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Welcome to Episode 5 of the Backstop Podcast with me, Ovi Muniz.  

Red Sox Update:

• This week the Red Sox went 3-3 vs the Twins, Braves and Rays.  
• Alex Cora announced that he will have either 13 or 14 pitchers in his 25-man roster.  
• He currently has a 38-man roster that will more than likely shrink down at the end of this week.  
• The Red Sox are 10-7 in spring training.
• Jarren Duran, Michael Chavis, and Bobby Dalbec are leading the team in hits with 11
• Jonathan Arauz leads the team in doubles with 5. 
• Chavis and dalbec have 5 HRs
• With a minimum of 30 At Bats, Arauz is batting a .300Dalbec, .324, and Chavis .297.
• Concerns on the Red Sox roster are JD Martinez and Rafael Devers.  Both players are the veterans in the team that have not quite had a great spring training.  
• Franchy Cordero made his debut Saturday going 1-2 in the game.
• Hunter Renfroe has demonstrated a big presence for the Red Sox.  He was interviewed by Peter Abraham from the Boston Globe and stated that he was very optimistic.  He knows he struggled last season and is looking forward to making a comeback. Renfroe was released by the Rays following the World Series loss. 
• The Red Sox AAA farm team, the Worcester Red Sox and AA farm team Portland Sea Dogs, will begin their season on May 4.  The schedule games will be in one-week intervals.  Meaning, they will play their opponents home or away from Tuesday to Sunday.   Check the teams website for ticket sales

Major League Baseball is scheduled to kick off the 2021 regular season on April 1st.  This season will mark the development of having normalcy as our world has faced ambitious challenges with the pandemic and playing the game.  While our nation is on the verge to combat the coronavirus, the games will begin with baseball fans.  And that is good news for baseball.  

April 1st is the game opener.  The last time the Red Sox opened at Fenway park on this date was 2002.  The Red Sox had Pedro Martinez for the game opener who went 3 innings pitched and gave up 7 Earned Runs in a 12-11 loss from the Toronto Blue Jays.  The lineup that season had Johnny Damon, Jose Offerman, Nomar Garciapparra, Manny Ramirez, Trot Nixon, Rickey Henderson.  Pitchers that season were Derek Lowe, John Burckett, Frank Castillo, Tim Wakefield, and closer Ugueth Urbina.  

The Red Sox finished 93-69 that season, second to the New York Yankees, which had a 103-58 record. The Anaheim Angels won the world series pennant over the San Francisco Giants four games from the best of 7.   

This year, the Red Sox will open at FenWay park in a three game series versus the Baltimore Orioles.  Eduardo Rodriguez receives the nod to become the Red Sox ace.  The Orioles will have John Means as their ace.  

Rodriguez has been successful against the Orioles in his career.  Orioles are batting .177 and the on base percentage is .225.  Rodriguez had success against batter Chris Davis and a toss up with Trey Mancini.  

On the other side, Means has struggled allowing the Red Sox to bat .311, 5 HRs and 12 RBIs.  Xander Bogaerts and JD Martinez have made it difficult for Means to stay on the mound.  

Most of the games will be televised on NESN, the New England Sports Network.  

NESN is adding three former red sox players, Ellis Burks, Mo Vaughn, and Kevin Youkilis as part of the network’s coverage this season.  Jonathon Papelbon will also be a special contributor on a weekly basis.  

Play by play callers will be Dave O’Brien, Jeremy Remy, and Dennis Eckersly.  

IN the studio, Jim Rice, Tim Wakefield, and Lenny DiNardo.