Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 2, 2021 3:07:38 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
Red Sox officially place Eduardo Rodriguez on the injured list
By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 1, 2021, 3:40 p.m.
The Red Sox officially placed Eduardo Rodriguez on the injured list ahead of Thursday’s Opening Day postponement.
Rodriguez is still going through his progression after dealing with a case of dead arm toward the end of spring training. He will pitch in a simulated game Friday at the team’s alternate site in Worcester.
The hope is Rodriguez will return to the rotation next week. If so, he could pitch as early as Thursday in Baltimore. He has been impressive at Camden Yards in his career, posting a 5-2 record and a 2.60 ERA in 52 innings.
In the meantime, Tanner Houck will fill Rodriguez’s roster spot and is scheduled to start Saturday.
Houck’s spring was inconsistent. He struggled to find his command, walking 11 batters in 10⅔ innings. But there were positives, too, particularly in his last start against the Braves, when he fanned six in 4⅓ innings and surrendered just two hits. That glimmer of success gives the Red Sox confidence that Houck can contribute as he did in the latter part of last season.
“Just watching him pitch the last [spring game] and him knowing the situation, you can tell he breathed,” manager Alex Cora said. “He was in control, just throwing his sinker and four-seamer and slider. That was a good lineup, too. And there were some bad swings, but I think it was kind of like the comfort level.”
Houck was dominant upon his arrival to the big leagues last season, registering a 0.53 ERA and 21 strikeouts in three starts (17 innings). Yet success isn’t linear, of course, something Houck experienced this spring as he tried to make an impression.
“It’s not that he was uncomfortable early on, but he was trying to do more,” said Cora. “And that’s part of the learning process.
“He’s going to be excited on Saturday because he’s going to pitch in front of his family for the first time as a big leaguer. But I think he’s in a good position now to come here and contribute.”
Loose ends in bullpen
The Red Sox are keeping their fans in limbo. Heading into Friday, they still haven’t announced who will be the closer, Matt Barnes or Adam Ottavino. Cora didn’t give any hints, saying only one will pitch the eighth, and the other the ninth.
After Ryan Brasier’s injury, the bullpen structure took a hit. Brasier likely would have handled the seventh inning, but now the relievers might have to be a bit more flexible, perhaps including Ottavino and Barnes.
At the very least, it sounds as if the Red Sox are still trying to figure out how to maneuver the pieces.
“Those are the things that kind of, like, slow down the decision [on a closer],” Cora said. “But those two guys, you know, they’re going to be pitching in those two innings, and their versatility is very important for us.
“Barnes has been amazing in the seventh and eighth, and I know he can do the job in the ninth. With Adam, obviously, it’s a different look. And we can mix and match with him.”
The alternates
The Sox announced their alternate-site roster, which will consist of 14 pitchers, three catchers, six infielders, and four outfielders.
Pitchers: Eduard Bazardo, Seth Blair, Colten Brewer, Raynel Espinal, Stephen Gonsalves, Daniel Gossett, Matt Hall, Kyle Hart, Kevin McCarthy, Kaleb Ort, Connor Seabold, Caleb Simpson, Marcus Walden, and Ryan Weber.
Catchers: Jett Bandy, Chris Herrmann, and Connor Wong.
Infielders: Jonathan Araúz, Michael Chavis, Chad De La Guerra, Jeter Downs, Yairo Muñoz, and Josh Ockimey.
Outfielders: Jarren Duran, Michael Gettys, César Puello, and Marcus Wilson.
Bandy is on the team’s taxi squad.
Roster facts
Garrett Whitlock is the first pitcher in 26 years to make the Red Sox’ Opening Day roster after being selected in the Rule 5 draft the previous winter. The last to do it was Vaughn Eshelman in 1995 … Nine players on the Opening Day roster weren’t on the 2020 club: Ottavino, Whitlock, Franchy Cordero, Kiké Hérnandez, Marwin Gonzalez, Hunter Renfroe, Matt Andriese, Garrett Richards, and Hirokazu Sawamura … Six Red Sox players made the first Opening Day roster of their career: Bobby Dalbec, Darwinzon Hernandez, Josh Taylor, Sawamura, Whitlock, and Houck.
Red Sox officially place Eduardo Rodriguez on the injured list
By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 1, 2021, 3:40 p.m.
The Red Sox officially placed Eduardo Rodriguez on the injured list ahead of Thursday’s Opening Day postponement.
Rodriguez is still going through his progression after dealing with a case of dead arm toward the end of spring training. He will pitch in a simulated game Friday at the team’s alternate site in Worcester.
The hope is Rodriguez will return to the rotation next week. If so, he could pitch as early as Thursday in Baltimore. He has been impressive at Camden Yards in his career, posting a 5-2 record and a 2.60 ERA in 52 innings.
In the meantime, Tanner Houck will fill Rodriguez’s roster spot and is scheduled to start Saturday.
Houck’s spring was inconsistent. He struggled to find his command, walking 11 batters in 10⅔ innings. But there were positives, too, particularly in his last start against the Braves, when he fanned six in 4⅓ innings and surrendered just two hits. That glimmer of success gives the Red Sox confidence that Houck can contribute as he did in the latter part of last season.
“Just watching him pitch the last [spring game] and him knowing the situation, you can tell he breathed,” manager Alex Cora said. “He was in control, just throwing his sinker and four-seamer and slider. That was a good lineup, too. And there were some bad swings, but I think it was kind of like the comfort level.”
Houck was dominant upon his arrival to the big leagues last season, registering a 0.53 ERA and 21 strikeouts in three starts (17 innings). Yet success isn’t linear, of course, something Houck experienced this spring as he tried to make an impression.
“It’s not that he was uncomfortable early on, but he was trying to do more,” said Cora. “And that’s part of the learning process.
“He’s going to be excited on Saturday because he’s going to pitch in front of his family for the first time as a big leaguer. But I think he’s in a good position now to come here and contribute.”
Loose ends in bullpen
The Red Sox are keeping their fans in limbo. Heading into Friday, they still haven’t announced who will be the closer, Matt Barnes or Adam Ottavino. Cora didn’t give any hints, saying only one will pitch the eighth, and the other the ninth.
After Ryan Brasier’s injury, the bullpen structure took a hit. Brasier likely would have handled the seventh inning, but now the relievers might have to be a bit more flexible, perhaps including Ottavino and Barnes.
At the very least, it sounds as if the Red Sox are still trying to figure out how to maneuver the pieces.
“Those are the things that kind of, like, slow down the decision [on a closer],” Cora said. “But those two guys, you know, they’re going to be pitching in those two innings, and their versatility is very important for us.
“Barnes has been amazing in the seventh and eighth, and I know he can do the job in the ninth. With Adam, obviously, it’s a different look. And we can mix and match with him.”
The alternates
The Sox announced their alternate-site roster, which will consist of 14 pitchers, three catchers, six infielders, and four outfielders.
Pitchers: Eduard Bazardo, Seth Blair, Colten Brewer, Raynel Espinal, Stephen Gonsalves, Daniel Gossett, Matt Hall, Kyle Hart, Kevin McCarthy, Kaleb Ort, Connor Seabold, Caleb Simpson, Marcus Walden, and Ryan Weber.
Catchers: Jett Bandy, Chris Herrmann, and Connor Wong.
Infielders: Jonathan Araúz, Michael Chavis, Chad De La Guerra, Jeter Downs, Yairo Muñoz, and Josh Ockimey.
Outfielders: Jarren Duran, Michael Gettys, César Puello, and Marcus Wilson.
Bandy is on the team’s taxi squad.
Roster facts
Garrett Whitlock is the first pitcher in 26 years to make the Red Sox’ Opening Day roster after being selected in the Rule 5 draft the previous winter. The last to do it was Vaughn Eshelman in 1995 … Nine players on the Opening Day roster weren’t on the 2020 club: Ottavino, Whitlock, Franchy Cordero, Kiké Hérnandez, Marwin Gonzalez, Hunter Renfroe, Matt Andriese, Garrett Richards, and Hirokazu Sawamura … Six Red Sox players made the first Opening Day roster of their career: Bobby Dalbec, Darwinzon Hernandez, Josh Taylor, Sawamura, Whitlock, and Houck.