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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 13, 2023 16:45:36 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 49m Alex Cora says Kiké Hernández will play less SS, primarily playing CF and 2B moving forward. He’ll still be an option in late games at SS, if Sox PH for Pablo Reyes.
Cora says tonight the Sox are using their best defensive alignment, which includes Turner at 1B. Cora says Casas needs to be better at 1B. “When he came up last year, we thought he was going to be a great defender…We’ll keep working with him.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 13, 2023 16:47:50 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 2h Verdugo has swung at 59% of the pitches he has seen over the heart of the plate this year, which ranks 174th/177 batters. When he swings at these pitches, he is hitting .438 with .705 SLG.
When he swings at other pitches, he is hitting .176 with a .240 SLG.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 13, 2023 16:48:55 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 38m Giving Turner priority over Casas at 1B is one of the dumber decisions the Red Sox have made in a while.
That being said, let's see how this plays out.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 13, 2023 17:55:26 GMT -5
NESN feed tonight and that sucks but the pregame was interesting as Caron, Jim Rice, and Jen McCarthy stressing to the folks who want Mayer up now to relax.
Could not agree more. Don't want to see him this year at all.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 13, 2023 18:13:51 GMT -5
Lou Merloni defending Kiki claiming he is still an asset to the team.
Guess Lou had his spine removed before hitting the booth.
And with that will mute these clowns
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 13, 2023 18:55:05 GMT -5
Krawford gets the first 2 outs in the 2nd then loads up the bases then gives up a 3 run meatball single
3-0 Rox
and I am done
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2023 4:39:58 GMT -5
Devers hoping power surge comes at perfect time 1:48 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- One night after Rafael Devers endured pure home run robbery when Nolan Jones stretched his arm over the Boston bullpen, the star slugger got one back on Tuesday.
Devers hit an unimpressive, Statcast-projected 311-foot fly ball that clanged off Pesky’s Pole. The ball left his bat at 92.9 mph and carried an expected batting average of .030.
Say hello to the shortest homer in MLB since Stephen Vogt hit one to that same spot on Sept. 18, 2019. It was the shortest homer for Devers by 27 feet, and that 338-foot poke came way back on Aug. 14, 2017 against Cleveland.
If only his team had won Tuesday’s game. In that case, Devers probably would have had more fun with it. Instead, this 7-6 loss to the Rockies in 10 innings left the reeling Red Sox with a 12-21 mark since May 7 and eight losses in their past 11 games.
“Yeah, I never hit a home run that short,” said Devers. “Of course, it’s something positive, but at the same time I don't feel right about the situation that the team is going through. So it's a tough, tough situation that we're going through right now."
Perhaps Devers is the Boston player most capable of turning a tough situation into a favorable one.
The third baseman could at last be on the verge of one of those patented hot streaks. In the bottom of the 10th with his team down by three runs, Devers unloaded for a two-run shot that was a certifiable missile.
This blast to right left his bat at 108.6 mph and traveled a projected distance of 410 feet. Per Statcast, it would have been a home run in all 30 MLB parks.
“Yeah, of course, it feels good to hit a ball out of the park,” said Devers. “I know when I feel right, I try to hit the ball the other way. Right now, I’m trying to be consistent with my timing and find my timing, so that’s where I’m at right now.” Your browser does not support HTML5 video tag.
In his past five games, Devers has four homers. For an offense that scored more than five runs in a game for the first time since June 3, the resurgence of Devers could be big.
“I mean, he’s taking great at-bats, hitting the ball all over the place,” said Red Sox first baseman Justin Turner. “He was robbed of a homer yesterday. Could have been three in two days. Had a really nice play made on him in New York that could have been a few more RBIs, but he’s swinging the bat really well.”
Devers has been working overtime in pursuit of his “A” swing.
“Yeah, I've been working really hard with [assistant hitting coach] Luis [Ortiz] and the other hitting coaches in the cage,” said Devers. “I’ve been feeling really well, really good the last two series and I just need to keep getting better and keep improving in the next coming days.” Your browser does not support HTML5 video tag.
At 33-35, the Red Sox are two games under .500 for the first time since April 14. They can’t afford to let this current rut go on much longer.
Which makes it more important than ever that Devers turns this mini-roll into a prolonged hot streak.
“Like yesterday, even the foul ball to left field, he was straight to the ball,” said manager Alex Cora. “He’s been hot the whole week hitting the ball out of the ballpark. He hit the Pesky one, then he crushed the other one.”
There wasn’t enough offense beyond Devers in Tuesday's defeat, as the Sox went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.
“Got to keep grinding,” said Cora. “At one point, we’re going to go the other way. Keep playing hard, clean up a few things, and go from there.”
Devers put it in even simpler terms.
“It’s a tough stretch, but we’re going to get over it, “ said Devers.
And when they do, it will likely be their left-handed-hitting slugger who is leading the charge.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2023 4:40:58 GMT -5
Hernández, Casas to see reduced time in defensive shakeup June 13th, 2023 Ian Browne
BOSTON -- For weeks, the Red Sox have talked about the need to improve their shaky defense.
On Tuesday, manager Alex Cora took some action, announcing that Kiké Hernández will no longer be the team’s primary shortstop and rookie first baseman Triston Casas will likely see his time reduced in the field.
The news came one day after Hernández increased his MLB-leading errors total to 14 -- with 13 coming on throws -- with a key miscue that cost the team a run in a 4-3 loss. Casas also mishandled a routine grounder with two outs in the 10th inning that allowed Colorado to score what wound up being the decisive run of the game.
“[Hernández] is going to play less short,” said Cora. “We’ve got to be better defensively. That’s the bottom line.”
For Tuesday’s game against the Rockies, Pablo Reyes made the start at shortstop with Justin Turner playing first base. Casas started at DH, while Hernández was on the bench.
“We went with our best defensive alignment. If there’s a book about baseball, that’s rule number one: You play bad defense, you don’t win games,” said Cora. “That’s the bottom line. When you give the opposition more than 27 outs, they’re going to cash in, and we can go back the last 10 days, when certain plays that we didn’t make gave the opposition an extra run."
Entering the night, the Sox had a 33-34 record while making 47 errors, the second-highest total in MLB.
Cora said that for the time being, Hernández will get most of his playing time at second base and center field, but that he will also be a late-game replacement at short when the team hits for Reyes.
Boston’s Plan A for this season was for Trevor Story to be the starting shortstop. Story played a stellar second base last season, and when Xander Bogaerts left as a free agent, it seemed like a golden opportunity for Story to go back to the position he’s played for most of his career.
But that changed when Story had to undergo an internal bracing procedure on his right elbow in January. The athletic veteran said Monday that he should be ready to play shortstop for the Red Sox by August.
Once Story went down, Hernández was given the opportunity to play shortstop, a position at which he had started 64 career games prior to this season. Hernández expressed confidence in his ability to be able to play the position on a near-everyday basis, but he struggled with his throws from the outset of the season.
The Red Sox rank 27th in the Majors in outs above average at shortstop at minus-seven.
Cora said Hernández’s biggest trouble spot has been on plays to his right.
“He has a good arm. He has good mechanics,” said Cora. “We’ve been surprised. He’s surprised. It’s not a lack of work. “
Yu Chang, a highly rated defender at shortstop, should help when he returns from a fractured hamate bone in his left wrist. But Chang was recently pulled off his Minor League rehab assignment due to recurring soreness and is probably a minimum of 10 to 14 days away from playing for the Red Sox.
As for Casas, he was impressive on defense during his September callup last season, but he hasn’t had the same consistency so far this season.
For now, that could lead to Turner playing more first with Casas at DH. The Sox are 22nd in the Majors in outs above average at first base at minus-three. Casas started 51 of the team’s first 67 games at first.
“There are a few things we have recognized,” said Cora. “This kid, when he came up last year, we thought he was going to be a great defender, and there are a few things he’s not doing, so we’re working with him as far as his pre-pitch and some things we have to clean up with decisions on ground balls, and we’ll keep working with him just like we’re working with Kiké.
“I told Kiké this is not the end [of him playing short]. It’s just something we have to do for now, but we’re going to keep working on his angles and throwing and all that, and we’re doing the same thing with Triston.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2023 4:42:46 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Mondesi not doing baseball activities June 13th, 2023
June 13: INF Adalberto Mondesi not doing baseball activities The Red Sox don't seem any closer to knowing when or if Mondesi will play this season than they did during Spring Training. Manager Alex Cora confirmed on Tuesday that Mondesi, who suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in April of 2022, is no longer participating in baseball activities. Mondesi had been doing all baseball activities in April, but the team had mentioned that he was having trouble regaining his explosiveness. Mondesi has been getting his work in at the team's training base in Fort Myers, Fla. The Sox acquired Mondesi in a January trade with the Royals for lefty reliever Josh Taylor.
LHP Richard Bleier (left shoulder inflammation) Expected return: July Bleier is not reacting well to treatment, manager Alex Cora said on June 10. Bleier was placed on the injured list on May 22 and started playing catch on May 30. However, he has since been shut down from throwing.
“He had an MRI [June 9] and it showed what we thought it was -- inflammation in the shoulder. Just keep going with the treatment, be aggressive,” Cora said. (Last updated: June 13)
RHP John Schreiber (right teres major strain) Expected return: Late June/Early July Schreiber threw up to 85 feet on June 13 and is progressing well. Schreiber will have a daily progression on flat ground until he is ready to throw off the mound. A key righty in Boston's bullpen, Schreiber has been missed. He has a 2.12 ERA in 18 appearances this season. (Last updated: June 13)
LHP Joely Rodríguez (left shoulder inflammation) Expected return: Late June Rodríguez, who had just come back from a right lat injury on May 15, felt shoulder discomfort while warming up in the bullpen during Game 2 of a day-night doubleheader on June 3. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Rodríguez could throw a bullpen session in the upcoming days. (Last updated: June 13)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2023 4:48:26 GMT -5
Rafael Devers homers twice but Red Sox fall again to Rockies in extras
Updated: Jun. 13, 2023, 11:46 p.m.|Published: Jun. 13, 2023, 10:43 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON — Two Rafael Devers home runs were not enough for the Red Sox to avoid another tough home loss to a National League opponent Tuesday night.
Playing an extra-inning game for the third consecutive day for the first time since May 1996, the Sox once again collapsed in the 10th inning in a loss to the Rockies at Fenway Park. This time, it was reliever Justin Garza who was tagged with the loss after the Rockies plated three in the top of the 10th; Colorado went on to win, 7-6, despite Devers making it a one-run game with a two-run blast in the bottom of the inning.
With their second straight loss, the Sox fell to 33-35, marking the first time they have been two games under .500 since April 14. Boston is now a remarkable 1-10 against National League teams at home this year.
For the second straight night, Colorado’s 10th-inning rally capped a back-and-forth game in which the Red Sox came back from an early hole. This time, Boston trailed 4-0 by the fourth. With Kutter Crawford on the mound for Boston, Colorado put together a third-inning rally to jump out to a lead. With two outs, Crawford allowed back-to-back singles and issued a walk before Elias Díaz made it 3-0 with a bases-clearing double. The Rockies made it 4-0 in the fourth when Randal Grichuk scored on a Brenton Doyle RBI double.
The Sox chipped away to get back in the game. In the fourth inning, Devers barely wrapped his first homer of the night around Pesky’s Pole to make it 4-2. An inning later, Justin Turner’s RBI single made it a one-run game, though Alex Verdugo (who didn’t slide) was thrown out at home on the play. Boston knotted things up in the sixth when Adam Duvall led off with a double then scored on a Christian Arroyo sacrifice fly.
Both teams threatened to break the tie late with Boston loading the bases in the seventh and Colorado putting the first two runners in the eighth. In an impressive showing, reliever Corey Kluber retired three in a row to escape the jam in the eighth; the Sox had a chance to score when pinch-runner Jarren Duran stole second and third but were unable to scratch a run across.
In the top of the 10th, Garza walked Nolan Jones before a Grichuk RBI double plated both Jones and automatic runner Coco Montes. A Mike Moustakas hit-by-pitch and Harold Castro single loaded the bases for Jurickson Profar, who made it a three-run game with a sacrifice fly.
Leading off the 10th against Matt Carasiti, Devers crushed a 108.6 mph missile into right field to make it a one-run game. Boston was unable to tie things despite having the tying run on second; after Duran walked and took second on a wild pitch, Pierce Johnson struck out Reese McGuire to end the game.
Making his third start since rejoining the rotation, Crawford lasted just four innings. He allowed four runs on five hits while striking out five and has a 4.20 ERA on the season.
Devers has big night
On Monday, Devers was robbed of a go-ahead homer when Jones reached back and stole a dinger from him in the eighth inning. On Tuesday, Devers was much more lucky.
Devers’ fourth inning shot, which was momentarily discussed by the umpiring crew, traveled just 311 feet with an exit velocity of 92.9 mph. The second one was by no means a cheapie, going 410 feet at 108.6 mph. Devers leads the Red Sox with 17 homers on the season; he has now posted 15 multi-homer games in his career and three this season (most recently May 19 in San Diego).
Whitlock to pitch finale
Fresh off a strong start in the Bronx on Friday night, righty Garrett Whitlock (3-2, 4.78 ERA) will head to the mound in Wednesday’s series finale for the Red Sox. The Rockies will counter with left-hander Austin Gomber (4-5, 7.57 ERA). First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. ET.
The Sox will then be off Thursday before welcoming the Yankees for a three-game weekend set.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2023 4:54:07 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 7h Win a series against the Yankees, drop a series to the Rockies.
The National League is this year's AL East for the Red Sox, who hold just a 1-10 record at Fenway against interleague opponents
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2023 4:56:22 GMT -5
Tom Caron (blue checkmark redacted) @tomcaron · 7h Red Sox are 1-for-9 w/ RISP tonight, stranding 8 runners. They’ve had 2 runners thrown out at home. The Rockies score multiple runs in the 10th for the 2nd straight night. Sox haven’t won 2 straight in 10 days. The last 2 nights have been among the most frustrating of the year.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2023 5:06:36 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 7h Started 21-14, have since gone 12-21 with series losses against St. Louis, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, and Colorado.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2023 5:11:22 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Kiké Hernández loses job as Red Sox’ starting shortstop By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated June 13, 2023, 11:53 p.m.
Kiké Hernández is no longer the Red Sox’ everyday shortstop, manager Alex Cora said Tuesday before the team lost its second consecutive 10-inning game to the visiting Rockies, 7-6.
Hernández will shift to a utility role, playing second base and center field while Pablo Reyes, who started at shortstop, will get most of the time at the position until Yu Chang (left hamate surgery) returns.
The move doesn’t come as a surprise. Hernández leads the majors in errors with 14, 12 of which have been on throws. Hernández’s most recent throwing error occurred during the fourth inning of Monday night’s loss to the Rockies.
With two outs and a runner on second, Hernández collected a grounder cleanly but delivered a low throw to Triston Casas, one the first baseman, admittedly, should have scooped. But it skipped past Casas, allowing the first run of the game to score.
“It’s the throwing, man,” Cora said. “He has good mechanics. We’ve been surprised. He’s been surprised. It’s not for a lack of work, but I talked to him a little bit. There are a few plays, especially to his right, when he gets it on time and he slows down and he throws it away. He’s always to his right.”
Hernández will still be an option off the bench to hit and play shortstop late in games, Cora added. But that will be the extent of his time there.
Reyes had a clean night in field and went 2 for 4, while batting ninth.
Hernández isn’t the only player who will see his time dwindle in the field. Casas, who is a minus-6 in defensive runs saved, will, too — though to a lesser extent than Hernández.
The club started Justin Turner at first Tuesday with Casas in the DH spot. His error in the ninth allowed the potential go-ahead run to reach base.
The Sox entered Tuesday with the second-most errors in baseball (48), and ranked 24th in defensive runs saved (minus-15).
“We went with our best defensive alignment,” said Cora, who has been frustrated with his team’s defense all season. “It’s not that we’ve given up on Triston, but we have got to keep working with him because he needs to be better. And that’s something that we have recognized. Obviously, the roster is the roster and we have to play with it. But last night, I told [bench coach] Ramon Vazquez this is where we are going.”
The return of Chang is still to be determined, however. The 27-year-old infielder, who was at Fenway Tuesday and took grounders at shortstop, was removed from a second rehab assignment recently after experiencing pain in his wrist area. For Chang, it’s a matter of pain tolerance given that his left hamate was removed.
The loss of Trevor Story (elbow) has proven to be a significant one. Story, who said his plan is to return by August as the team’s everyday shortstop, is at Fenway this week. The Sox have lacked a defensive anchor, something Story proved himself to be as a second baseman in his 94 games last season.
“If there’s a book about baseball, rule No. 1 is that if you play bad defense, you don’t win games,” Cora said. “That’s the bottom line. And when you give the opposition more than 27 outs, they’re going to cash in. We can go back the last 10 days, you know, certain plays that we didn’t make that gave the opposition an extra run.”
Mondesi’s rehab derailed
Adalberto Mondesi (ACL) has been shut down from all baseball activities, Cora said. The team expected Mondesi to be a contributor to the club by now, but the middle infielder hasn’t responded well to the rehab process . . . Righthander John Schreiber (shoulder) threw off flat ground out to 85 feet . . . Joely Rodriguez (lat/shoulder) is expected to throw a bullpen session in the upcoming days.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 14, 2023 5:16:26 GMT -5
Rockies @ Red Sox Wednesday, 14th June 2023 7pm @ Fenway
Gomber 5-7/ 7.57
Whitlock 3-2/ 4.78
Red Sox try to avoid sweep against Rockies FLM
The Colorado Rockies hope left-hander Austin Gomber can improve on his recent form as they attempt to complete a three-game road sweep of the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.
Colorado earned 10-inning wins at Boston the past two nights, prevailing 4-3 on Monday and 7-6 on Tuesday.
The Rockies scored three runs in the top of the 10th on Tuesday, then held on despite Rafael Devers' second two-run homer of the night in the bottom of the frame to seal their third straight victory.
"It was a good team win," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "A lot of guys in a lot of different spots helped out."
The Red Sox have lost their past five home games, and they are just 4-11 in their past 15 games in Boston. They have dropped five of the past seven contests overall.
"Keep playing hard, clean up a few things and go from there," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said following the Tuesday defeat. "We just have to play well. That's it. Two extra-inning games, kind of a flip of the coin, right? ... From my end, it's not deflating."
Gomber (4-5, 7.57 ERA) allowed 15 runs on 25 hits in just 10 2/3 innings over his past three starts. He walked eight and struck out eight during that span.
Gomber took the loss in his latest outing after he surrendered 11 hits -- including three home runs -- and seven runs in four-plus innings during a 9-6 defeat against the San Diego Padres on Friday. All three home runs came on four-seam fastballs.
The 29-year-old Florida native, who is in his fifth major league season, has not pitched against the Red Sox.
Rockies reliever Daniel Bard earned the win in each of the first two games in the series. The Red Sox selected Bard with the 28th overall pick in the 2006 draft, and he pitched for Boston from 2009-13.
"We're pushing Daniel a bit because we think things are coming together for him," Rockies manager Bud Black said of Bard, who has a 0.87 ERA in 20 2/3 innings over 20 appearances this season.
The Rockies haven't swept an opponent since they won three straight against the Milwaukee Brewers from May 2-4.
Right-hander Garrett Whitlock (3-2, 4.78 ERA) is scheduled to start on the mound for Boston, and unlike Gomber, he's trending in a positive direction. He is a 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA in his past three starts.
Whitlock outdueled Gerrit Cole in his most recent outing, a 3-2 win against the New York Yankees on Friday. Whitlock yielded two runs (one earned) on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out six and issued one walk.
Whitlock replaced Corey Kluber in Boston's rotation after Kluber, a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, began the season with a 2-6 record and a 6.26 ERA in his first nine appearances. Whitlock has not faced Colorado during his career.
Despite Devers' heroics on Tuesday, the Red Sox went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
The Wednesday game will be the third contest of a 10-game road trip for the Rockies, who will start a four-game series at Atlanta on Thursday before finishing the trip with three at Cincinnati.
The Red Sox are 0-2 to start a six-game homestand that concludes with a three-game visit from the New York Yankees this weekend.
--Field Level Media
Rockies at Red Sox Wednesday, at 7:10 PM EST Rainy It's expected to be 71° F with a 60% chance of rain and 11 MPH wind blowing out in Boston at 7:10 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com
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