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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 8, 2023 16:39:03 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Braves Tuesday, May 9th 2023 7pm @ Truist Park
Pivetta 2-2/ 4.99
Morton 3-3/ 3.38
Braves' Charlie Morton seeks more success vs. Red Sox FLM
Two pitchers with a history of success against the opposing team will face off when the Atlanta Braves host the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday in the opener of a two-game interleague series.
Atlanta's Charlie Morton (3-3, 3.38 ERA) is 7-1 in his career against Boston. He will be opposed by Boston's Nick Pivetta (2-2, 4.98), who is 6-3 in his career against the Braves. It's the second-most wins against an opponent for both right-handers.
Atlanta took two of three games from Baltimore over the weekend, winning Sunday's rubber game 3-2 in 12 innings. The Braves improved to a National League-best 24-11 and matched the franchise record for the best start after 35 games.
"We just battled the whole weekend and we're glad to get the series win," said center fielder Michael Harris II, who drove in the winning run in the last game.
Boston had its eight-game winning streak broken in Sunday's 6-1 loss to Philadelphia. The Red Sox have the fourth-best record in the American League, but that's only good for fourth place in the East.
Morton will be making his seventh start of the season. In his last appearance on May 1 against the New York Mets, he worked 5 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on six hits, with three walks and six strikeouts.
Morton has a 4.03 ERA in 13 career starts against the Red Sox but hasn't lost to Boston since 2018. He faced them once last year and received no decision after giving up five runs in six innings.
Pivetta will be making his seventh start. In his last outing against Toronto on Wednesday, he earned a win after pitching a season-high six innings and allowing four runs on five hits -- two of them home runs -- with two walks and five strikeouts.
"I'm grateful for every opportunity I've been given," Pivetta said. "You figure out who you are as a big leaguer, so you can develop yourself and make it to where you need to be."
Pivetta has a 4.82 ERA against the Braves in 17 career appearances (14 starts) but has surrendered 12 homers in 80 1/3 innings. He took the loss in his only appearance against the Braves in 2022, giving up three runs in five innings.
The game will mark the return of Boston's Kenley Jansen to Atlanta. The veteran right-hander played for the Braves in 2022 and led the league with 41 saves. Jansen signed with Boston as a free agent and needs one more save to reach 400 for his career, a milestone only six pitchers have reached, most recently Francisco Rodriguez in 2016.
On Monday, the Braves reinstated catcher Travis d'Arnaud, who has been out since April 8 with a concussion, the fourth suffered in his professional career. He caught five innings in a rehab assignment for Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday and was the designated hitter the next day. Atlanta optioned catcher Chadwick Tromp to Gwinnett.
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 8, 2023 16:40:08 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 8h PHIl --> ATL this morning. Here are the pitching matchups for the next series:
Tuesday: RHP Nick Pivetta (2-2, 4.99) RHP Charlie Morton (3-3, 3.38), 7:20 p.m. NESN/TBS.
Wednesday: RHP Brayan Bello (1-1, 5.71) vs. TBA, 7:20 p.m., NESN.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 8, 2023 16:40:56 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 3h #RedSox announced they returned James Paxton from his rehab assignment.
What this means (and I should have been more clear) is that the rehab assignment is over. He'll be with the team here in Atlanta and will be added to the active roster and as was reported yesterday, he'll likely face the Cardinals this weekend.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 8, 2023 16:41:40 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 57m Masataka Yoshida is the AL Player of the Week.
Marcelo Mayer was named the SAL Player of the Week.
Over six games he had 16 hits including 6 doubles and 3 HRs along with 12 RBIs, 8 runs and a SB.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2023 4:33:35 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK One pitch at a time, Red Sox reliever Brennan Bernardino worked his way to the majors on a path like no other By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated May 8, 2023, 7:42 p.m.
ATLANTA — That Brennan Bernardino has become a valuable member of the Red Sox bullpen this season is unexpected.
That the 31-year-old lefthander is in the major leagues at all is something of a miracle.
“I always thought to myself that it was a matter of time until I made it,” he said. “But it was a lot of time.”
Bernardino didn’t play baseball for his first three seasons at Valencia (Calif.) High School. The only reason he did as a senior was because he got kicked off the basketball team.
“I got in trouble at school,” he said, declining to elaborate. “But the baseball coach didn’t think I deserved it so he let me play. But I didn’t pitch that much.”
Bernardino decided to keep trying but was cut from the team at College of the Canyons. He switched to another junior college, Los Angeles Mission, and played two seasons.
That led Bernardino to Cal State-Dominguez Hills, a Division 2 team. His first season was lost to shoulder surgery, then he went 5-0 with a 1.59 earned run average for a team that finished 23-26. Related: Sullivan: In case you haven’t noticed, these Red Sox have become fun to watch
The Reds took Bernardino in the 26th round of the 2014 draft. He was released in 2018 and signed with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the independent American Association.
The next step was an independent team in Mexico, where Bernardino pitched well enough to sign with Cleveland. That lasted five appearances then it was back to Mexico.
“I basically made ends meet financially by playing in Mexico,” Bernadino said. “Thank God for winter ball, that kept me afloat.”
Through it all, he never pondered a career outside of baseball.
“Never crossed my mind,” he said. “I have high faith in God. I felt like if there was a time I needed to quit, he’d send me a sign. I never got that sign.”
Bernardino made his breakthrough during the 2021-22 winter ball season. He was a key reliever for Jalisco as the Charros won the Mexican Winter League title and went on to the Caribbean World Series.
“That was big for me,” Bernardino said. “I thought if I could succeed at that level I could pitch in the majors.”
The Mariners took notice and signed Bernardino before the 2022 season. He pitched well in Triple A and was called up in July for two games.
Bernardino was optioned to Triple A in March and designated for assignment in April. The Red Sox claimed him on April 16 and Bernardino was called up eight days later after making only one appearance for Triple A Worcester.
“We needed another lefty and he throws strikes,” manager Alex Cora said. “The guy competes.”
Bernardino got his first major league win on April 29. Cora paused the clubhouse celebration to present Bernardino with the lineup card then spoke to the team about his road to get to that point.
“He had some really nice things to say. It was awesome that he did that,” Bernardino said. “Him noticing my journey meant a lot to me.”
Bernardino has appeared in seven games and allowed one earned run on seven hits over 8 ⅔ innings with one walk and six strikeouts.
The Sox like that he throws a sinker/slider combination from a lower arm slot than usual. It’s a different look they can exploit.
“Playing for the Sox and in Fenway Park is baseball heaven for me,” Bernardino said. “This is an incredible experience.”
It could get even better. The Sox start a nine-game West Coast road trip on May 19 in San Diego, where Bernardino and wife, Lacandace, make their home.
Then comes a series in Anaheim, where he saw his first major league game. Angel Stadium is only six miles from where Bernardino went to high school.
“One pitch at a time, that’s my motto,” Bernardino said. “It’s gotten me here.” Yoshida’s the one
Masataka Yoshida was named the American League player of the week. He was 12 for 25 with two doubles, two homers, eight RBIs, and seven runs scored.
Through Sunday, Yoshida was fifth in the league in batting average (.321) and seventh in on-base percentage (.403).
The Sox are the only team with two honorees so far this season. Adam Duvall was player of the week on April 3. Braves next
The Sox formally returned lefthander James Paxton from his 30-day minor league rehabilitation assignment. He is expected to be activated during the Braves series and is lined up to face the Cardinals at Fenway this weekend … The Sox continue interleague play with a two-game series against the Braves at Truist Park starting Tuesday. Nick Pivetta is scheduled to face Charlie Morton in the first game. Brayan Bello starts Wednesday. The Braves have not named their starter … Greenville shortstop Marcelo Mayer was named the South Atlantic League player of the week. The 20-year-old hit .516 with nine extra-base hits, eight runs, and 10 RBIs over six games … Portland righthander CJ Liu was the Eastern League pitcher of the week. He threw a seven-inning no-hitter in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday at Akron. Liu is 3-1 with a 3.65 ERA on the season.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2023 4:35:44 GMT -5
In case you haven’t noticed, these Red Sox have become fun to watch By Tara Sullivan Globe Staff,Updated May 8, 2023, 3:29 p.m.
When Alex Cora sits in his postgame interviews having liked what he saw from his Red Sox, he often uses the phrase, “That was fun to watch.” It’s become a go-to for the manager, an appropriate response to anything from Connor Wong’s multi-home run exploits to Chris Sale’s multi-strikeout ones.
As the Sox rolled into Atlanta for the two-game swing that wraps up their five-game road trip, Cora’s words have never felt more accurate.
Or, if we’re being honest, more surprising.
These Red Sox are fun to watch.
Quietly, and out of the spotlight — relatively speaking anyway, as the Bruins and Celtics gobbled up headlines for one aborted playoff run and one ongoing one — the Red Sox have emerged as a bona fide feel-good story, playing a brand of baseball that is indeed fun to watch, not simply because it’s been leading to wins, but because it’s been smart, crisp, and rooted in fundamentals. At 21-15 and currently fourth in the American League East (good enough for the second wild-card slot), how have the Sox been doing it?
Let’s take a look.
▪ Start at the top …
By giving a healthy assist to the major league rule-makers whose decision to put a clock on pitchers and hitters has made the entire game more enjoyable.
Of course there have been kinks, such as allowing extra time for exceptional moments like the one Bryce Harper was afforded Friday night in Philadelphia, when he made his home debut after an extraordinarily quick return from Tommy John surgery, or eventually making certain that some concerns about a link to pitching injuries aren’t true.
But otherwise, the new system is working beautifully. Through 518 games as of Monday morning, baseball-reference has average game time at 2:39. That’s a full 27 minutes below last season’s average of 3:06, which was five minutes shorter than 2021′s all-time worst average on record of 3:11.
The game has not missed the extra fidgeting on the mound or the back-and-forth steps into the batter’s box, has not missed seeing players constantly readjust their wristbands or pitchers fake multiple throws to first or second base.
▪ This team doesn’t give up …
On the season or within a game. It seems like ancient history now, but remember where the Sox were on April 13, on the wrong end of a four-game sweep at the hands of the then-undefeated Rays, down to 5-8 overall and scuffling? They rebounded to win 16 of their next 23, including eight straight before dropping Sunday’s series finale in Philadelphia, their longest winning streak since June 25-July 2, 2021.
The Sox have come from behind 15 times already this season, and the two out of three in Philadelphia was their third straight series win and sixth of the last seven. Last year, the Sox went 2-7-2 in their first 11 series and did not earn an eighth series win until June 12.
▪ Emerging core players …
Like Wong and Alex Verdugo. They’ve both anchored great wins and great stories, Verdugo with his walk-off wonders and Wong with his steady hand behind home plate. Wong’s hitting has been a bonus (.257, 3 home runs, 10 RBIs in 26 games) and his growth helps justify the decision to trade clubhouse favorite Christian Vázquez last season. And Verdugo, challenged by Cora to return to his more consistent ways this season, is batting .307 with 18 RBIs, and has scored 27 runs and drawn 13 walks.
Overall the Sox are patient at the plate, hit well when down in the count, move runners with efficiency, and, despite multiple injuries in the infield, are holding their own defensively.
▪ Maybe a Rookie of the Year …
In Masataka Yoshida. The team’s biggest offseason free agent signing has been delivering big-time of late, reminiscent more of the player we saw in Japan’s World Baseball Classic title than in the season’s early going.
Yoshida went 2 for 4 Sunday, extending his hitting streak to 16 games, a stretch in which he has gone 28 for 63 for a .438 average. And who couldn’t get a smile out of Yoshida meeting one of his own baseball heroes in Harper?
▪ The return of the old Chris Sale …
Rather than more of the (injured) Chris Sale. Sale looked dominant in beating the Phillies Friday night (6 innings, 3 runs, 10 strikeouts, 99 m.p.h. on the radar gun), his lanky frame swirling and delivering like his former Cy Young self. Yet one of the best parts of the outing came after he flubbed a tapper off Harper’s bat. In admitting “the train was getting off the tracks a little bit,” as he tried to contain his anger because the misplay opened the door to a three-run Phillies rally to tie the game, Sale credited his teammates, especially Wong, for calming him down.
That’s a sign of good chemistry.
▪ A balanced bullpen …
That has bridged the late innings and the final one, where Kenley Jansen has proven himself a valuable addition as closer. Baseball-reference has the Sox relievers rated second in the American League, with one recorded loss in relief and a save percentage of 83.
▪ And finally, a begrudging but respectful nod to the decisions of …
Chief baseball officer and resident punching bag Chaim Bloom, who might still have a long way to go toward forgiveness for letting Xander Bogaerts walk, failing to see the value of Kyle Schwarber, or, let’s face it, committing the unforgivable sin of trading Mookie Betts. But he still earns credit where credit is due.
Veteran additions like Justin Turner and Adam Duvall bring the sort of maturity and winning pedigree Bloom promised. And of course the one big contract Bloom did sign means Rafael Devers (along with his second-in-the-majors 11 home runs) will be around to hold it all together.
Fun to watch.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2023 13:05:14 GMT -5
Red Sox notebook: Surging Sox have chance to make statement in Atlanta Braves among MLB’s best teams
By Mac Cerullo | mcerullo@bostonherald.com | May 9, 2023 at 5:35 a.m.
One way or the other, this ongoing stretch was always going to set the tone for the rest of the season.
Coming out of their last off day on April 27 the Red Sox were 13-13 and looking at a daunting 12-game stretch, with series against the Cleveland Guardians (reigning AL Central champs), Toronto Blue Jays (who owned Boston last year), Philadelphia Phillies (last fall’s World Series runner-ups) and Atlanta Braves (perennial title contenders). It wasn’t hard to imagine the Red Sox losing all four series and looking up at the end five or six games under .500 and well behind the pack in the playoff hunt.
Instead the Red Sox won the first three series, ripped off an eight-game winning streak and now head to Atlanta as one of the best teams in baseball.
Even the biggest optimist couldn’t have predicted things would be going this well. After going 8-2 over their past three series the Red Sox are now 21-15 and entered Monday with a 1.5-game lead for the third American League Wild Card spot. They are only a half-game behind Toronto and two games behind Baltimore in the standings, and overall they’ve won eight of their first 11 series despite facing the toughest schedule in the sport so far by a comfortable margin.
Now they have a chance to really make a statement.
Atlanta, only two years removed from a World Series title, is among the favorites to win it all again. The Braves boast the best record in the National League at 24-11 and rank near the top of the league in both runs scored (5.37, sixth) and runs allowed (3.77, fourth) per game. They boast a talented roster loaded with homegrown superstars, and this year’s club has heavily benefited from the offseason addition of catcher Sean Murphy, who was acquired from the Oakland Athletics and is looking like an early MVP candidate.
The Braves are, in many ways, exactly the type of club the Red Sox have spent the past five years trying to become. Even if it’s only a two-game set, this series is a prime opportunity for the Red Sox to silence the doubters who are still convinced this team is destined for failure.
However the next few days go, the schedule opens up significantly from here.
After returning home from Atlanta the Red Sox enter what’s shaping up to be softest portion of their schedule to date. Boston is expected to be favored in each of its next six series, starting with this weekend’s tilt against the surprisingly awful St. Louis Cardinals (11-24 entering Monday).
After that Boston welcomes the Seattle Mariners (17-17) to Fenway Park before embarking on its first and longest West Coast trip of the year, with series against the San Diego Padres (18-17), Los Angeles Angels (19-16) and Arizona Diamondbacks (19-15). The club wraps up May at home against the Cincinnati Reds (14-20) before welcoming the red hot Tampa Bay Rays (28-7) for a four-game set in Boston June 2-4, which figures to be the next big measuring stick opportunity after Atlanta.
The Red Sox still have a long way to go, but they’ve put themselves in position to make this an exciting summer. Paxton to join rotation
After multiple setbacks and delays, James Paxton is finally set to join the Red Sox rotation more than a year after initially signing with the club.
Paxton was returned from his injury rehab assignment on Monday and Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters in Philadelphia over the weekend that the club plans to activate the veteran left-hander from the injured list during the Atlanta series and they’ll decide on when he’ll pitch after that. With Nick Pivetta and Brayan Bello scheduled to start against the Braves, Paxton will most likely debut at Fenway Park either during this weekend’s series against St. Louis or during the following four-game set against Seattle.
Paxton last appeared in a big league game on April 6, 2021, when he left his season debut with the Mariners after 1.1 innings and subsequently underwent Tommy John surgery. He signed with Boston ahead of the 2022 season with the expectation he might be ready during the second half but did not pitch after suffering a torn lat in August during his first rehab outing.
The 34-year-old experienced another setback during spring training when he suffered a hamstring strain and struggled to get going during his lengthy rehab assignment in Worcester, going 2-3 with a 6.23 ERA and 16 walks over 21.2 innings in his six starts at Triple-A. Paxton has looked better lately though, posting a 1.74 ERA in his last two starts while demonstrating impressive velocity.
Whether the Red Sox opt for a six-man rotation or relegate an existing starter to the bullpen remains to be seen, but Paxton’s return is an intriguing development and it will be interesting to see how he looks after barely pitching for more than three years. Mayer tearing up Greenville
Top Red Sox prospect Marcelo Mayer got off to a tough start, but lately the 20-year-old shortstop has been tearing the cover off the ball for the Greenville Drive.
So far in the month of May the former first-round pick has gone 16 for 31 (.516) with three home runs, six doubles, 12 RBI and only four strikeouts in just six games, a stretch that earned him South Atlantic League Player of the Week honors. He’s raised his average for the season from .179 on April 16 to .337 entering the week, and dating back to last season he’s now batting .301 with a blistering .912 OPS in 48 games at the High-A level.
Could a promotion to Double-A be in the cards? Last summer Mayer was called up from Low-A after posting similar numbers in 66 games with the Salem Red Sox, so if he keeps hitting at this rate through the rest of the month it’s reasonable to imagine we could see him suiting up with the Portland Sea Dogs sometime in June.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2023 13:12:54 GMT -5
An investigation: Just who is the Red Sox rival in the National League? Which National League team do you most connect to the Red Sox?
By Jon Couture May 9, 2023 | 11:42 AM
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COMMENTARY
Time to renew the rivalry. Whatever it is.
Since Major League Baseball began interleague play in 1997, the Red Sox have played no National League team more than Atlanta — 86 times, heading into their two-game series at Truist Park. This will be the eighth year of the past 10, and the 14th in the 27 interleague seasons, the teams will play home-and-home series. (The Braves play two at Fenway in late July.)
No. 2, by the by, is where they just were. The Red Sox and Phillies have played 84 times in the interleague era, with home-and-home sets eight times from 2010-21.
This is owing to MLB keeping interleague travel friendly for much of its history. It was AL East vs. NL East exclusively its first five years, after which the other divisions were mostly covered in a three-year cycle. It’s also owing to baseball, building interleague around the sound idea of “natural rivals,” connecting the Sox and Braves given their five decades as neighbors from 1901-1952.
“None whatsoever,” Atlanta icon Chipper Jones said in 2007 when asked if a rivalry existed between the clubs. “Absolutely none whatsoever.”
Be that as it may, baseball probably did the best they could. Genuine rivalries only cover about half the league. Let’s say Mets-Yankees, Angels-Dodgers, Cubs-White Sox, Orioles-Nationals, Athletics-Giants, Royals-Cardinals, Reds-Guardians, and Marlins-Rays.
Red Sox-Atlanta and Brewers-Twins are the best of the rest. Consider the other five in place this season: Phillies-Blue Jays (played in the 1992 World Series); Pirates-Tigers (each were managed to some success by Jim Leyland); Padres-Mariners (Wikipedia reminds me they share a spring facility in Arizona); and Diamondbacks-Rangers and Astros-Rockies, the best pairings of which would be the intraleague ones.
This is a watershed year in interleague history, the new balanced schedule making this the first season every team will play a series against every other. (“Natural rivals” get home-and-home exclusivity.) It is the latest step in a decades-long march to sunset the American and National Leagues you grew up with, with the inevitability of 32 teams and a radical realignment closer by the day.
We’ll hate it, but we’ve made it 30 years without the NHL of Wales and Campbell, Adams, Patrick, Norris, and Smythe. Boos forever, Gary Bettman.
Before that, however, let’s kick around a question: Which National League team do you most connect to the Red Sox?
I suspect, like most things, this is a generational answer. Days from turning 43, my brain goes to certain places first, though I unquestionably spend more time thinking about the 1990-2005 period than any therapist would recommend.
I am certain this is a subjective one. A subjective one where, of course, we all know there’s about five possible answers, but I’m a completionist so humor me for a moment.
Arizona — Currently led by former Red Sox in the front office (Mike Hazen) and manager’s office (Torey Lovullo), and from whence J.D. Martinez and Curt Schilling came. But their one chance to face the Red Sox in the postseason passed when they were swept in the 2007 NLCS by . . .
Colorado — May Trevor Story end up doing more in his Red Sox stint than Dante Bichette did.
Cincinnati — Fun fact: Despite playing home-and-homes with the Red Sox in 2014 and 2022, the Reds have only played Boston 17 times since the 1975 World Series, fewest of any team in the sport.
Milwaukee — Still a division rival for one last season when interleague began in 1997. However strong your feelings are about Hunter Renfroe for Jackie Bradley Jr. in December 2021, that did not get the front-page-of-the-Globe treatment George ‘Boomer’ Scott to the Brewers (in a 10-player megadeal including Jim Lonborg) got in 1971.
Pittsburgh — Tim Wakefield was a Pirate before he became the only man to throw 3,000 innings in Red Sox colors. Also, remember Jason Bay? A low-key favorite of mine. (Ben Cherington, too, I suppose.)
San Francisco — To avoid mentioning a certain panda aficionado, I will remind you both Hall of Famers Orlando Cepeda and Juan Marichal ended up in Boston. And combined, they have four fewer World Series rings than lefty specialist Javier López. Sports are silly.
Washington — They are in the NL East, so we’ve seen plenty of them, but when the strongest Red Sox connections to the franchise are Montreal ones — the Bill Lee trade, the Pedro acquisition, Orlando Cabrera — that speaks for itself.
Atlanta — Yeah, Chipper was right. (Though I did once get heckled by two booze-softened locals at Turner Field in 1999 because I wore a Nomar Garciaparra jersey.) Given they’re two of the best teams in the sport the last 30 years, it’s somewhat amazing they’ve never come close to a postseason meeting.
Miami — They play more than you may think, as in 44 interleague meetings and a pair of home-and-homes in the 2010s, and the Hanley Ramirez-Josh Beckett-Mike Lowell trade was critical to the 2007 championship. (To say nothing of Kevin Millar’s jump after the 2002 season.)
Philadelphia — Lower down the list than I would’ve thought given Schilling (though his Arizona tenure was in the middle), Jonathan Papelbon, and Shane Victorino. Competition’s tough, though.
Top five time. 5. New York Mets
Yankees hatred is one of the world’s great unifying forces. And while the 1986 World Series is a long time ago both literally and spiritually — seriously, you can probably read Peter Gammons’s Game 6 piece from SI now without retching — it’s still the franchise where Pedro Martinez landed as a free agent. (Plus, had Tom Seaver not gotten hurt late in the ’86 Red Sox season, maybe there is no Game 6 story that may or may not still make you retch.)
4. St. Louis 3. Chicago Cubs
The order here feels more generational than anything else on the list. The Red Sox have won eight pennants in the last 100 years, and played the Cardinals in half the subsequent World Series. However, the player connections aren’t super strong — Reggie Smith, John Tudor, J.D. Drew, Chris Carpenter (who never played for the Red Sox but is a rather prominent New Hampshire-ite). If only Lou Gorman could’ve figured out where to play Willie McGee.
And while the Sox and Cubs literally didn’t play a game for nine decades (from the end of the flu-ridden 1918 World Series to June 2005), they shared multiple generations of chasing a title that remained out of reach. Plus, Dennis Eckersley and Bill Buckner. And Chicago’s 2016 champions prominently featured Anthony Rizzo and Jon Lester, and were built by a Theo Epstein front office, and they’re managed by 2013 treasure David Ross . . . 2. San Diego
New on the scene, but they’ve come hard. Epstein, of course, became the youngest GM in baseball straight out of Jack Murphy Stadium, where he’d worked with Larry Lucchino and Tom Werner, among others. It’s where Bruce Hurst landed as a free agent after the 1988 AL East title. It’s where Jake Peavy and Adrián González and Craig Kimbrel made their legends. It’s where we spent years worried about Drew Pomeranz for Anderson Espinoza, where we’ll spend years more watching Xander Bogaerts through bitter memories, and where Don Orsillo formed another must-listen broadcast pairing with Mark ‘Mud’ Grant. 1. Los Angeles Dodgers
But just like in the division, the Padres are chasing their neighbors to the north.
For baseball generations, Chavez Ravine has been Red Sox West. Today, it’s Kiké Hernández, Justin Turner, Alex Verdugo, and Kenley Jansen here, and Mookie Betts and Dave Roberts there. But further consider: Pedro and Ramon Martínez, Grady Little, Alex Cora, Nomar Garciaparra, Derek Lowe, Adrian Beltre, Hideo Nomo, Éric Gagné, Manny Ramirez, Rich Hill . . .
If not for the 2018 World Series, the Red Sox and Dodgers would’ve played fewer games in the interleague era than all but Boston and the Reds.
It doesn’t feel like it matters a whit.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2023 13:14:28 GMT -5
Tomase: Which parts of Red Sox' win streak are actually sustainable? 1H ago / by John Tomase John Tomase
After ripping off eight straight wins to move out of last place in the American League East and into wild card position, the Red Sox have positioned themselves to play meaningful baseball this summer.A
With the sixth-best record in baseball, they have already exceeded expectations, which leads to a question: How much of what they're doing is sustainable, and what areas remain causes for concern?
Let's break them down. Sustainable: Masataka Yoshida
Every hitter who arrives from Japan wonders if his power will translate to the higher velocity and bigger ballparks of the big leagues. Yoshida was no exception, and the early returns were not encouraging. Halfway through April, he was pounding balls into the ground at an unsightly 70 percent rate. But since opening his stance, he has caught fire.
Yoshida brings a 16-game hitting streak into Tuesday's meeting with the Braves, and it's not a fluke. He is hammering everything from foul line to foul line, batting .324 with six homers and 24 RBIs. During his hitting streak, he has nearly as many home runs (5) as strikeouts (6), and fastballs haven't been a problem. He's hitting them at a.366 clip and there doesn't appear to be a hole in his swing.
The Red Sox were quietly mocked by other organizations for giving Yoshida $90 million, but they appear well on their way to getting the last laugh. Questionable: Starting rotation
Only three teams own worse starting ERAs than Boston's 5.89, and they're a combined 42 games below .500. The Red Sox also rank among the bottom five in quality starts, which is taxing their otherwise tremendous bullpen.
It's unclear how this will shake out, though James Paxton's return from a parade of injuries could help. Veteran Chris Sale and youngster Brayan Bello have pitched better of late, giving the top of the rotation some potential definition. But too many questions remain.
Is the irritated nerve in Garrett Whitlock's elbow no big deal or a legitimate cause for concern? Can Tanner Houck learn how to turn over a lineup more than once? Is Nick Pivetta anything better than slightly below average? Does veteran Corey Kluber have another gear?
It's hard to envision the Red Sox contending long-term with their starters barely averaging five innings a game. The bullpen won't last. Which leads to... Sustainable/Questionable: Bullpen performance/attrition
The individual arms have been tremendous. Closer Kenley Jansen already looks like one of the most impactful signings of the offseason. Setup man Josh Winckowski has come into his own as a multi-inning weapon. Chris Martin has pitched well save for one hiccup in Tampa.
Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom prioritized strike throwing, and the new-look bullpen has delivered, with the fifth-fewest walks in relief despite throwing the fifth-most innings. Sox relievers are 8-1 with a 3.46 ERA and a league-low two blown saves.
But we're already seeing cracks. Martin just returned from a stint on the injured list. Workhorse swingman Kutter Crawford replaced him with a sore hamstring. Jansen recently missed a few days with a sore back. Right-hander Zack Kelly is on the 60-day IL. John Schreiber's velocity is down a tick.
Asking them to keep producing this effectively at this volume without further damage is a recipe for disaster. The starters must do more.
Sustainable: Offensive approach
In a game that suddenly values the ability to put the ball in play again thanks to a ban on shifts, few teams move the chains better than the Red Sox. Though they rank third in the American League in home runs while boasting AL leader Rafael Devers (11), they're more defined by their ability to create traffic.
Their .271 team batting average trails only the Rays, and is 11 points higher than their average at this time last year, which also ranked second in the AL. They don't strike out, they're the most efficient base stealers in the game (23 for 25), and they've scored more runs with two strikes than everyone except the Rangers and Rays.
Their lineup is frequently described as relentless, from Alex Verdugo to Yoshida to Devers to veteran Justin Turner. They may slump, but their ability to put bat to ball means they'll be better positioned to minimize any dry spells. Questionable: Jarren Duran
The young center fielder has been a revelation since finally finding a comfortable batting stance that allows him to reach elevated fastballs. He leads the team in average (.366) and OPS (1.018), and it's safe to say neither of those numbers is sustainable.
The question is how Duran responds to an inevitable slump. He has been his own worst enemy in the past, and while his strikeout rate has dropped in each of the last three years, it's still over 25 percent.
Opponents have now had three weeks to get a read on him. We'll see how they attack him and how he responds. Sustainable: The vibe
The Red Sox poisoned their own clubhouse last year by lowballing the popular Xander Bogaerts, a move that created wariness of the front office. Recognizing the need to rebuild trust, they signed a number of high-character veterans with World Series experience, from Turner to Jansen to center fielder Adam Duvall.
Sale's return to active duty has added another leadership voice. The result is a professional and quietly confident group that's refreshingly free of drama. Their fate will ultimately be decided by talent, but at least they're less likely to be taken down from within.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2023 13:28:26 GMT -5
Game 37: Red Sox at Braves lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated May 9, 2023, 10:06 a.m. The Red Sox return to action for a two-game series with the Braves beginning Tuesday at Atlanta. After taking two of three from Baltimore, the Braves have the best record in the National League at 24-11, which matches the franchise’s best start through 35 games. The Sox had their eight-game winning streak snapped in a 6-1 loss to the Phillies Sunday, but they still managed to win their third consecutive series to improve to 8-3 in series play, including taking six of their last seven. At 21-15, they have the fifth-best record in the American League, but are fourth in the division. Here are the standings. Lineups RED SOX (21-15): 1. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 2. Masataka Yoshida (L) LF 3. Justin Turner (R) DH 4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 5. Jarren Duran (L) CF 6. Enrique Hernandez (R) SS 7. Triston Casas (L) 1B 8. Enmanuel Valdez (L) 2B 9. Reese McGuire (L) C Pitching: RHP Nick Pivetta (2-2, 4.99 ERA) BRAVES (24-11): 1. Ronald Acuna Jr. (R) RF 2. Matt Olson (L) 1B 3. Austin Riley (R) 3B 4. Sean Murphy (R) C 5. Eddie Rosario (L) LF 6. Ozzie Albies (S) 2B 7. Marcell Ozuna (R) DH 8. Michael Harris II (L) CF 9. Orlando Arcia (R) SS Pitching: RHP Charlie Morton (3-3, 3.38 ERA) Time: 7:20 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, TBS, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Morton: Bobby Dalbec 0-5, Rafael Devers 6-28, Jarren Duran 1-2, Kiké Hernández 1-3, Reese McGuire 2-7, Raimel Tapia 3-5, Justin Turner 4-13, Alex Verdugo 3-7 Braves vs. Pivetta: Ronald Acuña Jr. 5-23, Ozzie Albies 5-26, Orlando Arcia 1-2, Travis d’Arnaud 3-4, Michael Harris II 0-1, Sean Murphy 1-6, Matt Olson 0-5, Marcell Ozuna 5-20, Kevin Pillar 2-8, Austin Riley 4-12, Eddie Rosario 1-5 Stat of the day: In eight starts at Truist Park, Pivetta is 3-1 with a 3.83 ERA. Notes: Masataka Yoshida’s 16-game hitting streak is the longest active streak in MLB and third longest this season behind Mauricio Dubón (20 games), and Bryson Stott (17). … Pivetta is 6-3 with a 4.82 ERA in 17 career appearances (14 starts) against the Braves, allowing 12 homers in 80⅓ innings. He has 18 strikeouts and four walks in his last three starts after recording 16 strikeouts and eight walks in his first three. … Morton is 7-1 with a 4.03 ERA in 13 career starts against the Red Sox. Song of the Day: Badfinger- No Matter Whatwww.youtube.com/watch?v=Xoke1wUwEXY
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2023 16:41:10 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 28m James Paxton will make his Red Sox debut Friday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2023 16:46:54 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 33m James Paxton will make his 2023 debut when he starts Friday night against the Cardinals. No news yet on who will come out of the rotation.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2023 17:05:59 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 11m #RedSox rotation coming up:
Today: Pivetta Wednesday: Bello Thursday: Day off Friday: Paxton Saturday: Sale Sunday: Kluber Monday: Houck Tuesday: "We'll see how we do it," Alex Cora said.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2023 17:07:10 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 4m Some tarp action in Atlanta.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 9, 2023 17:08:26 GMT -5
Red Sox at Braves Tuesday, at 7:20 PM EST Possibility Of A Delay Or Rainout It's expected to be 83° F with a 25% chance of precipitation and 10 MPH wind blowing left to right in Atlanta at 7:20 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Partly cloudy skies and warm temperatures are expected for Tuesday night's interleague matchup at Truist Park. A chance of rain may lead to a brief delay. Light winds blowing out to left field will give hitters a slight advantage.
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