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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 6, 2023 18:43:44 GMT -5
Red Sox’s Chris Sale: ‘I don’t know if I’ve ever thrown 8 straight balls in my life’
Updated: Apr. 06, 2023, 6:01 p.m.|Published: Apr. 06, 2023, 5:57 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
DETROIT — Red Sox starter Chris Sale walked the first two Tigers hitters he faced on eight straight balls.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever thrown eight straight balls in my life,” Sale said. “That was definitely interesting. Credit to the mound visit because I got three (punchouts) after it.”
Sale struck out Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson and Eric Haase to escape the first inning. He earned his first victory since Sept. 22, 2021 as the Red Sox posted a 6-3 comeback win over the Tigers on Thursday at Comerica Park.
What was going through Sale’s mind after he threw eight straight balls?
“Honestly, I don’t even remember,” Sale said. “It was one of those things. I felt like the ball was coming out of my hand good. Even kind of the movement on some of my pitches I felt was good. A couple of them missed really bad. A couple of them were small misses.
“You’re in a big league game, man,” Sale said. “The game’s going fast. You’ve gotta collect yourself and find a way to get out of it. A couple of inspiring words and here we were.”
Not only did pitching coach Dave Bush give him some inspiring words during the mound visit. Manager Alex Cora loosened up Sale after the first inning by joking he used a bold strategy. Cora had the movie “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” in mind.
Cora also handed Sale an iPad during the game to remind him of his mechanics. Sale fixed some mechanical issues over his five innings.
“AC handed me an iPad and said, ‘This is you. Watch this at-bat. This is who you are,’” Sale said.
Sale pitched 5 innings, allowing three runs, four hits and three walks while striking out seven. He threw 46 of his 74 pitches (62.2%) for strikes
The southpaw threw 27 two-seam fastballs, averaging 91.5 mph and topping out at 95 mph, per Baseball Savant. His 12 four-seamers averaged 92.1 mph and he topped out at 94 mph with it.
He mixed in 24 sliders and 11 changeups.
“Definitely a step in the right direction,” Sale said. “Made some pitches when I had to. Obviously command was spotty to say the least at times. Relied on the defense. They made some good plays. Like I said, made some pitches when I had to. And the offense stepped up again today. So overall just a good game to get through, especially the first one on the road trip.”
Cora also called it a step in the right direction.
“Today he did his part and the bullpen did an outstanding job,” Cora said. “Offensively, we did enough. We put some good swings and we got the W.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 6, 2023 18:45:38 GMT -5
How Alex Cora will rearrange Red Sox starting rotation next week
Updated: Apr. 06, 2023, 6:23 p.m.|Published: Apr. 06, 2023, 6:20 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
DETROIT — Red Sox manager Alex Cora plans to rearrange the order of his starting rotation next week in Tampa Bay.
Garrett Whitlock is making his final rehab start Thursday for Double-A Portland. If all goes well, he will make his 2023 debut Tuesday against the Rays.
Cora then plans to flip flop Chris Sale and Corey Kluber.
Kluber pitched one game ahead of Sale in the rotation the first two turns through. But Cora likely will use Sale on Wednesday and Kluber on Thursday.
“We’ll see what we do Tuesday. I want to split (up) some of the righties,” Cora said after Boston’s 6-3 win over the Tigers at Comerica Park on Thursday.
Sale, a lefty, would slot in between the righties, Whitlock and Kluber, moving forward.
Brayan Bello also is nearing a return to the Red Sox starting rotation. He threw 72 pitches over 5 innings in an extended spring training game Wednesday. He likely will make another rehab start for Worcester on Tuesday, then might rejoin the rotation.
Here’s how the Red Sox starting rotation likely will line up for the rest of the road trip:
Saturday at Tigers: RHP Tanner Houck Sunday at Tigers: RHP Kutter Crawford Monday at Rays: RHP Nick Pivetta Tuesday at Rays: Garrett Whitlock Wednesday at Rays: Chris Sale Thursday at Rays: Corey Kluber
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 6, 2023 18:48:36 GMT -5
Sale fights through command trouble, earns win in 6-3 Red Sox victory
By Mac Cerullo | mcerullo@bostonherald.com | PUBLISHED: April 6, 2023 at 5:24 p.m. | UPDATED: April 6, 2023 at 6:16 p.m.
Early on it looked like Chris Sale was in for another long day at the office.
Coming off a disastrous season debut in which he allowed seven runs over three innings, Sale was all over the place at the start of his second go-around Thursday in Detroit. He opened the game with eight straight balls, prompting an early mound visit from pitching coach Dave Bush, and in the second inning issued another four-pitch walk before immediately surrendering a towering two-run home run to Tigers catcher Jake Rogers.
Uh oh.
Things could have quickly snowballed from there, but to Sale’s credit he settled down and figured things out. His last three innings were much sharper than the first two, and he ultimately came away with his first win of the season after the offense rallied for a 6-3 Red Sox victory.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever thrown eight straight balls in my life. That was definitely interesting,” Sale said. “Credit to the mound visit, got three punchies after it so we’re rolling.”
Sale finished with three runs allowed on four hits over five innings, plus three walks and seven strikeouts. He only threw 46 of his 74 pitches for strikes, but from the third inning onwards he was 31 of 39 while recording all nine outs on four pitches or fewer.
Did he unlock something along the way?
“It was one of those things where I felt like the ball was coming out of my hand good, even the movement on some of my pitches I thought was good, just a couple of pitches were really bad, a couple were small misses. Just trying to find the zone,” Sale said. “You’re in a big league game, man. The game’s going fast, you’ve got to collect yourself and find a way to get out of it, and a couple of inspiring words and there we were.”
After missing almost all of 2022 due to injury Sale’s command and effectiveness will warrant close scrutiny, but Thursday was ultimately a step forward despite a highly concerning start.
He wasn’t the only one to get back on track.
After an ice cold finish to this past homestand the Red Sox offense found its mojo. Rafael Devers and Adam Duvall delivered the big hits, with Devers going 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an RBI double to tie the game in the fifth, and a few batters later Duvall smoked a three-run home run to put the Red Sox in front for good. Devers’ home run was the 141st of his career, surpassing Dustin Pedroia for 19th on the Red Sox all-time home run list.
Kiké Hernández also had an RBI fielder’s choice in the first, and Masataka Yoshida went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and a run scored.
Sale benefitted from another strong performance by the bullpen as well, with John Schreiber, Chris Martin, Ryan Brasier and Kenley Jansen combining for four scoreless innings of relief. Jansen notched his first save in a Red Sox uniform to close out the win, sending the Tigers down 1-2-3 for a drama-free bottom of the ninth.
“Man, it feels awesome,” Jansen said of his first save. “First of many, hopefully I’ll keep doing great things and I’m looking forward to it.”
The Red Sox (3-4) are now off Friday and will be back in action Saturday at 4:10 p.m., when the club will look to get back to .500 and clinch the series against Detroit. Tanner Houck (1-0) is scheduled to take the hill for Boston, facing Detroit’s Joey Wentz (0-1).
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 6, 2023 18:54:05 GMT -5
Despite ominous start, both Chris Sale, Red Sox take positive steps in their works in progress By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated April 6, 2023, 1 hour ago
DETROIT — Chris Sale walked the first two Detroit Tigers he faced on Thursday afternoon on eight pitches, none that came close to the plate. It was such an unnerving sight that the entire infield gathered on the mound before pitching coach Dave Bush joined them.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever thrown eight straight balls in my life,” Sale said. “That was definitely interesting.”
That’s one word for it. Alarming is another.
Bush didn’t arrive with any particular adjustment he wanted his pitcher to make. It was more providing an opportunity for Sale to catch his breath and reset.
“You’re in a big-league game, man. The game’s going fast, you’ve got to collect yourself and find a way to get out of it,” Sale said. “A couple of inspiring words and there we were.”
In the pitch-timer era, pitchers can’t slow the game down like they once could, but a well-timed visit from the pitching coach can serve the same purpose.
“In those moments, a pitcher can get overwhelmed,” Bush said. “Start over and throw strike one and work your way through that situation one pitch at a time.
“You can’t try to get a triple play on the next pitch. You need strike one.”
Sale threw strike one to Riley Greene, a fastball that just nicked the inside corner. He struck out Greene and the two batters who followed. That led to five solid innings in a game the Sox won, 6-3.
Sale allowed three runs on four hits and struck out seven. After his initial wildness, he walked only one other batter, and kept his team in the game until Adam Duvall broke it open with a three-run homer in the sixth inning.
Career regular-season victory No. 115 was more about character than how well he commanded his pitches. There were a few laughs along the way, too.
“Bold strategy,” manager Alex Cora said when Sale returned to the dugout after the first inning, quoting a line from the movie “Dodgeball.”
That eased some of the tension.
“That’s what makes AC great. That’s why we love him,” said Sale, who is no average Joe. “He obviously knows this game about as good as anybody I’ve ever met. But also knows how to handle people and personalities and knows what to say and when to say it sometimes.”
It won’t be fair to judge Sale for another month or two. He came into the season having pitched only 48⅓ innings the previous three years because of an assortment of injuries. He’s still building arm strength and settling into the five-day routine of a starting pitcher.
“That’s what I told him after the game,” Bush said. “You’re going to get there but you’re not going to get there in one start.
“It’s going to take some time and continuing to make progress, knowing that each time he goes out there, it’ll be better than it was the last time and that’ll get him to where he wants to get to.”
On a 47-degree day, Sale averaged a modest 91.5 miles per hour with his sinker, but was able to elevate to 95 in the second inning. He also retired seven of the final eight batters he faced, the exception on an error by shortstop Kiké Hernández.
Considering Sale allowed seven runs over three innings in his first start, it was progress.
“Step-by-step,” Cora said. “Overall a good one. He finished strong. A step in the right direction.”
Sale will next pitch Wednesday against the Rays at Tropicana Field, where he has a 1.96 earned run average in 13 career regular-season games.
“I’ve got a lot of work to do, but I’m in a really good spot because of the people I have around me. I have a lot of confidence going forward,” Sale said.
Thursday was Detroit’s home opener, and the teams are off on Friday. The Sox took advantage of the break by having a gathering at the team hotel after the game.
“It’s huge, man,” Cora said. “We’ll hang out as a group. This is the first time we’ll be together on the road.”
Thanks to Sale’s perseverance, the Sox had a victory to celebrate.
“It’s all a work in progress,” he said.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 6, 2023 18:55:57 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Kenley Jansen has racked up a lot of saves, but his first with the Red Sox was special By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 6, 2023, 1 hour ago
DETROIT — Closer Kenley Jansen added to his collection Thursday afternoon, notching his first save with the Red Sox. The righthander has 392 in the regular season, and is closing in on the 400-save milestone only six closers have reached.
But there’s something about that first one with a new team.
“That’s the one thing that I can remember when I’m done playing,” Jansen said following the Sox’ 6-3 win over the Tigers. “I can look back and [see] my first save as a Red Sox. Just walk in your house, grab the ball, and hold it. It will bring back memories. That’s why I wanted to keep that one, that first one. It’s great to have it.”
Jansen has made two appearances this season, both scoreless. The relievers didn’t allow a run in four innings Thursday, promising given the Sox’ vision of upgrading the bullpen in the offseason.
“I think we all did a great job,” Jansen said. “We set the tone and came with that confidence and attacked the zone. I’m so proud of all of us, and now we just have to keep turning that page and helping our team. We’re going to be that important piece back there as a group no matter the situation, whether we’re behind or ahead.”
Jansen offers the Red Sox structure. Manager Alex Cora consistently mentions the importance of having that with a team. But beyond that, Jansen is a lockdown closer. One who is on the verge of joining a short group in the history books.
“It feels awesome. The first of many,” Jansen said. “Hopefully, I can continue doing great things. I’m looking forward to it. It definitely had a different feel to have that first save as a Red Sox.” Cabrera honored
The Tigers paid tribute to Miguel Cabrera during their Opening Day ceremony. Cabrera, who will retire at the end of the season, threw out a ceremonial first pitch alongside Detroit Hall of Famers Ben Wallace (Pistons), Calvin Johnson (Lions), and Nicklas Lidstrom (Red Wings).
Thursday’s celebration was likely one of many this season.
“What a player,” Cora said. “I remember that [2003] World Series right away. The home run off [Roger] Clemens to right field. He’s just a pure hitter. Up there with Albert Pujols. He can hit for average, hit for power, and has that uncanny ability of driving in runs. I can [only] name a few.” Opening Day
It was Opening Day for some of the Red Sox minor league affiliates. Luis Perales got the start for Low A Salem, and Garrett Whitlock (making his way back after hip surgery last year) took the hill for Double A Portland. Whitlock will likely join the big club and start Tuesday’s game against the Rays in Tampa.
Brayan Bello (forearm) came out of his five-inning outing at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Fla., without incident. Bello will make his next start for Triple A Worcester on Tuesday.
Throwing a changeup
The Red Sox will flip-flop Chris Sale and Corey Kluber in the rotation. Sale will pitch Wednesday at Tampa Bay, Kluber on Thursday. The offday Friday allows the Sox to keep Sale on normal five days rest. Here’s the Sox’ probable rotation for the next five games: Tanner Houck on Saturday, followed by Kutter Crawford for the series finale on Sunday. Nick Pivetta will take the ball in the series opener against the Rays, likely followed by Whitlock, Sale, and Kluber. Having Sale pitch the third game of the series allows the Sox to split up their righthanders, giving the Rays a different look.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 6, 2023 19:12:16 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 2h Detroit hitting it hard for the home opener. People tailgating like a football game, bars open at 9 a.m. and most of them have tents set up outside with food, kegs, etc. Downtown full of people already. I love to see that. The city of Detroit has not had the best of it in about 50+ years. But they have some beautiful architecture, a great location, and I'd bet on a comeback.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 7, 2023 8:12:51 GMT -5
Chris Sale reminds us why he can be so important to these Red SoxAs if the concern hadn't gained enough momentum since that start on the second day of the Red Sox' season, it really started kicking into overdrive after Chris Sale's first eight pitches Thursday. Eight pitches. Eight balls. Plenty of panic. Gary M @nuggetpalooza Today is indeed the first time that Chris Sale has walked the first two batters of a game on 8 pitches.
It's the 2nd time he's walked the 1st two batters regardless of count (5/12/2012; 6th start of career).
But then came three straight strikeouts, and, ultimately, a step in the right direction for both the pitcher and his team. Five innings, three runs and Sale's first win since Sept. 22, 2021 all came within the Red Sox' 6-3 victory over the Tigers. “I don’t know if I’ve ever thrown eight straight balls in my life,” Sale told reporters. “That was definitely interesting. Credit to the mound visit, I got three punches after that.” “They said something like, ‘That’s an interesting strategy,’” noted Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “He was close to the strike zone, just missing. He made some adjustments throughout.” So, with the Red Sox riding out their off day in Detroit Friday, it offers some time to soak in what the latest of Sale image means. Almost all of the behind-the-curtain measureables were down in this latest outing, with the fastball averaging 91.5 mph (topping out at 95 mph), with his spin rate for each of his pitches taking a dip (according to BaseballSavant.com). The outing won't exactly extinguish the contract conversation when it comes to Sale. There is a long way to go before that narrative does a U-turn. But the promise that has come with the back-to-back rebounds from Corey Kluber and Sale were undoubtedly steps in the right direction for a Red Sox team that desperately is looking for bits and pieces of April optimism. Since Sale joined the Red Sox, they are now 47-17 when the lefty goings five or more innings while giving up three or fewer runs. And when he pitches, they are 59-38 (even 9-4 since 2021). Thursday didn't exactly define the discussion, but it did offer a reminder of what might be ... and how important it can be. “My command was spotty today, but I think it was some mechanical things I was doing to put myself in those situations,” Sale told reporteres. “(Cora) handed me an iPad and said, ‘This is you, watch this at-bat. This is who you are.’ Then [pitching coach Dave Bush] came up and gave me a couple things, ‘Hey, just staying back a little bit longer, not getting too quick.’ “After that, it worked out a lot better. Credit to those guys seeing what they saw and getting me out of that quick, because today could have been a lot different. It was a couple quick adjustments, a couple words of encouragement and we’re right back at it."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 7, 2023 10:49:51 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 14h Garrett Whitlock for Portland tonight: 6 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K 81/56.
He's ready to start Tuesday at Tampa Bay.
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Post by Kimmi on Apr 7, 2023 14:53:28 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 14h Garrett Whitlock for Portland tonight: 6 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K 81/56.
He's ready to start Tuesday at Tampa Bay. Encouraging. Getting Whitlock and Bello back should go a long way in improving our depth, both in the rotation and in the bullpen.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 7, 2023 14:53:38 GMT -5
My oh my I love the new Twins home jersey
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 7, 2023 17:56:00 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Tigers Saturday, April 8th 2023 4pm @ Comerica Park
Houck 1-0/ 5.40
Wentz 0-1/ 5.06
Red Sox on upswing going into rematch with Tigers FLM
The Boston Red Sox snapped a three-game losing streak and spoiled Detroit Tigers' home opener in the process on Thursday.
They'll meet up again in the second game of a three-game series on Saturday afternoon.
Boston used the long ball to erase a 3-1 deficit, as Rafael Devers had a solo homer and an RBI double and Adam Duvall blasted a go-ahead, three-run homer for a 6-3 victory.
Duvall has been red hot, piling up three homers and 12 RBIs while batting .458 through the first week of the season.
"He's been good for us," manager Alex Cora said. "He's a good defender. He understands what he's trying to accomplish now, he's understanding his swing. He's off to a great start."
Devers had gone hitless in his last 12 official at-bats before delivering two extra-base rockets.
"I've said it for years, I've said it in spring training, I'll continue to say it. Our offense just doesn't let up," said winning pitcher Chris Sale (1-0). "It doesn't matter if they have a bad day, a good day, you never know. Anything can happen at any time. They stepped up again today. They swung the bats incredible. A couple big homers and we come out with the win."
Another pleasant sight for Boston was Kenley Jansen's ninth-inning save, his first in a Red Sox uniform.
Jansen kept a souvenir after notching the last three outs.
"That's the one thing that I can remember when I'm done playing," Jansen said. "I can look back and (see) my first save as a Red Sox. Just walk in your house, grab the ball and hold it. It will bring back memories. That's why I wanted to keep that one, that first one. It's great to have it."
Tanner Houck (1-0, 5.40 ERA) will start for the Red Sox on Saturday. He gave up three runs and five hits in five innings while striking out five against Baltimore in his season debut on Sunday. Detroit will counter with left-hander Joey Wentz (0-1, 5.06), who allowed three runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings at Tampa Bay on the same afternoon.
"I felt like I executed some pitches and I thought I competed well," Wentz said. "Unfortunately, (Randy) Arozarena hit that bomb and I gave up two more after that. But I felt like I did some good stuff."
The Tigers have lost two straight after collecting their first two victories of the season in Houston. They were disappointed they couldn't generate more offense before their large Opening Day crowd.
"I was super excited," center fielder Riley Greene said. "I heard a lot of things from some of the guys, like, 'Hey, it's gonna be packed.' It made me super excited and I was looking forward to it a lot. The fans showed up. We couldn't get the win. They'll show up on Saturday, and we'll play hard."
Greene is off to a good start with a .296 batting average and five runs in seven games. Catcher Jake Rogers hit his second homer of the season on Thursday, a two-run shot.
Miguel Cabrera, who is retiring after the season, had an RBI single in the series opener.
"I appreciate this moment because not too many guys in baseball get a chance to say goodbye," Cabrera said. "I'm not sad. I'm happy."
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 8, 2023 2:52:44 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Chris Sale survived against the Tigers, but to regain his status as Red Sox ace he’ll have to rediscover his slider By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 7, 2023, 8:02 p.m.
DETROIT — When Chris Sale exited the visitors’ clubhouse Thursday following the Red Sox’ 6-3 win over the Tigers, he paused briefly to chat with one of the longtime security guards at Comerica Park.
“Thank you,” Sale said, acknowledging a worker who can sometimes go unnoticed.
“No problem,” the security guard responded. “Enjoy your off day.”
“Oh, I will. I’m going to be watching the Masters,” replied Sale.
Sale had just turned in a far-from-masterful performance against the Tigers, navigating five innings, striking out seven, and walking three, which led to three runs. All three walks came on four pitches, two back-to-back to open the first.
“I don’t think I’ve ever thrown eight straight balls in my life,” Sale said of that first inning. “That was definitely interesting.”
Sale prevailed, scuffling his way through five innings and ultimately notching his first win since Oct. 3, 2021. Manager Alex Cora emerged with optimism about his lefthander, who hasn’t pitched consistently since the 2019 season due to a number of injuries, including Tommy John surgery.
That Sale survived is credit to his experience as a top-tier starter, his competitive nature, and a little bit of help from his coaching staff and teammates.
Much of the Sox’ season hinges on what Sale can give them. Even though they are set to get some reinforcements soon in Garrett Whitlock, Brayan Bello, and James Paxton, it’s clear the rotation lacks a bona fide ace.
In a perfect Red Sox world that would be Sale. But compounding his lack of command, Sale’s velocity was down, too, close to 1.5 miles per hour on all of his pitches.That Sale survived is credit to his experience as a top-tier starter, his competitive nature, and a little bit of help from his coaching staff and teammates.
Much of the Sox’ season hinges on what Sale can give them. Even though they are set to get some reinforcements soon in Garrett Whitlock, Brayan Bello, and James Paxton, it’s clear the rotation lacks a bona fide ace.
In a perfect Red Sox world that would be Sale. But compounding his lack of command, Sale’s velocity was down, too, close to 1.5 miles per hour on all of his pitches.
The key for Sale is his slider. At times during the spring, you could see him trying to find his feel for the pitch. Two starts into the season that still appears to be the case. When Sale is at his best, he is able to bury that pitch at a righthanded hitter’s back foot. That’s still the case, in some respect, with Sale registering six of his 13 strikeouts this year on sliders in that location, per Baseball Savant.
Nevertheless, his slider, at least Thursday, had a tendency to stay middle-middle. Good hitters — not the Tigers — will time that up. That diminishes the fastball, and as a result, the overall stuff.
It’s still early. Sale’s masterful days might be behind him. Or, maybe he has a bit more life in him. Hernández and outfield
At the start of spring, Kiké Hernández was asked what would be the key difference between center field and shortstop. Hernández, sarcastically and snarkily, noted that in center you get more fly balls and shortstop you get more ground balls.
Yet Hernández forgot to account for the throws from shortstop, too.
In six starts, Hernández is tied for the league lead in errors with three (all throwing).
He’s a sure-handed fielder, certainly, who is good at attacking balls to his left. Yet when Hernández is forced right to make a play in the hole, that’s where it can get tricky. Hernández’s arm, while solid, doesn’t come with the quick, firm throw that’s common among shortstops. He has an over-the-top release which takes time to develop. In the outfield, that can work.
But in the infield, it can be a problem, especially when taking into account the lack of shifts.
With Hernández at shortstop instead of center, Boston’s defense has suffered. Adam Duvall, 34, has been forced into the everyday role in center and hasn’t looked comfortable on plays at the wall at Fenway Park.
Hernández proved himself to be a solid center fielder in 2021 and the Sox’ outfield defense suffered when he went down with a hip injury in 2022. Heading into Friday, the Sox defense ranked last in defensive runs saved (minus-10). That, of course, doesn’t fall solely on Hernández. That would be unfair.
But this much is clear: The Sox need Trevor Story to come back healthy and command shortstop if they’re going to make a run.
“It feels like riding a bike,” Hernández said during Winter Weekend in January. “And I mean this in the most humble way possible.”
So far, it’s been more like mounting a motorcycle.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 8, 2023 11:09:17 GMT -5
Houck vs Wentz 4pm
1. Rob Refsnyder (R) LF 2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 3. Justin Turner (R) 1B 4. Masataka Yoshida (L) DH 5. Adam Duvall (R) CF 6. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 7. Christian Arroyo (R) 2B 8. Enrique Hernandez (R) SS 9. Connor Wong (R) C
1. Nick Maton (L) 3B 2. Riley Greene (L) CF 3. Javier Baez (R) SS 4. Kerry Carpenter (L) DH 5. Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B 6. Austin Meadows (L) LF 7. Matt Vierling (R) RF 8. Zach McKinstry (L) 2B 9. Jake Rogers (R) C
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 8, 2023 11:52:34 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Chris Sale survived against the Tigers, but to regain his status as Red Sox ace he’ll have to rediscover his sliderBy Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 7, 2023, 8:02 p.m. DETROIT — When Chris Sale exited the visitors’ clubhouse Thursday following the Red Sox’ 6-3 win over the Tigers, he paused briefly to chat with one of the longtime security guards at Comerica Park. “Thank you,” Sale said, acknowledging a worker who can sometimes go unnoticed. “No problem,” the security guard responded. “Enjoy your off day.” “Oh, I will. I’m going to be watching the Masters,” replied Sale. Sale had just turned in a far-from-masterful performance against the Tigers, navigating five innings, striking out seven, and walking three, which led to three runs. All three walks came on four pitches, two back-to-back to open the first. “I don’t think I’ve ever thrown eight straight balls in my life,” Sale said of that first inning. “That was definitely interesting.” Sale prevailed, scuffling his way through five innings and ultimately notching his first win since Oct. 3, 2021. Manager Alex Cora emerged with optimism about his lefthander, who hasn’t pitched consistently since the 2019 season due to a number of injuries, including Tommy John surgery. That Sale survived is credit to his experience as a top-tier starter, his competitive nature, and a little bit of help from his coaching staff and teammates. Much of the Sox’ season hinges on what Sale can give them. Even though they are set to get some reinforcements soon in Garrett Whitlock, Brayan Bello, and James Paxton, it’s clear the rotation lacks a bona fide ace. In a perfect Red Sox world that would be Sale. But compounding his lack of command, Sale’s velocity was down, too, close to 1.5 miles per hour on all of his pitches.That Sale survived is credit to his experience as a top-tier starter, his competitive nature, and a little bit of help from his coaching staff and teammates. Much of the Sox’ season hinges on what Sale can give them. Even though they are set to get some reinforcements soon in Garrett Whitlock, Brayan Bello, and James Paxton, it’s clear the rotation lacks a bona fide ace. In a perfect Red Sox world that would be Sale. But compounding his lack of command, Sale’s velocity was down, too, close to 1.5 miles per hour on all of his pitches. The key for Sale is his slider. At times during the spring, you could see him trying to find his feel for the pitch. Two starts into the season that still appears to be the case. When Sale is at his best, he is able to bury that pitch at a righthanded hitter’s back foot. That’s still the case, in some respect, with Sale registering six of his 13 strikeouts this year on sliders in that location, per Baseball Savant. Nevertheless, his slider, at least Thursday, had a tendency to stay middle-middle. Good hitters — not the Tigers — will time that up. That diminishes the fastball, and as a result, the overall stuff. It’s still early. Sale’s masterful days might be behind him. Or, maybe he has a bit more life in him. Hernández and outfield At the start of spring, Kiké Hernández was asked what would be the key difference between center field and shortstop. Hernández, sarcastically and snarkily, noted that in center you get more fly balls and shortstop you get more ground balls. Yet Hernández forgot to account for the throws from shortstop, too. In six starts, Hernández is tied for the league lead in errors with three (all throwing). He’s a sure-handed fielder, certainly, who is good at attacking balls to his left. Yet when Hernández is forced right to make a play in the hole, that’s where it can get tricky. Hernández’s arm, while solid, doesn’t come with the quick, firm throw that’s common among shortstops. He has an over-the-top release which takes time to develop. In the outfield, that can work. But in the infield, it can be a problem, especially when taking into account the lack of shifts. With Hernández at shortstop instead of center, Boston’s defense has suffered. Adam Duvall, 34, has been forced into the everyday role in center and hasn’t looked comfortable on plays at the wall at Fenway Park. Hernández proved himself to be a solid center fielder in 2021 and the Sox’ outfield defense suffered when he went down with a hip injury in 2022. Heading into Friday, the Sox defense ranked last in defensive runs saved (minus-10). That, of course, doesn’t fall solely on Hernández. That would be unfair. But this much is clear: The Sox need Trevor Story to come back healthy and command shortstop if they’re going to make a run. “It feels like riding a bike,” Hernández said during Winter Weekend in January. “And I mean this in the most humble way possible.” So far, it’s been more like mounting a motorcycle. I think McWilliams lacks the flair of Lou and/or Pete, but he generally makes a solid, and unbiased contribution. IRT Kiki/Duvall, that's an intractable problem. That's not going to be a good defense, but until at least Mondesi, or Story returns, I see no other alignments.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 8, 2023 11:55:31 GMT -5
Houck vs Wentz 4pm1. Rob Refsnyder (R) LF 2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 3. Justin Turner (R) 1B 4. Masataka Yoshida (L) DH 5. Adam Duvall (R) CF 6. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 7. Christian Arroyo (R) 2B 8. Enrique Hernandez (R) SS 9. Connor Wong (R) C 1. Nick Maton (L) 3B 2. Riley Greene (L) CF 3. Javier Baez (R) SS 4. Kerry Carpenter (L) DH 5. Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B 6. Austin Meadows (L) LF 7. Matt Vierling (R) RF 8. Zach McKinstry (L) 2B 9. Jake Rogers (R) C Twice thru the lineup, and then bring in Bleier for the top of the lineup.
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