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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 31, 2023 6:51:05 GMT -5
For one day, it was the Red Sox worst nightmare
By Rob Bradford WEEI 93.7
As the Red Sox found themselves in a mid-game torture chamber against the Orioles Thursday, Sean McDonough stated what had to considered a truism.
"This has to be Chaim Bloom's worst nightmare," the Red Sox Network's broadcaster stated.
For this one day - the first introduction to the Chief Baseball Officer's master plan for 2023 - that would have to seem indisputable.
Losing on Opening Day always stings a bit more than most of the other 162. A win represents the opportunity to automatically sit atop the standings while believing that the six months won't be a waste of time. A loss, however, introduces the idea that football season can't come soon enough.
This one - a 10-9 loss to the Orioles - was layered with even more uncertainty and uneasiness than most. Basically, almost everything the Red Sox had offered in the way of optimism coming out of spring training turned into a return of those Winter Weekend boos.
"We’ve got to do a better job," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "All around it wasn’t a great game. The score is what it is. We were one swing away from winning this but overall there’s a lot of stuff that we saw today that we didn’t do in spring training and we’ve got to be better."
An investment of $11 million into Corey Kluber was supposed to offer the starting rotation anchor Nathan Eovaldi left behind. That turned into five runs on four hits and six walks over 3 1/3 innings.
The priority of pounding the strike zone immediately went out the window, with Red Sox pitchers walking eight batters through the first five innings. (The nine walks tied for most issued by a Red Sox team on Opening Day.)
The preparation that went into leveraging the new rules only seemed to work for the Orioles, but not Alex Cora's club. Baltimore used the pitch clock and the Sox' pitchers inability to manage their time on the way to five (virtually uncontested) stolen bases.
The idea that the Orioles were nothing but a flash in the pan also was doused, with the likes of Adley Rutschman (5-for-5, HR) offering the image of a contributing new star, the likes of which the Red Sox are starving for.
And there was the missed opportunity to make people believe this is actually going to work.
By the time the offense - which was the part of the promised plan that did seem to work - made its final push with three runs in the eighth inning before getting the potential tying run to second in the ninth - easily half the Fenway crowd had left, having to already turn off the Opening Day glow while coming to grips with the real regular season.
That’s the sign of a good team, not rolling over when you get down four or five runs. You keep putting together quality at-bats and don’t give anything away. Next thing you know in the eighth or ninth inning and we’re one swing away from winning the ballgame. I’m proud of the guys. I’m proud of the fight we have in here. We’ll take our off day tomorrow, reboot and go at it again Saturday.
This result wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Alex Cora, after all, is now 0-5 on Opening Day as a manager, with two of those seasons ending up deep postseason runs. But this one was the uncomfortable reminder of how things can go awry.
Day 1 could have helped extinguish the boos and doubts. Instead, the flames have just been fanned a bit more.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 31, 2023 6:53:33 GMT -5
The Red Sox looked as lousy as people feared they’d be | Matt Vautour
Updated: Mar. 31, 2023, 7:26 a.m.|Published: Mar. 31, 2023, 6:37 a.m.
By
Matt Vautour | mvautour@masslive.com
BOSTON — The fans who did show up at Fenway Park for Opening Day were patient, probably more patient than the Red Sox deserved.
It took them until the fifth inning to boo. By then Baltimore led a sloppy game on a cold day, 7-2 and the fans had seen enough. The Red Sox rallied late to make the score more respectable in a 10-9 loss. But the game did very little to change any minds about the predicted long summer in Boston. In fact, it may have made it worse.
Expectations were low for the Red Sox, but they were supposed to be better than the lowly Orioles.
One game doesn’t mean much. Of course, it doesn’t. But this year the burden of proof lies with the Red Sox. Unlike in years when the team’s offseason moves stirred excitement, this team has to prove it’s worth getting behind. Prove it’s worth paying to see. They’re the ones who botched Xander Bogaerts negotiations and traded Mookie Betts and didn’t get involved with any top-level free agent pitchers.
They need to convince the fan base that they’re not as lousy as everyone thinks. Thursday didn’t help.
The Red Sox listed the attendance Thursday as a sell-out of 36,049. Whatever math produced that figure couldn’t hide the fact that if that many people did purchase tickets, lots of them didn’t show up. At every point in the game, a quick eye scan of the park revealed sizable patches of empty seats. That’s stunning in Boston on opening day.
Baseball is experiencing a mini resurgence on the strength of a terrific World Baseball Classic, emerging stars and well-received rule changes. But in Boston, one of the sport’s most reliable strongholds, fans are angry and growing apathetic. Opening Day is supposed to be about rebirth and hope. It doesn’t feel like that this year in New England.
Not only did the Red Sox lose, but they did so for most of the game in a way that was hard to watch and against the only team in the division that people expected the Red Sox to be better than.
The pitch clock does improve pace of play, but only if pitchers can throw strikes. The Red Sox pitchers did not do that nearly often enough in their 3-hour, 10-minute game. They gave up nine walks and hit a batter, while throwing two wild pitches. The Orioles stole five bases with little resistance.
Fans who stayed, braved cold weather and intense wind only to see Boston hit into two double plays and leave five runners on. They were 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
Except for his pitch clock violation, Rafael Devers looked good and Masataka Yoshida and Justin Turner each had two hits in their Red Sox debuts. But they didn’t get much help. Corey Kluber was shaky. The bullpen was lousy and the lineup has a lot of soft spots.
Between the NHL and NBA playoffs and the NFL Draft, interest in the Red Sox figures to be a distant fourth for at least few weeks. That gives them time to get their feet under them and create something to be optimistic about. Right now there doesn’t look to be much there.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 31, 2023 7:40:48 GMT -5
Jen McCaffrey @jcmccaffrey · The Red Sox vowed to cut down on walks coming off a 2022 season in which the bullpen walked 9.9 percent of batters faced.
Then they tied a franchise record on Thursday for most walks on Opening Day.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Mar 31, 2023 9:59:49 GMT -5
The BP was pretty shaky in ST, so I am not surprised. But Kluber looked good in ST, so that was a big disappointment. The hitting looked good.
We might need to get out to a lead to better assess the BP. Kelly was probably only in there because Kluber only lasted 3.1, and Ort was probably only in there because Brasier left us down 6 runs.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 31, 2023 13:18:21 GMT -5
The BP was pretty shaky in ST, so I am not surprised. But Kluber looked good in ST, so that was a big disappointment. The hitting looked good. We might need to get out to a lead to better assess the BP. Kelly was probably only in there because Kluber only lasted 3.1, and Ort was probably only in there because Brasier left us down 6 runs. Brasier and Ort have no business being on the team. they should raise a white flag with a gas can logo on it when they come into the game.
And seeing the importance of trying to create a bit of good karma right off the start
I wonder why Chris Sale was not pitching in the opener.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 31, 2023 13:23:44 GMT -5
would be nice if MLB had a game this afternoon heck they have the whole spectrum to themselves before the pucks are dropped and basketballs are tipped up tonight....
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 31, 2023 13:36:35 GMT -5
Tomase: Orioles' free rein on basepaths is a bad omen for Red Sox 5H ago / by John Tomase John Tomase
The walks were one thing. They can be written off as an anomaly. Corey Kluber and Chris Martin have spent their careers not walking anybody. That should improve.T
But the stolen bases? That's a problem that could have lasting consequences for the 2023 Red Sox.
A key factor in Baltimore's 10-9 Opening Day victory on Thursday was its ability to run at will. The Orioles stole five bases in five chances, all without a throw.
They did it by using the pitch clock against the Red Sox, timing their jumps against Corey Kluber, Kaleb Ort, and especially Ryan Brasier to coincide with the final six or seven seconds of the clock, when each pitcher had committed to beginning his delivery.
That didn't leave enough time to vary tempo without potentially incurring a violation. All five thieves eventually scored, making those plays pivotal in what started as a blowout and ended as a one-run game.
"It's something we're going to have go back and look at the video on and just collectively have a better effort of holding the ball or mixing up timing and things like that," said catcher Reese McGuire. "With the clock, it's going to incentivize more guys to be aggressive on the basepaths and we saw that today. Moving forward, we're going to get better at that. But obviously it's important."
The Orioles particularly keyed in on Brasier, which qualifies as an advanced scouting win. Because the right-hander is slow to the plate to begin with, the Orioles knew that once the pitch clock reached six or seven seconds, they could go without hesitation. Some of their jumps were so large, the runners were three-quarters of the way to second before Brasier even threw. They stole three bases on his watch, and there was nothing McGuire could do.
"They've got a handful of guys in their lineup that run, whether it's a fast guy on the mound or not," McGuire said. "They're just always looking to be aggressive on the basepaths. If we are in that slower delivery range, then they're kind of licking their chops. It's something for us to be aware of and control a little bit better. It all starts with just trying to keep them off base. It starts with, get the guy out in the box and then you don't have to worry about it."
That's where the nine walks hurt, since two of the steals came off of free passes. Manager Alex Cora shrugged off some of the steals as situational, since the Red Sox generally don't throw down with runners on first and third.
Still, five steals is a bad omen when MLB has introduced rules from fewer pickoff throws to bigger bases that are meant to encourage thefts. The Red Sox belatedly threw over to keep Jorge Mateo close with Martin on the mound in the ninth, but all that kept Baltimore from recording a sixth stolen base was Cedric Mullins lining into a double play after Mateo had gotten yet another giant jump.
"We're going to have to figure out what's best," McGuire said. "If coming set and still having eight or nine, 10 seconds on the clock, maybe that's going to be better, because then we can hold the ball and then we control the clock.
"If we get the sign a little bit late, that's potentially incentivizing the runner to say the clock is running down, let's just try to time it up. That's something we'll adjust for."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 31, 2023 13:39:17 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 1h Greetings from Polar Park, where Garrett Whitlock will be pitching on Opening Day for the WooSox.
Whitlock is slated to throw 5 innings and roughly 75 pitches, weather permittingWhitlock is slated to throw 5 innings and roughly 75 pitches, weather permitting
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 31, 2023 17:59:29 GMT -5
Orioles @ Red Sox 1 April 2023 4pm @ Fenway
Kremer
vs
Sale
Chris Sale returns for Red Sox vs. lethal Orioles FLM
After multiple injuries sidelined him for all but two starts in 2022, left-hander Chris Sale will return to the mound as the Boston Red Sox host the Baltimore Orioles in the second game of their season-opening series Saturday afternoon.
Baltimore emerged with a 10-9 victory Thursday behind Adley Rutschman's career day, when he went 5-for-5 with four RBIs. The Red Sox made a comeback with five runs over the final two innings but came up short.
The Red Sox are excited to finally have a healthy Sale back on the mound from the outset, as he endured two separate stints on the injured list last season. He likes what he has seen from this iteration of the club.
"I think more so than anything, the talent is obviously there, but the excitement is there," Sale said. "The drive, the focus (are there). We're very disciplined. I think that obviously starts with our staff. (Manager Alex Cora) holds people accountable, and people respect him. As much as people want to go out there and do well for us, we don't want to let him down either."
Both of Sale's starts last season came in July after he recovered from a rib injury, but a left fifth finger fracture on July 17 against the New York Yankees shortened his return and sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
Sale 10-3 with a 2.71 ERA in 23 career appearances (17 starts) against Baltimore.
World Baseball Classic champion Masataka Yoshida, from Japan, made his major league debut Thursday and was one of four Red Sox to post two-hit days.
"He'll catch up with the guys that throw hard," Cora said of his new left fielder. "I think he's so disciplined. That comes into play. He's able to lay off the pitches and then will take his chances."
Sale's counterpart will be Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer, who will make his 2023 debut while pitching his sixth career start against Boston. He has yet to beat the Red Sox, going 0-4 with a 6.85 ERA.
Kremer was 8-7 with a 3.23 ERA in 22 outings (21 starts) last season.
"Really impressed with the progress (Kremer has) made the last couple years," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. "The second half he had last year was a huge improvement. Love where he is right now."
As part of the Orioles' 15-hit attack Thursday, Rutschman hit a first-inning home run before Ramon Urias hit one out himself in the fourth.
Rutschman became just the 13th player ever and first catcher to record five or more hits in an Opening Day game. The feat had not been accomplished since Aaron Miles for the Colorado Rockies 2005. Rutschman added a walk to reach base six times.
"It's not going to be the only time you're going to say (positives) about Adley," Hyde said. "He's going to be doing other things that are going to be firsts as well, because he's just a super special player, a really good hitter. And he hasn't even played a full year yet."
The excitement of the game was not lost on Rutschman -- the No. 1 overall pick in 2019 -- who was participating in his first career Opening Day.
"To have that close game in the ninth inning and the (Fenway Park) crowd get so loud. You kind of sit there and say, 'This is pretty cool,'" Rutschman said.
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Mar 31, 2023 18:13:24 GMT -5
Chris Sale hasn’t been ready to pitch as the season starts since 2019. This year? ‘I’ll be ready.’ By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated March 31, 2023, 1 hour ago
The Red Sox opted not to employ Chris Sale as their Opening Day starter, but in Game 2, they’ll turn to him to be their stopper.
Sale was a spectator for Thursday’s 10-9 loss to the Orioles. Though he hurried from the clubhouse to meet with family in the wake of the defeat, he had a succinct message on the way out of Fenway Park.
“Tell everyone that I love them,” the lefthander said after receiving a sizable ovation in pregame ceremonies, “and that I’ll be ready.”
In many ways, the lefthander’s pronouncement of his readiness for the start of the 2023 season contained multitudes.The Red Sox opted not to employ Chris Sale as their Opening Day starter, but in Game 2, they’ll turn to him to be their stopper.
Sale was a spectator for Thursday’s 10-9 loss to the Orioles. Though he hurried from the clubhouse to meet with family in the wake of the defeat, he had a succinct message on the way out of Fenway Park.
“Tell everyone that I love them,” the lefthander said after receiving a sizable ovation in pregame ceremonies, “and that I’ll be ready.”
In many ways, the lefthander’s pronouncement of his readiness for the start of the 2023 season contained multitudes.
After all, Sale hadn’t been in a position to take the ball at the start of a season since 2019. He missed all of 2020 and most of 2021 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He didn’t throw a single pitch in a game at Fenway in 2022 owing to a succession of unusual injuries: a stress fracture in his rib cage to start the year, a broken pinkie in his second start in July, a broken wrist suffered in a bicycle accident in August.
So the simple fact that he is healthy and ready to take the mound after a full spring training buildup represents a significant departure.
“This was the first spring training where he’s actually pitched for me,” said fourth-year Sox pitching coach Dave Bush. “We laughed about it in the spring, but it’s been that long since he started here healthy.”
Manager Alex Cora likewise noted that this was the first time he’d seen Sale throwing hard in spring training. Sale came out hot in his first spring with the Red Sox in 2017, but that was when John Farrell was the manager.
In Cora’s first year in 2018, the Sox wanted Sale to build slowly into his velocity, and he worked mostly in the high 80s and low 90s. In 2019, coming off a shoulder issue late in the season, he built up even more deliberately, and was working only in the mid to high 80s throughout the spring.So the simple fact that he is healthy and ready to take the mound after a full spring training buildup represents a significant departure.
“This was the first spring training where he’s actually pitched for me,” said fourth-year Sox pitching coach Dave Bush. “We laughed about it in the spring, but it’s been that long since he started here healthy.”
Manager Alex Cora likewise noted that this was the first time he’d seen Sale throwing hard in spring training. Sale came out hot in his first spring with the Red Sox in 2017, but that was when John Farrell was the manager.
In Cora’s first year in 2018, the Sox wanted Sale to build slowly into his velocity, and he worked mostly in the high 80s and low 90s. In 2019, coming off a shoulder issue late in the season, he built up even more deliberately, and was working only in the mid to high 80s throughout the spring.
This spring was different, in a way that offered the Sox reason for optimism. Sale comfortably worked at 92-94 miles per hour, regularly topping out at 95-96 throughout the spring schedule.
“Velocity-wise, he’s in a better spot, which is interesting,” said Cora.This spring was different, in a way that offered the Sox reason for optimism. Sale comfortably worked at 92-94 miles per hour, regularly topping out at 95-96 throughout the spring schedule.
“Velocity-wise, he’s in a better spot, which is interesting,” said Cora.
Perhaps more importantly, there were occasions when Sale threw his four-seamer up in the strike zone and the pitch exploded at the plate, hopping over bats. That was significant, as Sale didn’t have a swing-and-miss fastball during his brief time on the mound in 2022, having gotten whiffs on a career-low 5.6 percent of the 36 that he threw.
“I wasn’t getting a whole lot of swings and misses on fastballs [last year],” Sale said in spring training. “If I’m going to be successful, that’s something that’s just going to have to happen. And that’s something that I’ve been able to do [this spring] and I’ve just got to keep carrying that on.”
What kind of pitcher can Sale be? That’s impossible to say. There’s not a huge history of once-elite pitchers missing the better part of three full years then coming back as rotation mainstays.
Red Sox Opening Day starter Corey Kluber is one example of such a pitcher, as he made 31 starts in 2022 after missing most of the prior three seasons with a variety of injuries. But Kluber had to adjust his between-starts routine, and saw his velocity plummet in his return.Perhaps more importantly, there were occasions when Sale threw his four-seamer up in the strike zone and the pitch exploded at the plate, hopping over bats. That was significant, as Sale didn’t have a swing-and-miss fastball during his brief time on the mound in 2022, having gotten whiffs on a career-low 5.6 percent of the 36 that he threw.
“I wasn’t getting a whole lot of swings and misses on fastballs [last year],” Sale said in spring training. “If I’m going to be successful, that’s something that’s just going to have to happen. And that’s something that I’ve been able to do [this spring] and I’ve just got to keep carrying that on.”
What kind of pitcher can Sale be? That’s impossible to say. There’s not a huge history of once-elite pitchers missing the better part of three full years then coming back as rotation mainstays.
Red Sox Opening Day starter Corey Kluber is one example of such a pitcher, as he made 31 starts in 2022 after missing most of the prior three seasons with a variety of injuries. But Kluber had to adjust his between-starts routine, and saw his velocity plummet in his return.
This spring, Sale not only proved able to make all of his starts, but to tolerate a full between-starts workload.
“Looking at it this year with how he’s felt, how he’s responded, his side days, all of that is in a good place,” said Bush. “As he went through spring, he felt healthy, the ball was coming out well, and we’re very happy with where he’s at.”
In all likelihood, if the Red Sox are to defy projections and emerge as contenders, they’ll need Sale to return not merely as a pitcher capable of taking the ball every five days but as one who is capable of dominance.
He was arguably as good as any pitcher in baseball last decade, someone who reeled off seven straight All-Star seasons and top-six finishes in AL Cy Young voting from 2012-18. There were brief reminders of that elite capability across his 11 starts in 2021 and 2022, but of course, nothing that proved enduring.
Is it possible for a pitcher who celebrated his 34th birthday Thursday to turn back the clock?
“He said [his body] is 34 and [his arm] is 31 because he hasn’t pitched in three years,” said Cora. “I’ll take his word.”
And Sale’s word right now is that he is healthy and ready — something that is true at the start of a season for the first time this decade.In all likelihood, if the Red Sox are to defy projections and emerge as contenders, they’ll need Sale to return not merely as a pitcher capable of taking the ball every five days but as one who is capable of dominance.
He was arguably as good as any pitcher in baseball last decade, someone who reeled off seven straight All-Star seasons and top-six finishes in AL Cy Young voting from 2012-18. There were brief reminders of that elite capability across his 11 starts in 2021 and 2022, but of course, nothing that proved enduring.
Is it possible for a pitcher who celebrated his 34th birthday Thursday to turn back the clock?
“He said [his body] is 34 and [his arm] is 31 because he hasn’t pitched in three years,” said Cora. “I’ll take his word.”
And Sale’s word right now is that he is healthy and ready — something that is true at the start of a season for the first time this decade.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Mar 31, 2023 19:54:55 GMT -5
would be nice if MLB had a game this afternoon heck they have the whole spectrum to themselves before the pucks are dropped and basketballs are tipped up tonight.... I've been saying this for years. At a minimum, they need an afternoon game every day. There have to be millions of folks out there who might make that part of their afternoon routine. And I could make an argument that when considering gat-away days, you might be able to schedule a 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, and 10:00 games.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 1, 2023 2:51:42 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Garrett Whitlock pitches with urgency and execution in Worcester’s season opener By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated March 31, 2023, 6:27 p.m.
WORCESTER — For Garrett Whitlock, urgency arrived even before the first pitch of his rehab start with Triple A Worcester Friday afternoon. With rain in the forecast, there was concern about the rehabbing righthander getting in his needed work — and the WooSox kicking off their season at Polar Park.
“The owner came up to me before the game,” said Whitlock. “He was just like, ‘Let’s try and get this in quick.’ ”
Whitlock — who opened the year on the Red Sox injured list while still building up following last September’s hip surgery — accommodated, working at a blistering pace over four solid innings and 75 pitches against a Triple A Mets team that fields one of the top minor league lineups. He allowed one run on six hits while walking one and striking out six in an 11-2 win.
“I’m just trying to work on everything and continue to sharpen the tools and everything to get ready to go,” said Whitlock.
He came out firing in the first inning, sitting at 94 miles per hour with his sinker and topping out at 95 before his velocity ticked down — initially to 92-93 in the second and third innings, then to 91-92 in the fourth — as he worked deeper into the outing.
While that diminishing velocity underscored that Whitlock is continuing to build stamina, he felt satisfied with his pitch mix. He elicited swings-and-misses on his sinker (5) and changeup (6), and eventually incorporated some sliders to lefties to round out his arsenal. He allowed runners in every inning, but mostly proved capable of minimizing harm by getting a steady array of strikeouts and grounders.
Though he’d been scheduled to work into the fifth inning, he reached his pitch count in four, ending his outing. Whitlock will make at least one more minor league rehab start before a potential entry into the Red Sox rotation around April 11.
Does he feel ready to compete in the big leagues?
“Time will tell,” said Whitlock. “Stuff felt good today, so now I’m just building volume and trying to sharpen the tools.” Prospects get settled
The season-opening assignments for top Red Sox prospects are set.
No. 2 prospect Triston Casas and No. 4 prospect Masataka Yoshida (who retains prospect status in the eyes of Baseball America because he remains eligible for Rookie of the Year voting) are, of course, in the big leagues.
Shortstop Marcelo Mayer, the team’s top prospect, will start in High A Greenville, along with No. 10 prospect Eddinson Paulino, also an infielder.
Third-ranked prospect Ceddanne Rafaela, an infielder/outfielder, will open the year in Double A Portland, where the team wants to see him hone his plate discipline. Rafaela will be joined in Portland by second baseman Nick Yorke (No. 7).
Miguel Bleis, the team’s fifth-ranked prospect, will open in Single A Salem, along with fellow outfielder Roman Anthony (No. 9). They will soon be joined by middle infielder Mikey Romero (No. 6), who is opening the year in extended spring training after a back injury slowed him.
And in Worcester, the rotation will feature righty Bryan Mata (No. 8) and lefty Brandon Walter (No. 10).
Bobby Dalbec also is in Worcester, where he’ll initially play all four infield positions and eventually add the corner outfield spots in an effort to increase his versatility. Dalbec said he last played the outfield in college.
A Pax upon their house
Lefthander James Paxton enjoyed a milestone Wednesday, completing a two-inning outing against Twins minor leaguers in which his velocity was up to 96 miles per hour. It marked the first time since 2020 that he completed an outing without injury.
“It was really nice to get through one and feel good and feel like I’m starting to build some steam heading into the next one,” Paxton said at Fenway Park Thursday. “I’m just really excited to get back out there.”
Though Paxton was disappointed when his spring buildup was slowed by a hamstring injury, he was excited to take part in Opening Day ceremonies while feeling that he may soon be pitching in the big leagues — a contrast to his participation in ceremonies in 2022, when his best-case scenario was a midyear return.
“It’s very different knowing that I can be here very soon,” Paxton said. “I just can’t wait.”
Paxton is scheduled to make a rehab start with an affiliate next week. Stealing spree
The Red Sox allowed five steals on Opening Day against the Orioles, their most in a single game since they gave up six against the Yankees in September 2013. Reliever Ryan Brasier became the 16th Red Sox pitcher to allow three or more steals in an outing of one inning or less … Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Cousy, 94, addressed the crowd at Polar Park as part of the WooSox’ Opening Day ceremonies. “My name is Bob Cousy,” he said. “If you don’t understand me that well, it’s because my teeth are frozen.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 1, 2023 5:48:42 GMT -5
Orioles at Red Sox
Saturday, at 4:10 PM EST
Cloudy According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 57° F with a 15% chance of rain and 14 MPH wind blowing out in Boston at 4:10 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io 5:10 PM partly-cloudy-day 13% Rain 58° W 13 mph Out 6:10 PM cloudy 9% Rain 57° W 12 mph Out 7:10 PM cloudy 8% Rain
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 1, 2023 8:10:42 GMT -5
Christopher Smith @smittyonmlb · 8m It’s a Sale Day and I have no idea what to expect. I guess I’ll have a better idea going forward after I see him today. Verlander returned from TJ and won a Cy Young in his first year back at 39. So it’s quite Sale could have similar stuff to what he had in 2016-18
It’s also quite possible he won’t. Maybe he’ll stink at first and the stuff will return as the year progresses. There are a bunch of different scenarios. His stuff in 2021 wasn’t good but he still had a 3.16 ERA in those 9 starts. So even if the stuff is just OK
He still has the ability to be an effective pitcher by working with what he has. We will see. Stuff looked pretty good in spring training.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 1, 2023 9:45:57 GMT -5
Red Sox @redsox · 33m #FENWAYWEATHER UPDATE: We are closely monitoring the forecast and rain is expected to move out of the area this afternoon. We are still scheduled for a 4:10pm ET first pitch at Fenway Park.
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