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Post by scrappyunderdog on Feb 18, 2023 12:40:48 GMT -5
That comes from youth baseball, showcases and all that stuff. You don’t play baseball, you just go and hit the ball far, throw it hard and just run as fast as possible on 60 yards. The game itself, the development of the instincts, it doesn’t happen in youth baseball anymore. We have to do a better job coaching guys in that sense.”
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Interesting. This is going back 50 years now, but we always had in-depth discussions as kids. But that might be because we didn't have nearly the same interest in other sports. We played B-ball and FB, but they were always secondary sports. Maybe today's kids are more distracted.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2023 13:56:26 GMT -5
“It just pissed me off, man,” Verdugo said. “But everything pisses me off. I don’t like when people talk about me and things like that. They had reasons to talk, right? They had fuel, they had (expletive) ammunition for it. For me, it’s ‘Let’s take that away.’ “I took it how I was supposed to take it,” he added. “I took it on the chin and took it as more of a compliment than I did as an insult. At first, I thought about it like, ‘Man, why is why is it me?’ But I agree with what he says.” ======================================= I hope he is taking this to heart, and not merely saying it because it sounds good. I loved getting him in the trade, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. He averaged 5.5 bWAR/650 PAs in his last season in LA and his first season in Boston. The 598 PAs are a small enough sample size, but enough to be meaningful. I thought he'd easily be a 3+ WAR player, with the upside of a 4-5 WAR player. But he's looked increasingly worse the past two years. Maybe he can start with getting rid of that 5-pound gold chain around his neck. I never cared much for wearing necklaces, but if he wants to, get something small like Mookie. It just seems like it almost has to be detrimental to wear something that big while trying to swing a bat. he has been extremely ho hum to me
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2023 14:08:37 GMT -5
Red Sox’s Brayan Bello provides update on his forearm
Updated: Feb. 18, 2023, 1:39 p.m.|Published: Feb. 18, 2023, 9:35 a.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Brayan Bello, the Red Sox’s top young starting pitcher, has been shut down from throwing until Monday because of what manager Alex Cora described as “forearm soreness.”
Bello, who is competing for a spot in the Opening Day rotation, described it as tightness. He first felt it after throwing a bullpen at the beginning of the week.
“I didn’t feel any pain. I just felt tight and I really didn’t want to force it,” Bello said through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez here at JetBlue Park on Saturday. Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday.
The 23-year-old righty agreed he should be able to resume throwing Monday.
“I feel very anxious. I just want the moment to come,” he said. “I feel better right now that I can throw. So let’s wait until Monday.”
Bello said he had not experienced anything like it before but he’s not worried.
“I feel much better right now,” Bello said. “We’re working really hard to get ready.” FanDuel Sportsbook MA Pre-Launch Offer $100 BONUS BETS! NEW STATE LAUNCH! 21+ and present in Massachusetts. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
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Cora said Bello threw a lot of breaking ball during the bullpen session.
“It was right after I was throwing a lot of breaking pitches,” Bello said. “It was the next day when I felt a little bit tight. So it probably was that.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2023 14:13:14 GMT -5
Red Sox’s Alex Cora identifies 3 players (other than Masataka Yoshida) who might lead off
Published: Feb. 18, 2023, 1:59 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- When the Red Sox signed Masataka Yoshida, their vision was to install the Japanese outfielder atop their lineup as a force in the leadoff spot. That’s still the case, but the club isn’t expecting Yoshida to shoulder the full load in the No. 1 spot.
On Friday, manager Alex Cora identified a few other players who might hit leadoff for the Red Sox in 2023, including Alex Verdugo, Kiké Hernández and Christian Arroyo. Cora is not sure exactly what he wants his lineup to look like on a nightly basis other than that Yoshida and Rafael Devers, who are both left-handed hitters, will be separated. With Yoshida, Justin Turner, Adam Duvall and, eventually, Adalberto Mondesí, joining a new-look offensive group, it will likely take Cora some time to form an order that no longer includes J.D. Martinez or Xander Bogaerts.
“Right now, I’m getting ideas on a nightly basis, but we’ll talk to the players and go from there,” Cora said. “We might challenge people to be the leadoff guy and then we can go righty-lefty-righty-lefty or we can just bunch all of them and have three lefties on the top of the lineup. The goal here is to get as many baserunners as possible. That’s what we’re going to try to accomplish. And we’ve got certain guys that have done it before.”
Yoshida never hit leadoff during his time with the Orix Buffaloes in Japan and said he often hit third or fourth in the order. The Red Sox believe his elite on-base skills make him perfectly suited for the top spot, especially against righties. Verdugo performed admirably as the leadoff man in 2020 and Hernández did it in both 2021 and 2022 (when healthy). Arroyo could also get a chance against some lefties; Rob Refsnyder led off on 13 occasions in 2022 as well.
”Dugie was a leadoff hitter here in ‘20,” Cora said. “He did a good job. I’m not saying he’ll be the leadoff hitter but he might be. You never know.
“Kiké has done it before. Arroyo has done it certain times. I don’t think we’re gonna go like, ‘This is the guy for 162 games.’ We’ll mix and match,” he added.
The Red Sox have rotated the leadoff spot frequently in recent years. Cora installed Andrew Benintendi in the top spot to start 2019 and moved Mookie Betts to second, then reversed course in the middle of the season once that experiment failed. In 2020, then-manager Ron Roenicke started the year started with Benintendi leading off before making Verdugo the top guy after a handful of games. Hernández led off 118 times in 2021 and started the season in that spot before Cora moved Trevor Story to leadoff in late April. Tommy Pham, who came over in a deadline trade, ended up leading the team in games led off (45).
The Red Sox had eight different leadoff hitters in 2022. Cora wants more stability this year but doesn’t envision someone hitting there 162 times.
“Somebody will lead off more than others,” Cora said. “I don’t want to say the opposition is going to dictate what we do, but if there’s a righty there that a bunch of lefties crush, why not put all them together? By the time they bring the lefty in the third or fourth inning, we got a lot of runs. I think we’ll play it on a daily basis but I would love to have structure, especially with those two guys (Yoshida and Devers). I want to make sure we split them up.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2023 14:14:52 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 2h Dustin Pedroia and his three sons.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2023 14:15:42 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 2h Dwight Evans and Jim Rice, two Red Sox greats, who made up two thirds of an amazing outfield along with @19fredlynn . Fred should come to Spring Training next year to round out this photo.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2023 14:16:16 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 1h Chris Sale had another good side session today. Plan is that he will throw a couple of simulated innings on Tuesday. If all goes well, the next step after that will be facing hitters.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2023 14:21:46 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 1h Glad to report that Dustin Pedroia is enjoying life as a dad, husband, travel-ball coach and occasional golfer. Came to Sox camp for a few days at Alex Cora’s request.
Dustin Pedroia: "Obviously I’ll do anything for Alex. Want he meant to me in my career and the way he helped me, the things he taught me. If he asks, I’m there. But as far as like a major role with the organization, I’m not there yet. My kids are young. I’m focused on them."
A lot of Sox fans believe Pedroia will one day manage the team.
I asked him if he wanted to.
"Not right now."
Ever?
"I don't know. I'm going day-by-day right now."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2023 17:51:49 GMT -5
Guest instructor Pedroia brings 'unreal' energy to Red Sox camp 15 minutes ago Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox didn’t need any coffee at the Fenway South complex on Saturday morning. Human caffeine walked into the building at about 6:30 a.m. in the form of Dustin Pedroia.
Boston’s former star second baseman was full of vim and vigor in his first visit to Spring Training since he was an active player four years ago.
Anyone within earshot of Pedroia could hear his enthusiasm at the start of what will be a three-day stint as a guest instructor at Red Sox camp.
“The energy Pedroia still has, it’s unreal,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “I’ve never seen anything like that. We’re going to make a conscious effort to have him around as much as possible [in the future].”
Pedroia’s visit to camp was at the request of Cora. The two men have shared a close friendship ever since 2007, when Pedroia was a struggling rookie and Cora was a supportive utility player/mentor. Thanks in large part to Cora’s support, Pedroia won the American League Rookie of the Year Award that season.
“Obviously, I'll do anything for Alex,” said Pedroia. “You know, what he meant to me and my career, the way he helped me and the things he taught me. If he asks, I’m there.”
Believe it or not, Pedroia’s time is limited, even in retirement. His job in Arizona is husband/dad/coach. And much like he was as a player, he is all in on those duties.
“This is actually the only weekend I had open [during Spring Training],” Pedroia said. “The boys have sports tournaments and all kinds of stuff. But this is fun to be here and see some of the guys and to see everybody.”
Given his passion for baseball and his loyalty to the Red Sox, it isn’t hard to imagine Pedroia one day returning to the organization in a role more substantial than temporary instructor.
But don’t expect that to happen until his kids are out of the house. That won’t be for a while. Dylan is 13 -- the only non-baseball player of the group. He plays basketball. Cole is 10 and Brooks is eight.
Pedroia coaches the two younger boys on separate travel-ball squads.
“We’ve got practice three days a week and then we play on the weekends, so it's full time,” Pedroia said. “It's fun. But you’re teaching them baseball and life lessons. It's not as serious as this. I'm trying to get them to not throw helmets and things like that. They’re good kids and it's fun.”
While Pedroia is the guest instructor in Fort Myers this weekend, he brings instructors like Jacoby Ellsbury and J.J. Hardy to help out with his teams.
Is Pedroia the lead coach on his teams or an assistant?
“What do you think, I’m the assistant? I answer to no one. Nobody,” quipped Pedroia, who noted that the young kids are playing with Major League rules rather than Little League regulations.
“You see that little guy out there?” He said, pointing to Brooks. “He’s 50 pounds, he plays with big league rules. They take leads and they call balks.”
Pedroia keeps close tabs on his former team during baseball season.
“That's the good thing about the West Coast, you know. 4 o’clock, the games are on,” Pedroia said. “The kids get home from school and are doing homework, and it’s like, ‘All right, the Red Sox are on.' I follow everything.”
When the Red Sox took the field on Saturday morning, Pedroia was wearing a blue pullover and baseball pants. He stood on the second-base bag and took throws from Justin Turner, Rafael Devers, Bobby Dalbec, Triston Casas and others. He walked around with a bucket between drills.
During batting practice, he stood behind the cage with general manager Brian O’Halloran and shortstop Kiké Hernández talking shop.
The severe left knee ailments that robbed Pedroia of, in his mind, four to five seasons, could still be seen as he walked slowly around the complex. And that slow walk represented something to Cora.
“He led by example,” said Cora. “And there’s a reason he’s limping around, because he gave everything for this franchise.”
Pedroia will continue to give to the franchise in retirement, a process that will be gradual, starting with this weekend.
“Whatever they need me to do, obviously, I'm here for them,” said Pedroia
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2023 17:54:48 GMT -5
Why Alex Cora asked Dustin Pedroia to come to Red Sox spring training In a pivotal year, manager calls on former star
By Gabrielle Starr | gstarr@bostonherald.com | PUBLISHED: February 18, 2023 at 4:13 p.m. | UPDATED: February 18, 2023 at 4:19 p.m.
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox are trying to fortify a middle infield that’s without Xander Bogaerts (forever), Trevor Story (best-case scenario is several months), newcomer Adalberto Mondesí (no timetable), and strengthen leadership on a team that lost dozens of players and added over a dozen newcomers this winter.
What better way than to enlist the expertise of one of the franchise’s best infielders?
At Alex Cora’s request, Dustin Pedroia arrived at JetBlue Park early Saturday morning, and spent the morning with players. He’ll be at the facility until Monday.
The manager is amazed by his friend and former teammate. “The energy Pedroia still has is unreal,” Cora said after workouts.
A compliment, yes, but also a bittersweet reminder of what could have been. Pedroia was American League Rookie of the Year in 2007, AL MVP in 2008, a four-time All-Star, and won four Gold Gloves (a Red Sox infield record) and two World Series (’07, ’13) with the Red Sox before knee injuries prematurely ended his potential Hall of Fame career.
After playing 105 games in 2017, Pedroia underwent knee surgery for the second consecutive offseason. He only played nine games after that — three in 2018, and six in April 2019 — before going on the Injured List and undergoing another knee surgery. After missing the entire 2020 season, he officially announced his retirement in February 2021. Coach Pedey?
Even before he retired, Pedroia was viewed as someone with a bright future coaching, even managing. The former infielder isn’t ready for that second act just yet.
His reappearance at spring training inevitably brings such speculation to the surface again — the Red Sox Instagram account even called him “Coach Pedey” in a post on Saturday — but he and Cora both pumped the brakes.
“(His family) is his team right now,” Cora said, “little by little, he’ll keep showing up and helping us out. … It’s always good for him to be around and we’ll see what happens in the future.”
“He wants me here, I’ll be here,” Pedroia said. “Obviously I’ll do anything for Alex. What he meant to me in my career and the way he helped me, the things he taught me. If he asks, I’m there. But as far as like, a major role with the organization, I’m not there yet. My kids are young. I’m focused on them.”
But Pedroia has been helping behind the scenes. On Saturday, he said he’d been texting with Justin Turner when the Red Sox were trying to sign him. The veteran infielder ended up taking a one-year contract with a player option for a second season.
And this trip to the Fort gives Pedroia a chance to get his feet wet leading in a non-player capacity.
“I know there’s a lot of people out there questioning our leadership in the clubhouse, well, you know, bringing guys like that is gonna help us, right?” Cora continued, “(Pedroia) led in a different way … he led by example. There’s a reason he’s limping around, right? Because he did everything for this franchise.”
The ultimate “dirt dog,” Pedroia famously injured his thumb on Opening Day 2013, and waited to have UCL surgery until after they won the World Series. In addition to getting a second ring, he was an All-Star and won a Gold Glove that year. But in order for the second baseman to play through that injury and pain, a teammate recalled him needing a special glove insert to stabilize the digit, and that the severity of his injury was called into question because of how well he performed.
And, of course, there were countless knee procedures and surgeries, which never enabled him to end his career on his own terms, though he tried valiantly time and again. “Obviously, physically, the game took a lot from him,” Cora said.
One day, a weekend back at the Fort could turn into a full-time thing, but Cora believes “it’s gonna take a while.” Still, he thinks the Red Sox need to “make a conscious effort to have him around as much as possible.”
In the meantime, a little Laser Show is better than none at all.
“(We) need to “make a conscious effort to have him around as much as possible,” Cora said, “It’s fun to have him here, we’re gonna take advantage of the next three days.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2023 18:05:17 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Triston Casas nails the confidence part of being a pro, but knows Red Sox need more from him By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated February 18, 2023, 17 minutes ago
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Triston Casas does not care.
There’s little anyone can do to rock the confidence of the Sox rookie first baseman who knew he would one day become a big leaguer as he grinded his way through the minor leagues.
His confidence isn’t a gimmick in the slightest, his self-assurance shining with his eclectic demeanor. A hipster nature that’s exclusive to his true self.
Need proof? Take a glance at his nails this spring. Freshly manicured, his fingers are painted red — glitter atop some of them — and his toes white.
“I feel like I have the personality to do it,” Casas said. “I feel like I’m at the right age where I can pull it off as well.”
Casas was first spotted wearing nail polish inside the lobby of MGM Springfield last month during Winter Weekend. A person near Casas jokingly asked if he would wear red nail polish during the season.
“No,” Casas replied with a smirk.
He may have bigger plans in mind.
“The nails are something that I’ve been doing for a little bit of time now,” said Casas. “It started off with my mom. I’ve always got to get my nails done. It was this little bonding thing we had always done and a couple of months ago after the season ended, I was just like, ‘I’m just gonna get a color’ . . . My mom was super surprised. She’s like, ‘What?!’ ”
A typical response when it comes to Casas, who unapologetically operates in his own space. Prior to his Sunday afternoon debut against Texas last September, he sunbathed with his shirt off in short right field. One struggling pitcher walked to the top step of the home dugout and peered toward the right field grass in disbelief. Laid out, Casas looked as if he was in the midst of a cool down from a yoga session.
The nail polish is a part of Casas’ quest for people to be themselves, he said. In a baseball culture that calls for athletes to live in its rectangular box, Casas finds his safe space outside of it.
“I want to make sure that I do good with my platform,” Casas said. “I feel like as a baseball player, sometimes I lose focus and perspective as to what really matters.”
When it comes to Casas’s actual job, though, performance will matter. He hit just .197 last year during his one-month stint in the majors.
Though he had a .358 on-base percentage, that pedestrian batting average won’t cut it in this market — especially if it’s accompanied by red nails and glitter. Casas, aware he still has to prove himself at the big league level, is OK with that truth.
“I want that spotlight,” he said. “I think my play merits it. I think I’m that good. I think that I make adjustments that well. I talk a big game. Let’s see if I can back it up.” Plans in place
Brayan Bello is still on track to resume his progression Monday. Shut down Friday after he relayed tightness/soreness in his right forearm, Bello is resting and receiving treatment. “It’s the first time that I experienced something like this,” he said, “but I’m not worried about it.” The setback occurred earlier in the week following a bullpen. Both manager Alex Cora and Bello said the 23-year-old threw a ton of curveballs, which could have triggered the soreness. “I feel better right now,” Bello said. “So, let’s wait until Monday” . . . The plan for Chris Sale is for the lefty to throw a couple of simulated innings Tuesday. If all goes well, next will be facing hitters.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 19, 2023 5:07:08 GMT -5
Red Sox bullpen ‘still has spots’ open, manager Alex Cora says
Published: Feb. 18, 2023, 3:54 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- After a winter-long bullpen makeover, it would seem Red Sox manager Alex Cora doesn’t have many decisions to make when it comes to his relief corps this spring. Unlike in previous seasons, it’s pretty clear which relievers will break camp with the team and head north in late March.
With closer Kenley Jansen and setup options Chris Martin, Joely Rodríguez and Richard Bleier joining a group that already includes John Schreiber, it seems like Cora’s bullpen is close to a finished prospect. The manager, however, insisted that there’s still an open competition for the final couple spots in the bullpen.
“You see the names,” Cora said. “Jansen, Martin, Schreiber, Joely, Bleier. Just very structured, get ready for March 30. But there are still spots.”
Jansen, Martin, Rodríguez, Bleier and Schreiber are five locks in Boston’s eight-man bullpen group. Righty Ryan Brasier, who survived multiple tough roster decisions and is out of options, seems likely to claim a spot. The two remaining openings will likely depend on what Boston does with its rotation. Currently, seven pitchers — Chris Sale, Corey Kluber, Garrett Whitlock, Brayan Bello, James Paxton, Nick Pivetta and Tanner Houck — are competing for five rotation spots. Whoever doesn’t crack that group will likely head to the bullpen; Houck, who has extensive relief experience over the last two seasons, seems ticketed for a bullpen job if everyone is healthy.
Boston’s bullpen currently lacks a multi-inning option in the middle of games. Cora believes that pitcher could come from the group of rotation candidates.
“We don’t know how the rotation is gonna shape up and somebody has to be a multi-inning guy,” Cora said. “Somebody has to pitch in the sixth. It can’t be the same guys over and over and over again.”
Health will likely determine much of how Cora aligns his staff in the coming weeks. Sale, Paxton and Kluber are all veterans with extensive injury histories, Whitlock and Houck had season-ending surgeries in September, Bello is currently shut down for a couple days due to forearm soreness and Pivetta is coming along slowly to start the spring after a tough bout with COVID. The Red Sox are hopeful all seven rotation candidates are ready for Opening Day but are realistic about the chances of that happening.
If everyone is healthy, someone like Pivetta or Paxton could join the bullpen in a multi-inning role to start the year. If not, other relievers like Kutter Crawford, Zack Kelly, Wyatt Mills and Kaleb Ort will get extended looks. All four pitched in the majors last season and possess characteristics the Red Sox like. Non-roster invitees Dan Altavilla, Oddanier Mosqueda, Durbin Feltman and Ryan Sherriff are long shot candidates to make the team.
Cora is pleased that his bullpen has more structure at this juncture than in recent years but is adamant it’s not a finished product.
“There’s a few spots and I think everybody that is involved, they’re ready for that,” Cora said.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 19, 2023 9:05:12 GMT -5
How Red Sox’s Kaleb Ort reached 100.7 mph and survived massive roster turnover
Updated: Feb. 19, 2023, 7:14 a.m.|Published: Feb. 19, 2023, 7:06 a.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox moved on from relievers Matt Barnes, Josh Taylor, Franklin German, Connor Seabold, Darwinzon Hernandez, Eduard Bazardo and Tyler Danish in the offseason.
Righty Kaleb Ort is one of only a few relievers remaining from the 40-man roster when the offseason began. He survived significant roster turnover — along with John Schreiber, Ryan Brasier and Zack Kelly — despite posting a 6.35 ERA (28 ⅓ innings, 20 earned runs) as a 30-year-old rookie in 2022.
“He’s got stuff,” GM Brian O’Halloran said. “And if can throw more strikes, we just feel like his stuff is going to play in the big leagues.”
Ort — who went undrafted and pitched in Indy ball before receiving his shot in affiliated pro ball — didn’t spend time wondering if he might be next when the Red Sox front office was DFA’ing and trading relievers left and right this past offseason.
“That’s out of my control,” he said. “I’m not going to worry about that. I’m just going to do what I have to do and go from there.”
Ort does need to cut down on walks. He walked 15 (4.8 walks per nine innings) while striking out 27 (8.6 strikeouts per nine innings) as a rookie.
“I think it shows they believe in me,” Ort said about surviving roster cuts. “That’s obviously a big thing for me to understand and know. Just be ready to come out and prove them right hopefully.”
The Red Sox liked the potential they saw from Ort after he made changes to his delivery late last season. Ort continued to work on the consistency of his delivery during the offseason.
“I think that’s what we worked on a lot at the end of last year,” Ort said. “Just being more consistent with my delivery.”
The righty reached 100 mph (100.7 mph to be exact) with his fastball for the first time in his career Sept. 14 vs. the Yankees.
“I think that had a lot to do with the delivery we worked on, just speeding things up so my arm can come through quicker,” he said. “Timing. Just to be timed up better instead of trying to play catch-up with my arm the whole time. So it made the velo go up and everything got sharper.”
Ort didn’t think too much about someday having this type of opportunity when he was pitching in independent ball for the Joliet Slammers in 2016 as a 24-year-old.
“Obviously it’s a thought, a hope and a dream,” Ort said. “You know, coming out of college, not getting drafted, going into Indy ball, your chances are a lot slimmer than other routes. But when you start grinding and get signed, I was like, ‘OK, this is kind of cool.’ And then I started to move up and I was like, ‘Man, this might be a possibility.’ So the work you put in, you put in more work and you work harder because you’re like, ‘Dang, I am getting closer.’ But to think it ever really would happen seemed like a slim chance.”
Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich., was the only college that offered him out of high school.
“I went to a small NAIA school. Probably not getting the best looks there (from scouts),” he said. “Going into Indy ball, I still went as a starter because I was always a starter in college. And my manager there was like, ‘Hey, let’s change routes. Let’s put you in the bullpen.’ I went on the IL for a little bit just because of some inflammation. We worked on some mechanics and then everything was kind of smoother than it was. I was a little jerky. Fixed that and started going one-inning, two-inning (outings) and my velo crept up big time just by doing that. So I think that my velo creeping up really showed a little bit to whoever might have been watching in Indy ball.” FanDuel Sportsbook MA Pre-Launch Offer $100 BONUS BETS! NEW STATE LAUNCH! 21+ and present in Massachusetts. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
Asked if he was surprised by the roster turnover this past offseason, Ort said, “Not my place to worry about any of that. I just show up, try to do my job and leave all the other stuff out of it.”
Ort has a 3.24 ERA in 119 ⅓ career innings at Triple A.
“I just want the best out of myself,” Ort said. “Just do the best I can for the team. Just go out there and do what I know I’m capable of and hopefully avoid too many speed bumps.”
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Ort works on cars
When he’s not playing baseball, Ort enjoys working on cars.
“Building cars up,” Ort said. “I’ve just done trucks and Jeeps and stuff.”
He said his dad Lynn Ort taught him.
“And then I just rolled with it and started toying around with everything,” Ort said.
“My dad and I, we want to redo a couple of old ones in the next few years,” he added.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 19, 2023 9:07:48 GMT -5
Dustin Pedroia, Rafael Devers bonded by glove
By Rob Bradford WEEI 93.7 an hour ago
FORT MYERS, Fla. - "You have still got it, huh?"
The greeting Dustin Pedroia offered Rafael Devers could have been construed as a check-in regarding the third baseman's excellence. He is, after all, the one no-doubt-about-it star on this Red Sox team, and acknowledgement of that every once in a while never hurts.
But the reality of Devers' All-Star existence isn't what piqued Pedroia's interest. What the former second baseman was locked in on was that brown A2000 baseball glove his former teammate was carting out for another round of early-morning grounders.
As it turns out, while Devers has continued his journey as an ever-improving infielder, he has had a reminder regarding Pedroia with him the entire way. The baseball glove the four-time American League Gold Glove winner handed over to his then-teammate at the end of 2018 - still adorned with the No. 15 on the side - is part of Devers' existence.
"Every year I have used it," Devers told WEEI.com. "Not in 2019. But I came in 2020, felt comfortable and used it every day since. Games. Practices. Everything." Glove Photo credit WEEI.com photo
While Pedroia's participation in Saturday's workout at JetBlue Park was a reminder for many of his contributions to the organization, Devers has had a daily recollection thanks to the glove.
And it's clearly not just some ordinary glove.
For starters, it's 11 1/2 inches, which is one full inch smaller than what Devers had always used prior to committing to the piece of equipment three years ago. "It's small for a third baseman," noted Devers.
Secondly, it has shown no sign of wearing down or out.
"Now I feel comfortable with it. It's a good glove," he added. "I have never used a glove this long. But they made it good for him. I don't want to break it."
Pedroia will continue to roam his old haunts at Fenway South through Monday, serving as an instructor for his old friend Alex Cora throughout that stretch.
Saturday one player after another went up and introduced themselves to the former MVP, soaking in whatever bits of knowledge or advice the now full-time father/youth baseball coach could offer.
Then there was Devers. He - and his glove - needed no introduction. Just about five years later, it was just like old times.
"A lot," Devers said when asked how much Pedroia has helped him. "I remember when he taught me a couple of things about defense and I never forgot. He has meant a lot to me. He's such a good guy."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 19, 2023 12:54:50 GMT -5
The Red Sox’ resident nomad, Bobby Dalbec, enters a pivotal spring By Dan Shaughnessy Globe Staff,Updated February 19, 2023, 9:15 a.m. 51 Bobby Dalbec was taking grounders at third base this week as he searches for a home on this Red Sox roster. Bobby Dalbec was taking grounders at third base this week as he searches for a home on this Red Sox roster.Jim Davis/Globe Staff
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Bobby Dalbec.
He’s The Beatles’ real “Nowhere Man.” Sitting in the Red Sox spring training clubhouse. Looking at his collection of fielding mitts. He knows not where he’s going to. He might be making plans for nobody.
Or Worcester. Or a new organization.
Dalbec’s going to be 28 in a few months and it feels like he’s run out of opportunities with the Red Sox. He hit .215 in 117 games last season, whiffing himself out of a spot in Alex Cora’s everyday lineup and earning a ticket to Worcester. In 273 big-league games over three seasons he’s hit 45 homers, batted .232, and struck out in 35 percent of his plate appearances.
He’s been a major league third baseman and first baseman, and now there’s talk of him in the middle infield, outfield, or even (gulp) pitching.
“Everyone’s talking about me coming here to throw bullpens to save my career and stuff,” Dalbec said with a chuckle. “I’m not throwing any friggin’ bullpens.”
Bob Dalbec? Flame-throwing righty reliever?
He hit 98 miles per hour in the College World Series for Arizona in 2016. A fearsome NCAA slugger (24 homers and 123 RBIs in 174 games), Dalbec compiled a 2.65 ERA over 200⅓ NCAA innings and 72 appearances in three seasons. He made 15 starts.
“The last time I stepped on mound was in the 2016 College World Series,” Dalbec said last week. “[Cora] was there watching me pitch, working for ESPN. I threw 110 innings that year. I had three starts in ten days in the World Series.”
He’s a strapping 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 222 pounds. Would the Red Sox seriously try him on the mound?
“We know he’s got the arm for it, but we haven’t discussed it.” Boston baseball boss Chaim Bloom said Saturday. “The new rules make it harder to get him there. It was discussed once last year, but Alex decided not to risk it. He’s a really good athlete. We’ve seen him in different spots and there’s going to be a lot of opportunities this spring.”
Assuming that pitching and catching are ruled out, just about every other position is in play for Dalbec.
Pointing to a collection of fielding mitts in his Fenway South locker, Dalbec said, “I’m cool with it. I brought all my gloves down here. I’ve got the big outfield glove, a first base glove, and a little glove for short. You saw me playing short last year.’’ Related: This is a critical year for the Red Sox and Chaim Bloom, and other thoughts
With Sox regular third baseman Rafael Devers off to the World Baseball classic, Dalbec will get plenty of chances to play third this spring. Cora said we’ll also see him at first and short.
But can he be the slugger the Sox thought they had when he launched 25 homers in 2021?
In the 1970s, when once-great lefty Mike Cuellar was on the down side of his career, Hall of Famer Earl Weaver had to pull the proud lefty from the Orioles’ rotation. When Cuellar complained about a lack of opportunity, Weaver said, “I gave Cuellar more chances than my first wife.”
The same could be said of Cora with Dalbec. Dalbec’s been a strikeout machine in his three years in the bigs, but managed to stay in the lineup long after other young players might have been benched.
He thinks his head and batting mechanics are in a good place again.
“I think some of my hitting philosophies got skewed over the last couple of years,” said Delbec. “But I still have part of the old me that was successful in 2021 (.240, 25 homers, 78 RBIs). Last year was just very difficult for me to move the way I wanted to. I took this offseason to slow everything down and break everything down and get back to normal.
“It’s just getting back to what I used to be. When I’m successful, I’m driving the ball to the big part of the field and not just trying to pull. It’s always better when I’m going to the opposite field or driving the ball to center and right center. Last year I wanted to do that, but my body and swing wasn’t allowing me . . . I need to swing more early in the count. I’m ready to play and do my thing.’’ Related: Once a promising power prospect, Red Sox infielder Bobby Dalbec plans to reset after lackluster season
Cora said, “I talked to him one of the first days down here. He understands he’s going to have a chance to play this spring.’’
“I’m just coming in to play hard and get better,” said Dalbec. “I think my versatility will help me. I feel really good about having better at bats. I’ve got to be more consistent, for sure, and I’m taking ownership of that.’’
A soon-to-be-28-year-old guy with seven seasons of professional baseball and 45 homers under his belt wants to play every day. Has Dalbec requested a trade?
Bloom wouldn’t answer. Neither would Dalbec. No doubt Dalbec’s value torpedoed last season.
“He knows this is going to be a different spring training,” said Bloom. “I hope that’s freeing for him.’’
Just don’t try sending him to the bullpen.
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