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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 10, 2022 4:10:28 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
Players divided on MLB rule changes including limits on infield shifts and pitch clock
By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated September 9, 2022, 8:18 p.m.
BALTIMORE — The news that Major League Baseball would institute a pitch timer, restrictions on defensive shifts, and larger bases broke on Friday just as many of the Red Sox were arriving at Camden Yards.
Reactions were mixed. For every player who thought it was a good idea, another was opposed.
“I don’t like it,” second baseman Trevor Story said. “That’s my opinion. I know the game can last long sometimes. But our game is special in that it doesn’t have a clock. I don’t know why everybody wants it over so quick.”
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts said he liked the idea of the game being played at a better pace. He hopes the changes will lead to more action on the field.
“As a catcher, I get that people want to see the pitchers work quicker,” Kevin Plawecki said. “But the umpires will hopefully have some leeway depending on the situation.
“A pitch clock is fine but if the bases are loaded and it’s a sellout crowd and it’s the ninth inning, you want to make sure everybody is on the same page.”
As several teammates took early batting practice, Rich Hill poked fun at the idea of larger bases by replacing third base with a chair cushion.
The bases, which will be 18 inches square instead of 15, are designed to cut down on injuries with a side effect of encouraging more base stealing.
Teams will now begin the process of deciding how the new rules will affect them.
“From my end I want to gather more information,” Sox manager Alex Cora said. “How are we going to implement [the new rules], how are we going to execute? That’s the most important thing.”
Cora understands why MLB is taking these steps
“In the end what we want to do is make this a better product, right?” he said. “Certain people feel like this is part of that. Others, they’re against. But with time we will be able to adjust and we’ll be able to execute and hopefully the product is better.”
The pitch timer requires the pitcher to begin his motion before it expires. Pitchers will get 15 seconds with the bases empty, 20 with at least one runner on.
The hitter must be in the box and “alert to the pitcher” with at least eight seconds left.
Rafael Devers doesn’t like the change.
“It’s hard to hit,” he said. “You need time to think and get set.”
Cora has faith in MLB consultant Theo Epstein and senior vice president of on-field operations Raul Ibañez, who worked on the changes along with executive vice president of baseball operations Morgan Sword.
“These conversations started a while ago with Theo talking to managers,” Cora said. “If this gets more athleticism into the game and makes it less one-dimensional, that would be great.”
Working on it
Nate Eovaldi, who has been on the injured list with shoulder inflammation since Aug. 19, hasn’t given up on the season.
The righthander is scheduled to throw in the bullpen at Camden Yards on Sunday with an eye on getting into at least one major league game before the season ends.
“We’re still working on it,” Cora said.
Eovaldi will become a free agent after the season. Getting into a game would be the best way to show teams, including the Red Sox, that he is healthy after making only 18 starts this season.
Righthander Kutter Crawford, on the IL since Sept. 1 with a shoulder impingement, is not progressing as quickly as hoped. He’s playing catch but has not thrown in the bullpen.
The Sox initially thought Crawford would start one of the games in the series against Kansas City that starts Friday.
It’s increasingly unlikely Eric Hosmer will play again this season. The first baseman has stopped baseball activities because of a back injury.
“We’re running out of days,” Cora said.
Remembering the Queen
There was a moment of silence before the game in memory of Queen Elizabeth II. She had a connection to the Orioles, having attended two innings of an Athletics-Orioles game at Memorial Stadium in 1991 … According to Fangraphs.com, the Sox had an 0.1 percent chance of making the playoffs through Thursday with the Orioles at 2.9. Baseball-Reference.com gave the Sox a less than 0.1 percent chance … Agent Scott Boras watched batting practice from the field. He was at the park to visit with several clients, Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez among them.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 10, 2022 4:12:00 GMT -5
Pete Abraham
@peteabe
·
7h
Bit of a deceiving line for Bello (5.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 7 K). Those last two walks spoiled a nice performance.
Sox 1x8 with RISP tonight. 3x25 on this road trip.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 10, 2022 4:12:40 GMT -5
Pete Abraham
@peteabe
·
5h
Alex Cora on why he used rookie Kaleb Ort in the sixth with a 2-0 lead:
“You know where we’re at. These kids, they need to learn and show us what they have. We didn’t throw too many strikes in that inning.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 10, 2022 4:26:03 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Orioles
Saturday, 10th September 2022
5pm @ OPACY
Wacha 10-1/2.58
Lyles 10-9/4.25
Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles
Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 5:05pm EDT
Written by Dave Kovaleski
The Baltimore Orioles will look to gain ground in the wildcard race Saturday when they host AL East rivals the Boston Red Sox. This is the second game of a three game series. The Orioles lead the season series 7-5, not counting Friday night's series opener. Michael Wacha (10-1) gets the start for Boston while the Orioles have not yet named a starter. Game time is 5:05 p.m. ET at Camden Yards.
Wacha takes hill for Sox
The Boston Red Sox have had a disappointing season. Heading into this series, they were last in the AL East, 10 games out of a wildcard spot. The playoffs aren't happening this year, barring some kind of miracle. Any hopes they had of staying alive were squashed this week when they dropped three straight to the Rays. Michael Wacha gets the start for the Red Sox on Saturday. Wacha has been brilliant this season, with a record of 10-1 and an ERA of 2.58 in 18 starts. He has 83 strikeouts and 26 walks in 101 innings pitched.
Wacha pitched well in a 4-3 loss to the Rays in his last start, but got a no-decision. He allowed 2 runs on 7 hits in 6 innings with 7 strikeouts and 0 walks. Michael Wacha is 1-0 against the Orioles this season. he has not allowed any runs on 4 hits with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts in 5.2 innings. In his career against the Orioles, he is 1-1 with an ERA of 4.97 and 19 strikeouts in 7 appearances. The Red Sox have a team ERA of 4.52, which is 25th in baseball. The Sox bullpen has an ERA of 4.57, which is 26th in the league.
Orioles running out of time
The Baltimore Orioles have had a fantastic season. The perennial American League doormats have appeared to have finally turned the corner and fans hope they can keep this momentum going in future seasons. They were 7 games over .500 and 4.5 games out of the final wildcard spot in the AL heading into this season. The playoffs are still very much a possibility, especially with Toronto on their schedule, but time is running out. They just came off a series where they lost 3 of 4 to the Blue Jays, the team they are trying to catch, so obviously, that is not good.
They need to make a strong final push and it needs to start here this weekend with the Red Sox. The Orioles have not yet named a starter for Saturday afternoon's game. This would normally be the spot where they would start Spenser Watkins, but Watkins has struggled as of late so maybe they are rethinking it and he was sent down to the minors. Check the status of the Orioles' starting pitching situation before game time. The Orioles have a team ERA of 3.83, which is 11th in baseball. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.21, which is 6th best in the league.
Red Sox
at
Orioles
Saturday, at 5:05 PM EST
Cloudy
According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 78° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 5 MPH wind blowing right to left in Baltimore at 5:05 PM EST.
Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 10, 2022 9:31:09 GMT -5
Game 140: Red Sox at Orioles lineups and notesBy Amin Touri Globe Staff,Updated September 10, 2022, 28 minutes ago The Red Sox continue to limp to the finish line, losers of four in a row after a defeat to the Orioles Friday. Michael Wacha is on the hill Saturday to try and stop the slide, continuing to pick up right where he left off since returning from injury. The righthander is 4-0 with a 2.35 ERA post-IL stint, right in line with his strong start to the season. He held Baltimore scoreless over 5 ⅔ innings in a win on Aug. 20. Veteran Jordan Lyles will go for the Orioles after his best start of the season, having tossed 6 ⅔ shutout innings against the Guardians last time out. He struggled against the Sox in August, allowing four earned runs on nine hits in just four innings, but took a no-decision as Baltimore slugged out a 15-10 win. Lineups RED SOX (67-72):1. Tommy Pham (R) LF 2. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 5. Trevor Story (R) 2B 6. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 7. Christian Arroyo (R) 1B 8. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF 9. Kevin Plawecki (R) C Pitching: RHP Michael Wacha (10-1, 2.58 ERA) ORIOLES (73-65): 1. Cedric Mullins (L) CF 2. Adley Rutschman (S) C 3. Anthony Santander (S) RF 4. Ryan Mountcastle (R) 1B 5. Jesus Aguilar (R) DH 6. Gunnar Henderson (L) 3B 7. Ramon Urias (R) 2B 8. Austin Hays (R) LF 9. Jorge Mateo (R) SS Pitching: RHP Jordan Lyles (10-9, 4.25 ERA) Time: 5:05 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Lyles: Almonte 1-3, Arroyo 3-7, Bogaerts 3-14, Devers 4-13, Hernández 5-10, Martinez 5-11, McGuire 0-4, Pham 5-12, Plawecki 0-1, Refsnyder 2-2, Story 3-18, Verdugo 2-11 Orioles vs. Wacha: Aguilar 4-15, Chirinos 1-4, Hays 4-8, Mateo 1-6, McKenna 0-2, Mountcastle 4-10, Mullins 5-11, Odor 2-9, Rutschman 1-3, Santander 2-10, Urías 2-6 Stat of the day: Michael Wacha hasn’t lost since May 31, winning seven straight decisions and allowing three or fewer earned runs in seven of nine starts. Notes: For his career, Wacha is 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA in seven starts against Baltimore. He struck out seven in his last outing against the Rays, including career strikeout No. 1,000 ... After seeing his nine-game hitting streak snapped Thursday against the Rays, Bogaerts started another, picking up three hits. He is hitting .482 (14 for 29) in September with a homer and five RBIs ... J.D. Martinez picked up his 1,500th hit ... Rafael Devers is slashing a paltry .191/.265/.328 since the All-Star break ... Lyles is expected to return after being scratched from Monday’s doubleheader against the Blue Jays because of a stomach virus. He is 2-1 with a 5.66 ERA in seven career starts against the Red Sox. Song of the Day: Sam Roberts - Hard Road www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRGyGEtZyY4
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 10, 2022 16:36:19 GMT -5
Pete Abraham
@peteabe
·
23m
Rain in the forecast tomorrow here in Baltimore. Chance Sox-Orioles get ppd.
Monday is a mutual off day but more rain expected.
Teams also have a mutual off-day the 15th.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 10, 2022 16:36:57 GMT -5
Pete Abraham
@peteabe
·
17m
First three Sox hitters saw 23 pitches. Jordan Lyles has loaded the bases with no outs.
Way deep and gone for Devers.
4-0 Sox.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 10, 2022 16:37:22 GMT -5
Pete Abraham
@peteabe
·
14m
Pre-game today, Devers walked through the clubhouse with two new bats still wrapped in plastic.
"I need to try something," he said. "Maybe these have some hits."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 10, 2022 16:38:08 GMT -5
Pete Abraham
@peteabe
Story got hit on the hand while swinging. Being looked at by a trainer
Story stays in the game
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 10, 2022 17:49:32 GMT -5
10 -3 Red Sox in the 5th
Almonte is half assing it in LF
ugly baseball even though they are winning
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 11, 2022 5:32:57 GMT -5
Devers hits grand slam as Red Sox rout Orioles 17-4
AP
BALTIMORE (AP) Before there was even an out in the top of the first inning, Rafael Devers put four runs on the board with one swing of the bat.
It was another setback in Baltimore's improbable postseason bid.
For Boston manager Alex Cora, it was a reminder of what might have been.
''It is a friendly reminder that we're really good. When we do our thing, when we are disciplined, we are that team. But we haven't been consistent,'' Cora said. ''We are where we are because we've been very inconsistent in our approach.''
Devers hit a first-inning grand slam, Kike Hernandez had four hits and the Red Sox slugged their way to a 17-4 rout of the Orioles on Saturday. It was an ugly showing for a Baltimore team that fell five games behind Seattle for the final American League wild card.
Boston is in even worse shape. The Red Sox are in last place in the AL East - where the Orioles were expected to be - but this offensive display showed how dangerous Boston can still be.
Jordan Lyles (10-10) couldn't make it out of the fourth in his first start this month, and the Orioles lost for the fifth time in seven games.
''It only counts for one loss, and we're going to try to get a series win tomorrow,'' Lyles said. ''Tomorrow, if we win, we take the series and we won't think about all the runs we gave up tonight.''
Christian Arroyo hit a two-run homer in the fifth for the Red Sox, who had already broken the game open by then. Boston snapped a four-game losing streak, and Michael Wacha (11-1) extended his unbeaten run to 11 starts.
Lyles missed his previous turn because he was sick, and this one was bad from the beginning. A walk, a single and a hit batter loaded the bases for Devers, who cleared them with a drive to left-center field. It was his 26th homer of the year and the first of three hits on the night for the star third baseman.
Cedric Mullins went deep for the Orioles in the third, but Boston responded immediately with four more runs in the fourth. Hernandez and Kevin Plawecki hit consecutive doubles to make it 5-1. With two out, Alex Verdugo hit an RBI single and then Xander Bogaerts singled to chase Lyles.
Devers singled off reliever Keegan Akin to make it 7-1, and Trevor Story followed with a run-scoring single of his own.
Lyles allowed eight runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Wacha permitted three runs and six hits in six innings, with five strikeouts and no walks.
Arroyo's home run made it 10-1. Boston finished with 21 hits, five of which came in a six-run ninth that ended with Orioles outfielder Ryan McKenna on the mound.
CONSISTENT
It was Wacha's fourth consecutive start with six innings pitched and between two and four runs allowed.
''I feel like as a starter, that's our job, and that's what we're supposed to do,'' he said. ''Trying to go as deep as I can.''
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: LF Tommy Pham exited in the fourth with a bruised left shin. ... Story appeared to be hit by a pitch while swinging at it in the first. It was ruled a strikeout and he remained in the game. ... RHP Nathan Eovaldi (shoulder) threw a bullpen before the game.
UP NEXT
Boston LHP Rich Hill (6-6) starts against RHP Kyle Bradish (3-5) on Sunday in the final game of the series.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 11, 2022 5:51:24 GMT -5
Rafael Devers belts grand slam, Boston Red Sox record season-high 21 hits in win over Orioles
Updated: Sep. 10, 2022, 8:50 p.m.|Published: Sep. 10, 2022, 8:33 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
Rafael Devers entered Saturday batting .191 with a .265 on-base percentage, .328 slugging percentage and .594 OPS in 34 games (147 plate appearances) after the All-Star Break.
It has been an unproductive second half for him in part because of a hamstring injury that sent him to the IL in late July.
But he had a three-hit day Saturday. The slugger crushed a 425-foot grand slam in the first inning to give Boston an early lead. The Red Sox won 17-4 over the Orioles at Camden Yards.
The Red Sox recorded season-highs in both runs (17) and hits (21). Kiké Hernández led Boston with four hits.
Devers had gone 93 plate appearances without homering.
He connected on a 90 mph fastball from Orioles starting pitcher Jordan Lyles who lasted only 3 ⅔ innings. The righty gave up eight runs, all earned, seven hits and one walk while striking out just one.
Devers also delivered an RBI single that was part of a four-run fourth inning, putting Boston ahead 8-1.
Kevin Plawecki, Alex Verdugo and Trevor Story all had RBI hits in the fourth.
Christian Arroyo’s 396-foot two-run homer in the fifth put Boston ahead 10-1.
Michael Wacha earned the win. He pitched 6 innings, allowing three runs, six hits and one walk while striking out five.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 11, 2022 5:52:10 GMT -5
Tommy Pham left Boston Red Sox’s game vs. Orioles on Saturday with left shin contusion
Updated: Sep. 10, 2022, 9:03 p.m.|Published: Sep. 10, 2022, 9:02 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
Tommy Pham left the Boston Red Sox’s victory over the Orioles on Saturday because of a left shin contusion. He’s day-to-day.
“The foul ball in the first inning, he felt it so we took him out,” manager Alex Cora said on NESN.
The Red Sox won 17-4 over the Orioles as they posted a season-high in both runs and hits (21).
Pham exited after four innings. Abraham Almonte replaced him in left field in the top of the fifth inning and went 2-for-3 with an RBI and run.
“Almonte was really good today,” Cora said. “Two good swings, played good defense out there.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 11, 2022 5:56:40 GMT -5
Devers breaks slump, and whole offense celebrates
12:30 AM ADT
Byron Kerr
BALTIMORE -- For a player used to hitting home runs, a drought of 21 games was a noticeable dry spell.
One swing early in Saturday’s game changed that for Rafael Devers, and the blast was a prelude to a relentless display of offense, the Red Sox churning out a season-high 21 hits as they rolled to a 17-4 shellacking of the Orioles at Camden Yards.
"That's something we talk about as a group,” said manager Alex Cora. “Just a friendly reminder that we are really good. When we do our thing, when we are disciplined, we are that team. But we haven't been consistent and we are where we are because we have been very inconsistent in our approach.
“But there are days like that, you are like, 'You know what, yeah. We are really good. We are really good.’ But it is what it is. It is where we are at and just got to keep playing. [Sunday] we got a chance to win the series."
Devers went 3-for-5 with five RBIs, launching his fourth career grand slam in the first off Orioles starter Jordan Lyles -- a 425-foot no-doubter over the left-center-field wall with an exit velocity of 104.6 mph and a launch angle of 29 degrees -- to provide Boston’s offense with the jump start it needed to snap a four-game skid.
"I was trying to look for my pitch,” Devers said via translator Carlos Villoria. “That’s the same thing that I do every day, try to help my team win, and today I was lucky enough the ball went out.
"It was very important for me to get that confidence of hitting the ball that well. I haven't hit a ball that well in a while, so, yeah, that boosts my confidence a lot, and that is something I am really happy for."
Kiké Hernández had four hits, two runs and an RBI. Eight Red Sox hitters had more than one base hit. The barrage of offense included seven hits in a row for Boston, spanning the fourth and fifth frames, that helped add on six runs.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the Red Sox had base hits in seven straight plate appearances was May 20, 2021, against Toronto.
Devers’ last homer came on August 14 against the Yankees, and his power drought lasted 93 plate appearances over 21 games. The mammoth shot also lifted Devers out of a 1-for-13 funk. The third baseman had left 12 runners on base in his past four games.
"I feel bad because my mentality has never changed,” Devers said. “I feel really bad because [of] the position the team is in right now. It's not where we wanted to be.”
The 25-year-old’s second grand slam of the season took advantage of Lyles, who was struggling to throw strikes early on, walking leadoff hitter Tommy Pham, allowing a single to Alex Verdugo and hitting Xander Bogaerts with a pitch.
“We loaded the bases,” Cora said. “He took two changeups. He hasn't done that against them the whole season. This is his first hit with men in scoring position against the O's this season. I think he was 0-for-14. He has been chasing pitches, and [he's had] a lot of weak contact. He was patient enough in the first two [pitches], and then he didn't try to do too much in that pitch and drove the ball to left-center.”
On Friday, the Red Sox were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. But they went 11-for-17 Saturday. In their four previous games, Boston had scored a combined nine runs.
Red Sox starter Michael Wacha improved to 11-1 with a strong six innings, allowing three runs and scattering six hits, striking out five and walking none on 82 pitches (60 strikes). He has not lost in 11 consecutive starts dating back to his only loss of the season, a 2-1 loss to the Reds on May 31. Boston is 14-5 when Wacha starts. He said Devers’ grand slam was big as he took the mound.
"That's huge right there,” Wacha said. “Raffy coming in there clutch with the bases loaded, put us up big. And as a starting pitcher, we love that kind of stuff right there. It makes our job a lot easier going out there. … We are going to get ahead and we are going to stay in the attack mode and let the defense play behind us.”
Pham left the game after the fourth with a left shin contusion. He is listed as day to day and said postgame that he would be back in the lineup Sunday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 11, 2022 6:11:41 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
Connor Wong has caught the eye of Red Sox coaching staff
By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated September 10, 2022, 6:33 p.m.
BALTIMORE — The Red Sox have numerous holes in their roster to fill during the offseason. But catcher may not necessarily be one of them.
The front office and coaching staff are impressed with 26-year-old Connor Wong, who has started four of the last eight games and is scheduled to be in the lineup on Sunday.
“The presence behind the plate, he doesn’t panic,” manager Alex Cora said Saturday. “He’s a good athlete; he has a great arm; very smart; studies the game. Physically he’s a lot better than last year … he’s strong and he moves well.”
Wong was one of the prospects the Red Sox obtained in the 2020 trade that sent Mookie Betts to the Dodgers. He has played only 16 major league games since but is showing signs he’s ready for a heavier workload.
Wong hit .288 with an .839 OPS at Triple A Worcester this season. That Woo Sox hitting coach Rich Gedman caught 13 years in the big leagues was helpful to his development.
The Dodgers used Wong as a utility player, playing him most often as a catcher but also at second and third. Since joining the Sox he had started only two games at other positions.
“He was part of a big trade here. Hopefully he can become that guy that we feel he can be,” Cora said. “There’s a reason he was part of that trade. Little by little he’s showing why.”
Wong is 2 for 11 since being called up on Sept. 1. But he has struck out only twice and drawn three walks.
“That’s what we’re trying to do, control the strike zone,” Cora said. “I don’t want to say swing less, but swing at the right pitches. That’s the most important thing and Wonger has done it.”
There’s been a hint of power, too. Wong’s first career home run, on Sept. 2 at Fenway Park, was a 439-foot shot. He also had a 109-miles-per-hour double off the wall in right field here on Friday.
…
Rain is in the forecast for Sunday’s series finale. The Sox have Rich Hill scheduled to start against Kyle Bradish.
The teams have a mutual off day Monday but the rain is expected to continue for much of that day.
The Sox host a two-game series against the Yankees starting Tuesday. They are planning to start Nick Pivetta and Brayan Bello. The Yankees have Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes lined up.
…
Nate Eovaldi reached 10 years of major league service time during the road trip, a plateau fewer than 10 percent of players achieve. Ten years also fully vests players in MLB’s pension plan, which can pay up to $220,000 a year. Eovaldi, who is on the injured list with a sore shoulder, threw two innings in the bullpen on Saturday … J.D. Martinez’s single in the second inning on Friday was the 1,500th base hit of his career. Martinez is one of only 149 players all time with at least 1,500 hits, 275 home runs, 300 doubles, 500 walks, and 875 RBIs … Triston Casas, who was 2 for 18 with seven strikeouts since being called up, was out of the lineup as Christian Arroyo started at first base. “He needs to get benched at the big-league level, that’s part of it, right,” said Cora, who was joking. “He’s been good and defensively he’s been solid.” … Former Red Sox infielder Jonathan Araúz, who was claimed off waivers by the Orioles on June 15, was outrighted to Triple A Norfolk on Friday after being designated for assignment earlier in the week. The 24-year-old Araúz has hit .200 with a .584 OPS over parts of three seasons in the majors.
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