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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 27, 2022 16:43:22 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 1h Trevor Story will not play in this series or in Toronto on the turf. If he plays again this season it would be in the last series.
#RedSox postponed their instructional league in Ft. Myers with the hurricane coming. They’re hoping to get going next week.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 27, 2022 16:44:33 GMT -5
See ya next year Story and praying for the folks down in the pan handle as Ian comes closer.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Sept 27, 2022 21:05:33 GMT -5
Well we got our power back, still lots in the city with none and in Atlantic Canada Have not watched a game in 3 days, unlikely to watch tonight too much to do with striking down the generator, extension cords, returning frozen food that neihbors stored here will be back later to check on what has been going on
as for the game thread, might as well go with playing the string to the year
I know they host the Orioles today, Lyles pitching for them Seabold for Boston1. Enrique Hernandez (R) 2B 2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 4. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 5. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 6. Triston Casas (L) 1B 7. Rob Refsnyder (R) LF 8. Reese McGuire (L) C 9. Abraham Almonte (S) CF As long as everyone is okay, that's all that counts.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Sept 27, 2022 21:14:05 GMT -5
See ya next year Story and praying for the folks down in the pan handle as Ian comes closer. I'm normally right-of-center, but on environmental issues, I am fairly LW. Folks gotta start taking global warming seriously. I think the environmental groups do a horrible job explaining things. They need to appeal to everyone's pocketbook. $1/gallon tax on gas cost costs us in the range of $100B+. With the hurricanes, droughts, wildfires, cost of agriculture, I'd bet we are already over that $100B. And the $100B doesn't disappear. It can be used to pay down our deficit. There is no reason we shouldn't have a CO2 tax, and imo, $1/gallon is cheap.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 28, 2022 1:27:43 GMT -5
Orioles waste 4 homers in 13-9 loss to slumping Red Sox AP
BOSTON (AP) Baltimore wasted four homers, including two more by Anthony Santander, in a 13-9 loss to Triston Casas and the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night, hurting the Orioles' chances of earning an AL wild card.
Adley Rutschman and Ramon Urias also went deep, but Baltimore (80-74) lost for the third time in four games. The Orioles remained 3 1/2 back of Seattle for the third AL wild card after the Mariners lost 5-0 to the Rangers.
''It's about continuing to make adjustments on both sides of the ball,'' Santander said through a translator. ''We know that time is running out, but there's still time to do what we need to do.''
Casas hit a two-run homer for Boston, which had dropped six in a row. Tommy Pham had three RBIs, and Rafael Devers hit a two-run single.
The Red Sox scored six runs in the third and five more in the fourth, taking advantage of a series of blunders by the Orioles.
Two Boston runs scored on bases-loaded walks by Connor Wong and Xander Bogaerts, and another came home when Rob Refsnyder was hit by a pitch with the bases jammed. Second baseman Rougned Odor committed two errors in the fourth, right after the Orioles scored five runs in the top half to tie it at 8.
The Orioles' first six hits were all for extra bases. Rutschman and Santander hit back-to-back homers in the third, and Santander connected for a two-run shot in the fourth.
Santander went deep from both sides of the plate for the second straight night after he hit two of Baltimore's five homers in Monday's 14-8 victory at Fenway Park. The slugger has six homers in his last four games and a career-best 33 on the season.
''The personal stuff is great. I'm happy that I was able to come through and come up with those big hits to get the team in front,'' Santander said. ''Unfortunately, we couldn't get the result we wanted tonight, but tomorrow's a new day. We're going to come back and work hard and try and compete and get a win tomorrow.''
Matt Strahm (4-4) got the win after taking over for Michael Wacha with one out in the fourth. Joey Krehbiel (5-5), one of seven pitchers used by the Orioles, took the loss.
BOTH SIDES NOW
Santander has homered from both sides of the plate four times this season, tying Ken Caminiti's big league record set with San Diego in 1996.
Santander doubled high off the wall in center in the first, coming just a few feet short of another homer.
TOUGH STARTS
It was an early night for both starters.
Baltimore's Kyle Bradish lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs and four hits. He walked four and struck out three.
''He just didn't have the command he's had in the second half,'' Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. ''A lot of deep counts, a lot of foul balls and a lot of misses, up, and a lot of borderline pitches didn't go his way, but he didn't have the normal command he's had his last couple of starts.''
Michael Wacha pitched 3 1/3 innings for Boston, yielding six runs and eight hits.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: Urias was back in the lineup after missing the previous two games with neck and shoulder spasms. Urias tripled in the second, led off the third with a homer and singled in the fifth before leaving in the seventh with discomfort in his right knee.
Red Sox: 1B Eric Hosmer (lower back inflammation) is scheduled to take batting practice before Wednesday's game and could return to the lineup in the next few days.
UP NEXT
Orioles RHP Dean Kremer (8-5, 3.07 ERA) faces Red Sox LHP Rich Hill (7-7, 4.65 ERA) on Wednesday night in the third of four games in the series.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 28, 2022 2:02:33 GMT -5
Red Sox beat Orioles, 13-9, in wacky, sloppy battle; Triston Casas has 3 hits, including homer
Published: Sep. 27, 2022, 11:09 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- There are good games, bad games and ugly games. And then there are absolute atrocities like the 3-hour, 59-minute affair that played out between the Red Sox and Orioles on Tuesday night.
Boston and Baltimore combined for 22 runs, 26 hits, four hit-by-pitches, 17 runners left on base and four double plays in a wacky, interminable 13-9 Red Sox win. Together, the teams used 13 pitchers, including five who gave up more than one earned run. A total of 17 runs were scored in the third and fourth innings alone. There was only one clean inning the entire night. And the whole thing was between two clubs who have no shot at the playoffs and are simply playing out the string.
Somehow, the Orioles hit four homers, three triples and two doubles and lost. The Red Sox had just two extra base hits but kept the line moving thanks to three Orioles errors and seven walks. Offensively, Triston Casas led the way with a 3-for-3 night, including his fifth homer of the season. Connor Wong also chipped in two RBIs.
Michael Wacha had his worst outing of the season for Boston, allowing six earned runs on eight hits in just 3 ⅓ innings. Baltimore started hitting him hard immediately, taking a 1-0 lead when Ryan Mountcastle followed an Anthony Santander double with a triple. Casas’ 110.5 mph opposite-rocket off Bradish in the second inning put Boston up, 2-1.
Then, the floodgates opened. The O’s went up 3-2 on back-to-back homers by Adley Rutschman and Santander in the third, only to immediately relinquish the lead when the Red Sox put up a six-spot in the bottom of the inning. A wild Kyle Bradish walked three batters and hit another to give the lead back to Boston. Tommy Pham (two-run single), Xander Bogaerts (bases-loaded walk) and Alex Verdugo (sacrifice fly) piled on. Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday.
But the Orioles weren’t done. Ramón Urías made it 8-4 with a solo shot to lead off the fourth and Austin Hays brought Baltimore within three with an RBI triple two batters later. Matt Strahm replaced Wacha, then allowed three more runs -- and a two-run Santander homer that knotted the game, 8-8.
The fun was only starting, though. Orioles reliever Jake Reed offered an implosion of his own, as Wong plated the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice after three straight singles and another run scored when Reed hit Pham with a pitch. Devers made it 12-8 with a two-run single off DL Hall. Boston got its lead back to five when Pham scored on a Bogaerts groundout.
That was it for the scoring until Rougned Odor made it a four-run game with an RBI single in the seventh. Mercifully, the runs stopped there.
Santander (3-for-4, 2 HR, 2B, 3 RBI) stayed red-hot after hitting two homers in Monday’s rout. By evening the series, the Red Sox improved to 73-81 on the season and, at least for now, kept the hopes of finishing .500 alive.
Casas seeing results
Casas (3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) had impressed Red Sox brass with his approach even if the results weren’t there early in his first taste of big-league action. But he has been hot since. In Casas last 23 plate appearances, he’s hitting .438 (7-for-16) with three homers, eight walks and a 1.067 slugging percentage.
Hill on bump Wednesday night
Left-hander Rich Hill (7-7, 4.81 ERA) will be tasked with returning some order to Fenway Park on Wednesday night as the teams face off again. Righty Dean Kremer (8-5, 3.07 ERA) will pitch for Baltimore. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET.
The sides will then play a matinee Thursday before the Red Sox head to Toronto for their final three road games of 2022.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 28, 2022 2:08:44 GMT -5
Casas dazzles with oppo pop, 2 slides on 1 play 2:16 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- The latest opposite-field rocket by Triston Casas -- which was seared off his bat at 110.5 mph, reached a height of 75 feet and traveled a projected distance of 421 feet per Statcast -- was a sight to see for those who gathered at Fenway Park on Tuesday night.
That was a signature moment for sure, as the Red Sox pulled out a 13-9 win over the Orioles to snap a six-game losing streak.
But don’t sleep on the two-slide defensive gem that Casas made to take a hit away from Austin Hays in the top of the fifth inning.
Two slides on one play?
Hays slapped one to the left of Boston’s rookie first baseman, who slid to make a sweet stop. With lefty reliever Matt Strahm a little tardy getting to the base, Casas aggressively slid into the bag just before Hays could get there.
It was an all-out play for the 6-foot-4, 252-pound No. 2 Red Sox prospect whose defense has been overshadowed by his big bat and disciplined eye.
“That was a huge spot right there,” Casas said. “I know Hays has good speed so I knew we weren’t going to be able to turn two and I just wanted to get one out, so I felt like that was my best chance as opposed to turning around and trying to make the throw.”
To use an expression from another sport, Casas has good court awareness, particularly for a 22-year-old.
“The way he moves, he’s smooth,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “He really is. He knows the game. He’s always looking around, [thinking ahead to] what the next play is. I knew he was good defensively but not this aware.”
Clearly, Casas has worked hard coming through the ranks to be a strong two-way player.
“I take a lot of pride in my defense,” Casas said. “I work on it every day really heavily, and hitting home runs is great, driving in runs is great, but making a great play on defense picks everybody up. I think picking everyone up on defense is a huge part of the game, and making sure that everyone stays confident in me making the plays is where my focus is at.”
While the Red Sox would prefer to be in a pennant race, the playing time Casas is getting to become acclimated to life in the Majors this month should be a big help for the club and the player in 2023.
In his first 20 career games, Casas has five homers -- including three to the opposite field. He has drawn 14 walks.
It has really clicked for Casas in his past six games, in which he hit .389 while scoring seven times, belting three homers and drawing eight walks.
“I know a lot of people say it all evens out and this and that, but I like to take every at-bat individually,” Casas said. “I felt like early on, my at-bats were pretty lengthy but I still wasn’t making good contact. I wasn’t finding the middle of the barrel. Lately I have been. Yeah, I've been grinding out the pitches the same and grinding out at-bats the same, but I’ve been having a little more results, and I’m happy about that.”
One thing the Red Sox aren’t evaluating Casas by much in his first month in the Majors? His statistics. The sample size is too small. Instead, they look at how he is handling the game within the game.
Cora noted Casas putting the ball in play against two lefty relievers in Tuesday’s win, even though one resulted in a double play.
“It was a 3-2 count,” Cora said. “He controls the strike zone. It’s not that the strike zone controls him. The numbers will get there. We like the approach. We like the process.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 28, 2022 2:10:02 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Hosmer, Arroyo, Story updates September 27th, 2022
Keep track of the Red Sox’s recent transactions and injury updates throughout the season. LATEST NEWS
Sept. 27: 1B Eric Hosmer ready to face live pitching Hosmer, who has played only 12 games for the Red Sox since the Aug. 2 trade from the Padres, is getting close to returning to action. The left-handed hitter will take live batting practice against righty Kutter Crawford at Fenway Park prior to Wednesday's game against the Orioles. If that goes well, Hosmer, who has been out with low back inflammation, could be activated within days.
"The goal is for him to be activated before the end of the season," said manager Alex Cora.
Sept. 27: INF/OF Christian Arroyo feeling better, could play soon Arroyo hasn't played for 10 days due to an illness, but he could return to the mix within days. He was finally able to work out Sunday night at Yankee Stadium. Arroyo has been one of Boston's hottest hitters since his return from the injured list on July 30, hitting .329 with 10 doubles and an .815 OPS.
• All Red Sox transactions INJURY UPDATES 10-day and 15-day IL
1B Eric Hosmer (low back inflammation) Expected return: Late season Hosmer, who has only played 12 games for the Red Sox since the Aug. 2 trade from the Padres, is getting close to returning to action. The left-handed hitter was scheduled to take batting practice at Fenway Park prior to the Sept. 28 game against the Orioles. If that goes well, Hosmer could be activated within days. (Last updated: Sept. 27)
2B Trevor Story (left heel contusion) Expected return: Possibly last few games of season When Story injured his left heel trying to beat out a double play on Sept. 10, the general feeling was that it was a day-to-day injury. However, Story continues to have discomfort when he runs, so the Red Sox opted to put him on the injured list on Sept. 22 (retroactive to Sept. 19). Story is still working to get back in the lineup, but if it happens, it won't be until the final series of the season, at home against the Rays from Oct. 3-5. The Red Sox are in Toronto before that series, and manager Alex Cora doesn't want Story playing on the turf at Rogers Centre. Story's main obstacle right now is running without discomfort.
"We’re trying," said Cora. "He’s out there taking grounders. The running progression is the hard part. The moving around and the swinging the bat has been OK, but when he gets to that 70-75 percent, that’s when he feels it. We’re still working, and hopefully he can play a few games." (Last updated: Sept. 27)
RHP Kutter Crawford (right shoulder impingement) Expected return: 2023 Crawford was placed on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement at the beginning of September and won't pitch again this season. However, he will throw live batting practice at Fenway on Sept. 28, marking his last activity of the season. (Last updated: Sept. 27)
RHP Nathan Eovaldi (right shoulder inflammation) Expected return: Sept. 29 Eovaldi will make his return from the injured list by starting the finale of a four-game series against the Orioles on Sept. 29 at Fenway Park. The righty will also start in the final series of the season at Fenway, likely taking the ball on Oct. 2. Eovaldi has been on the injured list since Aug. 22 due to right shoulder inflammation and hasn't pitched for the Red Sox since Aug. 12. He's made just 18 starts this season and is a free agent this offseason. (Last updated: Sept. 26)
RHP Garrett Whitlock (right hip impingement) Expected return: 2023 As expected, Whitlock underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right hip on Sept. 26. The surgery was performed by Dr. Bryan Kelly at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and was deemed successful. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he will get more details in the coming days, but all signs point toward Whitlock being ready for the start of the 2023 season. Whitlock last pitched on Sept. 16 against the Royals. He posted a 4-2 record with a 3.45 ERA in 31 appearances (nine starts) this season.
"He has an appointment [Sept. 27]. From everything I hear, everything was OK. No surprises," said Cora. "He will talk to the doctor [Sept. 27] and go from there. With him, obviously the offseason is what he can do to keep his arm going because he’s going to be very limited [with the hip]. But the goal is to be ready for 2023." (Last updated: Sept. 26)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 28, 2022 2:12:07 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 6h Matt Strahm had a 1.88 ERA through May 20. He's going to be pushing 5.00 in his last 31 appearances after this shelling tonight.
Take him or leave him for 2023. The #RedSox should be trying to do better.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 28, 2022 2:23:39 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK With the Red Sox needing upgrades behind the plate, Reese McGuire is putting on a strong audition for the job By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated September 27, 2022, 8:30 p.m.
Reese McGuire has hit .353 with a .927 OPS in 31 games since the Red Sox acquired him from the White Sox on Aug. 1.
It’s a small sample size, one strongly influenced by a wholly unsustainable .422 batting average on balls in play. McGuire was a .241 hitter with a .645 OPS before he joined the Red Sox.
So while he’s not suddenly morphing into Mike Piazza, McGuire is showing the franchise that perhaps he’s a better hitter than anybody thought.
“I feel like consistent playing time has helped,” McGuire said Tuesday. “I got off to a good start and stayed in rhythm. I feel good coming to the ballpark every day and getting into my routine.”
The Red Sox have a long list of roster improvements to make this offseason, including at catcher. But a combination of the lefthanded-hitting McGuire and righthanded-hitting Connor Wong would work at least defensively and not cost much.
“We feel very comfortable with [McGuire] behind the plate,” manager Alex Cora said. “The way he moves and his arm is really good … we’ll see how it goes.”
At 27, McGuire feels he’s ready to be more than a backup. A first-round pick of the Pirates in 2013, he has been traded three times since. His 84 games played this season mark a career high.
“It’s always been a goal to be a starter and finishing the season strong will help boost my confidence going into the offseason,” McGuire said. “I want to get stronger and better. I’m looking forward to spring training.”
McGuire said catching coach Jason Varitek helped make his transition to a new team easier.
“It’s been awesome since Day One,” McGuire said. “We’re always talking baseball in the dugout, whether I’m playing or Wong is catching. He’s in your ear talking ball and teaching us little things.
“His preparation is so detailed. I’m looking forward to learning more from him.”
The Sox prefer their catchers to use a stance with their right knee down, believing that aids in pitch framing. McGuire has committed to it and is working on being quicker with his throws.
“When you’re a catcher everything is a work in progress,” he said. “But it’s getting there.” Out of harm’s way
With Hurricane Ian bearing down on the west coast of Florida, the Red Sox closed their facility at Fort Myers.
The team’s Fall Performance Program workouts are scheduled to start on Monday, which may still be the case. But minor league players invited to camp were asked not to arrive early, assistant general manager Eddie Romero said.
Several of the Sox major league players — Christian Arroyo, Kutter Crawford, and Tyler Danish among them — have homes in the storm’s path.
Chris Sale, who lives in the Fort Myers area, remains scheduled to join the team on Monday for the final series of the season. But those plans could change if he is dealing with storm damage.
Sale is out for the season with broken bones in his left hand and right wrist and hasn’t been around the team in two months. Still trying
Eric Hosmer, who last played on Aug. 20, is scheduled to take live batting practice on Wednesday.
“We’ll go from there,” Cora said. “The goal is for him to be activated before the season is over.”
Hosmer played in 12 games for the Sox after being acquired from the Padres on Aug. 2, then went on the injured list with a strained lower back.
There is seemingly little to be gained by playing Hosmer in the final days of the season other than to demonstrate to other teams that he is healthy should his name arise in trade talks.
Trevor Story, out since Sept. 19 with a bruised left heel, also will hit.
He is not running well but the Sox are hopeful Story will play a game or two in the final series of the season.
Story looks fine in batting practice but has not been able to play defense or run the bases.
Hosmer and Story will face Crawford, who is on the IL with a right shoulder impingement. Crawford will not be activated before the end of the season, but he has made good progress and the team wants to see him face hitters before going into the offseason.
“That will be it for him,” Cora said. Eovaldi’s return looms
The Sox are being oddly evasive about when Nate Eovaldi will return, but it is likely to be Thursday afternoon. That would allow him to make two starts before the season ends … The pre-game ceremonies included first pitches being thrown out by Harvard president Lawrence Bacow and Crimson football coach Tim Murphy, who is in his 29th season. The Harvard-Radcliffe Veritones followed with a lovely a cappella version of the national anthem … David Ortiz will be at Fenway on Wednesday night to join pregame ceremonies recognizing members of Boston’s Hispanic community. Spanish-language broadcaster Junior Pepén will announce the lineups in Spanish.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 28, 2022 2:26:07 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 6h Red Sox pitchers in the last 7 games (counting tonight):
52 IP, 62 H, 42 ER, 15 HR
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 28, 2022 2:26:42 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 3h Counting rain delays, the last three #RedSox games have lasted 12 hours and 41 minutes.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 28, 2022 2:28:25 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 6h Triston Casas has been in the big leagues for 3 weeks. He has 3 opposite-field homers, tied for 2nd most on the Red Sox, behind only Devers (7)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 28, 2022 2:29:05 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 5h The Orioles were 16-24 (.400) when Adley Rutschman made his big league debut.
They are 64-49 (.566) since his debut.
Project the performance with Rutschman over 153 games and it's an 87-66 record -- better than any of the 3 teams currently holding WC berths.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 28, 2022 2:38:31 GMT -5
42-year-old Rich Hill looking to finish strong in final starts
By Rich Thompson | richard.thompson@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald PUBLISHED: September 27, 2022 at 6:38 p.m. | UPDATED: September 27, 2022 at 7:37 p.m.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora expects veteran southpaw Rich Hill to deliver quality starts in his final two outings of the season.
Hill, 42, will make his 25th start of the season when the Red Sox engage the Baltimore Orioles in the third contest of a four-game series on Wednesday night at Fenway Park. The Milton native will likely make his final start in the opening game of a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway on Oct. 3.
“He can do that (two quality starts) and then pitch for Team USA in the WBC,” said Cora during his pregame press briefing.
Hill is 7-7 with a 4.81 ERA over 112.1 innings. He has given up 116 hits and allowed 64 runs, 58 earned, with 13 home runs. Hill has an excellent strikeout-to-walk ratio with 94 K’s and 35 bases on balls.
Hill got a no-decision in his last start, a 5-4 loss to the New York Yankees in the Bronx on Friday night. Hill gave up four runs on five hits with a pair of walks over five innings.
Hill has been a consistent presence in Cora’s rotation. Hill is 6-4 with a 4.54 ERA over his last 15 starts and 3-2 with a 4.41 ERA in the last seven. Cora credits Hill’s introduction of the cutter as a complementary pitch to his fastball and curve.
“His usage of (the cutter) has been high and it is going up which is important,” said Cora. “He did a good job against the Yankees and the cutter has been a very good pitch for him.”
When Hill pitches against right-handers in Fenway Park, there is a small margin of error, according to Cora.
“I think we have been talking about him for an extended period of time,” said Cora. “We haven’t talked about Fenway and the wall and Monster right there.
“But I do believe, if you are a lefty here you better pitch inside and if not, you are going to get crushed. With Rich the more he uses it against righties the better he is going to be.” All caught up
Catcher Reese McGuire is playing out the string while auditioning for a permanent place on the Red Sox roster.
McGuire enjoyed a productive 2021 season with the Toronto Blue Jays after being called up from Triple A Buffalo on May 3. He appeared in 78 games with 50 hits and a .253 average.
McGuire was on the business end of two transactions this season. The Blue Jays traded him to the Chicago White Sox for catcher Zach Collins on April 3. McGuire packed his bags on Aug. 1 when he was acquired by the Red Sox for reliever Jake Diekman and cash considerations.
“We will see how it goes but we are comfortable with him with what he is doing right now,” said Cora. “But obviously there is going to be money to spend and you just have to be smart about it.
“If we are comfortable with him behind the plate, we should be OK.”
McGuire has appeared in 84 games between Chicago and Boston with a .271 batting average, a .684 OPS, three home runs and 22 RBI.
McGuire has done his best work at the plate for the Red Sox. He has 30 hits in 85 at bats for a .353 average with 12 RBI. In 12 games at Fenway Park, McGuire is 16-for-35 (.457) with a home run, a triple and three doubles.
McGuire’s three home runs this season have come for the Red Sox against the Yankees. Cora has been satisfied with McGuire’s assimilation to the Red Sox pitching staff while performing his rudimentary backstop duties.
“Offensively he’s been really good and obviously learning a new pitching staff and it is not that easy,” said Cora. “He is getting to learn some of the guys and he has done a lot of work with Jason (Varitek) but we feel very comfortable with him behind the plate.
“The way he moves, his arm is really good and I think offensively his batting average is way up there. He makes solid contact and uses the whole field, which is good. He is using the information to his advantage and certain times he is very aggressive, other times he is not and the results are there.” Story time?
Cora hopes to have injured second baseman Trevor Story off the disabled list for the season finale against Tampa Bay.
Story went on the 10-day DL on Sept. 22 with a left heel contusion, a transaction retroactive to Sept. 19. Story suffered the setback on Sept. 11 in Baltimore. Cora ruled out Story for the Red Sox upcoming three-game series against the Blue Jay at the Rogers Centre.
“He is moving but not running well and we’ll see how it goes,” said Cora. “We have the turf in Toronto and that’s still in play.”
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