the next game and lost 12-3. The offense was quiet and Dedgar Jimenez gave up seven runs in 4.2 innings. Reading dominated the Sea Dogs again, by the score of 9-1. The offense only recorded three hits, and Kyle Hart gave up seven runs in six innings. Portland closed out the week with a 7-2 win over Trenton. Josh Ockimey knocked in two runs and Matthew Kent gave up one run over six innings.

Salem Red Sox

The Sox went 2-2 over the week and they are now 33-37 on the season. Salem started off the week with a 4-1 loss against the Hillcats. Roldani Baldwin knocked in a run and Jake Thompson gave up two runs in 4.1 innings. They rebounded and won 3-2 the next day. Bobby Dalbec knocked in two runs and Bryan Mata gave up one run in 5.2 innings. The All-Star break happened from the 18th-20th. On the 21st, the Sox lost to the Keys, 2-1. The offense was quiet, which led to Tanner Houck picking up the loss despite him only giving up one run in five innings. Salem finished off the week with a 5-3 win. The offense scored three runs in the eighth Dedgar Hernandez gave up two runs in six innings.

Greenville Drive

Greenville went 2-2 over the week and they are now 26-45 on the season. The Drive started off the week with a 10-4 loss against the RiverDogs. Lorenzo Cedrola knocked in three runs, but Jhonathan Diaz gave up four runs in five innings. They rebounded the next day and won 4-1. Marino Campana drove in two runs and Durin O’Linger gave up one run in seven innings. The All-Star break happened from the 18th-20th. On the 21st, they beat the Tourists 6-3. Ryan Fitzgerald knocked in two runs, and Hildemaro Requena gave up three runs over seven innings. Greenville closed out the week with a 6-2 loss against the Tourists. The offense was quiet and Durin O’Linger gave up four runs in 3.1 innings to pick up the loss.

Lowell Spinners

The Spinners started off the week with a 10-3 loss against the Tigers. Juan Perez gave up five runs in 2.2 innings and the offense was quiet. They rebounded the next day and won 6-3. Garrett Benge drove in two runs, and Victor Garcia gave up no runs in 2.1 innings in relief. Lowell won again the next day by the score of 5-3. Tyler Espin drove in two runs, and Alberto Franco gave up zero runs in two innings of relief to pick up the win. The Spinners beat the Yankees again, 2-1. Kole Cottam knocked in the go-ahead run in the eighth and Taylor Ahearn gave up no runs over four innings to pick up the win.

They were defeated on the 20th by the score of 8-4. The offense was quiet and Eduard Bazardo gave up five runs in five innings. Lowell was defeated by the ValleyCats by the score of 9-3. The offense was quiet again and Brian Brown gave up five runs in 2.2 innings. They closed out the week on a high note, winning 11-4. Tyler Espin knocked in five runs and Rio Gomez gave up one run in two innings to pick up the win.

Prospect of the Week- C.J. Chatham

Age 23

Bats Right

0.277 career average

Plays for Salem

Why the Red Sox Are Unlikely to Make a Big Deal

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Most Red Sox fans want them to make a deal, like most fans of every team. Around the trade deadline, all teams are considered buyers or sellers. “Buyers” trade prospects for big league talent and “sellers” trade big league talent for prospects. The Red Sox are 49-24 and could win their third straight division title. This means they are buyers, and they should make a trade, right? Well, not so fast, and here’s why:

The Farm System

According to Bleacher Report, the Red Sox have the 27th best farm system in the big leagues. Also, their top prospect Jay Groome is out with Tommy John surgery. Their number two prospect, Michael Chavis, got popped for PEDs, so even their top prospects have huge question marks. Other than that, they do not have anyone special that could get a big name back like Brad Hand or Manny Machado. Since their farm system is blah, the Red Sox would have to trade major league talent for a star. The Padres want Rafael Devers for star closer Brad Hand. I think if you asked ten Red Sox fans if they would do that trade, all ten of them would laugh in your face. Manny Machado rumors have been swirling, but the trade is unlikely to happen. Chris Cotillo said that “the clubs are reportedly not matching up”, and I interpret that as the Orioles thinking that the Red Sox have little to offer, and they are right. Like the Hand deal, Sox fans would be reluctant on giving up big league talent considering Machado is a rental.

Their Rivals

The Astros are 13th, Yankees are 10th, and the Indians are 16th in the Bleacher Report farm system rankings. These are the three biggest threats to the Red Sox, and they all have significantly better farm systems. If I was the general manager of the Padres or Orioles, I am dealing with these teams, not the Sox. These teams are more likely to improve their teams at the deadline, making them better than the Red Sox if they aren’t already. If the Yankees acquire a big name such as Jacob DeGrom, they will most likely win the division. This would leave the Red Sox in the Wild Card game, which no team wants a part of.

The Red Sox will likely make an acquisition, but nothing special. They can get a middle reliever or utility player for nothing, but I highly doubt they will be able to make a big upgrade at the deadline.

Down on the Farm- 6/9-6/15

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*Every weekend, I will be updating you on weekly results from the Pawtucket Red Sox, Portland Sea Dogs (AA), Greenville Drive (A), and Salem Red Sox (High A). After every team is recapped, individual stats are posted. Also, I will have a prospect of the week section at the end. Down on the Farm- 6/9-6/15

Pawtucket Red Sox

Pawtucket went 5-2 over the week and they are now 32-33 on the season. The Sox started off the week with a 7-1 loss at the hands of the Indians. The offense was quiet and starting pitcher Josh Smith gave up five runs in just 2.2 innings. Pawtucket rebounded the next game and won 11-1. Mike Olt and Ivan De Jesus Jr. knocked in three runs and Josh D. Smith picked up the win in 4.1 innings of relief. They continued their momentum by defeating Syracuse 3-1. William Cuevas gave up one run in eight innings to pick up the win. The Sox defeated Syracuse again, 5-3.

The offense scored three runs in the ninth and Ty Buttery picked up the win in an inning of relief. They completed the sweep of Syracuse with a 5-1 win. Jalen Beeks picked up the win by giving up one run in seven innings. He has the stuff to be successful at the major league level, so do not give up on him after one bad start. Pawtucket’s momentum was stopped by the IronPigs in an 8-1 defeat. Josh A. Smith gave up seven runs in 2.1 innings and the offense was quiet again. They closed out the week with a 2-1 victory. Josh D. Smith picked up the win, allowing one run in six innings. Rusney Castillo hit a two-run home run home run to lead the offense.

Portland Sea Dogs

Portland went 3-3 over the week and they are now 24-41 on the season. The Sea Dogs started off the week with a 3-2 week over the RubberDucks. Mike Shawaryn was dominant, giving up just one run over seven innings. The offense scratched together three runs in the eighth inning. They were beat up the next day and lose 7-2. Dedgar Jimenez gave up four runs in six innings to pick up the loss and the bats were quiet. They had an off day on the 11th and were walked off on the 12th. They were up 1-0 in the ninth but Josh Taylor gave up two runs and blew it.

The offense was quiet again the following day and they lost 3-0. Teddy Stankiewicz was good over six innings, allowing three runs. The offense was better the next day and Portland wins 4-2. Josh Ockimey knocked in two runs and Mike Shawaryn gave up zero runs in six innings to pick up the win. The Sea Dogs closed out the week with a 2-1 win over the Baysox. Dedgar Jimenez gave up one run in seven innings and Josh Ockimey went deep to lead the offense.

Greenville Drive

Greenville went 4-4 over the week and they are now 24-43 on the season. The Drive started off the week with a 5-1 win over the RiverDogs. Denyi Reyes gave up zero runs in seven innings and Victor Acosta knocked in four runs to lead the offense. They could not continue there momentum and lost 7-4 the next day. Kutter Crawford gave up six runs over 4.1 innings and Michael Osinski picked up two hits and knocked in a run. The Drive got knocked around again the next day in an 8-2 loss. They were winning 2-1 in the eighth but Marcos Lantigua gave up five runs in 2.1 innings of relief. The pitching was hit around again and they lost 10-4 on the 12th. Alex Scherff gave up seven runs over two innings to pick up the loss.

They split a day-night doubleheader on the 13th, losing the first game 9-8 and winning the second 6-4. Marino Campana knocked in two runs in the night game to lead the offense. Greenville’s pitching improved and they walked off Rome in eleven innings by the score of 3-2. Denyi Reyes gave up zero runs over six innings in the start and Jordan Wren’s walk caused the win for Greenville. The Drive closed out the week with an 8-5 win over the RiverDogs. Kutter Crawford gave up three runs over five innings to pick up the win and Michael Osinski knocked in two runs to lead the offense.

Salem Red Sox

10-3 was the score of the first game. Tanner Houck gave up four runs in five innings to pick up the loss and Brett Netzer knocked in three runs. They lost a close game the next day by the score of 4-3. Darwinzon Hernandez lasted just one inning in the start and walked four batters in the loss. Brett Netzer is good again as he knocked in two runs.

Salem was swept in a day-night doubleheader, losing the first game 9-4 and the second game 4-0 in the finale. Salem rebounded from the losses and beat the Hillcats 6-1 on the 14th. Tanner Houck gave up zero runs in six innings and Jerry Downs knocked in two runs. The Red Sox could not continue there momentum and they lost 5-4 to close out the week. Darwinzon Hernandez gave up five runs in as many innings to pick up the loss.

Prospect of the week- Jay Groome

Lefty

Has been out all year with Tommy John surgery

#2 prospect in the Red Sox organization

A 55 on the 20-80 scale according to MLB.com

Series Preview: Red Sox vs Mariners

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The Red Sox will go into the series with a 47-22 record. The Mariners are not too far behind with a 44-24 record. Both of the teams are leading their respective divisions. This is a four-game series taking place in Seattle. The first game features the pitching matchup of David Price against Felix Hernandez. The next day will see Rick Porcello square off against James Paxton. The game on Saturday will have the matchup of Steven Wright versus Wade LeBlanc. The finale of the series will be Eduardo Rodriguez versus Mike Leake.

Pitching Matchups

If the year were 2010, Felix Hernandez versus David Price would be a pitching duel. However, times have changed and this matchup is not very intriguing. Price will come into the game with a 4.00 ERA and Hernandez possesses a 5.70 ERA. Rick Porcello against James Paxton should be the best matchup of the series. Porcello is back to his 2016 Cy Young form, while James Paxton has emerged as a Cy Young candidate as well. Porcello will come into the game with a 3.54 ERA and Paxton will have a 3.02 ERA. Injuries slowed him down last year and the beginning of this year, but Steven Wright’s knuckleball looks like it did in the first half of 2016. LeBlanc has a 4.28 career ERA, but he has been a pleasant surprise for the Mariners this year.

Wright will come into the game with a 1.21 ERA and LeBlanc has a 3.00 ERA. Eduardo Rodriguez had a shaky start to the year, but he has been the best Sox pitcher for the last month. Like Rodriguez, Leake has been great lately, posting a 2.63 ERA in his last seven starts.

What’s at Stake

If the season ended today, the Red Sox would be the one seed in the east and the Mariners will be the two seed. Both teams are legit, and this is a big statement series for both teams. The Red Sox have done their job against bad competition and have been average against elite teams. The Red Sox are 3-3 against division rival Yankees and 2-2 against the Astros. A series win would solidify the Red Sox as an elite team and favorite to come out of the AL. The Mariners are on a roll, winning 13/15 at home, including six straight. They also have not allowed more than three runs in the 13 wins. I talked about their great rotation, but it is important that they shut down one of the best lineups in baseball. Even though they are in first, you would not know it based on the national media. The run they have been on is not being talked about, and everyone assumes that Houston will end up running away with the division. However, a series win will cause the Mariners to get a lot of attention around the country.

Down on the Farm 6/2-6/8

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*Every weekend I will be updating you on weekly results from the Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA), the Portland Sea Dogs (AA), the Greenville Drive (A), and Salem Red Sox (High A). After every team is recapped, individual stats are posted. Also, I will have a prospect of the week section at the end.

Pawtucket Red Sox

Pawtucket went 3-3 over the week, and they are now 27-31 on the season. The Sox started off the week with a 5-3 loss at the hands of Durham. Chandler Shepherd only gave up one run over six innings, but Austin Maddox gave up three runs in relief. They bounced back from the loss with a 4-2 win. Justin Haley gave up one run over 5.1 innings to pick up the win. Cole Sturgeon hit two solo home runs, his first since his promotion. Louisville knocked them off 7-4 after an off day on the 4th.

Adam Lind went deep, but Fernando Rodriguez Jr. gave up three runs in three innings of relief. The Sox bounced back and won 8-1 the next day. Aneury Tavarez and Dan Butler knocked in three runs apiece to lead the offense. They continued their momentum and beat the Bats 5-1. Chandler Shepherd did not allow a run over six innings and Rusney Castillo knocked in two runs, including a solo home run. The Sox closed out the week with a tough 8-1 loss against Indiana. The offense was quiet and starter Teddy Stankiewicz gave up six runs in two innings.

Portland Sea Dogs

Portland went 3-3 over the week, and they are now 21-38. The Sea Dogs started off the week with a dominating 14-5 win over the Senators. Matthew Kent picked up the win over 6.1 innings and Jantzen Witte knocked in five runs. They continued their momentum with a 6-2 win the next day. Teddy Stankiewicz got the win by giving up two runs in six innings. They had an off day on the 4th, then were defeated by the Baysox on the 5th, 7-1. Dedgar Jimenez took the loss, giving up four runs in six innings and the offense was stifled.

Portland rebounded from the loss with a 5-1 win the next day. Kyle Hart was dominant, allowing just one run in seven innings. Luke Tendler led the offense by driving in three runs. Their late comeback was not enough as they lost 7-5 the following day. The Baysox scored six runs in the sixth. The staff only gave up one earned run, and the defense committed three errors. They closed out the week with an 8-2 loss against the RubberDucks. Durin O’Linger gave up six runs in 2.1 innings, and the offense was quiet.

Greenville Drive

The Drive went 6-1 on the week, and they are now 20-39 on the season. Greenville started off the week with a 13-5 blowout win over the Tourists. Tanner Nishioka knocked in three runs, and Frankie Rios and Marino Campana knocked in two apiece. They had a comeback win in the ninth, by the score of 7-6. Victor Acosta tied the game and Tanner Nishioka won it with a single. They had an off day on the 4th and a doubleheader on the 5th.

They dropped the first game 2-0 and won the second game 5-2. The Drive defeated the GreenJackets 2-0, because of Jhonathan Diaz’s seven innings of shutout baseball. They continued their momentum and won 5-4 the following day. Victor Acosta led the team by driving in two runs. They closed out the week with another walk-off win, this time in ten innings. Kevin Suarez walked to win the game.

Salem Red Sox

The Sox went 2-4 over the week and are now 28-29 on the year. Salem started off the week with a 7-5 loss at the hands of the Blue Rocks. The game was tied in the ninth, but Durin O’Linger gave up two runs in the ninth to lose the game. They lost another tough game the next day by the score of 5-4. Roniel Raudes was mediocre in his start, giving up four runs over six innings. They had an off day on the 4th and lost again on the 5th, 6-5. Salem lost on a walk-off single given up by Daniel Gonzalez. They rebounded from the tough losses with a 9-4 win against the Dash. Both Chris Madera and Santiago Espinal knocked in three runs. They continued their momentum and won 7-3. The Sox were down 3-2 but rallied to score five runs in the final three innings to win. They were walked off in ten innings to close out the week. Taylor Ahearn gave up a single to lose the game.

Prospect of the Week- Tristian Casas

Position- 1B

Team- Just drafted in the first round this week, will most likely report to Lowell

Bats left but throws right

A 50 on the 20-80 scouting scale, according to MLB.com

Top 10 Boston Sports Athletes Under 25

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#10: Trey Flowers

Flowers’s potential was realized when played 16 in 2016. He quickly became the starter at defensive end in 2017. In 2016 he racked up 45 combined tackles. Many may argue, however, that his breakout season was in 2017, when he picked up 62 combined tackles. He has exhibited his versatility by playing defensive tackle and end in New England. For the past two seasons, he has been a consistent defender in an inconsistent defense.

#9: Rafael Devers

The third baseman showed his potential in the second half of last season. The game-tying home run off of Aroldis Chapman being the most famous. He hit ten home runs in 58 games last year, and already has nine in 52 games this year. He has the power, and if he can get his fielding and average up, he will be a superstar.

#8: Jake DeBrusk

The former first round pick had a very good rookie season. He appeared in 70 games, recording 16 goals and 27 assists. He was the scoring threat that the Bruins had been lacking on the second line alongside David Krejci. In the playoffs, Debrusk showed grit and was not afraid to block the puck. Next season he will be even better giving the Bruins a very dangerous top two lines. Like Pastrnak, he has a very bright future in Boston for years to come and will be an impact player.

#7: Xander Bogaerts

Bogaerts was a big piece to the 2013 World Series run after getting called up mid-season. After that, the shortstop has been a key piece on a team that’s looking to claim its third straight AL East title. Bogaerts is starting to show his hitting potential. He consistently hits in the high .200s and has been a surprisingly superb shortstop after a rough fielding start to his career.

#6: David Pastrnak

Following the 2016-2017 season, the Bruins signed Pastrnak to a six-year extension after he scored a career-high 34 goals. He had an even better year this past season and solidified himself as one of the top young talents in the NHL. He set a new career high 35 goals to go along with 45 assists. When paired with Bergeron and Marchand, the three formed one of the deadliest lines in hockey. Pastrnak is still young and mistake prone, but he is a gifted goal scorer who is under team control for at least the next five years.

#5: Andrew Benintendi

Benny was a huge prospect after he got drafted, and he has not disappointed since his call-up in 2016. He has hit .278 so far in his career, and his power is on the rise. He hit 20 bombs last year and is on pace to hit 22 this year. Similarly to Betts, Benintendi is a great outfielder with great speed. If Benintendi could get smarter on the bases, he will be a five-tool player.

#4: Jaylen Brown

The versatile athlete from California struggled his rookie season, but took off this year. His PPG jumped from 6.6 to 14.5, and his RPG went from 2.8 to five. His three-point percentage rose 0.54%, and he can drive to the rim with ease. He improved his defense and averaged 18 PPG in an impressive postseason run. He and Tatum can be a force for years to come under Brad Stevens.

#3: Charlie McAvoy

The young Bruins defenseman received the most hype of a Bruins prospect in recent memory. Due to injuries, he made his NHL debut in the playoffs against Ottawa in the 2016- 2017 season. This past season was his first full NHL season and he did not disappoint. McAvoy dealt with injuries, but still appeared in 63 games. The Bruins expect McAvoy to anchor the blue line for years to come, and this past season McAvoy showed why. He is a rare talent and a force offensively and defensively. By some, he is already considered the face of the franchise.

#2: Jayson Tatum

He just finished his rookie season, but the forward from Duke has already proved that he can be a superstar. He averaged 13.9 PPG in the regular season, and 18.5 PPG in the postseason. He was the one bright spot in the Game 7 defeat against Cleveland, because he was the only one scoring in the fourth. He went on a 5-0 run by himself to give the Celtics their only lead of the fourth quarter. With Brad Stevens’s system and a great supporting cast to boost his game, Tatum has a good chance to be something special.

#1: Mookie Betts

The 2016 Al MVP runner-up is considered the best player in the MLB by some, and those claims are not a reach at all. Betts is one of few five-tool players in the MLB, which means he can hit for average and power, field and throw, and run like the wind. In 2016, he hit 31 home runs while maintaining a 318 average. He has a .1000 fielding percentage this season, and has only committed 13 errors in his five-season career. He has 13 steals so far this season, which ranks fourth in the MLB.

Be sure to follow @Prime_Kyrie2 & @JamieGatlin1217 on Twitter.

Looking Back on the Celtics’ Season

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The Celtics had a bitter end to the season by blowing a 3-2 lead in the Conference Finals. However, it was a fun and crazy season. Let’s take a look back at it.

The Offseason

The Celtics had a very eventful offseason, as Jaylen Brown, Terry Rozier, Al Horford, and Marcus Smart were the only returning players. Boston exchanged draft picks with Philly and selected Rookie of the Year candidate Jayson Tatum. The Celtics traded Avery Bradley to Detroit for backup forward Marcus Morris. They signed star forward Gordon Hayward to a max deal, who was theoretically going to be their second best player. Boston also brought in backup players Shane Larkin, Aron Baynes, and Daniel Theis. The big splash of the offseason came when Danny Ainge sent Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Nets first round pick to Cleveland in exchange for Kyrie Irving. With all these moves, some Celtics fans and analysts, including me, predicted this team to go to the Finals.

Hayward’s Injury

Five minutes into the season, Boston’s star forward broke his ankle, and the Celtics dropped the first two games of the season. The Celtics rebounded from the injury perfectly, pulling off sixteen straight wins. Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown were the only four players who led the team in scoring during the winning streak. Horford and Irving (when healthy) were All-Stars. Jaylen Brown developed tremendously from his rookie season, and Tatum flourished a Rookie of the Year candidate.

Celtics Cooling down Before the All-Star Break

After the 16-2 start, the Celtics went 24-17 up until the All-Star break, which included a 1-4 stretch in the last five games. Kyrie Irving found himself having to carry the team to victory on some nights as Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum cooled off. Al Horford was playing well, but nowhere near the way he played at the beginning of the season. On the bright side, Terry Rozier and Marcus Morris started to take off and became key pieces for the team.

Kyrie’s Injury

On March 11th, when Kyrie Irving exited the Pacers game with a knee injury, it felt like the Celtics hit rock bottom. They lost three of the next four, including a double-overtime game against Washington. After this, Tatum regressed, Morris continued to be a key player, and Rozier took over. It even got to the point where some Celtics fans actually want Kyrie to be traded. The Celtics ripped off six straight wins, which included impressive wins over the Thunder, Trail Blazers, Jazz, and Raptors. Their next loss came against Milwaukee, when deep bench player Kadeem Allen started at point guard. The Celtics finished the season losing four of six. With all the injuries, expectations were low going into the playoffs.

Squeaking past Milwaukee

The Celtics finished the season as the two seed in the East, so they took on seventh-seeded Milwaukee in the first round. Al Horford scored 24 points and racked up 12 rebounds as the Celtics survived Game 1 in overtime. In Game 2, they dominated from start to finish with a 120-106 win to take a 2-0 lead. The games in Milwaukee were much different, as the young Celtics team had trouble on the road all postseason. They were crushed in Game 3 by the score of 116-92, and almost came back but lost Game 4 104-102.

Marcus Smart came back from a thumb injury in Game 5, and his impact was huge defensively. Boston won 92-87 and took a three games to two series lead. They lost again in Milwaukee by the score of 97-86, which forced a Game 7. Al Horford was tremendous in the seventh game, and the Celtics cruised to a 112-96. Next up was Joel Embid and the 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Dominating Philly

The guard play of Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart led the Celtics to a dominating 117-101 win in Game 1. In Game 2, the Boston squeaked by Ben Simmons’ masterful performance and won 108-103 to take a 2-0 lead. The Celtics finally won a game on the road, with a 101-98 win thanks to 21 points by Tatum. The 76ers were able to fight off elimination, and they escaped Game 4 with a 103-92 win. The Celtics shut up Joel Embiid in Game 5 to win the game 114-112 and the series 3-1. Awaiting them next was LeBron James and the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Final.

The End

Game 1 was not competitive at all as Brown and the Celtics dominated the Cavs by the score of 108-83. It was the only game in the series when LeBron James did not lead the Cavaliers in scoring. Boston struggled in the first half of Game 2, but pulled away and won 107-94. They went to Cleveland with a 2-0 series lead but lost Game 3 by thirty and Game 4 by nine. This series was reminiscent of the Bucks series, with the Celtics dominating at home and looking scared on the road. The Celtics were dominant defensively in Game 5, holding the Cavs to 83 points for the second time. Game 6 was back in Cleveland, and the Cavs forced a game seven with a 109-99 victory. Unfortunately, the season came to a bitter end as the offense went cold in Game 7. The final score was 87-79.

The Celtics did not fail to wow fans this season through all the adversity they faced. Though it’s hard to see them lose so close to having a chance to win it all, this is a great snippet of things to come when this team is healthy.