Minor Lines: The AFL opening.

The Arizona Fall League this year should have a particular interest from the Red Sox faithful. Why? Let me put it in 3 words: The beginning of Jose Iglesias (OK that was 5 words but you got the picture).

Jose Iglesias was presented to us as a finished product as fielder and a work in progress as a hitter, I for one was against the signing because of the enormous signing bonus (6.25 millions), since then I kept receiving good reports about the 19 years old defensive wizard and how his bat is not that bad. Today was an occasion to see what Jose has in the batter box as the Mesa Solar Sox faced The Phoenix Desert Dogs.

Ryan kalish: 1-4 with a Sac Fly (This tournament is very important for Kalish to earn an invitation to ST next year, he needs to show up that his superb second half in AA ball was no fluke: A solid performance here and he may start next season in Pawtucket)

Randor Bierd: 3 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 BB and 1 K: Not very dominant but you have to like those ground balls (4) and infield fly balls(3)

Chris Province: 1 IP 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 BB, 1 K : Solid.

Dustin Richardson: 2 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs 0 BB and 3 Ks (He entered the game in the 6th innings with 2 on and 0 outs...and he was dominant: he struck out the first 2 batters and induced a ground ball to end the inning, the next inning he k'd the first batter, allowed an infield single and induced 3 others ground balls to end the 8th inning: If he keeps pitching like that, he will certainly have a shot at making himself a spot in the BP next year!)

Jose Iglesias: 2-4, 2B and a BB ( It's a very good professional debut and even the 2 outs were on a line drive to the pitcher and an opposite field flyball)