Final Post

Well, it's finally time to say goodbye to this blog that started 10 years ago as a tribute to my brother Paul who lost his fight with cancer at the age of 50.  We have moved to Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/3nohitters/165620567609639.  We are also on Twitter at www.twitter.com/3nohitters.  Finally, we are also on YouTube at www.goo.gl/EP355J.  Please continue to follow us as we upgrade to these new platforms.  Over the last 10 years we have had more viewers than expected look into this little family & friends blog.  People from all over the US & all around the world have visited us.  The blog has been, & it continues to be, a connection to those folks that matter most to me.  A big thanks to Dave & Lisa for helping out over the last 10 years with technical issues.  And a big thanks to Hannah & Steph for pushing me into the 21st century.  We still have a learning curve, especially with the YouTube videos, but it's getting there.  Thanks also to Gaff & Steve, the Brain Trust, for making all of our podcasts so much fun.  So that's it.  See you on Facebook et al!   

Last Day of June

Well, the Red Sox have tread water this month with a record of 13-14.  A win tonight in Toronto will give them a 14-14 record, exactly .500.  If we could go back in time & replace May's results with those of April & June, we would be a few games over .500 & in the race.  As we approach game 81, the official halfway point of the season, there is no optimism that the Sox can win at a .600 clip during the 2nd half of the season & make a charge back into contention.  85 wins seems a long way off when the Sox are a several games away from 40 yet.  At 35-43 over the first 78 games & 7-1/2 games behind Baltimore the Sox would need to go 50-34 the rest of the way to even get into the conversation about the playoffs.  And if the Sox are still 10 games below .500 & around 10 games back of the leader at the all-star break, I expect Cherington to be an active seller in order to get a playoff roster started for the team in 2016.  July may be the most exciting month of 2015.   

How Long Will Buck Stay Focused?

We got the "good" Clay Buchholz again last night in Toronto.  Buck goes 8 innings, giving up just 1 run in a Red Sox win 3-1.  He has had several good starts recently.  Does that mean that Buck is due for an injury like in past years?  Does that mean that he starts losing his command & control like in the past?  It's hard to evaluate whether the Red Sox pick up 2 options of $13 million each on Buchholz or they use him as a trade chip next month.  Which Clay Buchholz do you believe in?  Personally, I'm not sold on Buck or his Mad Max haircut.  I'm ready to move on from him.     

Sox Take Series in Tampa

Red Sox 5, Rays 3.  Sox win this series against the 1st place Rays by beating up on Chris Archer, a guy who just can't beat the Red Sox.  Justin Masterson made it through 5 innings, giving up just 1 run.  Ortiz, Panda & De Aza all homered in support.  Sox are 6-4 over their last 10 games.  Can they continue to win at a .600 clip without Pedroia & Ramirez?  Doubtful.  But we'll take the series win & see how things go in Toronto this week.  By the all-star break the Sox will know if they are buyers or sellers.

Hanigan's Return May Force Trade

Ryan Hanigan was suppose to be the back-up catcher to Cristian Vazquez.  Vazquez ends up having season-ending Tommy John surgery, so Hanigan became the #1 & Sandy Leon became the back-up.  Hanigan broke a bone in his hand in May, so the Sox call-up rookie Blake Swihart who has become the everyday catcher for the past 6 weeks.  Let's review.  Vazquez-Hanigan went to Hanigan-Leon which then went to Swihart-Leon.  Ryan Hanigan is close to coming back to the big club.  Vazquez will be ready to go in spring training next year.  4 catchers for 2 spots means that it's very possible that someone will be traded.  It could be Swihart, a kid with lots of potential, if the Sox commit to Vazquez as their everyday catcher next year.  Hanigan is signed for another year & he has shown that he is a good veteran presence behind the plate with a good blue-collar work ethic.  Leon is the personal catcher for Buchholz, a guy who is pitching better of late.  Swihart would command a sizable return in the trade market, maybe a Cole Hamels.  It doesn't seem like Vazquez & Swihart can co-exist.  If the Sox want to keep both, perhaps the switch-hitting Swihart can become the everyday 1B next year in place of Mike Napoli.  Hanigan's return will prompt some sort of move.  Returning Swihart to AAA doesn't seem logical, unless they give him reps at 1B.  July will be very interesting.   

Sox Win In Extras 4-3

Mookie Betts & Brock Holt picked the right time to get their hits last night.  It was in the 10th inning when Betts doubled & Holt singled him in with the winning run.  Sox beat Tampa Bay 4-3 & allow other AL East teams to gain ground on the Rays.  Besides clutch hitting at the top of the order, Rick Porcello had a much better outing than his previous 6 tries, allowing just 3 runs in 6 innings.  The bullpen shut it down after that with 4 innings of shutout relief.  Koji registered his 15th save.  A nice win. 

Kelly to AAA, Masterson's Last Chance

Sox lose another series to Baltimore.  More importantly, Joe Kelly is sent to Pawtucket to figure things out.  That gives Justin Masterson one last chance to prove he is worthy of a starting job with this team.  If Masterson should fail, then it will be Brian Johnson's turn to give the big league rotation a try.  JBJ was called up & he responded with a 2-hit night & a putout of a runner trying to go home on a short fly to RF.  Here's my advice to John Henry - try all the kids so you know what you have for next year.  Showcasing some talent before the trade deadline may help with trades to improve the team going forward.  Try Pablo at 1B & sit Napoli against righties for awhile.  Give Travis Shaw a good look at 1B & 3B.  There are ways to improve this team over the 2nd half of the season.  So let's get to it.  It's now tryout time for the 2016 Boston Red Sox.