Empyreal Environs

With the season a little more than a third of the way through this edition of the Red Sox has shown that it is unlikely that they will catch lightning in a bottle a second year in a row. The offense is anemic. The starting rotation has pitched well enough but hasn’t had the requisite run support. The bullpen has been outstanding but not without a few rough patches (we’re looking at you, Chris Capuano and Edward Mujica).

Perhaps Boston’s near future is somewhat bleak but the team made investments for the long term in the first-year player draft. They selected a shortstop, Michael Chavis, in the first round. Perhaps with this pick Xander Bogaerts will start hitting even more. Chavis projects to be a second or third baseman.

This has to be the best phone call Michael Chavis has ever answered. #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/zYVVw6biIJ

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) June 6, 2014

With their compensation pick the Red Sox drafted another Michael, this one with the surname Kopech. Like so many pitchers he hails from Texas. He can hit 99 MPH with his fastball and has the apt Twitter alias K.O. pech.

Greatest moment of my life @KopechDad pic.twitter.com/MzCTfjT7s7

— K.O. pech (@MichaelKopech5) June 6, 2014

I’ll be monitoring Sox Prospects’ draft history page and MLB’s Draft Central. Dreams of a far-flung future are more enjoyable than the present day given this squad’s current state.

Game 60: June 6, 2014
Boston Red Sox 27-33	2	L: Rubby De La Rosa (1-1)
		2B: Xander Bogaerts (17), Jonny Gomes (6), Jonathan Herrera (1)
Detroit Tigers 32-25	6	W: Drew Smyly (3-4) H: Ian Krol (10), Joba Chamberlain (12)
		2B: Nick Castellanos (10) 3B: Bryan Holaday (1) HR: Ian Kinsler (6), Torii Hunter (9), Victor Martinez (14)