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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 15, 2024 14:23:17 GMT -5
Mac Cerullo @maccerullo Between their nonexistent offense and once again sloppy defense, the Red Sox have really wasted today's gem by Kutter Crawford.
Alex Cora says Tyler O’Neill got eight stitches above his left eye and he’s going through concussion protocol. They’ll see how he’s feeling tomorrow and go from there, but hopeful he won’t need to go on the IL.
O'Neill wasn't made available to the media following the game and Devers left the clubhouse without speaking. 2:49 PM · Apr 15, 2024 ·
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 15, 2024 14:25:15 GMT -5
Tyler Milliken ⚾️ @tylermilliken_ Just sucks to see the Red Sox throw away a start like that from Kutter Crawford.
Defense continues to meltdown. Still, the lineup we saw before Tyler O’Neill got hurt is the one we should see almost on a daily basis. O’Neill is getting 8 stitches and is being checked for a concussion.
Offense also needs to score some damn runs. Especially with Rafael Devers back in the lineup. No excuses.
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Post by Kimmi on Apr 15, 2024 16:02:32 GMT -5
So Crawford was cruising then Weissart came in and imploded Wincowski as well
O'neil and Devers have a collision in shallow left O'Neil left the game, Devers stayed in.
Anyway, 4-0 Guardians That was a scary moment when the two collided. Hopefully, O'Neil is okay and won't require a DL stint. Our offense was once again MIA. This team has been unable to put together any offensive rallies. It seems we are living and dying by the long ball, which is not a good thing. The HRs are nice, but you have to be able to score without hitting HRs. I want to see this team put together several non HR hits in an inning and bat around the order.
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Post by Kimmi on Apr 15, 2024 16:03:21 GMT -5
Tyler Milliken ⚾️ @tylermilliken_ Just sucks to see the Red Sox throw away a start like that from Kutter Crawford.
Defense continues to meltdown. Still, the lineup we saw before Tyler O’Neill got hurt is the one we should see almost on a daily basis. O’Neill is getting 8 stitches and is being checked for a concussion.
Offense also needs to score some damn runs. Especially with Rafael Devers back in the lineup. No excuses. Devers needs to get it going.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 15, 2024 19:06:43 GMT -5
Red Sox’ offense continues to scuffle in early-season slump | McAdam
Published: Apr. 15, 2024, 3:47 p.m.
By
Sean McAdam | sean.mcadam@masslive.com
BOSTON — The starting pitching was supposed to be a weakness, and instead, has not only been good, but statistically, the best in baseball.
The defense was a priority throughout spring training, and was expected to be vastly improved. But already, it has allowed 19 unearned runs, or, more than an average of one per game.
The offense, while not judged a juggernaut, was projected to be at least better than average, with the added promise of some athleticism to spice up the lineup. But after Monday’s 6-0 whitewashing by the Cleveland Guardians, the Red Sox have now been shut out three times in the first 17 games, and limited to a single run three other times.
Baseball. Go figure.
Maybe it’s because he has more pressing problems, like trying to ensure that routine plays are being made in the field, but Alex Cora maintained that he’s not worried about his lineup. Yet.
“No. I think that part of the game should be fine,” said Alex Cora. “Some guys are scuffling right now, but we should be OK.”
Should be. But they haven’t been through the first three weeks of the season.
To be sure, there are some extenuating circumstances. They got only six games from Trevor Story before he injured his shoulder, lost for the season. And their best hitter, Rafael Devers, has been out of the lineup five times as he battles a nagging left shoulder injury of his own.
Take those two bats away and any team is going to suffer. But Story isn’t coming back and Devers may have to deal with his shoulder the rest of the way.
Then there’s a host of players who haven’t yet established themselves as major league regulars. Two members of the starting lineup — Ceddanne Rafaela and Enmanuel Valdez — went into Monday’s matinee with batting averages below .200, and a third (Wilyer Abreu) was hitting just .231.
That many players slumping at once isn’t conducive to generating much offense.
“We’ve had a little feast-or-famine at times,” acknowledged hitting coach Pete Fatse. “The reality is, we’re at our best when we’re creating a lot of traffic. We’ve hit a lot of homers, which has been interesting this early from my perspective. But I just think a lot of it comes down to getting on base consistently. A few guys have been a little over-aggressive, put the ball in play weakly at times.
“But, no definitely not a cause for concern. Because you see (the potential); it’s in there. It’s just a matter of pulling it out on a consistent basis.”
Fatse believes the Red Sox need to have patience with a number of their younger players, some of whom might be trying a little too hard in the early going.
“It’s under 50 at-bats, it’s under 20 gams and these guys who are working really hard,” he said. “They’re really talented and a lot of it is just getting a few balls to fall in, like Abreu the other day. (Rafaela) hit three balls really hard today (one to the triangle in center, another to the warning track in left and another up against the wall in straightaway center) and had nothing to show for it.
“You start hunting results at this point to some degree, and we just have to keep our minds on the process, swinging at good pitches and do what we do.”
Fatse is hopeful that hitters don’t feel like they have to do everything by themselves, and remember the collective nature of the offense.
“We’re going to find our groove,” he said with assurance.
Still, it’s not a good sign that the Red Sox were so handcuffed by starter Xzavion Curry, who was making his first appearance this season. The Sox got a two-out single from Tyler O’Neill in the first and a two-out single from Jarren Duran in the third...and that was it.
Their only hit after the third was an infield single by Devers to lead off the ninth. In four of the nine innings, they went down in order.
“We got beat to the spot with the fastball,” said Cora. “We hit the ball in the air, but lazy fly balls. They did a good job mixing up the breaking pitches. Not much, not much.”
Too often this season, that’s been the summation of the offense.
Were they not handing their opponents extra outs and unearned runs like Halloween treats, some of their issues at the plate wouldn’t be as magnified. But of their seven losses, five have been by one or two runs, where a key hit here or there could have meant the difference between victory and defeat.
And that doesn’t begin to take into account the fine pitching performances they’ve wasted in some of those no-offense games, including Monday’s gem from Kutter Crawford, who tossed 5.2 scoreless innings in vain.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 15, 2024 19:19:40 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Red Sox plan to get Wilyer Abreu more at-bats by starting him against righties By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 15, 2024, 1 hour ago
Ceddanne Rafaela started at shortstop for the Red Sox in Monday morning’s Patriots Day contest at Fenway Park.
Manager Alex Cora has been vocal recently about the need to get Wilyer Abreu more playing time, and the Red Sox staff, along with Cora, have landed on a solution.
“Against righties, he will play every day,” said Cora before the Sox’ 6-0 loss to the Guardians. “We’ll find a way. We’ll move people around, but he will play against righties.”
That being the case, Rafaela, who signed as an infielder and is capable of handling shortstop, will get most of the time at that position when the Sox are facing a righty.
Abreu, as he did Monday, will play right field, with Jarren Duran in center and Tyler O’Neill in left.
Having Rafaela at shortstop is a positive development for the Sox, who have displayed horrific infield defense in the absence of Trevor Story.
David Hamilton, who is not a shortstop, has logged a lot of the innings there, struggling to make the routine play and throw. The Sox came into Monday ranked 22nd in the majors in defensive runs saved at shortstop (minus-2). However, Cora said, “This isn’t about the shortstop thing. This is about Abreu getting at-bats.”
Rafaela has struggled offensively, hitting just .160 in 17 games this year. But, of course, developing and contributing in the big leagues is a process.
“We’ve been through this the last two years with our rookies, and we’ve been very patient, and look where they are now, Jarren and [Triston] Casas,” said Cora. “So we’ll be patient. I learned this when I played here; you just got to be patient. It’s the big leagues.”
Rafaela has had better at-bats across the last few games and is hitting the ball hard, despite not seeing results. He tagged a ball to deep right-center Saturday that forced the Angels’ Mike Trout back to the wall for the catch.
Rafaela hit two balls hard in Monday’s game, too. The first was caught near the triangle in the third inning, and the second traveled 400 feet to center. Though both were outs, Cora believes this is a good sign.
“We’re getting close,” he said.
“I think I’m swinging at the right ones,” said Rafaela. “Nothing mechanical. Just swinging at the right ones.” A better Kutter
Kutter Crawford was impressive toward the middle part of the 2022 season. In five starts (six games) from July 4 to Aug. 2, the righthander compiled a 2.38 ERA in 34 innings. He pitched at least five innings each time and lasted six in three of the starts.
After Monday’s start, in which he allowed just two hits across 5⅔ scoreless innings while striking out six, Crawford said this is an even better version of himself.
“2022 was a big learning year for me,” said Crawford, who was a rookie that season. “So I kind of am taking what I learned from then to now.
“Throwing strikes is huge and competing is huge. You have to trust in your stuff. Having conviction in your pitches. In previous starts, I leaned on the sweeper. Today I leaned on the cutter.”
The Sox have always been high on Crawford’s upside based on his metrics, but the problem had been durability and getting through the latter innings. In his four starts this season, Crawford has gone less than five innings just once. His 0.42 ERA is the best for a Red Sox starter through four starts (minimum 20 innings) since Roger Clemens’s 0.28 in 1991.
“He worked hard in the offseason to maintain his stuff from Pitch 75 to Pitch 100, something he didn’t do last year,” said Cora. “He kind of hit the wall. Now the fastball is playing and the cutter is good.” Ceremonial touches
The Sox held pregame ceremonies honoring those who were killed or injured in the Boston Marathon bombing 11 years ago. The Patriots’ End Zone Militia presented the colors, and the American flag was draped over the Green Monster. The Sox wore their home white jerseys with “Boston” across the front. Survivors of the bombing, in unison, did the “play ball” announcement. The Sox also marked Jackie Robinson Day, with all players on both teams wearing No. 42 in blue lettering. Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars Kristen Harriot, Dylan Johnson, Titciana Barros, Lemuel Gonzalez, Natalia Crisostomo, and Jen Kincaid were greeted on the field by Red Sox Hall of Famer Elaine Steward, the team’s senior vice president/assistant general counsel, and also an alumna of the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars. Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski threw out the first pitch. Or was supposed to. Instead of throwing it, he spiked it.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2024 4:26:39 GMT -5
Red Sox might be missing OF Tyler O'Neill for matchup vs. Guardians FLM
The Boston Red Sox might be without outfielder Tyler O'Neill on Tuesday night when they host the Cleveland Guardians in the second game of a four-game series.
O'Neill suffered a cut on his forehead that required eight stitches when he collided with third baseman Rafael Devers during the seventh inning of Cleveland's 6-0 victory on Monday. Boston manager Alex Cora said O'Neill will be in concussion protocol and will be re-evaluated Tuesday.
"Scary," Cora said. "When I got there, (Devers) was OK. I saw the blood. Hopefully both of them are OK, and they'll be ready. Raffy tomorrow and we'll see with TO.
"They called it at the same time, probably. In this game we talk about communication and all that, but when there's 35,000 people in there, it's hard. Two guys trying to make a play, and they ran into each other."
O'Neill began Monday tied for the major league lead in home runs with seven. He also has eight RBIs and is batting .313. Losing him would be a blow to a Red Sox offense that has been held to one run or less in six of 17 games this season. Boston has been shut out three times.
"I think that that part of the game we should be fine," Cora said. "Some guys are scuffling right now, but we should be OK."
Defense is another area of concern for Boston, which has allowed 19 unearned runs this season. One of those came in Monday's loss.
"We have to make plays," Cora said. "We have to be better."
The Guardians improved their road record to 8-2 with Monday's win. Will Brennan jump-started the Cleveland offense with a pinch-hit, two-run home run in the seventh inning.
"Will -- that's the best at-bat he's had all year," manager Stephen Vogt said. "He was on the fastball. He was fighting off the off-speed.
"Will's been a little in-between up to this point, so to see him committing to the best fastball and then was able to make an adjustment on a breaking ball in the zone ... it was really good to see. Huge moment for him, huge moment for us."
It was Brennan's first home run of the season.
"It's so much fun to be a part of this group, and I think each and every person in the clubhouse would say that," Brennan said. "We're a unit. We're together all the time, and it's a great environment to win, prepare and go have fun with these guys."
Cleveland's Tanner Bibee (1-0, 5.93 ERA) will oppose Boston's Garrett Whitlock (1-0, 1.26) on Tuesday in a matchup of right-handers.
Bibee has failed to make it through five innings in two of his three starts this season. He allowed five runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings during his most recent start, against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, but he didn't factor into the decision when the Guardians rallied from a 5-0 deficit to win 7-6 in 10 innings.
Bibee has made one career appearance against the Red Sox and has allowed two runs (one earned) and four hits in five innings.
Whitlock has pitched against the Guardians four times, all in relief. He's 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA and three saves in 6 1/3 innings vs. them.
--Field Level Media
Guardians at Red Sox Tuesday, at 7:10 PM EST Partly Cloudy It's expected to be 60° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 5 MPH wind blowing left to right in Boston at 7:10 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2024 12:37:57 GMT -5
Game 18: Guardians at Red Sox lineups and notesBy Emma Healy Globe Staff,Updated April 16, 2024, 8:44 a.m. The Red Sox might be without outfielder Tyler O’Neill on Tuesday night when they host the Guardians in the second game of a four-game series. O’Neill suffered a cut on his forehead that required eight stitches when he collided with third baseman Rafael Devers during the seventh inning of Cleveland’s 6-0 victory on Monday. Boston manager Alex Cora said O’Neill will be in concussion protocol and will be re-evaluated Tuesday. Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee will oppose Boston’s Garrett Whitlock on Tuesday in a matchup of righthanders. Whitlock’s last start came Thursday against the Orioles, when he surrendered four hits in five innings to keep the game close before Baltimore blew it open in extra innings. Here’s your preview. Lineups GUARDIANS (11-5): Steven Kwan (L) LF Andrés Giménez (L) 2B José Ramírez (S) 3B Josh Naylor (L) 1B Bo Naylor (L) C Ramón Laureano (R) RF Will Brennan (L) DH Gabriel Arias (R) SS Tyler Freeman (R) CF Pitching: RHP Tanner Bibee (1-0, 5.93 ERA) RED SOX (9-8): Jarren Duran (L) LF Rafael Devers (L) 3B Masataka Yoshida (L) DH Triston Casas (L) 1B Wilyer Abreu (L) RF Enmanuel Valdez (L) 2B Connor Wong (R) C David Hamilton (L) SS Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF Pitching: RHP Garrett Whitlock (1-0, 1.26 ERA) Time: 7:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Guardians vs. Whitlock: Estevan Florial 0-2, Andrés Giménez 1-4, Austin Hedges 0-1, Steven Kwan 0-2, Ramón Laureano 0-2, Josh Naylor 1-1, José Ramírez 1-3 Red Sox vs. Bibee: Triston Casas 0-2, Rafael Devers 1-3, Jarren Duran 0-2, Enmanuel Valdez 0-2, Connor Wong 1-2, Masataka Yoshida 1-3 Stat of the day: O’Neill began Monday tied for the major league lead in home runs with seven. He also has eight RBIs and is batting .313. Notes: Losing O’Neill would be a blow to a Red Sox offense that has been held to one run or less in six of 17 games this season. Boston has been shut out three times. ... Defense is another area of concern for Boston, which has allowed 19 unearned runs this season. One of those came in Monday’s loss. ... The Guardians improved their road record to 8-2 with Monday’s win. Will Brennan jump-started the Cleveland offense with a pinch-hit two-run home run in the seventh inning. ... Bibee has failed to make it through five innings in two of his three starts this season. He allowed five runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings during his most recent start, against the White Sox on Wednesday, but he didn’t factor into the decision when the Guardians rallied from a 5-0 deficit to win 7-6 in 10 innings. ... Bibee has made one career appearance against the Red Sox and has allowed two runs (one earned) and four hits in five innings. ... Whitlock has pitched against the Guardians four times, all in relief. He’s 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA and three saves in 6 1/3 innings. Song of the Day: Jimi Hendrix "Vodoo Child" www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7UMubmfbH0
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2024 16:54:23 GMT -5
Mac Cerullo @maccerullo Romy Gonzalez (left wrist sprain) is taking grounders at shortstop. His glove hand is the one that was hurt so definitely an encouraging development
Alex Cora says Tyler O'Neill cleared concussion protocol and is doing better. He'll sit today and tomorrow but the hope is he'll be back in the lineup on Thursday. 5:11 PM · Apr 16, 2024 ·
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2024 16:56:45 GMT -5
Jen McCaffrey @jcmccaffrey Pivetta is playing catch for the third straight day
Isaiah Campbell said he started strengthening work today after a few days of treatment for the shoulder impingement. He hopes he’ll start throwing when the team goes on the road trip and is panning to be back within the 15 days
Pablo Reyes currently doing work at first base. Romy Gonzalez was also doing work at short earlier so the wrist seems to be feeling better. It’s taped up but that’s a good sign 4:26 PM · Apr 16, 2024 ·
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2024 18:23:55 GMT -5
Just taking a look at social media guess it is Dress Like a Seat night night again in Boston......
buddy of mine called me to ask as he watching the pre game that Papelbon was acting like a punk.....
Made me laugh, would rather have house plant on a panel discussing baseball than Papelbon
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 16, 2024 18:39:30 GMT -5
Wow, Casas thrown out trying to steal 3rd with -0- outs.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2024 18:39:40 GMT -5
mlb game day Red Sox down 2-0 all ready and Casas in the 2nd gets thrown out trying to steal 3B.
hahahahahahahahahaah hahhahahahahahahaha hahahahahhahahahaha
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2024 19:25:43 GMT -5
Whitlock out of the game after the 4th, nothing on social media why Rodgriguez comes in the 5th gave up a dinger 3-1 Cleveland
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 17, 2024 5:22:47 GMT -5
José Ramírez gets key hit to help the Guardians beat the Red Sox 10-7 in 11 innings AP
BOSTON (AP) José Ramírez hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the 11th inning, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Boston Red Sox 10-7 on Tuesday night.
With no outs and runners on first and second, Ramírez hit a low liner back up the middle against Josh Winckowski (1-1). After Brayan Rocchio sacrificed and Bo Naylor was walked intentionally, Estevan Florial added a two-run single.
Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase (1-0) pitched the 10th for the win, surrendering a tying sacrifice fly to Connor Wong. Scott Barlow got three outs for his first save of the season, striking out two.
Gabriel Arias had two hits and two RBIs for the AL Central-leading Guardians, who earned their third consecutive victory. Steven Kwan had three hits and scored twice, and Tyler Freeman homered.
Cleveland improved to 12-5. It has won nine of its first 11 road games for the first time since 1948.
“It’s really fun to be a part of the camaraderie, the team. It’s been really fun this year,” Barlow said.
“Just the resilience and never backing down. Anything can happen. And that’s kind of like an example of tonight and it’s really fun.”
Wong hit a two-run homer for Boston, which trailed 5-1 after five innings. Enmanuel Valdez and Triston Casas also went deep.
“It’s tough,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “But we’re going to show up tomorrow. We still got two games on this homestand. It’s been a tough one so far. But we come here, we win two games, and then get ready for Pittsburgh (on Friday).”
Rafael Devers capped Boston's five-run sixth with a two-run double, lifting the Red Sox to a 6-5 lead.
But Cleveland tied it up on Andrés Giménez's RBI single against Kenley Jansen in the ninth. It was Jansen’s first blown save of the season.
“Today’s a day that you just got to tip your hat to the Guardians,” said Jansen, who noticed none of the issues he had with gripping the ball that he had in his previous outing on Sunday. “They did a great job, put the ball in play, nothing you can do about it."
Arias put the Guardians in front again when he singled in Rocchio in the 10th. But Wong responded for the Red Sox in the bottom half.
“That’s unbelievable. I mean, what a game,” first-year Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “We got kicked in the teeth pretty good there in the sixth and it felt pretty bad. But then we come fighting back and then again they tied it up and here we come."
Right-hander Tanner Bibee started for Cleveland and went five innings, giving up one run on Valdez’s homer with two outs in the fourth. Bibee allowed five hits and walked two.
Boston right-hander Garrett Whitlock was charged with two runs and three hits in four innings. He departed because of left oblique tightness.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: Cora said OF Tyler O’Neill cleared the concussion protocol and could return to the lineup on Thursday. O’Neill left Monday’s game against Cleveland after a collision with Devers, suffering a cut on his forehead that required eight stitches to close. ... INF Vaughn Grissom, out all season with a left hamstring strain, continued his rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester, going 1 for 3 while serving as the designated hitter. ... INF/OF Rob Refsnyder, out all season with a left toe fracture, continued his rehab assignment with Worcester, hitting a home run and playing first base. ... Devers left before the eighth with left knee discomfort.
UP NEXT
The Guardians and Red Sox play the third of their four-game set on Wednesday. After being sidelined by a viral illness, RHP Ben Lively will make his 2024 debut for Cleveland. RHP Tanner Houck (2-1, 2.04 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Red Sox.
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