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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 17, 2023 4:48:21 GMT -5
Red Sox @ A's Monday 17th July 2023 Oakland Alameda Coliseum @ 940 pm
Opener ( eventually Pivetta 5-5/ 4.83)
Blackburn 1-1/ 4.86
Reeling A's face another series vs. slugging Red Sox FLM
The Oakland Athletics will throw a new look at the Boston Red Sox in hopes of getting results a little different than in their recent series when the clubs kick off a three-game set on the West Coast on Monday night.
The Red Sox will be seeking their 10th win in their last 12 games, while the A's will be looking to end a seven-game skid that includes Boston's three-game home sweep leading into the All-Star break.
The Red Sox outscored the visitors 21-9 in that series, getting big-time contributions from Jarren Duran and Alex Verdugo, who combined to go 10-for-19 with two homers, seven RBIs and seven runs scored.
Duran, who started only the first two games of the set, was the biggest problem for Oakland pitchers. He hit for the cycle over the Friday and Saturday wins, going 5-for-9 with two singles, a double, a triple and a home run.
The A's managed three runs -- about their first-half average -- in each of the losses but have since imported additional production in the form of top prospects Zack Gelof and Tyler Soderstrom.
Gelof has four hits in three games -- at least one in each -- since making his major league debut Friday against the Minnesota Twins. Among the hits are two doubles and a triple.
Meanwhile, Soderstrom went hitless in his big-league debut Friday but totaled three hits over the weekend, helping the Oakland offense put up a total of 15 runs in three straight losses.
"There's a reason they called us up, and that's because they think we can help this team win," Gelof said. "We'll do anything we can do to add to this team."
It's unclear whom the rookies will face in Monday's series opener, although Red Sox manager Alex Cora indicated Sunday that he's likely to go with right-hander Nick Pivetta (5-5, 4.83 ERA) and lefty Chris Murphy (0-0, 2.16) -- in a yet undisclosed order -- in the first two games of the series.
Pivetta and Murphy both pitched in the previous set against the A's. Pivetta picked up a win after allowing three runs (two earned) in five innings in a 7-3 triumph in the series opener on July 7. In the finale two days later, Murphy worked three innings in relief, allowing one run on two hits and four walks. Boston won that game 4-3.
Pivetta has made four appearances (three starts) against Oakland, going 4-0 with a 1.00 ERA in 27 innings.
The A's have announced right-hander Paul Blackburn (1-1, 4.86) as their starter for Monday. He made a rare relief appearance, just the fourth of his career, in the finale against the Red Sox, allowing two runs in the sixth inning of the 4-3 loss and getting stung with his first blown save.
The 29-year-old has faced the Red Sox three times in his career, twice as a starter, and is 1-1 with a 6.10 ERA.
He will be facing a Boston offense that put up 23 runs in taking two of three from the host Chicago Cubs coming out of the All-Star break. The Red Sox ripped 10 home runs in the series, getting one each day from Triston Casas and three over the weekend from Rafael Devers.
Casas says he and his teammates are all just trying to be more like Masataka Yoshida, who will bring a .317 average into the Oakland series and contributed a grand slam to Sunday's 11-5 win.
"We all learn from his approach," Casas said of Yoshida. "He's just spraying the ball over the field, having really quality at-bats every single time. He's one of the best players in the league ... for average, he's starting to hit for power, and he's got that clutch factor, too. We're all taking notes from him."
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 17, 2023 4:50:38 GMT -5
Rest of the Series
Tuesday, TBA vs Medina 2-7/ 6.34 @ 9:40pm.
Wednesday, Bello 7-5/ 3.14 vs Waldichuk 2-6/ 6.66, 3:30pm
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 17, 2023 4:53:42 GMT -5
Masataka Yoshida’s Red Sox teammate notices he has ‘that clutch factor’
Updated: Jul. 16, 2023, 6:49 p.m.|Published: Jul. 16, 2023, 6:46 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — The Red Sox had scored one run in the fifth inning but it looked like they might squander a no-out, bases-loaded opportunity when Rafael Devers struck out and Adam Duvall popped out.
Then Masataka Yoshida stepped to the plate.
“He’s starting to hit for power and he’s got that clutch factor, too,” teammate Triston Casas said.
Yoshida, who turned 30 on Saturday, took two balls outside, then drove a fastball from Cubs lefty Justin Steele into the right field bleachers for his second grand slam this season. His two-out blast left his bat at 110.1 mph and put the Red Sox ahead by six runs. Boston won 11-5 at Wrigley Field to take the three-game series 2-1.
“We’re a little down in the dugout and he gets it to a 2-0 count and hits that and completely shifts the game,” Casas said. “We had been putting together good at-bats and we were getting on base but really not finishing those innings. He came in and put the dagger right there. Momentum just shifted.”
Yoshida went 3-for-5. He also stroked a two-run triple and finished with six RBIs. He has posted multiple-hit games in nine of his past 10 games.
“I think we all learn from his approach,” Casas said. “He’s spraying the ball all over the field, having really quality at-bats every single time. Not chasing out of the zone, putting the ball in play. He’s all-around one of the best hitters in the league obviously for average.”
Yoshida is batting .317 with a .381 on-base percentage, .502 slugging percentage, .883 OPS, 11 homers, 19 doubles, three triples, 50 runs, 50 RBIs, 27 walks and 38 strikeouts. He has struck out in just 10.9% of his 349 plate appearances.
He’s slashing .295/.370/.489/.859 in 88 at-bats with runners in scoring position. Before his two-out grand slam Sunday, he was batting .293 with a .341 on-base percentage in 41 at-bats with runners in scoring position and two outs.
“I think we’re all taking notes from him,” Casas added. “We all wish we could talk to him a little bit more, pick his brain, get inside of what he’s thinking. But he relays as much as he can to us. And we’re really happy about having him on our side.”
What impresses Casas most about Yoshida’s approach?
“The ability to hit the ball to the other field on a line,” Casas said. “I do it (hit it opposite field) but just flying out to left. He just keeps it on a line whether it’s a hard ground-ball to third base or a hard line drive 10 feet right in front of the left fielder. It’s so impressive. Even when he has his front side flying off, he somehow keeps his hands back and sprays the ball to the opposite field. And then when he’s on time, it’s pull-side in the air and it’s beautiful to watch.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 17, 2023 4:54:55 GMT -5
Red Sox’s Triston Casas no longer can count his homers on just two hands
Updated: Jul. 16, 2023, 9:35 p.m.|Published: Jul. 16, 2023, 9:32 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
CHICAGO — Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas said before the All-Star break that he doesn’t pay attention to his statistics. He said the only stat he knows is his home run total because it’s unavoidable.
“They happen so infrequently that I can keep track of those,” Casas said, smiling July 3 in Toronto.
He no longer can keep track of them on just two hands (as he pointed out) after a big three-homer weekend in Chicago. His pinch-hit homer Sunday was his 12th long ball this season and helped the Red Sox win 11-5 over the Cubs. Boston took two of three games at Wrigley Field.
It was his first pinch hit homer ever, he said.
“I don’t think I’m focused on getting the power numbers up, per se,” Casas said after Sunday’s win. “I just don’t feel like it (home runs) is an important stat. I mean, I’m conscious of it because I could count them before (this weekend) on two hands. I think it’s good to be productive. I think playing first base, slug is important. I think driving in runs is part of the job. So getting to do that the last couple of days just felt great. And it’s translated into a couple wins, which I’m happier about.”
Casas belted a 395-foot, 101.8 mph homer Friday, a 425-foot, 112.1 mph homer Saturday and a 419-foot, 105.4 mph homer Sunday.
“I think the quality of contact for the pitches that I’m hitting is what I’m most happy about,” Casas said. “If you go look at the pitches I’m hitting, they’re fastballs right down the middle. So that’s exactly what I need to be doing with those kinds of pitches.”
The 23-year-old rookie had a bad April with just 10 hits in 92 plate appearances. He finished the month with an ugly .133/.283/.293/.576 line. But has improved each month with a .257/.338/.429/.766 line in 80 plate appearances in May and a .286/.375/.476/.851 line in 96 plate appearances in June.
“I haven’t lacked confidence,” Casas said. “The confidence has always been there. The production has not. But the confidence comes from the preparation. It comes from my routine. And that hasn’t changed. Coming to work every day with a good mindset, a positive one, ready to contribute however I can. Some days I do. Some days I don’t. But confidence never wavers.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 17, 2023 4:56:56 GMT -5
J.P. Long @soxnotes · 9h Red Sox MLB rankings since June 30:
.833 win % (1st) 10 wins (1st) 6.4 runs per game (1st) .308 AVG (1st) .359 OBP (2nd, 1st in AL) .542 SLG (1st) .901 OPS (1st) 20 HR (4th, 1st in AL)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 17, 2023 5:01:58 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 8h #RedSox in the middle of a stretch that will see them play 25 of 33 games against teams .500 (Mariners) or below (A's Cubs, Mets, Royals, Tigers, Nats) through Aug. 17.
Of the 8 other games, 5 are home.
5-1 so far. Chance to make a run.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 17, 2023 5:06:09 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Nick Pivetta won’t be starting for the Red Sox, but manager Alex Cora considers him part of the rotation By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated July 16, 2023, 7:02 p.m.
CHICAGO — The Red Sox have been working with a three-man rotation for two weeks and that doesn’t seem likely to change any time soon.
Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, and James Paxton have started six of the nine games since Garrett Whitlock went on the injured list, with openers filling in the other games.
Nick Pivetta has allowed three earned runs on six hits over nine innings in his last two relief appearances while striking out 14. But there are no plans to use him as a conventional starter.
The feeling is Pivetta is sharper coming into the game out of the bullpen, so why change what has worked? He had a 6.30 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in eight starts. As a reliever, Pivetta has a 2.79 ERA and 0.93 WHIP.
“I see it as, honestly, like a four-man rotation and a bullpen day because we know that Nick will go deep,” manager Alex Cora said Sunday.
The Sox will use openers in the first two games of the series at Oakland that begins Monday with Bello starting Wednesday.
Pivetta will work multiple innings either Monday or Tuesday. Rookie lefthander Chris Murphy will have the same role.
The Sox swept a three-game series from the Athletics earlier this month at Fenway Park and are 8-1 against Oakland the last two seasons, averaging 6.7 runs a game.
Oakland will use a rotation of righthander Paul Blackburn, righthander Luis Medina, and lefthander Ken Waldichuk.
Blackburn faced the Sox in relief on July 9 and allowed two runs over one inning. He is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in seven starts this season.
Medina went six innings against the Sox on July 7 and gave up four runs while striking out nine. Waldichuk is 2-6 with a 6.66 ERA. He started against the Twins on Friday and allowed three runs over 3⅔ innings.
Quick trip for Faria
It took only two games after the All-Star break for the Sox to make a roster move. Righthander Tayler Scott was designated for assignment and righthander Jake Faria was called up from Triple A Worcester.
Faria, who turns 30 later this month, was 3-2 with a 6.47 ERA in 19 appearances for the Woo Sox, nine of them starts. He had a 1.64 WHIP and a modest 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
But for the Sox, availability is what matters and Faria has not pitched since July 5. He worked two innings at the end of Sunday’s 11-5 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field, allowing five runs on four hits and four walks.
“Huge, huge,” Cora said. “Obviously he hasn’t pitched in 10 days. We got him here to help us out and he did. He got the six outs.”
Faria was called into Cora’s office after the game and told he would be taken off the roster. The Sox will have another new pitcher Monday.
Faria was signed out of an open tryout in February. Sunday was his first major league game since Sept. 14, 2021. Help on the way
Lefthander Richard Bleier and righthander John Schreiber are close to coming off the injured list.
Bleier, who has been out since May 22 with shoulder inflammation, should be back on the roster early this week.
Schreiber was placed on the IL May 16 with a muscle strain in his shoulder. He has since appeared in four rehab games and allowed one run over 5⅔ innings. That came on a solo home run at Jacksonville on Sunday.
The Sox want Schreiber to pitch in back-to-back games, likely on Wednesday and Thursday. That would line him up to return for the series against the Braves that starts July 25.
Utility man Pablo Reyes is now eight games into a rehab assignment as he returns from an abdominal strain and is 8 for 25. Cora suggested he needed more at-bats this week.
“Let’s see how he feels,” the manager said.
Whitlock, who came out of his start in Toronto on July 2 with a bone bruise in his elbow, remains shut down from throwing. Related: Kutter Crawford delivers another big start as part of shorthanded rotation keeping Red Sox in contention Friendly confines
The series drew 115,633 fans over three days with a large percentage supporting the visitors based on all the Red Sox T-shirts and jerseys around the ballpark. None of the games were sellouts, however. The Sox are 6-6 all-time at Wrigley . . . Justin Turner is 19 of 45 (.422) during his 12-game hit streak . . . All five AL East teams now have at least 50 wins. According to ESPN, this is the first time every team in a division has reached 50 victories in fewer than 95 games . . . The game was played in a bit of a smoky haze. There was an air quality index of 109 throughout the day.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 17, 2023 6:05:41 GMT -5
Let's pick through what's what with the suddenly less mysterious Red Sox
By Rob Bradford WEEI 93.7 36 minutes ago
CHICAGO - It was just one series, one weekend. But the realities of this time of year is hard to ignore. Just ask the Cubs.
David Ross' team came into the three-game set with the Red Sox knowing it was up against the clock when it came defining its existence. Buyers? Believers? Nope.
What the Cubs felt after Sunday's 11-5 loss to the Sox was desperation bordering on resignation. It was a feeling shared by a few clubs after three post-All-Star break contests. The Cubs are eight games out of a postseason spot. The Mets sit 8 1/2 back in the National League Wild Card race. PIttsburgh? Forget about it. They are 10 1/2 out. And San Diego has burst out of the break with three straight losses to put their deficit at eight games.
The Red Sox, however, at living a different sort of life. They are seemingly finally on the cusp of defining themselves in a good way.
Alex Cora's club is now 1 1/2 games out of the final American League Wild Card spot, having taken two out of three games against the best Chicago has to offer - starters Kyle Hendricks, Marcus Stroman and All-Star Justin Steele.
Best-case scenarios are popping up all over the roster. Kutter Crawford. Masa Yoshida. Jarren Duran. Triston Casas. Justin Turner. Connor Wong. Chris Martin. Kenley Jansen. Brayan Bello. James Paxton. Yu Chang. Rob Refsnyder. Alex Verdugo. All best-case scenarios, or pretty darn close to it.
And because of where this group has landed, the Red Sox have found themselves in the meat-and-potatoes of postseason consideration.
So, as the Red Sox head to Oakland for an opportunity to feast on the worst team in Major League Baseball, here are some thoughts, observations and tidbits for those trying to get a feel for what exactly is going on with 15 days to go before Fork-In-The-Road-Tuesday (otherwise known at the MLB Trade Deadline):
- The Red Sox would actually seem to be in a decent spot heading into the the Deadline, with sources suggesting their priorities are two things that might not cost a ton to acquire: 1. A back-of-the-rotation starting pitcher, and 2. A seventh-inning righty reliever.
There are plenty of contending clubs whose priority will also be pitching, but must prioritize more expensive top-of-the-rotation (Lucas Giolito) or closing (Josh Hader). The Red Sox seem content in riding with the likes of Bello, Paxton, Crawford and probably some combination of Chris Sale, Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock, with the integration of a Rich Hill-type. And, as for the bullpen, Jansen and Martin are locked in, a luxury that many of the contending teams would die for. But what can be bolstered is the next tier of righties relievers, which is going to be relying on the soon-to-be-returning John Schreiber, as well as Nick Pivetta. Keep an eye on the White Sox list of potentially-available relievers, Reynaldo Lopez, Keynan Middleton, and, yes, Joe Kelly (who returns from the injured list this week).
But beware: The Red Sox aren't the only team prioritizing those sort of bullpen arms. After the acquisition of Aroldis Chapman, the Rangers have put their sights on the same group, with the Rays also pounding the pavement for hard-throwing set-up men.
- There may be a bit of a race against time for the Red Sox considering the need to veer away from a rotation that has been including two bullpen games. It's not as if Sale, Houck or Whitlock are likely going to be dropped into the rotation within the next three weeks, dropping some urgency into Chaim Bloom's lap. The problem is that there will most likely be a tax (not literally, but simply in the form of cost of doing business) for jumping the market with most selling teams seemingly content on basking in the desperation of those looking to buy.
There are always exceptions. The J.D. Martinez deal to Arizona in 2017 and Manny Machado's move to the Dodgers a year later both came on July 18. Then there was the Rays getting Nelson Cruz on July 22 two years ago. That same year, a day later, the Mets got a veteran starter in Hill. But really, if history is any sort of guide using the last two seasons, July 27 is really the realistic jumping off point for truly getting the action started. (For another point of reference, the Kyle Schwarber deal in 2021 was dropped on July 29.)
- Chris Martin, who has been part of two-Trade Deadline deals, put it perfectly when talking about the acquisition of a player - sometimes any player - heading into August.
"It's an interesting time of the year. It's like the GMs' Super Bowl," Martin said. "I can attest to this with 2021 with the Braves. We went and got Joc Pederson before the Deadline (July 15) and we were kind of on that edge wondering if we were going to sell or buy, wondering what the front office thought of this team. And when the front office went and bought someone we were like, 'Alright, they are believing.' To give a little spark. Not that you really need it, but it shows the front office believes in you."
- After the Red Sox' win over the Cubs, Rob Refsnyder informed WEEI.com he wanted to be called "Bargain Bob", a nickname that has been batted around in the cages with some of the hitting coaches. The reason? He wants to be the guy who is outperforming his contract. So far, mission accomplished.
Refnsyder has become a legitimate weapon against left-handed pitching, hitting .347 with a .915 OPS vs. southpaws. It has allowed the Red Sox to carry the fourth-best batting average (.276) and fifth-highest OPS (.808) of any team against left-handers.
- Triston Casas is piling up the firsts, including hitting the first pinch-hit home run of his life - at any level - Sunday afternoon.
It would seem that after some uneasiness, the Red Sox have found their foundation first baseman.
- The constant refrain for those experiencing Justin Turner on a daily basis for the first time is: "He is better than I thought."
The fact of the matter when it comes to the Red Sox' decision to prioritize Turner over J.D. Martinez is that while Martinez is having an All-Star season with the Dodgers, the redhead is a better fit for the 2023 club. The ability to more-than-competently play three infield positions while manning tremendously important piece of protection around Rafael Devers in the lineup has flat-out put Turner in the conversation for Most Valuable Player on this team.
- Would the Red Sox ever deal one of their best players, Alex Verdugo, at the Trade Deadline? Probably not, but you still can't count out the conversation. There was serious internal debate on whether or not to entertain offers for Mookie Betts at the 2019 Trade Deadline with the outfielder still possessing a year of control on his deal. And Bloom as part of a Rays front office that dealt David Price at the 2014 Trade Deadline despite having another year on his deal.
Verdugo is eligible for for free agency after the 2024 season and, to this point, doesn't seem involved in contract conversations with the Red Sox regarding extending his stay. And considering the opportunity for any acquiring to secure Qualifying Offer status regarding the outfielder - along with the presence of a very good player for the stretch drive - Verdugo's value in any deal won't be any higher.
- Wong has become a legitimate weapon behind the plate. The catcher has the fourth-best "pop time" of any backstop in baseball, allowing for a major league-best 15 baserunners being gunned down trying to steal.
- So, where do the Red Sox stand when it comes to this logjam in the middle infield? Yu Chang not only collected a pair of hits in Sunday's game, after homering Friday, but his presence in the field during both starts was noticeable. He is a lock. And Christian Arroyo certainly continues to show he is anything but a defensive liability at second base while hitting .333 with an .860 OPS in his last six starts (even with Sunday's 0-for-5). That leaves Kiké Hernandez.
Pablo Reyes' integration into the outfield in his minor league rehab stint should be noted, along with his .389 batting average and .844 OPS in his last seven games. Hernandez, conversely, took a turn for the worse in his battle to show consistency in the infield, making a couple of questionable plays Saturday. With Duran cementing the workload in center field, and the Red Sox clearly prioritizing defense for any player manning a middle infield spot, it would seem Reyes has the upper-hand.
- The importance of Rafael Devers was put on display once again over the weekend. Not only did he launch three homers while collecting six hits, but added the kind of presence in the Red Sox' lineup that makes any pitcher work a whole lot harder. There are some players who can do that. Aaron Judge, being one. This version of Devers being another. And don't think for a minute that not going to Seattle for the All-Star break was a blessing in disguise, with the third baseman not only entering the second half with a lethal bat, but he also carried the kind of spring in his step that hadn't been there for some time.
- And then there is Yoshida. What better way to celebrate your 30th birthday than to reenter the American League Rookie of the Year conversation ... and potentially the AL batting race.
The Red Sox outfielder is now hitting .317, second only to Tampa Bay's Yandy Diaz (.323). While Texas' Josh Jung is still the FanDuel favorite to win the ROY, voters might want to take a closer look. While Jung has 19 homers compared to Yoshida's 11, the Red Sox' rookie leads his Rangers counterpart in OPS (.883-.817) and hits (100-99).
After Friday's two-hit performance, there was this ...
And while Yoshida went hitless Saturday, his response Sunday was notable. Three hits, including a triple and grand slam.
- Sunday offered a reminder regarding one of the toughest tasks in baseball - evaluating and projecting 16-year-old international signings.
There, of course, is Devers, whose frame and power looked decidedly different a decade ago, yet here he is. And then we have the Reds' Elly De La Cruz, the rookie phenom who managed yet another eye-opener Sunday with the fastest infield throw in the Statcast era.
When Cincy signed De La Cruz, he weighed 130 pounds. That is ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY POUNDS! And the guy is 6-foot-5. Here is the proof ...
Want to get a head-start on identifying the next Red Sox teenager to burst on the scene? Keep in an eye on 17-year-old shortstop Yoeilin Cespedes, who was signed to a $1.4 million bonus last summer. Cespedes is not only hitting .336 with a .913 OPS in 28 Dominican Summer League games, but has shown above-average strike zone command while making big strides defensively. And his 5-foot-9 frame already weighs 180 pounds.
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Post by Kimmi on Jul 17, 2023 7:18:01 GMT -5
Masataka Yoshida’s Red Sox teammate notices he has ‘that clutch factor’ Sorry, but no. There is no "clutch factor". Yoshida is just a great situational hitter. They say he has several different swings. He knows when to go oppo, when to shorten his swing, and when to unleash.
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Post by Kimmi on Jul 17, 2023 7:19:05 GMT -5
Red Sox’s Triston Casas no longer can count his homers on just two hands
Let's hope that Casas is becoming the hitter that the Red Sox were banking on.
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Post by Kimmi on Jul 17, 2023 7:24:40 GMT -5
J.P. Long @soxnotes · 9h Red Sox MLB rankings since June 30:
.833 win % (1st) 10 wins (1st) 6.4 runs per game (1st) .308 AVG (1st) .359 OBP (2nd, 1st in AL) .542 SLG (1st) .901 OPS (1st) 20 HR (4th, 1st in AL) The Sox unfortunately won't be able to keep up the .833 winning pace, but we are in good shape to make a run at it. Baseball is so much more fun when the Sox are playing like this.
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Post by Kimmi on Jul 17, 2023 7:25:30 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 8h #RedSox in the middle of a stretch that will see them play 25 of 33 games against teams .500 (Mariners) or below (A's Cubs, Mets, Royals, Tigers, Nats) through Aug. 17.
Of the 8 other games, 5 are home.
5-1 so far. Chance to make a run. Yes, yes, and yes. And we have shown that we are capable of beating teams above .500 as well.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 17, 2023 13:24:47 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 4h Need to get Dugie back on track. Had a sizzling .393/.443/.589 13-game hitting streak, and has followed it up with .163/.222/.286 over his next 13 games.
All the line drives he regularly sprays all over the field have been missing. A matchup with Oakland may be the remedy.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 17, 2023 13:28:11 GMT -5
Chaim Bloom's vision for Red Sox is suddenly coming into sharp focus The Red Sox are on a roll, and they have their young talent to thank. By John Tomase, Red Sox Insider • Published 1 hour ago • Updated 1 hour ago NBC Universal, Inc.
Chaim Bloom sounded pleadingly desperate at Winter Weekend when he tried to explain why the team had traded Mookie Betts but retained Rafael Devers. Betts wasn't surrounded by enough young talent, Bloom argued, but Devers would be.
"You guys know that," he pandered, to considerable boos.
Fast forward six months, however, and Bloom's vision suddenly appears a lot clearer. The Red Sox remain a last-place team, but probably not for much longer, since they're visiting the Oakland Triple-A's for three games and the Yankees are in an uncontrolled descent.
The battered starting rotation needs help lest the levee break, but otherwise the team suddenly resembles the one Bloom promised -- young, dynamic, balanced, talented.
The Sox whupped the Cubs 11-5 on Sunday to win another series behind a grand slam from Masataka Yoshida and one-hit pitching from overlooked starter Kutter Crawford. With their 10th win in 12 games, the Red Sox improved to 50-44, tied with the Yankees for fourth place in the AL East.
They're only two games behind the Astros for the third and final wild card spot, and more importantly, they have no one else to leapfrog. A playoff berth, which felt like a fantasy after the Marlins swept the Red Sox at home at the end of June, is now legitimately within reach.
And for that, the Red Sox have exactly the kind of players to thank that Bloom envisioned building around all along.
Atop the lineup, right fielder Alex Verdugo has become a solid everyday regular and borderline All-Star. The Red Sox are never going to win the Mookie Betts trade, but it doesn't have to go down as a first-round KO, either. Between Verdugo's emergence and Connor Wong's rocket arm behind the plate, the Red Sox are finally seeing a return on that investment.
Their best player, though, has probably been outfielder Jarren Duran, whom most of us had already written off. He has fixed his swing by raising his hands, and now he's a threat to record a hustle double every time he steps into the box. A case can be made that no player has had a greater impact on reversing the team's fortunes than Duran, who could make slugging outfielder Adam Duvall expendable at the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
Also in the outfield, Yoshida has made a winner out of the scouts and execs who fought for the Red Sox to sign him, convinced that he'd hit for power and average in the big leagues. Yoshida's $90 million contract suddenly looks perfectly reasonable as he hammers fastballs and makes a run at the batting title.
A stealth contributor over the last month has been first baseman Triston Casas. The slugging rookie started slowly, but his results are finally catching up to his batted-ball data, as evidenced by homers in three straight games at Wrigley Field this weekend. Casas hits the ball as consistently hard as anyone on the team.
The exception would be Devers, who's finally catching fire. Since the start of July, Devers is batting .395 with four homers and 12 RBIs. Bloom bet on him as a centerpiece for a reason, and he's finally showing it.
Add solid production from veterans like Justin Turner and Rob Refsnyder, as well as the expected return of All-Star shortstop Trevor Story next month, and there's suddenly legitimate reason to believe the Red Sox will make the playoffs.
If they do, the chief baseball officer's moves will be a large reason why. Maybe some of you knew it all along, but those of us who doubted his vision are finally starting to see where he was going.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 17, 2023 13:38:42 GMT -5
Game 95: Red Sox at Athletics lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated July 17, 2023, 2 hours ago The Red Sox continued their winning ways in their first series out of the All-Star break, taking two out of three against the Cubs over the weekend, including Sunday’s 11-5 win at Wrigley Field. They have won 10 of 12 to move six games above .500 and into a tie with the Yankees for fourth place in the American League East. They are just two games behind the Astros for a wild-card spot. Here are the standings. Next up is a three-game series at Oakland. The A’s have the worst record in baseball and are 45 games below .500. The Sox had not named a starter for Monday night ‘s opener, but Nick Pivetta is expected to come on in relief in what will be a bullpen game. Lineups RED SOX (50-44): Jarren Duran (L) LF Alex Verdugo (L) RF Justin Turner (R) 3B Masataka Yoshida (L) DH Adam Duvall (R) CF Triston Casas (L) 1B Christian Arroyo (R) 2B Connor Wong (R) C Yu Chang (R) SS Pitching: TBA ATHLETICS (25-70): Zack Gelof (R) 2B Jordan Diaz (R) 3B Ryan Noda (L) 1B Brent Rooker (R) LF Tyler Soderstrom (L) DH Shea Langeliers (R) C JJ Bleday (L) CF Nick Allen (R) SS Seth Brown (L) RF Pitching: RHP Paul Blackburn (1-1, 4.86 ERA) Time: 9:40 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Blackburn: Duran 3-7, Devers 1-3, Story 1-5, Verdugo 2-5, Hernández 1-3, Mondesi 1-2, Alfaro 0-1, Arroyo 1-1, Chang 0-0, Duvall 1-1, Refsnyder 0-1, Yoshida 1-1. Athletics vs. : Has not faced any Oakland batters Stat of the day: All five AL East teams have at least 50 wins. According to ESPN, this is the first time every team in a division has reached 50 victories in fewer than 95 games. Notes: Rafael Devers is 6 for 13 since the All-Star break with five extra-base hits, five runs scored, and three RBIs. … The A’s have lost seven in a row, including three at Fenway July 7-9 in which the Red Sox outscored Oakland 21-9. Jarren Duran and Alex Verdugo combined to go 10-for-19 with two homers, seven RBIs and seven runs scored in the sweep. … Justin Turner is 19 of 45 (.422) during his 12-game hit streak … Blackburn has faced the Red Sox three times in his career, twice as a starter, and is 1-1 with a 6.10 ERA. Song of the Day: Huey Lewis And The News - Bad Is Bad www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CscPTI8fwA
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