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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 17, 2021 4:25:15 GMT -5
5 question marks as Red Sox open camp at JetBlue Park Bob Rathgeber Special to the Journal
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The equipment truck, laden with such necessities as 21,000 baseballs, 60 cases of sunflower seeds, 1,100 bats, uniforms, etc., has arrived at JetBlue Park in advance of Thursday’s first workout for the Red Sox.
Pitchers and catchers are to report on Wednesday, and temperatures are expected to be in the 80s, just right for working up a good sweat and a bit warmer than frosty New England these days. A revised spring training schedule based on geography to limit long bus rides has been approved by Major League Baseball. And manager Alex Cora is back.
That’s the good news.
The not-so-good news? Where do we start?
There are question marks all over the field. That’s what dominates the start of Red Sox camp this spring, which opens amid a COVID-19 pandemic that hangs like a black cloud over the Green Monster. COVID shut down spring training last March and shortened the regular season to 60 games. With more than 100 pages of health-related protocols agreed upon by the players union and MLB, the players said they want to play a full 162-game schedule, but if and how that will happen remains to be seen.
Here are five areas of uncertainty in the early going of this brand new Red Sox season: The rotation
Lots of experience and lots of injuries. The top two starters heading into 2021 are right-hander Nate Eovaldi and lefty Eduardo Rodriguez. The big question mark, with a capital Q, is Rodriguez, who missed all of last year because of COVID-19 and myocarditis, a rare heart condition that is treatable with rest and medical care. He won 19 games in 2019, which shows he has the right stuff if he’s healthy. The Sox re-signed Martin Perez and invested $10 million in right-handed veteran Garrett Richards. The final spot is still to be determined but will likely be Tanner Houck or Nick Pivetta. Houck has an option, Pivetta does not.
And then, of course, there's Chris Sale. His status is uncertain as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. If all goes well, the soon-to-be 32-year-old probably won’t pitch until after the All-Star Game in July and then only sparingly. Boston is in no hurry to rush the left-hander, despite his intensity and aggressive style. The Sox say he is progressing smoothly, despite a stiff neck issue at the first of the year. The bullpen
You’ll hardly recognize it without a scorecard. The top acquisition is veteran Adam Ottavino, who came to Boston in a rare trade with the Yankees. Other new faces include Matt Andriese, recent Japanese signee Hirokazu Sawamura and Rule 5 pick Garrett Whitlock. Also, you can pencil in at least one familiar face, Matt Barnes. FILE - In this Feb. 29, 2020, file photo, New York Yankees' Adam Ottavino delivers a pitch during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Tampa, Fla. The Yankees made a rare trade with the rival Boston Red Sox, sending struggling reliever Ottavino to Boston along with minor league right-hander Frank German for a player to be named or cash. The infield
The left side is anchored by shortstop Xander Bogaerts and third baseman Rafael Devers, both potential All-Stars. Dustin Pedroia, the longtime second baseman who hasn't played a meaningful season since 2017, has retired. The team signed a couple of Swiss Army Knives — guys who can play just about everywhere — in Kiké Hernandez of Dodgers fame and Marwin Gonzales, a veteran free agent. How they fit in and who will play second remains to be seen. At first base is rookie Bobby Dalbec, a slugger who can hit ‘em a long way (8 home runs in 2020 in just 80 at-bats) but he swings and misses often (39 strikeouts in those 80 at-bats).
The outfield
Who’s going to play center field? And left field? Free-agent Jackie Bradley Jr., who spent eight seasons in Boston, is rumored to be after a four-year contract and is among about 100 veterans still without a job. Boston doesn’t seem to be in the picture, at least not yet. So, center will likely go to Alex Verdugo, a good hitter but whose glove will never be compared to Bradley’s. Left field is open, with the trade of Andrew Benintendi to Kansas City. The choices there appear to be the switch-hitting Gonzales, Hernandez at times and Franchy Cordero, the main piece in the Benintendi trade. Hunter Renfroe — a free-agent who signed with Boston is, like Dalbec, a slugger who also strikes out about 30% of the time — is expected to man right field. . The manager
Cora is back after a year-long suspension stemming from the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal, where he was the bench coach. He takes over for his former Boston bench coach, Ron Roenicke, who oversaw a 24-36 campaign that landed Boston in the basement of the American League East. Cora's success in Boston is well-documented, but just how he'll be received is less clear.
“There's a lot of people that are happy that I'm back. I understand there are some people upset, that's the nature of this, and I don't blame them. To those people, just give me a chance. I'll be OK. I made a mistake and I paid the price. For the people that embraced me or are happy I'm back, I appreciate that. I know it hasn't been easy, but I love this organization, I love what I do. I promise you, I'm going to give everything, just like I did in '18 and '19, to win ballgames and have a great season.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 17, 2021 8:27:49 GMT -5
Mastrodonato: Expectations low for 2021 Red Sox as spring training starts on Thursday
By Jason Mastrodonato | jason.mastrodonato@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald February 17, 2021 at 5:45 a.m.
It’ll be frosty at Fenway Park on Thursday, with a scheduled high of 30 degrees, about 55 degrees chillier than the expected weather at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers.
It’ll be the Red Sox’ first official workout as pitchers and catchers get to work on rectifying one of the franchise’s worst seasons in 55 years.
For the first time in almost five months, the stink of 2020 will fade to the fresh, blossoming smell of a brand new season.
What are reasonable expectations for a team that’s coming off a last-place finish, didn’t spend more than $10 million on any free agent this winter and has its perennial Cy Young candidate, Chris Sale, on the mend from Tommy John surgery?
To call these Red Sox legitimate contenders for an American League pennant would be disingenuous. Not even the architect of this roster, chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, would say that. He would barely predict that they’re a playoff team.
“I think it can be,” he said last week. “Our front-line talent can play with anybody. So we wanted to surround our talent with enough depth that if everything clicks, we can have a pretty exciting year.
“We’ll see what plays out. But I certainly think with the talent we have in hand, hopefully we’ll be able to add to it as we get closer to camp and get into camp, that we’ll have the pieces here to make some noise and make a playoff run.”
If the guy in charge is cautiously hopeful they can get to the playoffs but has been admittedly more focused on building for the future, what should fans expect?
Here’s my take: the Red Sox don’t have to make the playoffs for 2021 to be a success. But they better be competitive, because anybody who watched so much as 25% of the Sox’ games in 2020 needs to wash away that bad taste as quickly as possible before we start seeing more Dodgers hats on the streets of Boston (and there are already plenty).
This isn’t an organization that can afford to have another wasted year. NESN ratings tanked during a painful-to-watch last-place season, which was only made worse by Mookie Betts and the Dodgers representing the last team standing at the end of the year.
Expectations haven’t been this low since six years ago, the last time the Red Sox had back-to-back losing seasons in 2014-’15. Before that it hadn’t happened since the Butch Hobson days in the early ‘90s, when the Sox were still carrying the weight of The Curse.
They dipped their toes into free agency this winter but whiffed on every big name, instead adding second- and third-tier talent on short-term contracts they hope will provide some upside in future years.
They said goodbye to Andrew Benintendi and welcomed a matching 26-year-old corner outfielder, Franchy Cordero, an oft-injured left-handed hitter who has yet to make much of an impact in the big leagues.
Longtime center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. is still a free agent, but might’ve played his last game in a Red Sox uniform.
Freshly added position players Cordero, Kiké Hernandez, Marwin Gonzalez and Hunter Renfroe will provide some versatility and depth for Alex Cora to play around with. It’ll also be Cora’s first year managing Alex Verdugo, their best player in 2020.
Matt Barnes looks like the favorite to be the closer (though Cora isn’t one to use a single closer), while new additions Adam Ottavino from the Yankees, Hirokazu Sawamura from Japan and Matt Andriese via free agency will give the ‘pen a new look.
The starting staff could be described as a crapshoot, a total mess or, at its best, a group of inconsistent, injury-prone players who have as much upside as any group in the game. Sale, Eduardo Rodriguez, Nathan Eovaldi, Garrett Richards and Tanner Houck could be one heck of a rotation if everything goes right.
Of course, there’s just as much of a chance that it doesn’t, that two or three of them miss significant time on the injury list and the Sox are forced to go into their minor league depth to see what they’ve got. The last time they had this much uncertainty in their rotation, John Farrell proclaimed that the Red Sox had five aces before the ’15 season.
Speaking of the minors, this could be the year the Sox get a look at a few of their top prospects, with Jarren Duran, Jeter Downs and Triston Casas on the verge of their big league debuts. If the Red Sox aren’t in contention by July, there could be more sell-offs and prospect promotions.
That won’t go over well with the hardcore fans, though, and the Sox risk losing more equity in the Boston sports marketplace. They simply can’t afford another season in which they have deep pitching issues, can’t string together any winning streaks to drum up excitement and remain far behind the Rays and Yankees, if not the up-and-coming Blue Jays in the American League East.
The Red Sox simply have to be competitive through September. Even if they narrowly miss the playoffs, they need to give the fanbase a reason to stay interested.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 17, 2021 8:30:43 GMT -5
Andrew Politi among Boston Red Sox’s most interesting pitchers at spring training camp, brings mid-90s fastball with spin and ‘chip’ on his shoulderUpdated 6:22 AM; Today 6:05 AM By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com Andrew Politi, a right-handed pitching prospect who the Boston Red Sox invited to big league spring training camp, graduated high school without any Division I baseball scholarship offers. Seton Hall offered the New Jersey native a scholarship the summer before his freshman year. It ended up being his only D-1 offer. “I was committed to a Division III school,” Politi said. “I kind of stepped back. I wanted to prove that I could go and play at a bigger school. So I kind of just waited. And then things aligned at Seton Hall.” Politi then signed with the Red Sox for only $25,000 (per Baseball America) after they drafted him in the 15th round (460th overall) in 2018. He said he didn’t receive much interest from scouts before the draft. “So I’ve always had that chip on my shoulder that I had something to prove,” Politi said. “I think that’s what motivates me and keeps me going and creates the success that I can keep having. Just having that chip on my shoulder and keep trying to prove people wrong all the time.” He’s finally receiving some attention as he heads into camp, which opens Thursday at the JetBlue Park complex. Politi, who arrived in Fort Myers on Sunday, features a mid-90s fastball with elite spin. He also throws a curveball, cutter and changeup. The 6-foot, 200-pounder will be one of the more interesting pitchers to watch this spring. The 24-year-old posted a 3.55 ERA, .196 batting average against and 1.18 WHIP in 33 outings (five starts) for High-A Salem in 2019. He struck out 96 in 78 ⅔ innings (11.0 strikeouts per nine innings). In five starts late in the 2019 season, he recorded a 1.27 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and .116 batting average against. “I’ve always felt like I’ve had something to prove,” he said. “It’s never really come easy to me.” Keith Law, the prospect guru for The Athletic, ranked Politi Boston’s No. 15 prospect heading into 2021 and also named him the farm system’s sleeper. “Politi could make a jump this year, at least into their top 10 if not the global list (MLB’s Top 100 prospect list),” Law wrote. Peter Gammons, one of the greatest baseball reporters of all-time, recently tweeted about the righty, “My fascination with Andrew Politi gets nods down the organizational road.” My fascination with Andrew Politi gets nods down the organizational road t.co/1CXiDbZWZX — Peter Gammons (@pgammo) February 13, 2021 He has seen some of the recent praise. “My agent sends it to me,” he said. “So I read it. But I don’t try to read into it too much ... because of the journey that I’ve kind of taken and the path that I’ve taken. At this point it’s just more of trying to get to MLB more than just become a prospect. I don’t know. I just don’t read too much into it.” Politi pitched at West Morris Central High in Chester, N.J., where he posted a 0.94 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 2014. He also pitched no-hitter that season as a senior. “I did really good in high school but I wasn’t throwing as hard as everyone else,” Politi said. “But they (Seton Hall)) kind of took the chance and saw that I could pitch.” Seton Hall began watching him late in his senior year. “Then I pitched in the senior All-Star Game after high school,” Politi said. “And I threw a pretty good inning and they were there. And then Seton Hall had three pitchers get drafted that year, I want to say. And it just opened up a spot at the end for me.” Politi red-shirted his freshman year at Seton Hall after undergoing a PRP injection the winter before his freshman season. He said his fastball was in the high-80s, low-90s in college. “At the beginning of the season my first few years, I kind of struggled a little bit,” Politi said. “Not with my stuff. My stuff was always pretty good. But I think like I didn’t have the numbers. I wasn’t throwing as hard in college as I am now. So I kind of needed the numbers to get more attention and I just didn’t have them at the beginning.” Politi’s fastball now sits 94-96 mph and has reached 97 mph. “The No. 1 factor (for the velo increase) is probably weight training,” Politi said. “Just going really into detail with my weight training, learning how to move better, learning how to lift better. Just getting stronger.” Using a weighted ball also helps. “That was introduced to me my last year in college,” he said. “I think that kind of helped me a lot. That’s really when I saw the spike in velocity is when I started doing weighted ball stuff.” He spent a lot of time training in the weight room during the canceled season in 2020. “Mostly the thing I was working on was getting stronger, getting more explosive in the weight room,” Politi said. “And just building on (2019). Just continue to work on my secondary pitches. Try to refine a changeup to get that fourth pitch.” Baseball America wrote Politi’s fastball features “elite spin and movement” and he has a “mid-80s curveball that gave him the basis of a north-south attack. The addition of an 89-93 mph cutter in 2019 set the stage for a dominant performance at high Class A Salem over his final 50 innings of 2019, a run in which he posted a 1.42 ERA and struck out 63 batters.” “It’s kind of a cutter/slider hybrid,” Politi said about his cutter. “More of like a harder slider but kind of less depth than a slider. “They (the Red Sox) always kind of hinted that they wanted me to throw a harder slider, harder curveball,” Politi added. “So I was just working around grips and stuff and then I eventually found something that worked as a hard slider/cutter. And it’s worked off my four-seam grip so I kind of call it more of a cutter. But it was something they kind of hinted at and it was trial and error, working with different grips. It took a little bit but I’m starting to find it more.” People he played catch with in college told Politi he had a lot of spin on his fastball. A few scouts also mentioned it to him before the draft. Politi posted a 2.08 ERA (13 innings, three earned runs) in April 2019 at Salem. But he struggled in May, recording a 13.06 ERA (10 ⅓ innings, 15 earned runs). “I did pretty well at the beginning of the season and then kind of went through a rough patch,” he said. “Kind of during that rough patch, me and the pitching coach talked a lot about my delivery and about staying smoother. I think controlling my mechanics and controlling my body just allowed for me to go longer in games and allowed me to throw more strikes.” He allowed just 13 earned runs in 55 ⅓ innings (2.11 ERA) during June, July and August. Most scouting reports mention Politi has a high-stress delivery. He said he has a different delivery than most pitchers but it works for him. He has worked to become more in control before his front foot hits. “I think I’ve really changed a lot in my mechanics,” he said. “But I have had different mechanics than most people. But it’s just me trying to get the most out of my body. I’m not your typical 6-2, 6-3 starter. So it was just me levering to try and create more velocity. It’s just how I’ve thrown growing up. I think people take it the wrong way where it looks like I’m putting so much stress on my body. But I’ve been so conditioned and I’ve worked really hard in the weight room and mobility-wise. And everything works for me. I think people just don’t see a traditional mechanical profile of a starter. ... Mentally, it just feels smooth and it’s just how it works for me.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 17, 2021 10:58:39 GMT -5
Red Sox @redsox · 59m Good morning!
Pitchers and catchers report today. Carry on.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 17, 2021 10:59:30 GMT -5
Red Sox @redsox · 41m Catcher Kevin Plawecki today was placed on the COVID-19 Related Injured List.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 17, 2021 11:02:16 GMT -5
Roster Projection 2.0: The start of spring edition
With pitchers and catchers reporting today, we try to predict the Opening Day roster. By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins Feb 17, 2021, 9:01am EST Today is the unofficially official start of spring, with pitchers and catchers starting to report to camps all around the league. This is hard to reconcile with the fact that I spent an hour yesterday scraping ice off of a sidewalk and that I have snow coming in the next 36 hours or so, but such is life I suppose. Spring training is here, and with that it seemed like the perfect time to give another roster projection ago.
This is roster projection 2.0, with the first one having come back shortly after the New Year, right before the Red Sox begun a flurry of activity that has largely continued into the last week. You can look back at that prediction and laugh at how wrong I was, because the answer would be very! I was very wrong. This time around it should be a bit easier, as the roster is much more complete. Here’s what I’ve got heading into camp, with just a few spots up for grabs right now with everyone healthy. Catchers
Christian Vázquez, Kevin Plawecki
This is an easy one. The Red Sox are in a bit of trouble if one of their top two catchers goes down with an injury, but really for how many teams is that not true? Nobody wants to play their third catcher. This duo, though, is very solid, and arguably the most underrated part of this team. All of that is to say there’s really nothing to add here. Unless there’s an injury, in which case Chris Hermann gets the bump, it’s these two and there’s no second thoughts about it. Infielders
Bobby Dalbec, Marwin Gonzalez, Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, Christian Arroyo
We’ll get to the player who is obviously missing here in the next section, but a couple of points here. Gonzalez obviously fits as an outfielder as well and I suspect he will get some time out in the corners on the grass as well, but it would appear the best fit on this roster is for him to spend the bulk of his time on the right side of the infield. I would give Dalbec as much time as possible, but Gonzalez is a nice option against a tough righty when the rookie needs a day off. Personally, I’d like to see Gonzalez spend most of his time at second.
And then there may be a small battle for the final bench spot with Christian Arroyo fighting off guys like Michael Chavis and Yairo Muñoz, but I don’t think it will be very intense. Unless Arroyo just totally falls flat on his face, this spot is his because he cannot be sent down without being placed on waivers. That is not true for the other two.
I will also say I was extremely tempted to put Mitch Moreland here and if I were to have written this an hour later or an hour prior I may have. It does appear the plan is going to be a three-man bench to start the season, which would preclude another position player being added. Still, I’m not closing the door on Moreland. He just seems to make too much sense, and with his addition Gonzalez would shift more to second base and the corner outfield spots. Outfielders
Franchy Cordero, Enrique Hernández, Alex Verdugo, Hunter Renfroe, J.D. Martinez
Hernández is the aforementioned player who was missing from the infielders. At this point I’m just being stubborn, but I’m not giving in on this. Especially with Gonzalez having been signed, it just seems to make so much more sense for Hernández to spend more time in the outfield than the infield. Let Gonzalez and Arroyo split time at second with Hernández there occasionally. In that case, then you can have Hernández in center, Verdugo in right and a Cordero/Renfroe platoon in left.
If they really are going with Hernández at second most days — and it should be mentioned that there is going to be a lot of shuffling, so the idea of a “normal” lineup for this roster is a admittedly a bit overstated — that means both Renfroe and Cordero are playing every day. I can see the argument for this if they are not worried about 2021, which may be the case. But if the goal is to have the best team on the field for this coming season, I haven’t seen a convincing argument for that being anything other than a team with Hernández in center field.
As for the others, Verdugo is obviously going to play everyday, though it remains to be seen what his split between center and right field will be. As I’ve said before, I have little concern about him handling center field, but then the issue becomes who plays in right. And Martinez will likely see some time in the outfield, but I suspect they’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
And I suppose I should also add that Jackie Bradley Jr. is still a free agent. I think there’s still some possibility he comes back if his market really just craters, but I’d still be surprised. Houston and San Francisco still make some sense there, and maybe Philly if the price comes down enough.
Starting Pitchers
Eduardo Rodriguez, Nathan Eovaldi, Garrett Richards, Martín Pérez, Nick Pivetta, Matt Andriese
I didn’t miscount here. Having six names on this list was intentional. I don’t think the six-man rotation is going to be something we’ll see consistently all year long, but as we wrote late in 2020, it makes sense for this coming season. The Red Sox have a lot of uncertainty at the top of this rotation in terms of workload, and that is without even factoring in the weirdness that was the 2020 schedule. They’ll want to limit workloads and using a sixth starter when necessary is the easiest way to do that. It becomes that much easier, too, when you go with a three-man bench and thus can still have eight guys in the bullpen even with a six-man rotation.
And so if we think a six-man rotation is possible, the only names that are really up for debate are the last two, with Tanner Houck on the outside looking in. Personally, based upon my own perception of their respective talent levels, I would rather see Houck in the majors than Pivetta. However, Houck still has things to work on, most notably his offspeed pitch, and also has minor-league options. Pivetta does not. So the latter will get his chance, and if it doesn’t work out he’ll either be designated for assignment or moved to the bullpen, at which point Houck will get his chance. If it’s not Pivetta’s spot, a spot will open for Houck at some point within a month or six weeks of Opening Day.
And then with Andriese, he just makes the most sense for that sixth starter role. Again, I think Houck will go down to the minors so he’s out of the picture. And then from there it would be Andriese or Garrett Whitlock. I think we’ll see the latter get some starts as the year goes on, but to start the season Andriese just makes more sense. I suspect we’ll see the veteran bounce quite a bit between the bullpen and the rotation. Relief Pitchers
Matt Barnes, Adam Ottavino, Darwinzon Hernandez, Hirokazu Sawamura, Chaz Roe, Ryan Brasier, Austin Brice, Garrett Whitlock
Most of this is fairly straight forward, though there is one new name on the list. I would have thought the pitching staff was complete, but it seems like there is a lot of smoke around them signing another reliever, and Roe is my prediction of that group. He may even only require a minor-league deal, though I have him making the roster either way so I suppose that part doesn’t matter. Whether it’s a minor-league deal or not it will be on the cheaper side, and he has that Rays connection. The Red Sox were reportedly at his workout earlier in the month. Other options would include Brandon Workman, Jeremy Jeffress and Ben Heller. I don’t see Trevor Rosenthal as a realistic option, though I’ve been wrong before.
Beyond Roe, there aren’t really any surprises here. Whitlock has to be kept as a Rule 5 pick. If he is not, he is returned to the Yankees organization, and with a 14-man pitching staff I think it should be relatively easy to keep him around. From there it’s really a fight between Josh Taylor, Phillips Vadez and Brice for that last spot. The first two guys have options while Brice does not, so Brice gets the spot. I do think Taylor and Valdez are the better pitchers, but preserving depth, particularly in a season like the upcoming one, is going to be the most important consideration for putting these rosters together.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 17, 2021 14:29:15 GMT -5
What I will miss about Red Sox spring training By Dan Shaughnessy Globe Columnist,Updated February 17, 2021, 2 hours ago
NOT FORT MYERS, Fla. — I miss baseball. I miss the Red Sox being a pleasant diversion and an important topic of conversation at this time of year.
I miss spring training.
Red Sox pitchers and catchers report to Fenway South this week. Player physicals are scheduled for Wednesday, with the first workout for pitchers and catchers Thursday morning. The first full-squad workout is Monday, and the Sox’ Grapefruit League opener is Feb. 28 against the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium. Related: Chad Finn: I’m intrigued to see what this Red Sox team Chaim Bloom has put together can do
The last time I was on an airplane was Friday, March 13, 2020 — one day after spring training was canceled — when I took a JetBlue flight out of Fort Myers bound for Boston. About a half-dozen folks wore masks on that flight, and it seemed like an overreaction at the time. Here we are, almost a full year later, and most of us are still grounded. For the first time in 35 years, I will not be covering the Red Sox at spring training.
A few things I’m going to miss …
▪ The Red Sox running one grueling lap around the practice fields after the two-hour state-of-everything team meeting that precedes the first full-squad workout.
▪ Rafael Devers telling us he’s in the best shape of his career.
▪ John Henry (Globe owner) and Tom Werner getting testy answering questions at their once-a-year availability with Boston media on the day of the first workout.
▪ Alex Verdugo getting a shot to play center field every day.
▪ Dustin Pedroia playing catch with his three sons on the small lawn outside the Sox clubhouse.
▪ At least one player delayed by visa problems (where are you, mystery man Robinson Checo?).
▪ Watching Tanner Houck throw live batting practice, then writing the Tanner Houck phenom story.
▪ Ever-thoughtful Chris Sale at the public relations bench, answering questions about his Tommy John surgery, the state of the Red Sox, the state of the game, rules changes, and pending warfare between the owners and the Players Association.
▪ Watching Garrett Richards give up three homers in his first spring start, then hearing that he had a great spin rate on all those gopher balls.
▪ Cigar smoke wafting out of Luis Tiant’s black SUV parked outside the Bell Tower’s Homewood Suites every night after dinner. Many a night while walking back from Bell Tower restaurants, I’d smell that smoke and stop by Luis’s SUV, then get him to tell stories about the 1975 World Series.
▪ J.D. Martinez carrying his iPad and making Adrián González-type excuses.
▪ Players watching March Madness on the clubhouse television.
▪ Dwight Evans, in uniform, looking like he could give Alex Cora nine good innings in right field.
▪ Franchy Cordero hitting a prodigious homer, drawing comparisons with a 515-foot shot Bo Jackson hit off Oil Can Boyd at Baseball City in 1989.
▪ Chaim Bloom talking about coveted “club control” and “payroll flexibility” (OK, I’m not really going to miss this one).
▪ Pedro Martínez and Jason Varitek riding around the practice fields in a golf cart.
▪ Dozens of 75-year-old men in Sox-issued blue shirts waving orange flags and directing traffic in the vast fields that surround JetBlue Stadium.
▪ The Pirates’ old-timey ballpark in Bradenton.
▪ Seeing Rio Gomez, a Sox minor league lefthanded pitcher and son of the late, great Pedro Gomez, get into some spring training games and dazzle.
▪ New England snowbirds greeting me in the stands with, “We used to be able to get the Globe down here every day. How come they don’t have those news boxes anymore? Ask Mr. Henry about that, will you?”
▪ Nathan Eovaldi telling us that his shoulder and elbow have never felt better and he thinks he’s good for 32 starts.
▪ Yaz arriving at the park super early, Garbo-style, and interacting with just one or two clubhouse guys before working in the dark, covered batting cages with minor league hitters. Yaz’s annual appearance is a mere rumor for most folks. It’s as if he’s never there — just the way he likes it.
▪ The cornball PA announcement before every game, when the guy behind the microphone tells the JetBlue crowd, “Temperature in Fort Myers, 81 degrees. Temperature in Boston, 10 degrees!’' A real knee-slapper. Works every time.
▪ Stephen King, Sox cap pulled down over his eyes, keeping score in a box seat near the on-deck circle.
▪ WBZ’s Jonny Miller asking Cora, “Can it get any worse?”, after the Sox lose their first exhibition game.
▪ The Sox and Twins playing one another almost every day as excitement builds for the awarding of the coveted Fort Myers Mayor’s Cup, or whatever they are calling it this year.
▪ The stampede of card-carrying AARP members when trays of free meatballs are put out at 5 p.m. every weekday at the Homewood Suites.
▪ Tiant and Tony Oliva, two gentlemen from Cuba, playing dominos in the Homewood lobby with their wives after Luis returns from his post-dinner cigar in the SUV.
…
I’m going to miss all of it. Spring training is the best time of the baseball year, and now, like everything else, it’s out of reach. While the Sox are getting in shape for 2021, we’ll all be up here in the frozen North, waiting out the pandemic.
The sun will rise, the sun will set, we’ll get vaccinated, and we’ll all have lunch.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 17, 2021 14:47:12 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 1h Curious how things are going to shake out with Darwinzon Hernandez in camp. At the end of 2019 he was pretty much in line to take over as closer. Then last summer RR said they wanted to stretch him out and maybe have him start. He's been throwing in BOS-FLA for over a month now.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 17, 2021 17:47:12 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 1h #RedSox have 71 players on their ST roster for the moment (counting Plawecki on COVID list). They can have many as 75.
Some teams have announced a "reserve squad" of extra players for games. Sox won't be doing that.
For now AAA season expected to start shortly after MLB season.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2021 8:11:17 GMT -5
2021 Red Sox spring training roster analysis
By Jason Mastrodonato | jason.mastrodonato@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald February 18, 2021 at 5:24 a.m.
It’s official: baseball is back.
The Red Sox will have their first workout of 2021 on Thursday in Fort Myers, where chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has assembled what could be the least exciting $180-million team in big league history (the 2013 Yankees, who won 85 games with an opening day payroll of about $230 million, would like a word).
What the Red Sox do have is upside, a word Bloom has used no less than a half-dozen times in his public remarks while building this roster.
Without further ado, a brief analysis of the players the 2021 Sox will take into spring training:
Projected opening day starting rotation: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez, RHP Nathan Eovaldi, RHP Garrett Richards, RHP Tanner Houck, LHP Martin Perez
Injured: LHP Chris Sale
Others on the 40-man competing for a spot: RHP Nick Pivetta, RHP Matt Andriese, RHP Connor Seabold, RHP Garrett Whitlock, LHP Jay Groome, RHP Bryan Mata
Additional spring training invites of note: RHP Ryan Weber, RHP Thad Ward, RHP Frank German, RHP Josh Winckowski
Skinny: Finally, some depth. After a year in which the Red Sox used 16 different starting pitchers in a 60-game season, Bloom made it a point to address the pitching depth this winter. Although an argument can be made that the Sox had depth last season but chose not to use it (Houck was the only prospect called up, and it wasn’t until very late in the season), they should be more willing to take a look at guys like Seabold, Mata and Ward as needed in 2021. Richards is the highest-paid of the Sox’ free agent acquisitions and has a lot to prove in his second year removed from Tommy John surgery. Newly acquired prospects German and Winckowski aren’t yet on the radar for a major league roster spot, but were invited to camp and will get to show Alex Cora what they’re made of.
Projected opening day bullpen: RHP Matt Barnes, RHP Adam Ottavino, LHP Darwinzon Hernandez, LHP Josh Taylor, RHP Hirokazu Sawamura, RHP Phillips Valdez, RHP Austin Brice
Others on the 40-man competing for a spot: RHP Ryan Brasier, RHP Marcus Walden, RHP Eduard Bazardo
Additional spring training invites of note: RHP Durbin Feltman, LHP Matt Hall, LHP Stephen Gonsalves
Skinny: Only three teams in the majors finished with a worse bullpen ERA than the Sox’ 5.79 ERA last year. Red Sox relievers also threw more innings (278) than any other team in the game due to inadequacies in the rotation. Sometimes the best way to have a great bullpen is to have a great starting staff, and the Sox should at least be better in that regard. The concern is the lack of closing experience. Barnes has 15 career saves but has historically struggled in the role, with a career 4.73 ERA in save situations compared to a 3.43 ERA otherwise. Ottavino has 19 career saves but is coming off his worst season since his rookie year with the Cardinals in 2010. The most closing experience on the staff belongs to Sawamura, the 32-year-old recently signed from Japan, where he was the Yomiuri Giants’ closer in ‘15 and ‘16. But Cora hasn’t been one to use a single closer, instead mixing it up in the late innings depending on the matchup.
Projected opening day infield: C Christian Vazquez, 1B Bobby Dalbec, 2B Kiké Hernandez, SS Xander Bogaerts, 3B Rafael Devers
Others on the 40-man competing for a spot: C Kevin Plawecki, UTIL Marwin Gonzalez (signing not yet official), UTIL Michael Chavis, UTIL Jonathan Arauz, 2B Christian Arroyo, 3B Hudson Potts, UTIL Yairo Munoz, C Ronaldo Hernandez, C Connor Wong
Additional spring training invites of note: C Austin Rei, 1B Triston Casas, 2B Jeter Downs, 1B Josh Ockimey, 2B Nick Yorke
Skinny: There’s a lot of competition for the final bench spots, with Chavis, Arauz and Arroyo likely competing to be the 26th man. If things go south by mid-season, expect Downs to get a chance at second base. Casas, the organization’s top prospect, could be called up if the Sox are in the hunt and Dalbec is struggling.
Projected opening day outfield/designated hitters: LF Franchy Cordero, CF Alex Verdugo, RF Hunter Renfroe, DH J.D. Martinez
Others on the 40-man competing for a spot: OF Jeisson Rosario, OF Marcus Wilson
Additional spring training invites of note: OF Jarren Duran, OF César Puello
Skinny: The outfield is one center fielder short of being complete, especially given Cordero and Renfroe look like natural platoon partners in one of the corner spots. Bloom wouldn’t mind giving Verdugo a chance to play center, as he did regularly for the 2019 Dodgers, but Hernandez is the only other player on the roster who could slide to center field. The door should swing wide open for Duran later in the year, depending on performance and the team’s standing.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2021 8:12:39 GMT -5
Five storylines facing 2021 Red Sox as spring training begins
By Steve Hewitt | stephen.hewitt@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald February 18, 2021 at 5:37 a.m.
It may look a little bit different this year in the midst of an ongoing pandemic, but spring training is here.
Red Sox pitchers and catchers have reported to Fort Myers, and Thursday is their first scheduled workout at JetBlue Park. And coming off one of their worst seasons in franchise history — albeit in a pandemic-shortened 2020 — and a last-place finish in the American League East, there’s plenty of work to do for these rebuilding Red Sox.
Alex Cora is back in charge, which should bring some much-needed juice to this team. But the manager faces a far more difficult job than the one he inherited in 2017, when he went on to win the World Series in his first season. There are major questions up and down the roster, and plenty to watch for over the next month-and-a-half as a new season awaits on April 1.
1. How will the starting rotation improve?
It’s hard to overstate just how poorly the Red Sox’ starting rotation performed in 2020. With Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez lost for the season and without any quality reinforcements, the Red Sox scrambled and were forced to put out 16 different starters in 60 games. Their collective ERA of 5.34 was the sixth-worst in baseball. It’s clearly the biggest area needed for improvement if the Red Sox are going to compete for a playoff spot this season.
Rodriguez is expected to be 100 percent healthy to begin the season, but Chaim Bloom has done work to fortify the rotation and provide needed depth and options for the staff. But questions are still paramount. Can the injury-riddled Nathan Eovaldi stay healthy? Newly signed Garrett Richards has great upside, but also hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Can the Red Sox unlock Nick Pivetta’s potential? There are almost no certainties in this rotation.
The most interesting name in camp will be Tanner Houck. The right-hander flashed in a big way at the end of last season, posting a 0.53 ERA and 21 strikeouts in his first three career starts. The future looks very bright for the 24-year-old, and he’ll be out to prove last year was not just a flash and that he’s a centerpiece of the Red Sox’ future.
2. How are Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez looking?
The Red Sox’ two most important pitchers are still working their way back to full health, and their respective progress will be a major subject to watch throughout the spring (and into the summer). Rodriguez missed the entire 2020 season after testing positive for COVID-19 and then getting myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. It took months for the left-hander to get clearance to walk, but he claims that he has had a normal offseason and is ready to go fully for the start of spring training.
Still, Rodriguez’s comeback from a serious physical condition is unprecedented and the Red Sox will need to stay cautious with him. The 27-year-old had his best season in 2019, when he set career highs in starts (34), innings (203⅓), wins (19), strikeouts (213) and ERA (3.81), but repeating that production is unlikely in 2021 after not only recovering from myocarditis but also missing more than a year. It will be interesting to learn more about what the Red Sox’ plan is for Rodriguez.
Sale is still expected back sometime this summer as he continues to rehab from Tommy John surgery he had last March. Though he had a recent setback after experiencing neck stiffness in late January, the Red Sox ace is back on his throwing program. Sale is rehabbing at the Red Sox’ spring training facility in Fort Myers, so the team will continue to have a close look at his progress.
3. How will Alex Verdugo build on his breakout 2020 season?
When Alex Verdugo arrived in Fort Myers for his first spring training with the Red Sox last year, he was the new kid in an outfield that included Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi. A year later, he’s the only one back from that group.
Verdugo has been adamant that he doesn’t feel any extra pressure because he was traded for Mookie Betts and that he doesn’t want to be compared to the former MVP outfielder, but the spotlight on him remains. And he’ll have some expectations on him now after a terrific debut season in Boston, when he hit .308 and tied the league lead with seven outfield assists, which even earned him a vote in AL MVP voting.
Verdugo is the type of high-energy player that has the potential to be beloved by fans if he can continue producing this season. After playing mostly in right field last season, he could see a significant amount of time in center this season, assuming Bradley Jr. doesn’t return, and he’ll likely hit at the top of the order. How much better can he be in his second season?
4. How will J.D. Martinez bounce back?
Chalk it up to the pandemic delaying and shortening the season, or rules that limited access to in-game video, but whatever the case was, J.D. Martinez had the worst season of his career in 2020, when the designated hitter hit .213 and produced only seven homers and 27 RBI in 54 games. He had no choice but to opt in to his contract that will pay him more than $19 million this season, and the Red Sox are expecting a big bounce-back from the 33-year-old.
Red Sox hitting coaches visited Martinez in Miami last month and watched a motivated hitter, confident that 2020 was an aberration in what’s otherwise been a stellar career, and optimistic that he can return to All-Star form. If he can, and assuming he’ll bat regularly at the No. 3 hole or cleanup (he played seven games at No. 2 last season) it will be a huge boost for a lineup that also returns Verdugo, Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts, a potential run-scoring machine at the top of the order.
A strong spring training could be a good foundation for that, even if he admitted last year that he wasn’t a big fan of the preseason.
5. How will the new guys fit in?
The Red Sox overhauled about half of their 40-man roster this winter as they made some intriguing additions that includes more than a handful of potentially impactful players. Cora has described the roster as a puzzle, and it will be interesting to watch how they fit together.
The biggest theme, at least for position players, seems to be versatility. Franchy Cordero, acquired last week in the Andrew Benintendi trade, has experience at every position in the outfield, and he may pair with free-agent acquisition and right-handed power bat of Hunter Renfroe to form something of a platoon. Cora will have familiarity with Kiké Hernández and Marwin Gonzalez, a pair of utility players who can play almost anywhere. The Red Sox also have several new but veteran faces in the bullpen, including Adam Ottavino and Hirokazu Sawamura.
And though he’s not exactly new, another name to keep an eye on during camp will be Jarren Duran. The 24-year-old, who impressed in camp last spring, is coming off a strong winter in which he stood out in Puerto Rico. While he likely won’t be on the Red Sox’ Opening Day roster, the team is excited about his future and another big spring could go a long way to determining if he makes his major-league debut sometime this season.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2021 8:15:40 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox spring training starts Thursday; here are the 10 most pressing questions ahead of the 2021 season Updated 6:01 AM; Today 6:01 AM
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
The Red Sox will begin the most unusual of spring trainings Thursday in Fort Myers, where pitchers and catchers will have their first official workout and manager Alex Cora will meet (virtually) with the media to signal the start of the 2021 season. The first formal workout represents the beginning of a 7 ½ month journey for the Red Sox, who have undergone quite a bit of change since the end of a lost 2020 campaign.
Cora, of course, is back, replacing Ron Roenicke after one year away from the team as he served a suspension for his role in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. The Red Sox also changed their roster in a meaningful way, trading Andrew Benintendi and cutting the fat from the group while adding pitchers Adam Ottavino, Garrett Richards, Hirokazu Sawamura, Matt Andriese, utility players Kiké Hernandez and Marwin Gonzalez and outfielders Franchy Cordero and Hunter Renfroe since the end of last season.
Plenty of questions face the Red Sox as spring training begins. Here are 10 of the most pressing ones:
1. How will the outfield shape up? Is Alex Verdugo the center fielder?
When Cora last managed the Red Sox, he had a star outfield of Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts. Now, with Benintendi and Betts traded and Bradley a free agent, he returns with a projected starting outfield of players who all joined the organization in the last 13 months.
Alex Verdugo returns, and, as of now, is projected to be the Opening Day center fielder unless Bradley re-signs. Beyond him, newcomers Cordero, Renfroe and Gonzalez project to see significant time in the outfield.
With the current mix of outfielders, the most likely scenario is that Verdugo starts in center and Cora employs platoons, using Gonzalez, a switch-hitter, at both corner spots. Cordero could start in left field against righties while Gonzalez plays against lefties; Renfroe would start in right field against lefties while Gonzalez got the nod against right-handers.
A strong camp could vault either Cordero or Renfroe into full-time roles, though Cora’s familiarity with Gonzalez from the year they spent together in Houston means the veteran is likely slated for a full-time role. Hernandez, who signed to be the primary second baseman, can also play outfield, and top prospect Jarren Duran could challenge for a spot (more on that below).
Barring a surprise reunion with Bradley, the Red Sox have Verdugo and a bunch of spare parts slated to see significant time in the outfield. Cora will spend the next few weeks finding the best way to piece together that puzzle.
2. Who’s the fifth starter? Will the Red Sox line up their rotation in an unconventional way?
Assuming everyone’s healthy, the Red Sox will enter the season with four set starters -- Eduardo Rodriguez, Nathan Eovaldi, Martin Perez and Richards. Beyond that, Nick Pivetta (who is out of options) seems like the top candidate for the fifth spot, though Tanner Houck could make a push after an impressive debut last September and Andriese is capable of starting games as well.
Suddenly, the Red Sox have depth, with Pivetta, Houck, Andriese and Whitlock on the 40-man roster and Ryan Weber, Matt Hall, Kyle Hart, Daniel Gossett, Bryan Mata, Connor Seabold and others in camp as non-roster invitees. It’s possible, considering the unusual stop-and-start nature of the last year, that Chaim Bloom and Cora opt to employ an unconventional rotation, either with six starters or some traditional starters and some openers.
Considering how careful the Red Sox plan to be with their pitchers this year, it would be a surprise for the club to turn loose a traditional five-man group in April. Exactly how they line things up will be a major storyline to watch during camp.
3. Who’s the closer?
After Craig Kimbrel departed in 2019, Cora opted not to name a set closer during camp, instead using a bullpen by committee in which his best relievers would pitch in high-leverage situations, regardless of inning. That plan largely backfired, and by the middle of the season, Cora came to believe that defined roles were preferred, if not necessary.
Two years later, it seems as though Cora wants to name a closer and have relievers line up in a traditional fashion. The three top candidates are Matt Barnes -- who Cora dubbed the early favorite in December -- and two of the newcomers, Ottavino and Sawamura.
Assuming Whitlock (a Rule 5 pick) makes the team, the bullpen is pretty much locked in. If the Red Sox go with a 14-man pitching staff, they’ll carry nine relievers: likely Barnes, Ottavino, Sawamura, Whitlock, Ryan Brasier, Darwinzon Hernandez, Josh Taylor, Matt Andriese and one other pitcher (possibly either Austin Brice or Phillips Valdez). Further bullpen additions can’t be ruled out, either.
4. What’s the status of Eduardo Rodriguez?
Rodriguez, the club’s best pitcher in 2019, missed the entire 2020 season after contracting myocarditis (heart inflammation) after a serious bout with COVID-19 over the summer. Though he has been cleared for a normal spring training and is said to be progressing without any issues, it’s clear the Red Sox will be careful when it comes to his progression this season.
Outside of a few spring training innings, the last competitive pitch Rodriguez threw was in Sept. 2019, so the Red Sox are going to take him along carefully. How he looks (and feels) during spring training will likely dictate his early-season workload and, ultimately, how many innings he’ll be able to pitch in 2021.
In September, pitching coach Dave Bush hinted that the Boston was not expecting a full workload from Rodriguez, who threw a career-high 203 ⅓ innings in 2019.
“For a guy like Eduardo Rodriguez, 200 innings last year and zero this year, we’re still figuring out exactly what we can expect from him next year,” Bush said on Sept. 17. “What’s a reasonable amount so that he can pitch and be part of the rotation but also to make sure we don’t overdo it and don’t put him in danger at that point?”
5. How’s Chris Sale progressing? Is there any clarity on his timetable?
Sale, who underwent Tommy John almost a year ago, was supposed to start throwing off a mound in late January but had his program pushed back after experiencing neck stiffness around the holidays. As soon as camp starts, it’s likely we’ll get a status update on Sale’s progression.
The Sox are going to take Sale along slowly, but his progress during the six weeks of camp might say a lot about when he’ll return this summer. At this point, he’s unlikely to pitch in a game before the All-Star break, though things could change if the Red Sox are pleased with what they see. It’s also likely that Sale speaks to the media for the first time since Aug. 13.
6. Could Jarren Duran push for a roster spot?
Considering the service time implications, it’s unlikely Duran will start the season in the majors, but considering how light the Red Sox are in the outfield, it can’t be ruled out. He has impressed at every level to this point, including during big-league spring training a year ago and at the alternate site in Pawtucket over the summer.
The 24-year-old Duran will get plenty of playing time during Grapefruit League games, so he’ll get a chance to impress. Of all of Boston’s top prospects, he’s closest to the majors, though Triston Casas, Jeter Downs, Mata, Thad Ward, Seabold and Nick Yorke will all be in big-league camp as well.
7. Will the club consider extensions with any of its young players?
Spring training is the perfect time to discuss contract extensions with players, as evidenced by Boston’s agreements with Xander Bogaerts and Sale two years ago. This spring, Rafael Devers appears to be a prime extension candidate, though others could explore deals as well.
Rodriguez, who is a year away from free agency, might be looking for financial certainty after what he went through in 2020. Barnes, also a free agent after the season, previously said he had interest in a long-term deal. Verdugo, Darwinzon Hernandez and even some top prospects could sign creative deals to give Boston some cost certainty.
8. How will the bench shake out? Will Michael Chavis make the team?
On NESN earlier this week, Cora said he planned on utilizing a three-man bench, which is likely made up of Kevin Plawecki, Gonzalez and one other player. The two top candidates for that last bench spot are Christian Arroyo and Michael Chavis, though Yairo Muńoz and Jonathan Arauz could theoretically factor in as well.
Chavis would give the Red Sox more versatility than Arroyo, but the latter impressed during his late-season cameo and is out of options, meaning the club would have to expose him to waivers in order to send him to the minors. Chavis, on the other hand, can be optioned, so Arroyo would seem to have the upper hand.
Chavis is a prime candidate to either be traded or sent down to Triple-A, which is a bit of a surprise considering the hot start got off to as a rookie in 2019. The additions of Hernandez and Gonzalez were not good news for Chavis.
9. Are further roster additions possible? Could Jackie Bradley Jr. return?
After signing seven free agents and making a couple of trades, the Red Sox are largely done with their roster overhaul. But considering the glacial nature of this winter’s free-agent market, the club could still make an addition or two before Opening Day.
The outfield, clearly, could use some augmenting, and until Bradley signs elsewhere, there will still be speculation that he could return. To this point, all indications are that a reunion between the sides is unlikely, but at this late stage of the game, it seems he’s running out of suitors.
Boston is also still in the market for potential bullpen upgrades, and a bunch of veterans remain unsigned. The club has shown at least some interest in Jeremy Jeffress, Chaz Roe and Ben Heller; other available names include Trevor Rosenthal, Shane Greene, David Robertson, Oliver Perez, Anthony Swarzak, Ryan Tepera and Jose Alvarez.
10. Can the club stay healthy? Or will COVID-19 issues arise in camp?
The 2020 Red Sox didn’t win much on the field, but the club won the battle against COVID-19 once the season started. Though a few players, including Rodriguez, tested positive for the virus before or during summer training camp, the Red Sox didn’t have one positive test after Opening Day and avoided the type of team-wide outbreak that plagued other clubs during the 60-game sprint.
Health will once again be critical for teams in 2021, with any large-scale outbreak presenting both a scary health crisis and a competitive disadvantage. Like every club, the Red Sox will strictly enforce health and safety protocols during spring training to present potential spread within camp.
One player -- Plawecki -- is already on the COVID-19 related injured list, meaning he either tested positive or was deemed a close contact to someone who did. Pitchers and catchers went through the intake screening process and must be cleared to participate in workouts.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2021 11:17:45 GMT -5
seeing that he is on the IL i put all of the good Sale stuff in the other thread.
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 1h The #RedSox started their first workout for pitchers and catchers this morning.
They'll have four days of that before the first full-squad workout on Monday.
Chris Sale will be meeting with reporters via Zoom shortly.
There's no in-person media access until Monday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2021 11:23:39 GMT -5
Everything you need to know about Red Sox on their first day of spring training By Rob Bradford 3 hours ago
Thursday marks the first official day of spring training for the Red Sox, with pitchers and catchers working out. The entire squad's first get-together is slated for Monday.
So, as we head into a new season, here are some notes courtesy the Red Sox' media relation staff:
- The Red Sox’ camp roster features 8 catchers and 40 pitchers. The only catchers in camp who were not in the Sox’ organization in 2020 are Chris Herrmann (signed as a minor league free agent on 2/5) and Ronaldo Hernández (acquired from TB on 2/17).
- All 9 of the Sox’ LHPs were in the organization last season...12 of their 31 RHPs are new to the Red Sox organization in 2021: Matt Andriese, Adam Ottavino, Garrett Richards, and Garrett Whitlock, as well as non-roster invitees Matt Carasiti, Frank German, Daniel Gossett, Zac Grotz, Kevin McCarthy, Kaleb Ort, Hirokazu Sawamura, and Josh Winckowski.
- According to Elias, Alex Cora is the fifth individual to manage a team for a full season, then return to that team after a 1-year absence. Prior to Cora, the last person to do that was Billy Martin with the Yankees (1983, ‘85).
- The only coach new to the Red Sox organization is bench coach Will Venable. Kevin Walker transitioned from assistant pitching coach to bullpen coach, Ramón Vázquez was named quality control coach, and Jason Varitek was named game planning coordinator.
- Seven players in Red Sox camp have 7+ years of MLB service time: Chris Sale (10 years, 61 days), Adam Ottavino (9.087), J.D. Martinez (9.036), Nathan Eovaldi (9.013), Garrett Richards (8.148), Martín Pérez (8.038), and Xander Bogaerts (7.042).
- The oldest Red Sox player in camp is 35-year-old Adam Ottavino. All other players are 33 or younger.
- Christian Vázquez (2008 June Draft), Xander Bogaerts (2009 international free agent), and Matt Barnes (2011 June Draft) are the longest-tenured members of the Red Sox organization.
Barnes has made 323 relief appearances for BOS, 4th most in franchise history behind only Bob Stanley (552), Mike Timlin (394), and Jonathan Papelbon (393).
Vázquez ranks 10th in Red Sox history with 441 games caught and could potentially pass Bob Tillman (496), Rick Ferrell (514), and Tony Peña (539) in 2021.
- Ten of Baseball America’s top 11 Red Sox prospects were invited to Major League Spring Training camp, including each of the top-5 ranked pitchers. The youngest pitcher in Red Sox camp is 21-year- old Bryan Mata, the organization’s top pitching prospect.
- RHPs Thad Ward and Josh Winckowski both grew up in Fort Myers, FL...Ward served as a bat boy at City of Palms Park but can’t recall the year, though he can narrow it down to 2006-08, when he would have been 9-11 years old. Winckowski attended Cypress Lake High School in Fort Myers until transferring to nearby Estero High School, located approximately 12 miles south of jetBlue Park.
- ROSTER BREAKDOWN
40-Man Roster: 40 NRIs: 30 Injured List: 1 Pitchers: 40 (31 RHP/9 LHP) Infielders & Outfielders: 23 Catchers: 8 Returning Players: 53 New to Organization: 18 Oldest Player: 35 (Ottavino )Youngest Player: 18 (Yorke) Most Service Time: 10.061 (Sale)
ROSTER BY BIRTHPLACE
United States: 49 Dominican Republic: 8 Venezuela: 5 Colombia: 2 Puerto Rico: 2 Aruba: 1 Canada: 1 China: 1 Japan: 1 Panama: 1
HOW THEY WERE ACQUIRED
Trade: 19 June Draft: 17 Minor League Free Agents: 13 Free Agents: 9 International Free Agents: 6 Rule 5 Draft: 4 Waiver Claims: 3
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Feb 18, 2021 11:31:44 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 1h Had been curious if covid was going to slash or eliminate NESN spring games; @ianmbrowne on it: "NESN will televise a minimum of 10 games, including the March 1 home opener against the Braves. The full schedule will be released in the coming days." mlb.com/news/red-sox-2
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