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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2020 14:58:42 GMT -5
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2020 15:44:04 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 35m Ron Roenicke joins us on Zoom. Said Brice would have opened for Kickham but had to pitch last night. #RedSox
Roenicke said Tuesday felt 'more like survival' in terms of pitchers he had available out of the bullpen behind Weber. Not every decision he makes can be about winning every game. #RedSox
Roenicke said Eovaldi (right calf) will be pushed back again. He will not come off the IL to start Saturday. #RedSox
Roenicke said #RedSox pitching personnel hasn't allowed for true opener/bulk usage this season like the Rays.
(The opener is something you use when you don't have/can't develop/won't pay starting pitchers.)
Roenicke said player improvement is his main goal in the face of a bad win-loss record. He also likes to read at home and said he's going through several books at home. #RedSox
Roenicke said if the #RedSox had Sale and Rodriguez they'd be in a better position.
(Boston's front office has known Sale would be out since at least March.)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2020 15:45:09 GMT -5
why in the hell did they not put Eovaldi on the DL? This team is infuriating
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2020 15:49:17 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 22m Jackie Bradley Jr. joins us on Zoom.
On the trade deadline -- 'You either get traded or you don't. It's not stressful on me.' #RedSox
Bradley on Ron Roenicke -- 'Ron cares.'
Said he's had a tough job to do this year and it's gone well beyond baseball. There is true appreciation evident here. #RedSox
Bradley said he told teammates to make their own decisions regarding not playing last Thursday's game. He appreciated their support. #RedSox
Despite what the #RedSox have said publicly, Bradley said he has not been personally approached by the club about staying beyond 2020.
Bradley said he's 'not going to sit and worry' about the financial state of baseball as he enters free agency.
'I don't control the economy.' #RedSox
Bradley said he'd be considered more valuable at a different home park with more room to make catches, particularly in left-center. He's studied the defensive metrics closely. #RedSox
Bradley said the third Ozuna home run Tuesday was a 'well-struck baseball.' He's only seen balls hit the camera platform in BP. #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2020 15:54:42 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 24m Bradley says he thinks his defense would be more valuable in another park, and that the dimensions in LF limit his impact.
‘I made it this far. Might as well become a free agent.’
Jackie Bradley Jr. says that while Red Sox have suggested to media an interest in keeping him beyond his eligibility for free agency this winter, that hasn’t been communicated to him. He says he is looking forward to seeing what the market offers.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2020 15:56:07 GMT -5
Guerin Austin @guerinaustin · 33m Ron Roenicke: -on Nathan Eovaldi: played catch today, encouraging, he’ll try to throw a bullpen tomorrow, they’ll know more after that -Probably won’t start Saturday, hopeful they only have to push him back a day
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2020 16:04:56 GMT -5
Who’s Robinson Leyer? Boston Red Sox righty to open vs. Braves on Wednesday; Mike Kickham likely to be used as bulk reliever Updated 4:48 PM; Today 4:43 PM
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Robinson Leyer will serve as the opener for the Boston Red Sox against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.
The Red Sox will try to avoid a three-game sweep after losing 6-3 to Atlanta on Monday and 10-3 on Tuesday.
Mike Kickham, who has not pitched in a major league game since 2014, will serve as the bulk reliever. Manager Ron Roenicke said he could use another pitcher between Leyer and Kickham.
Who is Leyer? The 27-year-old made his major league debut Monday, the day they promoted him from the alternate training site. He pitched one inning against the Braves, allowing one run, two hits and one walk while striking out one.
The Red Sox signed him to a minor league contract Dec. 20. He spent half of last season in the Red Sox organization after the Seattle Mariners released him June 15. He signed with Boston seven days later.
He initially signed as an amateur international free agent out of the Dominican Republic with the Chicago White Sox on Nov. 6, 2011. He has pitched in the White Sox, Reds, Mariners and Red Sox organizations.
In eight minor leagues, he has gone 28-43 with a 4.24 ERA, 1.49 WHIP in 236 games (84 starts).
His brother Euclides Leyer pitched professionally in the minors but never made the major leagues.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2020 16:49:43 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 3m #RedSox have placed LHP Kyle Hart (left hip impingement) on the 10-day IL. Boston recalled RHP Andrew Triggs from the alternate site.
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Post by Kimmi on Sept 2, 2020 16:56:00 GMT -5
No kidding. The sad part is, none of these guys are stepping up and doing much of anything.
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Post by Kimmi on Sept 2, 2020 16:58:30 GMT -5
why in the hell did they not put Eovaldi on the DL? This team is infuriating I thought they did.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2020 17:02:29 GMT -5
No kidding. The sad part is, none of these guys are stepping up and doing much of anything. All about
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 2, 2020 17:30:33 GMT -5
Nathan Eovaldi injury: Boston Red Sox righty no longer expected to return from IL to start Saturday Updated 6:23 PM; Today 6:22 PM
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Nathan Eovaldi no longer is expected to return from the 10-day injured list to start for the Boston Red Sox vs. the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. But he might be able to start Sunday or Monday depending on how he feels after a bullpen session Thursday.
Eovaldi has been diagnosed with a calf strain. He has not pitched since Aug. 20 at Baltimore when he went 7 innings and allowed just one run, five hits and one walk while striking out six.
His leg cramped up while playing catch in Baltimore in the days following that start.
“Probably not Saturday,” Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said via Zoom on Wednesday. “He threw today and actually this is the best day he’s had. He didn’t throw a bullpen, but he played catch today. And (head trainer) Brad (Pearson) really got into the calf with his training and trying to figure out where the problem is. And he said it was really encouraging today.”
Eovaldi will try to throw a bullpen Thursday.
“If everything goes well,” Roenicke said. “And maybe we’ll only have to push him back a day or two. So that’s what we’re hopeful of. But we’ll know a lot more tomorrow after he throws.”
Eovaldi is 2-2 with a 4.98 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a .287 batting average against in six starts this season. He pitched well in his last start, Thursday, Aug. 20, in Baltimore. He allowed only one run, five hits and one walk while striking out six in a victory against the Orioles.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 3:40:30 GMT -5
Red Sox 5, Braves 7: Making history 8 comments
You’ll be shocked to learn it’s not the good kind. By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins Sep 2, 2020, 10:33pm EDT
The Red Sox made some history on Wednesday night, and we got to celebrate whatever we can. It goes back to Tuesday, when they were blown out against the Braves in large part because Marcell Ozuna went supernova and smashed three homers. In this game, where the Red Sox were looking to avoid a sweep, things were closer. The Red Sox even had a couple of leads! The pitching just couldn’t help itself, though, and Adam Duvall was the star this time. The Braves outfielder hit three homers himself in this game, and that made some history as they were the first team since 1930 to have players hit at least three homers on back-to-back days. Couldn’t have done it without Red Sox pitching! Anyway, the final score was 7-5. Alex Verdugo had another good game and Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a homer.
After losing each of the first two games of this series, and the second one in rather embarrassing fashion, the Red Sox were looking to come out of the gate firing in this one to avoid a sweep. They went with a true opener for one inning to start things off here in Robinson Leyer, and he pretty much matched his scouting report. The righty had some good velocity and a few good sliders, two of which were used as putaway pitches for strikeouts, but also struggled with command a bit and gave up a single and a walk. Fortunately, he was able to get his second strikeout to end the inning without a run.
The Braves, meanwhile, had a struggling Robbie Erlin on the mound, and he just didn’t have it in the first inning. The southpaw issued a four-pitch walk to Alex Verdugo start things off, and then Rafael Devers poked a double into the left-center field gap. Verdugo was on his horse and easily came around to score from first. Two batters into the bottom of the first and it was a 1-0 lead. Erlin then issued another four-pitch walk to Xander Bogaerts before J.D. Martinez smacked a double of his own to make it a 2-0 game. Michael Chavis brought one more home with a sacrifice fly, and the Red Sox had the cushion they were looking for right off the bat.
Heading into the top of the second, Mike Kickham came to the mound for the Red Sox for his first appearance of the year and his first in the majors since 2014. The lefty was a bit rusty. He immediately gave up a double to the right field corner to Austin Riley (who was almost thrown out at second thanks to some nice defense by Verdugo), and then Adam Duvall demolished a no-doubt homer out to left field. Just like that, Atlanta was back to within one. After giving up a base hit, Kickham did come back with two outs, but couldn’t quite finish off the inning without a run. Instead, Freddie Freeman kept things alive with another base hit and Marcell Ozuna snuck one through an empty right side against the shift for a third single of the inning. That one brought home Johan Camargo, and the game was tied.
The good news is Kickham settled down in a big way after that third single. Not only did he get the final out of the inning after that to keep the score tied, but he tossed a pair of perfect innings after that to finish off his night. The bad news is the Red Sox didn’t do anything in the second and third, either.
That brought us to the bottom fourth with the score still tied and Erlin still in the game, getting into a bit of a groove. That is, until Jackie Bradley Jr. decided to put an end to it. With the bases empty and one out, Erlin tried to go down and away with the fastball but was a little too close to the center of the zone. Bradley hit one way up in the air to deep left-center field and it just barely got over the top of the Monster for a solo homer, giving the Red Sox a 4-3 lead.
After Andrew Triggs came on in the top of the fifth and tossed a 1-2-3 inning of his own, the Red Sox got back to work in the bottom of the inning. Verdugo started the inning with a base hit — his third time on base of the game already — and Devers followed that up with a base hit of his own. That ended Erlin’s night, and Martinez came through against Darren O’Day with a bloop single to right field to make it 5-3.
The good times for the pitching staff would end in the sixth, though. The streak of ten straight Braves being retired was snapped with a leadoff base hit from Travis d’Arnaud. A couple batters later, Duvall did it again. This one wasn’t quite as majestic, but Triggs left a slider up in the zone and Duvall went on got it, depositing it into the Monster Seats for a two-run shot. Just like that, we were all tied up at five.
After the Red Sox got a runner to second on a walk and a stolen base in the sixth but could not score, it was Tuesday night’s hero for Atlanta coming through again. Triggs was still on the mound for Boston in the top of the seventh, and Ozuna stepped to the plate with two outs in the inning. The slugger smashed three dingers the night before, and this time around he got a two-seamer up in the zone on the inner half that was sent way out to left field for a solo shot to put Atlanta up 6-5.
Boston’s lineup would answer back with a 1-2-3 inning, bringing Ryan Brasier out for the eighth. The righty got a couple of quick outs, but then Adam Duvall followed in Ozuna’s footsteps. He launched one out to straightaway center field that snuck up and over the wall for a solo shot, giving the Braves their second straight three-homer game as well as a 7-5 lead.
The Red Sox then went down in order again in the bottom of the eighth. After Matt Barnes allowed just one runner on a Devers error in the ninth, the Red Sox had one more chance in the bottom of the ninth down by two against Mark Melancon. They would, of course, go down and order, and that was that. The 7-5 loss drops the Red Sox record to 12-25.
The Red Sox now welcome the Blue Jays into Fenway for a five-games-in-four-days series this weekend. Martín Pérez takes the mound against new Blue Jays Taijuan Walker. First pitch is at 7:30 PM ET.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 3:41:33 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 6h So this is the first time in history, according to Elias, a team has had players go deep three-plus times in consecutive games.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 3:46:47 GMT -5
JBJ flashes glove, bat in finale vs. Braves
By Ian Browne @ianmbrowne September 2, 2020
BOSTON -- In the top of the second inning on Wednesday night, there was Jackie Bradley Jr. racing to the wall in left-center, timing his leap perfectly and banging against the scoreboard to make a tremendous catch to take a hit away from Dansby Swanson.
Bradley has made plays like that one -- and many that were even better -- far too many times to count.
Though Bradley’s offense has never been as consistent as his defense, he’s produced his share of productive swings through the years, such as the opposite-field homer he smashed over the Green Monster in the bottom of the fourth.
• Box score
It was a strong two-way performance by Bradley on a night the Red Sox lost, 7-5, to the Braves.
The case can be made that Bradley is the best defensive center fielder in Red Sox history, though Fred Lynn fans might have a legitimate argument.
Snags like the one Bradley made to rob Swanson are almost expected.
“Yeah, he’s got a great feel out there,” said Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke. “You can see him kind of timing that jump, and he knew what he was going to do. Most guys are so worried about that wall out there and those weird dimensions that they back off of that play. Jack’s got it timed and knows exactly what he wants to do, so he’s pretty fun to watch in this ballpark and what he does in center field.”
Red Sox fans should enjoy watching Bradley play these last few weeks of the season, because his time in Boston could be nearing an end. Bradley is eligible for free agency this offseason.
“We’ll see,” said Bradley. “It’s something that you definitely have to kind of set everything in front of you and look at the pros, the cons, see what’s best for you and your family. Kind of go from there.”
Bradley was drafted by the Red Sox in 2011 while serving as a mainstay in the Majors since ‘14.
And if this is the end, perhaps he will go out with one of his patented hot streaks at the plate. In Bradley’s last 48 at-bats since Aug. 15, he is slashing .292/.364/.521 with three homers and 10 RBIs.
“Yeah, and he hasn’t had any luck,” said Roenicke. “Just like the last at-bat off the pitcher’s glove [for an out]. He’s really starting to hit the ball good again. Quality at-bats, The oppo homer’s great to see. And if he gets a little bit of luck, those numbers of his are going to go up in a hurry. He just doesn’t seem to have that magic wand up there like some guys. But I’m really happy to see him swinging the bat better. We know it’s there. We see it every year, it’s just a matter of when it shows up.”
It definitely showed up in the 2018 American League Championship Series, when Bradley had two homers and nine RBIs to win the Most Valuable Player Award in that series.
It's hard to believe that was less than two years ago, considering the last-place Red Sox slipped to 12-25 with Wednesday’s defeat.
“How am I coping with losing? I don’t enjoy losing,” said Bradley. “It’s not something that I will ever be accustomed to. It’s trying. But you’ve got to go through some things. You go through adversity and hopefully you learn something from it.”
The adversity the Red Sox are going through took an historic twist on Wednesday as they were dominated by an Atlanta hitter for the second straight night. This time, it was Adam Duvall who belted three homers. In Tuesday’s game, Marcell Ozuna hit three rockets. In fact, Ozuna added another blast on Wednesday.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this was the first time in history a team had a player hit three-plus homers in back-to-back games.
“It’s unfortunate that we’re getting to witness it,” said Roenicke. “They swing the bat. They’re on the first fastball you throw them. And they don’t get cheated. They’re doing a really good job of preparing for what we’ve got and we make a mistake, they don’t miss it. It’s unfortunate that we have to watch that.”
While the Red Sox have visions of rebounding in 2021, there’s no telling if their long-time center fielder will be part of it.
He won’t let his pending free agency take away from his focus.
“I think every year as you start winding down and you’re always trying to finish strong,” said Bradley. “But obviously going into this year has been a different year. So you’re not really sure how things are going to be evaluated in the first place. You just want to go out there and do what you can, help your team and let the chips fall where they may. It’s a shortened season, so a lot of things can happen in a shortened season.”
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