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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 15, 2024 14:40:18 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne Bello again went to the School of Pedro this winter, and the result? A much-improved slider. “I was able to work out with him three or four times. When I got there, my slider wasn't in the best shape. So he gave me a few tips. And that same day, I was able to get a good grip on it. I was trying it consistently and then in the next few days, I was gaining more confidence with it. So yeah, it was a very good time that I spent with him and with Pedro and helping me to get my slider back sharp.” 2:15 PM · Feb 15, 2024
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 15, 2024 14:47:51 GMT -5
How Pedro helped Bello prepare for big step forward 37 minutes ago Ian Browne
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Brayan Bello went back to the School of Pedro (Martinez) this offseason, and the result is a new-and-improved slider that could lead to a significant step forward for the talented righty in 2024.
For Bello to have the opportunity to go pitch off the mound at Martinez’s property in the Dominican Republic and get tips from a living legend is, well, invaluable.
The 24-year-old Bello, perhaps the most talented member of Boston’s young starting rotation, felt instant improvement after Martinez’s tutelage.
“I was able to work out with him three or four times [in the winter],” said Bello. “When I got there, my slider wasn't in the best shape. So he gave me a few tips. And that same day, I was able to get a good grip on it. I was throwing it consistently and then in the next few days, I was gaining more confidence with it. So yeah, it was a very good time that I spent with him and with Pedro and helping me to get my slider sharp.”
Bello feels the slider can be his key third pitch behind his filthy sinker and plus-changeup. He also has a four-seamer that he plans on throwing out of the strike zone to get some chase.
On Thursday, Bello threw live batting practice on the main mound at JetBlue Park and felt in a pretty good groove. And the slider was playing.
“I felt more comfortable with that pitch,” Bello said. “I feel like I can throw it in any count. Today in live BP, I used it and felt really good about it. So it was a good offseason for that pitch. I feel like my confidence is up with that pitch.”
The other reason Bello could be positioned to take the “leap” in 2024? An improved physique Bello knew he needed when he wore down a bit at the end of his first full Major League season.
“Yeah, I was working on my lower body, my back as well,” Bello said. “At the end of last year, I felt a little bit weak. So I wanted to strengthen my lower body so I can get more innings and feel stronger at the end of the year.”
Though 2023 was generally a success for Bello, he hit a wall at the end, giving up a total of 13 runs over nine innings in his last two starts.
In fact, he lost his last three starts, bringing his overall record to 12-11 while his ERA swelled from 3.68 to 4.24.
“I had a few outings at the end of the year that weren’t the best,” Bello said. “So for me, I needed to tackle that right away and I wanted to tackle that right away being aggressive from the first day [of the offseason]. But yeah, I was kind of disappointed by the last few starts last year.”
What is Bello looking to accomplish this season?
“Try to apply everything that I learned last year and all the experiences that I had last year,” Bello said. “I’ve been doing it in the bullpens, and that’s something that helped me a little bit, but also, just trying to get better in all areas that I can.”
There’s a chance Bello will start Opening Day on March 28 in Seattle, but that competition is ongoing. At the very least, he will be a starter the Red Sox will be counting on heavily.
The Red Sox are evaluating Bello in a different way this spring than a year ago, when he was just trying to win a spot in the rotation.
“He's getting ready for the season,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “It's a lot different than last year. I think physically, he's way ahead. I think he learned that in the offseason [last year] … it's not that he took it for granted, but he was very specific this offseason the things he needed to work on, especially body-wise. You see him around. He's grown into a man now. He's gained some weight, he looks stronger, he did an outstanding job in the offseason. Now, it's about his buildup and being ready for the opening series.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 15, 2024 21:26:37 GMT -5
Why Lucas Giolito might be most interesting man on Red Sox Lucas Giolito's family has ties to the entertainment industry and the New England area. By John Tomase, Red Sox Insider • Published 5 hours ago • Updated 5 hours ago
Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow shares his thoughts on expectations for this year’s team and whether or not he believes the team can make the playoffs.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Lucas Giolito grew up in Santa Monica, and the kids who rang his doorbell one Halloween received an unexpected treat from the future big-leaguer: the latest Madden game.
Young Lucas had raided a supply closet at Electronic Arts, where his father was a producer. "It was a pretty good Halloween," he recalled. "I made a lot of friends that night."
If it sounds like Giolito had a fascinating childhood, the dad who made video games isn't even the half of it. His family, with roots in New England, has extensive ties to the entertainment industry that include a grandfather who played a recurring role on Seinfeld, a mother who starred on Broadway, in soap operas, and in movies, an uncle who co-wrote Twin Peaks, and a brother who's an actor today.
Lucas is the only baseball player of the bunch, but as he embarks on his first season with the Red Sox, perhaps it's fitting that a Netflix documentary crew will be chronicling the season.
"It's a fun connection," the 6-foot-6 right-hander said. "There should be some cool stuff in store with that. I'm a fan of what those guys have done. I've watched Drive to Survive and some of the other series. So when I heard about it, I was definitely excited at the opportunity, maybe flex that muscle a little bit. I might get some pointers from my mom and my brother, too."
Giolito is the rare pro athlete whose parents were actors. The Hollywood link traces to his grandfather, Warren Frost, who was born in Newburyport, grew up in Vermont, and spent most of his career serving as an acting coach and artistic director in Minnesota before he retired. His son, Mark, then sparked a second career by casting him as Dr. Will Hayward in Twin Peaks, the cult classic TV series co-created by Oscar-nominated filmmaker David Lynch.
Frost parlayed that stint into a lengthy run on the legal drama Matlock, which in turn led to his most famous role, as Henry Ross, the father of George's doomed fiancé on Seinfeld. Frost only appeared in five episodes, but they were memorable for his confrontations with Jason Alexander's misanthropic son-in-law-that-wasn't.
"He had a few cool storylines during the course of the show," Giolito said.
Frost's daughter and Giolito's mom, Lindsay, followed her dad into acting, making her debut in a 1983 episode of Hill Street Blues. She went on to star in As the World Turns for five years, appearing in over 130 episodes. She worked steadily through the 1990s and early 2000s with credits in shows and movies ranging from The Ring to Frasier to Lost, before retiring and becoming a full-time artist in Southern California, where many of her paintings have a baseball theme.
"My mom was on Broadway," Giolito said. "She was on a soap opera for a long time and then did movies and television for a while. I remember going to soundstages and stuff when I was a kid with her. It was sick. I was living in LA, kind of getting that full Hollywood experience when I was just a little kid, but I was actually more interested in what my dad was doing."
That's because Rick Giolito lived every boy's dream job as a videogame producer and designer. Among his most notable titles were 1999's Knockout Kings, a boxing game for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 that let players fight as all-time greats like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Oscar De La Hoya, and the award-winning Medal of Honor series set in World War II and created by legendary director Steven Spielberg.
"I would go in and play builds early on, that was always cool for me," Giolito said. "The art's not even on, just placeholder polygons, stuff like that. I would go in with the testers in the testing room. That's a hard job. I don't know how they do it. You play the same level for like eight hours straight, just looking for bugs and things like that. But as a kid I was fascinated by it all. I still am."
Giolito never caught the acting bug, but he found another path to the spotlight as a pitcher at powerhouse Harvard-Westlake, where his high school rotation included future big leaguers Jack Flaherty and Max Fried.
A first-round pick of the Nationals in 2012, Giolito was eventually shipped to the White Sox, making an All-Star team in 2019. After a couple of down years, he's hoping to resurrect his career with the Red Sox – who just happened to be his late grandfather's favorite team.
"I'm the first player in my family, but it's really cool, actually kind of a full-circle moment, being in this organization," Giolito said. "My mom's side of the family is all from the New England area. And my grandfather Warren was like the biggest Red Sox fan ever. Even though he's not with us anymore, he's probably looking down like, yeah, this is pretty cool."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 15, 2024 21:29:23 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Will Vaughn Grissom seize the opportunity to be the Red Sox’ everyday second baseman? By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated February 15, 2024, 6:27 p.m.
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Vaughn Grissom has the keys to second base with the Red Sox. It’s his job to lose. The 23-year-old rose through the Braves’ system as a shortstop, seeing limited action at second before 2022, the year he made his major league debut.
The play at second was sporadic, too, because Atlanta had Ozzie Albies, one of the premier power-hitting second basemen in baseball.
With the Red Sox, Grissom has a chance to play and flash the skill set that made him one of the Braves’ top prospects. But that will require reps. Second base doesn’t take the physical and mental toll of shortstop. The responsibilities aren’t as widespread. But the throwing angles are different. The pivots to turn double plays require more technique than athleticism.
“Second base is the most important thing,” manager Alex Cora said. “We know he can play short. We know he can stand at third base, but I do believe 95 percent of his innings in spring training, maybe more, are going to be at second. We have to make sure we can turn the double play; that’s the most important thing.”
If you don’t turn double plays late in games, some wins could turn into losses. The Sox have struggled to find consistent play at second since Dustin Pedroia retired.
Grissom will have the luxury of Trevor Story at shortstop, one of the best in the game. The work between the two began during the offseason when Story held an infield camp near his home in Texas. They worked on turning double plays, where both like receiving throws, and overall, each other’s rhythm and internal clock.
“It’s a good feeling since I know some of these players,” said Grissom.
Grissom is a skillful hitter (.287 in parts of two major league seasons) but has hit just five home runs. Cora, who noted that Grissom’s stature (6 feet 2 inches, 210 pounds) reminds him of Xander Bogaerts, believes that Grissom should tap into more power as his body matures.
But there’s a balance, the manager said.
“He’s going to put the ball in play, he’s going to hit for average,” said Cora. “We have to be very careful chasing something and then losing his bat-to-ball skills. But we do believe that the stronger he gets mechanically [he will have more power]. There are a few sequencing things that [hitting coach] Pete Fatse has noticed. If we can get that, then we’re going to have the final product.” Important spring
Lucas Giolito, Brayan Bello, Justin Slaten, Chris Murphy, Zack Kelly, Joe Jacques, and Bryan Mata threw live batting practice Thursday.
The two names that stand out in that group are Slaten and Mata, considering they are out of options. Mata, a former top prospect, has dealt with an abundance of injuries, including Tommy John surgery in 2021. Despite elite stuff, Mata has struggled with command throughout his minor league career, including more walks (30) than innings (27) last season at Triple A Worcester.
Slaten’s fastball tops out at 96 but normally sits in the low 90s. Acquired via trade this past offseason, Slaten put together a 2.87 ERA last year between Double A and Triple A. Yet Slaten is prone to wildness, too, with 4.5 walks per nine innings during his minor league career.
Both will have to stay on the big league roster for the year for the Red Sox to retain them, and yet neither has big-league experience.
“The main goal right now is for them to throw strikes and then from there, you can go on,” said Cora. Wall ball
The Red Sox have installed a white wall with red squares as a warm-up station at Fenway South. Pitchers conduct arm work by tossing weighted balls into the squares . . . Outfield competition is robust, with virtually no one guaranteed a starting job. The outfield structure largely hinges on Ceddanne Rafaela making the team.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 16, 2024 6:16:19 GMT -5
MLB Notebook: Eight questions as the Red Sox open Spring Training
Published: Feb. 16, 2024, 6:00 a.m.
By
Sean McAdam | sean.mcadam@masslive.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox are officially open for business in 2024, but there are far more questions than answers regarding their upcoming season.
Here are eight of them as spring training gets underway. There could be many, many more.
1) Who wins the spots in the starting rotation?
Assuming good health throughout the spring, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito are set. After that? It’s anyone’s guess.
There is no shortage of candidates, including Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta, Garrett Whitlock, Kutter Crawford and Josh Winckowski. It’s likely that three of those five will start the year in the rotation, but the competition will be wide open.
Other than Winckowski, who struggled mightily as a starter in 2022 before excelling in a relief role last year, the rest have had flashes of success as big league starters, but none has shown the necessary consistency. Can three of them put together a solid month in Grapefruit League action to win jobs as starters? By default, the answer will have to be yes, since it doesn’t appear the Red Sox are showing much aggressiveness toward the free agent market and the remaining options still available.
2) Will Alex Cora’s lame duck status become a distraction?
Cora is entering the final year of his contract, and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has shown no inclination to getting an extension done before the start of the season. That’s understandable on Breslow’s part — he wants to see how the two work together before committing to anything long-term.
But it won’t take long for the speculation to start. One protracted losing streak in May or June will get the talk going. Firing Cora in the middle of the season won’t be the preferred path for Breslow; it will limit his choices to replace Cora and essentially force him to appoint an interim manager for the rest of the way before commencing a more fully realized search after the season.
Even if Cora makes it to the end of the season, however, his future will be the subject of constant speculation. And Cora’s surprising non-answer earlier this week — asked if he wanted to remain manager of the Red Sox past this year, Cora said, “I don’t want to talk about it” — is only going to add intrigue to the whole equation.
3) What will the outfield deployment look like?
Now that it’s known that Masataka Yoshida will get the majority of the DH at-bats, the Sox have four other outfield candidates — Tyler O’Neill, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela — to divvy up the playing time in left, center and right.
It’s unlikely that there will be an everyday alignment; this is not Rice, Lynn and Evans by any stretch. Duran can play left and center. Rafaela, it’s been revealed, will only make the team is he’s getting most of the playing time in center. O’Neill is accomplished enough to play all three. And Abreu seems the most likely to claim the majority of games in right.
But there will be interchangeable combinations, as Cora looks to gain platoon advantages. It would help if the Sox had more of a righthanded presence in the outfield; for the time being, Rafaela and O’Neill are the only righty hitters, along with fifth outfielder Rob Refsnyder. An addition is still possible.
4) Can the defense show improvement?
Trevor Story’s return to full health and availability from the start of the season will help settle the infield greatly. For all his struggles the last two years with the bat, Story remains a plus defender. It’s expected that Vaughn Grissom will represent an upgrade over the many contributors at second base last season.
The problem comes at the corner infield spots. Rafael Devers took a step backward last year in the field while Triston Casas struggled unexpectedly at first. Casas is young, and improvement shouldn’t be hard to achieve.
The outfield is more capable, too, with the addition of O’Neill and at least the possibility of Rafaela winning the center field spot.
5) Can some lefties emerge?
For now, the Red Sox don’t have a lefty starting candidate, with all seven of the principal contenders for the rotation throwing righthanded.
Barring an outside acquisition, it’s will likely remain that way.
But even the bullpen leans heavily righthanded. Brennan Bernardino is the only southpaw with a solid chance of making the Opening Day roster. Chris Murphy, Joe Jacques and Brandon Walter are on the 40-man roster, but each is a distinct longshot to make the club for the start of the year. The three are viewed as Triple A depth.
If this is a concern, Breslow hid it well in his first remarks this spring. “We’ve got righthanded pitchers with weapons vs. lefties,” he said. “That’s ultimately what we’re chasing: outs. In a perfect world, would we balance out both the lineup and rotation and bullpen? Potentially. But at the end of the day, we’re chasing wins and we do that by scoring runs and preventing them.”
That sounds fine philosophically. But in the Red Sox’ own division alone, they have to find someway to pitch to Anthony Rizzo, Juan Soto, Gunnar Henderson, Brandon Lowe and others in big spots.
6) Will any rookies surprise?
The Big Three — Kyle Teel, Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer — aren’t ready, though late-season debuts can’t be ruled out for any. But the trio is too highly valued for the Red Sox to rush any of them to the big leagues at the start of the season. They’re far better off repeating Double A, then eventually graduating to Worcester.
Unfortunately for the Red Sox, those three represent the closest impact prospects.
Technically, both Rafaela and Abreu retain their rookie status. But we’re talking about players who have yet to reach the big leagues coming out of nowhere this spring to make the Opening Day roster, and it’s impossible to envision that happening for now.
7) Where will the power come from?
The Red Sox finished 10th in the American League and 18th in MLB in homers last year with 182.
But over the offseason, the Red Sox lost Justin Turner (23 homers), Adam Duvall (21 homers) and Alex Verdugo (13 homers). That’s 57 homers, or almost one-third of the total from a year ago.
It might be expected that Triston Casas (24 homers) and Masataka Yoshida (15 homers) will increase their output after their first full MLB seasons. But no one knows about the expectations for power from the likes of Abreu, Duran and, should he make the team, Rafaela.
The Sox have been featured an attack based more on doubles than homers in recent seasons. More of that might be expected in 2024.
8) Who will hit leadoff?
There are no obvious answers here, either. Duran might be the best choice for now, but at this point, there’s no guarantee that he’s going to be an everyday contributor — and that’s if he isn’t traded elsewhere.
Newcomer Vaughn Grissom has terrific bat-to-ball skills, above-average speed and the ability to get on base. But it’s highly doubtful that the Red Sox want to put too much on his plate before he’s established himself and Grissom has just 216 major league at-bats to his credit. Better for the Sox to hit him elsewhere until he’s more comfortable.
Rafaela? Too soon, especially since it’s unknown whether he’ll make the club out of camp. Given that there are still some legitimate questions about his readiness, the last thing he needs is the additional pressure of hitting at the top of the lineup.
The best choice might be Abreu, who compiled a .388 OBP in limited play last year. It appears as though Abreu is going to be given every chance to be the everyday right fielder, and lacking alternatives, he may represent the best choice.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 16, 2024 14:27:18 GMT -5
Red Sox roster dilemma involves 2 relievers who have never thrown MLB pitch Published: Feb. 16, 2024, 7:54 a.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox 2024 Opening Day roster might end up including two relievers who have never thrown a major league pitch.
Bryan Mata, who was Baseball America’s highest-ranked pitching prospect entering spring training 2023, has no minor league options remaining. He must make the roster or else be designated for assignment before Opening Day or traded.
Justin Slaten, who has pitched in only five games above Double A, has Rule 5 status. So he also must remain on the active roster for the entire 2024 season (barring an IL stint) or else be offered back to his previous team for $50,000.
It’s often difficult enough for teams to carry one Rule 5 Draft pick for an entire season. But the Red Sox essentially have two because of Mata’s similar situation. Mata underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021 causing him to miss that entire season. He pitched 83 innings in the minors in 2022 after returning from his rehab during the season. A shoulder injury then limited him to just 27 innings in 2023.
The Red Sox never placed Mata on the 60-day IL, which allowed them to retain all his service time. He is still under team control for another six years. But in the process, he ran out of options without ever pitching in the big leagues.
“There’s a lot of competition in camp,” pitching coach Andrew Bailey said. “There’s a lot of competition for rotation spots. There’s a lot of competition for roster spots. We want that. ... My message to those two in particular is you want to make that decision for the front office as hard as possible. If you can do that, you’re in a really good spot. So that’s our goal: to make decisions hard.”
Carrying both Mata and Slaten creates a lack of roster flexibility throughout the season for manager Alex Cora and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. If the bullpen is taxed, Mata and Slaten can’t be optioned to Triple-A Worcester for fresh arms.
“Roster-wise, the flexibility of making moves (makes it difficult),” Cora said. “At the end of the day, if you have good stuff and you throw strikes, you have a chance. Obviously that’s a decision we have to make towards the end. But they’re very talented. Slaten today, the stuff was really good. He threw cutters, breaking balls and the fastball. It was fun to watch. It’s somebody who is opening eyes right away. If we can harness the stuff in the zone, great things are going to happen.”
Ultimately, the Red Sox might need to choose between one because of the roster inflexibility.
Massachusetts sports betting apps are live and legal for online wagering. Sign-up for the top sportsbooks in MA. Bet now with FanDuel Massachusetts, DraftKings Massachusetts, and Caesars Sportsbook Massachusetts. Both Slaten and Mata throw hard. Slaten threw 62 four-seam fastballs in his five Triple-A outings (8.1 innings) last season, topping out at 98.3 mph and never throwing one below 94.1 mph. His average four-seam velo was 96.1 mph or faster in four of his five outings. Mata consistently is in the upper-90s. But both pitchers also need to throw more strikes. Mata has averaged 4.7 walks per nine innings in the minors while Slaten has averaged 4.5 walks per nine innings.
“We’ve been talking about him (Mata) for a while here and we know where we’re at in his situation,” Cora said. “I think obviously the next five, six weeks are going to dictate what we do. I think the only challenge is that roster flexibility. But if we have to carry two, we will. It’s because they earned it, not because we gave it to them.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 16, 2024 14:28:41 GMT -5
Alex Cora identifies Red Sox primary leadoff man for 2024 lineup Published: Feb. 16, 2024, 1:53 p.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com FORT MYERS, Fla. — Alex Cora isn’t sure exactly what his lineup will look like and most of his position players haven’t even reported to camp yet. But the Red Sox manager does have a pretty good idea of who his leadoff man will be.
Cora said Friday that he expects speedy outfielder Jarren Duran to be the team’s primary leadoff man, assuming he’s healthy — and not traded before Opening Day as has been rumored in recent weeks.
“When Jarren was leadoff guy for us, we were probably one of the best offenses in the big leagues,” Cora said. “Obviously, we need him healthy, out there every day. If he’s healthy, that’s my guy.”
Alex Verdugo was Boston’s leadoff man for most of 2023, hitting first 79 times. After being traded to the Yankees in December, he’s no longer an option. Duran posted the second-most starts in the No. 1 spot, leading off in 35 games. All but one of those appearances came between June 8 and Aug. 9.
During that stretch, Duran hit .331 with five homers, 17 doubles and a .933 OPS for the Red Sox. For the year as the leadoff hitter, he hit .319 with a .923 OPS, and leading off games, hit .412 (14-for-34) with six extra-base hits and a 1.105 OPS. He’s a prototypical leadoff hitter as a contact hitter who can also run; Duran had 24 steals on 26 attempts in 2023.
Over a 25-game stretch from July 2 to Aug. 4, Duran hit .388 with a 1.135 OPS and 11 doubles, ranking third in baseball in average, slugging, OPS and doubles. His season came to a premature end on Aug. 20 when he suffered a toe injury trying to scale a wall at Yankee Stadium.
Now fully healthy, Duran is part of a crowded outfield mix for the Red Sox. Newcomer Tyler O’Neill joined Duran, Masataka Yoshida, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela and Rob Refsnyder in the mix for outfield at-bats, though Yoshida is expected to be the primary designated hitter while seeing limited time in left, where he played last year.
Cora has said throughout the week that the status of Rafaela, who needs some more offensive development and is not a lock to make the Opening Day roster, will determine the rest of the outfield alignment. If Rafaela — a defensive standout — is in the majors, he will be the everyday center fielder. If Rafaela goes to Triple-A, Duran seems like the likeliest candidate to start in center but could also play left, where O’Neill will also get a good amount of time.
Duran has played 154 games in center since debuting in 2018 while playing more sparingly in left field (28 games) and right field (8). Abreu seems like the everyday right fielder with O’Neill taking some of the load against lefties; Refsnyder is a fifth outfielder type who will start against some southpaws as well.
“We know (Duran) can play center. He made some strides last year,” Cora said. “It all depends on where we go. He can play center and he can play left.
“Everything goes by decisions here. When we make decisions, then we go with the best alignment out there.”
On days Duran does not start, Cora may have to get creative with his leadoff spot. Refsnyder (20 games), Rafaela (16) and Abreu (3) all led off at times last season. Trevor Story did it 15 times in 2022 (and 39 times for his career). Newcomers O’Neill and Vaughn Grissom have almost zero major league experience hitting first.
“Matchups will dictate that and the roster will dictate that,” Cora said. “As of now, for me, if Jarren is healthy, he’s our leadoff guy.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 16, 2024 14:30:05 GMT -5
Alex Cora challenges Red Sox starting pitchers to take ‘step forward’ in ‘24 | McAdam Published: Feb. 16, 2024, 2:01 p.m.
By Sean McAdam | sean.mcadam@masslive.com FORT MYERS, Fla. — Opening Day is still almost six weeks away, and a bounty of free agent pitchers remain unsigned. But by now, it should be obvious: the cavalry is not coming to the rescue.
The Red Sox’s starting rotation, in the words of a former football coach from the area, is what it is. And whatever upgrades or improvement that come from that rotation in 2024 will have to be the result of growth from the starters already on the roster.
That group doesn’t include Lucas Giolito, already established, or Nick Pivetta, 31, who separated himself from the pack in the second half of last season. Instead, it’s aimed at four starters who are now in their mid-to-late 20s, who have had some success at the big league level, but have, either because of inconsistency or injuries or both, been unable to sustain that performance.
The group includes Garrett Whitlock, Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford. And the time is now.
“There’s certain guys here who need to take a step forward,” said Alex Cora. “I’ve been very honest about it. We need pitching and we need guys to take a step forward. You can sign the best free agent out there pitching-wise, but if he comes here and the Whitlocks and the Houcks and the Bellos and the Crawfords don’t pitch up to what we expect, then what’s going to happen? We’re going to be in the same boat.
“We need our guys to pitch the way they’re capable of. We’ve got Lucas, who is a workhorse. We believe that this guy can go six innings every time he goes out there. And there’s certain guys here who last year, they did a good job. Nick (Pivetta), for example — this is the best I’ve seen him as far as motivation, locked-in mentally, his (stuff) and velocity-wise. Let’s see where it takes us. But I do believe this is a group that we’ve been talking about for a while. I remember in ‘19 and when I got back in ‘21, everybody was talking about Tanner and Crawford and Whit. Well, they’re here and they have to do the job.”
Crawford, Houck and Whitlock are all 27, with Bello set to turn 25 in May. The training wheels have come off. The Red Sox aren’t holding their hands any more. Instead, they’re sending them out and placing expectations upon them.
“They’re not kids,” said Cora. “Some of them, they have two years under their belt. They’re older. Kids are the ones who are 20-21, just getting to the big leagues. Those are kids. These guys, they’re not veterans. But they’re not young anymore. They’re here and hopefully they can take that step forward and become the guys that everybody envisioned four or five years ago.”
To date, the results have been mixed. As starters, the numbers are far from impressive. Whitlock is 5-4 with a 4.76 ERA in 19 career starts. Houck is 10-16, 4.17 in 41 starts. Crawford is 7-13, 5.05 in 36 starts while Bello is 14-18 with a 4.39 ERA in 39 games.
On the bright side, the four are fully healthy and, for a change, all enjoyed normal offseasons.
Cora wasn’t catching anybody by surprise by making his challenge public. In one-on-one meetings, he’s communicated to the quartet that the team is counting on them for more and expecting them to deliver.
“I think we all agree that it’s time for us to compete — against each other and against the rest to the league,” said Whitlock. “It’s one of those things where it’s just like, ‘Hey, let’s go out there and take what we want.’ The way I like to put it is, it’s a bunch of horses foaming at the mouth, ready to go. We’re each driving each other. It’s really neat to see this huge competitiveness and a drive and energy between all of us, where we’re trying to push each other and push ourselves.”
“They know,” said Cora. “I think the program is pushing them to be a lot better early on. I’m very happy where we’re at with the pitching structure. This is something that Craig (Breslow) has done throughout his front office career — putting an emphasis on the pitching part of it. It starts from up top, and we know we can push these guys to be great, to be a lot better. From my end, I do feel like they have to do it.
“I said it at Winter Weekend, and I’ll say it every day. But we’ve got some pieces in place now that are a lot different than in the past as far as philosophy-wise that they’re going to be able to take that step.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 16, 2024 14:31:37 GMT -5
Do Red Sox have another Jackie Bradley Jr. Gold Glover in Ceddanne Rafaela? Updated: Feb. 16, 2024, 2:21 p.m.|Published: Feb. 16, 2024, 2:12 p.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com FORT MYERS, Fla. — Ceddanne Rafaela grew up watching the Red Sox on television and saw Jackie Bradley Jr. play plenty of center field at Fenway Park.
“I watched Jackie Bradley Jr. and how he went about it in center field,” Rafaela said Friday at JetBlue Park. “Watching all those games helped me ... last year.”
Could Rafaela, a native of Curaçao, be the next JBJ? Could he become a perennial center field Gold Glove candidate? Is he already to the point where he’s a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder?
“I don’t feel I’m there but I work hard every day,” Rafaela said. “And I feel like I can win a Gold Glove.”
Manager Alex Cora said earlier this week that Rafaela will be the starting center fielder if he makes the club out of spring training. Almost every scouting report mentions the 23-year-old as a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder.
“Above-average potential Gold Glove center fielder and a solid defender at shortstop with Mookie Betts athletic-profile comps,” a MLB scout told MassLive.
His defense is ahead of his offense right now. He has a lot of extra-base power but he chases too many pitches out of the strike zone. But Cora said the Red Sox might be willing to sacrifice some offense (for the time being as he develops) because of his defensive value.
“If we’re comfortable with the kid playing center field understanding that there’s going to be struggles at the big league level in the offensive part of it, then we’ll go that way,” Cora said. “If we feel he needs to go to the minors and keep getting better and keep improving we’ll do that, too.”
Rafaela added, “I’m pretty confident in my glove. I feel like I can help the team on that side, too, because it’s an important part of the game so I’m very confident.”
Curaçao native Andruw Jones, a 10-time Gold Glover, was Rafaela’s favorite center fielder to watch growing up.
“He’s from the island and every kid wants to be Adruw Jones in Curacao and win 10, 12 Gold Gloves,” Rafaela said.
Rafaela would have one simple (or perhaps complex) question for Jones.
“How he did it,” Rafaela said, smiling.
Rafaela grew up a Red Sox fan because his mom, Recheline Rafaela, is a Red Sox fan. Rafaela said his mom is responsible in part for his defensive prowess. She starred in center field and third base as a softball player.
“She was the best defender I’ve seen,” Rafaela said in 2022. “Yeah, she was a good defender.”
Rafaela also is considered a potential plus defender at shortstop.
“It’s fun to just play defense,” Rafaela said. “It’s fun to make a diving catch. So to help the team is really fun.”
He thinks his versatility as an outfielder and infielder might give him a better chance to make the Opening Day roster.
“Yeah, it’s a good chance,” Rafaela said. “It’s part of my game. It’s what I’ve been doing for the last couple of years. And I’m happy with that.”
He watches video of other center fielders as well as of himself to see where he must improve.
“I really like to see my plays and the other guys in the business right now like Kevin Kiermaier, one of the best (center fielders) in the game right now. I really like how he goes about it. I had the chance to have (Adam Duvall) last year in spring training. He’s a pretty good outfielder, too.”
Rafaela — who worked a lot on pitch selection during the offseason — said Cora hasn’t told him he will be the starting center fielder if he makes the roster.
“He tells me to just keep being me,” Rafaela said. “He’s not putting any pressure on me. So I’m feeling good. I have a good relationship with him. ... He’s just telling me to be myself, be the player you are and just keep working hard.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 16, 2024 18:45:07 GMT -5
Why team that traded ‘uber-talented’ OF to Red Sox thinks he has ‘real upside’ Updated: Feb. 16, 2024, 5:49 p.m.|Published: Feb. 16, 2024, 5:38 p.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com TAMPA — Just because the Cardinals traded Tyler O’Neill doesn’t mean their top decision-makers don’t think the new Red Sox outfielder doesn’t still have a good amount of upside as he enters his first season in Boston.
The December trade that sent O’Neill to the Red Sox for right-handers Nick Robertson and Victor Santos ended an up-and-down 6 ½ year tenure in the St. Louis organization for O’Neill, who will get plenty of chances to make an impact an inexperienced Red Sox outfield mix that also projects to include Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, Masataka Yoshida and Rob Refsnyder in 2024. With a logjam of outfielders, St. Louis entered the winter looking to trade one and a handful of teams inquired on O’Neill before the Cardinals shipped him to Boston shortly after the end of the Winter Meetings.
The move, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak, was more about St. Louis’ roster and less about the organization’s faith in O’Neill.
“He’s uber-talented,” Mozeliak said Thursday. “He’s a guy that, when you think back just a couple of years, he was getting upper ballot MVP votes. Two things: He’s got to be able to stay healthy and he’s got to perform. But I do think he’s an amazing talent.”
O’Neill, who the Cards originally acquired in a 2017 trade that sent lefty Marco Gonzales to Seattle, has spent a good amount of his career on the injured list. He has eclipsed 100 games in a full major league season just once, when he hit .286 with 34 homers, 80 RBIs and a .912 OPS while winning a Gold Glove for St. Louis. Injuries limited him to 96 games in 2022 and 72 last year, when he regressed to a .715 OPS.
Keeping the ultra-muscular O’Neill, a workout fanatic, on the field will be a challenge for the Red Sox, just like it was for the Cardinals.
“Have you met him yet? He’s well put together,” Mozeliak noted when asked about O’Neill’s injury history. “When you look at that physique relative to other baseball players, it is a little different.”
O’Neill’s final season in St. Louis included a public dispute between the outfielder and his manager, Oli Marmol. On April 5, Marmol benched O’Neill for a perceived lack of hustle after he let up while running around third base and and was thrown out by Ronald Acuña Jr. in the seventh inning of a loss to the Braves. Because it was raining heavily, O’Neill may have wanted to avoid risking injury; Marmol didn’t see it that way. The manager called O’Neill’s effort “unacceptable” and the outfielder responded by saying he didn’t appreciate Marmol questioning his character, noting that he thought the situation “should have been handled a little differently.” In an appearance on Foul Territory last month, O’Neill characterized his relationship with Marmol as akin to “respect at an arm’s length” and that the pair ended on good terms.
On Thursday, Marmol and Mozeliak both downplayed the incident.
“I think he’s super mature. He’s a very mature individual,” Marmol said. “Goes about his business. You never have to question that part of it at all. A lot more was made of that than what we experienced in our clubhouse, I’ll tell you that.
Mozeliak concurred.
“A lot of that kind of got spun out of control a little bit. When you think back to the season we were having, you couple that with losing, I think it just was one of those things where it was tough to slow all the negativity down. Here, he gets a fresh start. We wish him well.”
In O’Neill, the Red Sox think there’s more talent to tap into. To this point, the 28-year-old has been the club’s only outfield addition of the offseason despite the fact Alex Verdugo (traded to Yankees) and Adam Duvall (still a free agent) no longer being on the roster.
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“There’s a ton of upside,” Marmol said. “This is a guy that has shown an impressive skillset defensively and has put together some consecutive months of high performing offense. The ability to put that together with his work ethic and just overall determination could lend itself to be some real upside.
“At the end of the day, it’s just getting into a rhythm more than anything. Unfortunately, there’s been some injuries that haven’t allowed him to do that.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 17, 2024 6:45:14 GMT -5
Jarren Duran not taking anything for granted amidst trade rumors, leadoff hitter announcement
By Gabrielle Starr | gstarr@bostonherald.com PUBLISHED: February 16, 2024 at 7:37 p.m. | UPDATED: February 16, 2024 at 7:44 p.m.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The first full-squad workout isn’t until Monday, but Alex Cora already knows who he wants leading off in 2024.
“If Jarren is healthy, he’s our leadoff guy,” the Red Sox manager said.
Between May 15 and August 11 of last season, Jarren Duran made 35 starts in the leadoff spot. He hit .319 with a .923 OPS, 45 hits – including 16 doubles, two triples, and five home runs – 25 runs scored, seven walks, 33 strikeouts, and 12 stolen bases. As the first batter of the game, he went 14-for-34 (.412) with four doubles, a triple, and a homer.
Among the 48 MLB hitters who had at least as many plate appearances (149) in the leadoff spot as he did, Duran ranked third in slugging percentage, fourth in batting average, and fifth in OPS.
With his speed – he ranked in the 96th MLB percentile in Sprint Speed and 97th in Baserunning Run Value – he excelled at turning singles into doubles, an appealing attribute for a leadoff man. Of the aforementioned 48 players, he was one of 15 players who stole 12 or more bases. However, the rest of them played anywhere from five to 126 games more than he did.
Even though a toe injury and resulting surgery put an end to his season after 102 games, it was a stunning turnaround campaign overall for the 27-year-old outfielder, who’d struggled to a .219 average and .622 OPS over his first 91 career games between the ‘21 and ‘22 seasons. After starting ’23 in Triple-A, he rejoined the big-league club in mid-April and hit .295 with a .828 OPS. He not only emerged as a force at the plate, but improved defensively, and was electrifying on the base paths; he led the team with 24 stolen bases, the most by a Red Sox player since Mookie Betts in 2018.
Duran’s positive impact became clear both from his presence in, and subsequent absence from the top of the lineup. The Red Sox went 39-36 during that span, including 18 wins – or 23% of their season total – when he hit at the top of the order. “When Jarren was the leadoff guy for us, we were probably one of the offenses in the big leagues,” Cora assessed.
The morning after Duran’s last game in the leadoff spot, the Red Sox were 61-55, in fourth place in the American League East. They went 17-29 the rest of the season and fell to last-place, finishing at the bottom for the third time in four seasons. His late-summer injury is nowhere near the key reason for the team’s collapse down the stretch, but the Sox lost a lot of speed and spark without him.
Teams took notice, too. Duran is trying to tune out the trade rumors. “I don’t pay attention to that stuff,” he said. “It’s just more stress, and I don’t want to add more stress to my life than I already do to myself.”
“I think that’s really cool,” he said of teams being interested in him, “but at the same time, I’m with the Red Sox so all I really care is what they think of me right now.”
Among their thoughts on him is that he’s a strong candidate not only to make his first Opening Day roster, but to be their leadoff man. He doesn’t take any of it lightly.
“That’s awesome to hear,” Duran said when made aware of Cora’s announcement, “but I just can’t be satisfied still, I’m still gonna come out here like I don’t have a job.
“That’s just not how I’m wired or raised, to take anything for granted, so I’m still gonna come out here and work as hard as I can until they tell me, ‘Hey, like, take it back a little bit, you’re working a little too hard.”
One thing that has changed is Duran’s comfort level in the clubhouse. On a team with immense roster turnover over the last several years, he’s no longer the rookie going back and forth from Triple-A Worcester. In fact, he’s their longest-tenured outfielder.
“I’m still coming in with the same attitude,” he said of his training and work ethic, “but I’d just say I know more guys, so it’s more comfortable hanging out with the boys and not feeling like I’m stepping on anybody’s toes, you know, it’s easy to shoot the banter with guys and joke around with them.”
Outside the clubhouse is a different story. He’s become a recognizable member of the team, which can be uncomfortable for someone who describes himself as “just a quiet, shy guy.”
“It’s nice that people recognize me and stuff, but sometimes I wish I was still hiding under the umbrella, I could sneak by people,” he explained. “But it’s awesome to have the fans’ support and I love them, and I hope they love me, and I hope they enjoy the way I play the game.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 17, 2024 6:49:26 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Red Sox manager Alex Cora bemoans lack of excitement during MLB offseason By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated February 16, 2024, 6:48 p.m.
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox manager Alex Cora bluntly labeled this offseason hot stove as boring. Except for the Dodgers, MLB’s free agency season offered little excitement.
“It was boring for the business, for the game, and there’s a lot of good players out there who should be somewhere getting ready for the season,” Cora said Friday morning at Fenway South.
Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed a desire for a free agency deadline Thursday at the Grapefruit League media day, suggesting it would prompt quicker deals.
The reigning Cy Young winner, Blake Snell, remains without a team. Jordan Montgomery, a key figure in the Rangers’ 2023 World Series victory, is also jobless, spending the offseason in Boston while his wife fulfills her residency. J.D. Martinez, following a stellar 2023 season with the Dodgers, is in Miami on his fishing boat.
Free agency should be an integral part of the baseball offseason. The NBA’s free agent period dominates the sports landscape in early July. Considering the larger number of roster spots in MLB, Manfred suggested making the free agent window anchored by the Winter Meetings.
“No news is not good for the business,” Cora said. “As a baseball fan, I believe the best deadline was 2021 because we had the lockout, and the last two hours of that day were crazy. Texas made their money and they won a World Series because they got two big boys over there [Marcus Semien and Corey Seager]. They did their job.”
This is not a Red Sox issue but an industrywide one. It’s concerning that Montgomery has spent the entire offseason working out at Boston College while the Red Sox, despite showing interest, haven’t made significant moves.
The Sox prioritize developing pitching talent internally, believing Kutter Crawford has the potential to be a good starter and Nick Pivetta can be elite with a better approach. However, acquiring more proven talent is also a consideration.
“That’s a question for the people upstairs,” Cora said. “But I mean, this offseason is not over. There’s a lot of good pitchers out there. A lot of good players out there, position players. I know the front office is still working, and hopefully we can get better in the upcoming weeks.”
Spin around camp
In other news, Masataka Yoshida arrived at camp Thursday. He went through outfield drills with the club and took batting practice … Bobby Dalbec was spotted with the outfielders, shagging fly balls. The Sox have mentioned him as a possibility out there, likely at a corner position … Pivetta, Greg Weissert (Alex Verdugo trade), and Tanner Houck were among the pitchers to throw live batting practice Friday … Closer Kenley Jansen (lat) is still on track to throw next week. He’s currently going through cardio/conditioning and arm treatment.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 17, 2024 10:52:40 GMT -5
Red Sox rookie: ‘Exciting’ to see Tom Werner’s (400 at-bat) endorsement
Updated: Feb. 17, 2024, 7:10 a.m.|Published: Feb. 17, 2024, 7:00 a.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Team chairman Tom Werner gave an unsolicited shoutout to a rookie during Red Sox Winter Weekend in January.
“I’m looking forward to Wilyer Abreu having 400 at-bats,” Werner said. “There’s a lot to be excited about. We admit that our pitching wasn’t strong last year but I expect improvement. I expect the people who are on our team — and we have a young core — will be a step closer to being excellent.”
Abreu is aware of Werner’s comment because his agent told him about it.
“Of course it makes you feel good,” Abreu told MassLive through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez at JetBlue Park. “Somebody of that stature naming you is always good and also it gives you kind of an understanding that the team is going to trust in me. So that’s something that was really exciting.”
Abreu is an important member of that young Red Sox core that Werner referenced. He showed excellent plate discipline in his first stint in the major leagues late last season. The 24-year-old left-handed hitter batted .316 with a .388 on-base percentage, .474 slugging percentage, .862 OPS, two homers, six RBIs, 10 runs, 14 RBIs and three stolen bases in 28 games (85 plate appearances).
Abreu made a massive leap in the prospect rankings. He jumped from No. 22 to No. 6 in Baseball America’s Top 30 prospect rankings. He also ranks No. 6 on MassLive’s Red Sox Top 25 prospect list.
He was unaware he jumped 16 spots in BA’s rankings.
“I haven’t had the chance to see it,” Abreu said. “Obviously it’s good news for me but being in the top 10 doesn’t mean I have anything secure. So I don’t take it for granted. And my focus is to keep working and to keep getting better.”
His advanced pitch recognition skills helped him post an impressive 25.1% chase percentage and 10.6% walk percentage in 85 plate appearances for Boston. He has a very similar approach to Triston Casas who as a rookie last year finished in the 86th percentile in chase percentage (22.1%) and 93rd percentile in walk percentage (13.9%).
“Last year was a very successful year for me not only on the field but off the field” Abreu said. “I had my first child, which is great news for me. So I think that having such a nice year last year helped me to relax a little bit this offseason — not on the work side but on the personal side and the mental side.”
Abreu was limited to 86 games at Triple-A Worcester last year because he strained both his right and left hamstrings.
“My focus this offseason was trying to strengthen my hamstrings,” Abreu said. “I tried to get a better workout for them so I can be durable during the whole season. That was my main focus: trying to strengthen my hamstrings and my legs.”
Boston acquired Abreu from the Astros in the Christian Vázquez trade at the 2022 deadline. He was unranked among the Astros’ top 30 prospects entering ‘22. Why did he go so under the radar in terms of prospect rankings until now?
“To be honest, I don’t know,” Abreu said. “Like I said before, I don’t pay attention to that. My only focus is just to go out there, have fun and play my game. And just have fun. That’s my main focus. That’s what I’ve been trying to do. To be honest, I don’t really focus on anything like that or really care about it.”
Abreu is fighting for a spot on the 26-man roster and he has a good chance to make the team after what he showed last season. Of course, he has Werner’s endorsement.
“I want to have fun here in this camp with my teammates and enjoy this time of the year with all of them,” he said. “I don’t want to do more than I need to. I just want to control my body, control everything that I can control.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2024 7:21:05 GMT -5
Kutter Crawford at work in Red Sox camp to remain in rotation this season By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated February 17, 2024, 5:14 p.m.
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox catcher Connor Wong changed his view of teammate Kutter Crawford on Saturday.
Instead of his usual perspective from behind the plate, Wong was one of the hitters who faced Crawford in live batting practice on Field 1 behind JetBlue Park.
With about 30 fans and nearly as many coaches and team officials watching from behind the backstop, Crawford got his work done under a cloudy sky.
“As a catcher, I see a lot. But the perspective as a hitter is different because you get a real feel for the breaking pitches,” Wong said. “Kutter brings so much to the table and it’s getting better.”
As the Sox dithered on how best to use Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock, Crawford secured a rotation spot last season. The righthander, who turns 28 in April, made two starts to open 2023 then dropped into the bullpen. A hamstring strain cost him most of May but he returned to the rotation in June and had a 4.20 earned run average over 21 starts, averaging a solid 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings.
Crawford joins Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito, and Nick Pivetta as presumed rotation locks with Houck, Whitlock and Josh Winckowski competing for a spot.
In a season that is shaping up to be a six-month tryout camp to be part of the future chief baseball officer Craig Breslow envisions, Crawford has to show the Sox more. To that end, he’s working on a split-finger fastball, a pitch that would be an ideal complement to his four-seam fastball, cut fastball, sweeper, and curveball.
“If I get it consistently moving the way I want it, if I get the shape the way I want it, it’s going to open up the arm side of the plate,” Crawford said. “All my stuff is moving glove side, away from righties and into lefties. The splitter would open up the other side of the plate.
Crawford has what the coaches call “pitchability.” That’s being able to find different ways to record outs. A At 6 feet 1 inch, Crawford looks short compared to the small forwards who populate the clubhouse. But he’s gained strength in the hope of adding some pop to a fastball that averaged 93.6 m.p.h. last season.
He’s also mentally tough.
Crawford bounced through the different roles last season before staying in the rotation for four months. Sure, he benefited from the Red Sox being short of rotation options. But he also had five starts of at least six innings with two or fewer earned runs.
“I try to be resilient,” Crawford said. “No matter what, you have to keep working and when you show up at the ballpark, be ready to work. I gained confidence being able to change roles and succeed.”
Wong said Crawford is “kind of a fun-loving goofball” between starts and a different person when it’s his turn to pitch.
“When the lights go on, it’s almost like you’re in a fight,” Crawford said. “I get that bulldog mentality and try to be fearless on the mound. You have to have that competitive nature.
“I’m talking to myself and I get fired up. Sometimes I need to step back and assess the situation. But that’s how I’ve always been.”
Beyond refining his splitter, manager Alex Cora wants to see Crawford work deeper into games. He recorded only one out in the seventh inning last season and opponents hit .356 with a 1.142 OPS the third time around.
It’s increasingly rare for a starter to face a lineup for a third time. But the Sox challenged Crawford last season.
“He understands what he needs to do to get there,” Cora said. “Maintaining the velocity with his fastball throughout the outing is something that we want. He put the work in [in] the offseason physically to accomplish that.”
Crawford grew up in Okeechobee, about two hours northeast of JetBlue Park. The Sox drafted him out of Florida Gulf Coast University in 2017. This is now his eighth year with the organization.
“He’s not a kid anymore,” Cora said. “This was a guy everyone was talking about a few years ago, that he would be part of the rotation. Personally, I trust him a lot.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2024 7:24:00 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Bobby Dalbec feels better about his swing, his place with Red Sox this spring By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated February 17, 2024, 5:13 p.m.
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Bobby Dalbec remained stoic last season despite spending much of the year at Triple A Worcester. His demeanor never betrayed the weight of the year.
The Red Sox mostly overlooked Dalbec, despite his Triple A season that included 33 homers and a .938 OPS.
Dalbec did not break camp with the team but was promoted to the big league club for four games in April, another four in May, and two games at the White Sox in June. In his final game, he had just one at-bat before being pinch-hit for when Chicago brought in a righthander.
Dalbec did not return to the majors until Sept. 11, making 11 more appearances, going 8 for 37 at the plate with a homer and a double. Nonetheless, he stayed engaged with the major league club when he was around, seeking hitting tips from David Ortiz and earning praise from his Worcester teammates.
But beneath the surface, something was amiss.
“It was just a long year,” Dalbec said. “It was a mentally draining year.”
That’s understandable. Trading private planes for 12-hour minor league bus rides can take its toll. However, the lifestyle shift wasn’t the main issue. Dalbec simply did not know where he stood with the organization.
“It was kind of like there was not a lot of transparency,” Dalbec said regarding the front office led by former chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom. “Obviously that’s not up to me, and obviously I can’t control it. They have a lot more stuff going on than just necessarily to make me feel good.
“I’ve gotten way better feedback this spring so far, but last year was tough. I kind of felt in the dark for a lot of the season. But I know I’m not the first guy that this has happened to.”
Dalbec thought he would be traded at the deadline last year. When he received a call or text from Bloom informing him that the deal didn’t go through, one can imagine that brought on another layer of emotions.
Dalbec made it through another offseason, but now the club might really need him if they don’t make any other moves. His right-handed power, though it comes with strikeouts, is still elite, and the Red Sox lack righty power.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said during the Winter Meetings that Dalbec’s power isn’t something they overlook, understanding its value to the club. Dalbec is also a versatile athlete, who can play third and first base, as well as left or right field when needed. On Friday, Dalbec took some reps with the outfielders.
Dalbec came in a bit heavier this spring (by design), adding roughly 3-5 pounds. He feels as though he’s finding himself as a hitter, which comes from experience, even if many of those at-bats occurred in Worcester last year. Dalbec also gained more perspective, noting that he’s not overloading himself with analysis.
“I don’t feel like I’m going to the body shop every time I’m in the cage,” Dalbec said. “I’m just going for a pit stop. Like the word fix, to me, means I’m not confident or not trusting what I’m doing right now.
“I don’t really need to change anything,” he added. “My swing pretty much always looks the same for the most part. Obviously, there are setup adjustments, but it’s all about just getting to the right spot at the right time.”
Dalbec will be 29 in June and ideally wants to be on a club where he can play every day.
Until then, Dalbec will continue to see his Red Sox tenure through the same way he did in Worcester last year.
“I’m trying to be myself, be normal,” said Dalbec, “and try to let that evolve into whatever it is.” Splendid advice
The Red Sox hung a sign on the batting cages reading, “We’re going to learn how to do two things. We’re going to hit it hard and we’re going to hit it in the air.” It’s a comment attributed to Ted Williams, who knew the merits of exit velocity and launch angle many decades before those terms came into vogue in baseball . . . Dwight Evans was in his No. 24 jersey for the workout after arriving at camp and had lunch with Jim Rice. That was 36 seasons of major league time and 1,775 extra-base hits at one table . . . Garrett Whitlock, who purchased a home a few miles from the ballpark, has been commuting via bicycle. “I’m a Florida Man now,” joked Whitlock, who said the bike actually gets him to the park faster on weekdays given the traffic here . . . It rained for a bit in the morning, but the annual open house fan event at JetBlue Park went on as planned. Heavier rain is in the forecast for Sunday.
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