OAKLAND -- First impressions from the Red Sox' 16-2 win over the Oakland Athletics:
* The Red Sox must miss the old balanced schedule.
In order to emphasize divisional rivalries, teams now play far more games within their division, while playing every every team in the league in just two series.
That means the Red Sox and A's play just six times this season, which, if you're a Red Sox fan, is a pity.
In the four games played so far, the Red Sox have scored at least 13 runs. The total for the four games? Fifty-six runs, an average of 14 per contest.
It helps that the A's have the second-worst pitching staff in the league, better than only Minnesota.
Boston Red Sox
* Perhaps a fire has been lit under Travis Shaw.
Call it a coincidence, but on the night in which Yoan Moncada was in uniform for the first time in the big leagues, Shaw took off at the plate.
Shaw was hitting just .189 since the All-Star break, and his struggles -- along with those of Aaron Hill -- helped contribute to the decision to call up Moncada.
The switch-hitting Moncada is stronger from the left side and John Farrell announced Friday afternoon that the rookie would get the majority of the playing time against righties, with Hill starting against lefties.
That would seem to leave Shaw as the odd man out, but if Friday night was his last start for a while, he went out with a bang, with two doubles and a three-run homer for five RBI.
Coming just a few days after a four-strikeout game, it was impressive, though it's unlikely to change Farrell's plans.
* David Price has quietly won his last five starts
It's helped that Price has gotten incredible run support of late, with 39 runs scored in those five games while he was in the game.
But Price has also pitched well, regardless of the support. In those five games, he's only allowed more than two earned runs once and in that start, he gave up just three.
Each of the last five have been quality outings.
Price endured one rough inning in which he allowed three hits and two runs, but only one of the hits -- a double into the right field corner by Stephen Vogt -- was particularly hard-hit.
It seems it's safe to stop worrying about Price.