Red Sox Defeat Northeastern For Double-Header Sweep (2/29/16)

I did not see this game but the Boston Red Sox continued their college winning streak against Northeastern (13 in a row) with an 8-3 thumping.

Sean O'Sullivan got the win with 2 innings of work, striking out 4 and allowing 2 hits.

Heath Hembree replaced him and struck out the side in the 3rd.

William Cuevas pitched the top of the 4th and allowed just one hit.

Kyle Martin allowed an un-earned run but struck out the side in the top of the 5th.

The only dud came from Danny Rosenbaum who allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks in the top of the 6th.

Justin Haley pitched the top of the 7th and struck out 1 in a clean inning.



Meanwhile on offense

Bryce Brentz homered.

Yoan Moncada was 2 for 2 with a run and an rbi

Josh Rutledge scored 3 runs.

Chris Marrero (not Devin) got a hit in his only at-bat

Devin Marrero (not Chris) went 0 for 2

Mike Miller (who played in the BC game earlier) went 0 for 1

Chris Dominguez was 1 for 3 with an rbi

Brennan Boesch was 1 for 3 with an rbi

Henry Ramos stood around in right field

Cole Sturgeon stood around in left field

Tzu-Wei Lin scored a run

Sandy Leon went 0 for 3

Ari Solis went 0 for 1

Ryan LaMarre was 1 for 2 with a run scored

Forrest Allday stood around in centerfield


  What does all of this mean? Virtually nothing since it was a split squad spring training game in February. Still, for the fringe players that have a long shot to make the team ala Jackie Bradley Jr in 2013, you want to come out of the gate on fire. Sandy Leon and Ari Solis going 0 for 4 combined isn't going to help their chances to supplant Blake Swihart and Ryan Hanigan. Still, its early and there's 56 guys battling for 25 roster spots. That means 31 guys are going home or to the minors. But for what its worth, the Sox are 2-0 in Spring Training...whoopie.

Spring Training is Upon Us (2/28/16)

Another year begins tomorrow when the Boston Red Sox opens their Spring Training season in a split squad doubleheader against Northeastern and Boston College.

The questions entering the season are as follows:

Will David Price buck the trend about pitchers being done after 30?

Will Hanley Ramirez be able to make the transition to first base?

Will Pablo Sandoval eat himself out of a job?

Will Craig Kimbrell be able to handle the stress of closing in Boston?

Can Dustin Pedroia stay healthy?

Can David Ortiz have one last good year before retiring?

Can Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, Blake Swihart and Carson Smith built on their successes last season?

Will Christian Vazquez' arm be able to stand the strain of a full season?

Is Rusney Castillo the real deal?

Can Jackie Bradley Jr hit above his weight to balance his wizardry in the field?

Can Clay Buchholz stay healthy?


 All these questions will be answered eventually. In the the meantime, there are Spring questions that will be ask.

Who will be the "next man up" in the rotation if someone gets hurt or falters?

Can Brandon Workman return to his 2013 form?

Who will win the long relief role?

Who will be the 25th man?

Is Eduardo Rodriguez' knee okay?


With the split squad games tomorrow, the Sox have a month to get their act together. We're going to find out real quick if Hanley can play first base, if Vazquez' arm is sound and if Sandoval's weight will be a problem. The real purpose of the next month will be to take a look at the top stars of Pawtucket and see if they can hang with superior competition.

Let the games begin!