Imagine if we judged the now first-place Red Sox after their first three games. They were going 0-162, right? Point is, such a sample size doesn't mean much.
But ...
Thanks to all the anticipation -- and possible major-league need -- every single move made by some of the Red Sox' top prospects are going to be highlighted. Such is the case with Jarren Duran and Jeter Downs.
Earlier this week, without Duran having played a single Triple-A game, some were screaming for his promotion to the Red Sox as a replacement for Franchy Cordero. Why not, right? Duran had hit virtually everywhere he went, including this past offseason in Puerto Rico and throughout the majority of spring training.
Well, after the Worcester Red Sox's first three games, the conversation has changed.
Duran's introduction to Triple-A has seen him go 0-for-11 with six strikeouts, getting caught on his only stolen base attempt. Meanwhile, Cordero -- the guy he was supposed to be replacing -- was breaking out with three hits against the Tigers (the same number of strikeouts Duran was enduring in Trenton the very same day).
The Red Sox' other Top 100 prospect playing for the WooSox, Downs, hasn't fared much better.
The shortstop -- classified as most as the Red Sox' No. 1 overall prospect -- is 0-for-10 with four strikeouts.
In fairness to both Duran and Downs, Toronto pitching prospect Alex Manoah was cruising through everyone, striking out 12 in six innings. (For more on Manoah, click here.)
In terms of potential offensive help for the big-league club, there has been some good news after these first few days of minor-league baseball. Danny Santana, who is rehabbing with Single-A Greenville, managed three hits Thursday and is now 4-for-7 with a home run. (Santana's home run was part of a back-to-back with former second-round pick Cameron Cannon.)