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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2021 3:19:58 GMT -5
After a lights-out April, the Red Sox bullpen is stuck searching for answers By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated May 11, 2021, 11:52 p.m.
A leak has sprung.
The Red Sox bullpen increasingly looks like a unit in need of repair. Though Matt Barnes has delivered steady ninth-inning dominance, it’s increasingly unclear how to create a reliable bridge between starters and the closer.
Last month, manager Alex Cora envisioned entrusting the final three innings to Darwinzon Hernandez and Adam Ottavino in front of Barnes. He no longer feels secure with that plan — and, in particular, he seems increasingly anxious to see either Hernandez or fellow lefty Josh Taylor offer some measure of reliability to stabilize the last third of a game.
“We’re searching,” said manager Alex Cora. “You’ve seen it.”
The search came no closer to a conclusion on Tuesday night, when the enigmatic Hernandez ― entrusted with the seventh inning in a 1-1 contest against the A’s ― immediately faceplanted in a 3-2 Red Sox loss at Fenway.
Hernandez faced four batters, walking the first and then permitting three straight rockets — back-to-back singles, the second of the run-scoring variety, before a hard groundout by Mitch Moreland ended Hernandez’s night. Righthander Ottavino then permitted a soft, two-out, RBI single to Elvis Andrus, providing Oakland with an insurance run that proved decisive.
The Sox bullpen was solid through April, forging a 3.09 ERA (7th best in the majors) while striking out 29.1 percent of hitters (fourth) and allowing just seven homers (fifth fewest). With two runs allowed in three innings on Tuesday, the Sox bullpen saw its record fall to 1-5 in May, but actually lowered its May ERA from 6.39 to 6.35. Related: Red Sox bats perplexed for second straight game, dropping Oakland opener at Fenway
The group has missed fewer bats — a 23.6 percent strikeout rate ranks 14th this month — while giving up more hard contact (six homers, tied for fifth-most entering Tuesday).
It would be one thing if those numbers reflected the struggles of one or two relievers. Instead, the shortcomings have been widespread of late, creating imperfect options in front of Barnes.
Hernandez has proven particularly inconsistent. After he had three dominant outings in Texas, striking out eight of 11 batters faced, he has permitted five of 13 hitters to reach — with three walks and one strikeout — in his last three appearances. He’s blown a save and been charged with a loss in that span.
“I just wasn’t able to locate [Tuesday]. That’s really the issue,” said Hernandez. “There’s going to be some days where that’s going to happen.”
There have been a lot of those days in Hernandez’s career, making it difficult to rely too heavily on him. If the Sox could harness his electrifying stuff, they’d have a devastating late-innings option. Instead, his outings swing between overpowering and self-destructive, with the fragility of his control (an 18.6 percent walk rate, third-highest in the American League) making it difficult to entrust Hernandez with high-leverage situations.
“We hate traffic,” Cora said of Hernandez’s penchant for walks. “You don’t need to hit rockets or hit home runs when there’s traffic around. You put the ball in play and good things happen. That’s what [the A’s] did today.”
Taylor, saddled with a 6.39 ERA for the year, has been better of late, logging 3⅓ scoreless innings over five May appearances. But his control remains tenuous; he’s thrown just 51 percent of his pitches for strikes this month.
While Cora remains committed to Ottavino based on his ability to dominate righties and avoid hard contact, the righthander has a 16.2 percent walk rate — also one of the highest rates in the AL.
Looking elsewhere for a solution? Garrett Whitlock has come back to Earth (4 runs, 8 hits, 1 strikeout in 4 May innings) after his dazzling April. And even at his best, as the rookie adapts to the bullpen, he remains an occasional option rather than a late-innings workhorse.
Matt Andriese, who had a terrific start to the year as a jack-of-all-trades, has crashed in May, with hitters tagging him for a .458/.519/.875 line.
Perhaps the team will give a longer look to Hirokazu Sawamura, who looked “amazing” (per Cora) on Tuesday against the A’s, striking out four batters in two innings. The righthander has struck out 44.4 percent of batters he’s faced without a walk in his last seven outings and nine innings — though he has permitted three homers in that time.
For now, the rough patch represents a concern rather than a crisis, the sort of stretch that unavoidably emerges at some point in a season.
“As you know, bullpens, they go up and down,” said Cora. “Sometimes they’re great for three weeks and then struggle for three days, then we get it back.”
That, at least, is the hope. But how confident should the Red Sox be in their current group to correct course?
There’s a reason why Brandon Workman saw a potential opportunity to re-establish himself as a late-innings contributor by signing a minor league deal, and why there is excitement throughout the organization about the early performance of righthander Durbin Feltman in Double-A Portland (4 innings, 9 strikeouts).
Even as they sit in first place in the American League East, after all, the Red Sox are searching.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2021 3:23:20 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Jason Varitek making his voice heard in his first post-playing dugout job By Julian Benbow Globe Staff,Updated May 11, 2021, 8:10 p.m.
As a player, Jason Varitek knew that embracing baseball’s movement toward analytics would only help him in the long run.
He was a heady catcher by nature, but he approached preparation with added attention, burying himself in the data no matter what else was going on.
“I saw him first-hand as a player on trips,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who played three-plus seasons alongside Varitek. “David [Ortiz] was playing cards and Jason was part of the card game, and while he was losing money playing cards, he had his scouting report at the same time.”
In his first year as a full-time member of the coaching staff, Cora said Varitek has brought the same attention to detail that he did as a player.
“He’s relentless at what he does,” Cora said before Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to Oakland. “One of the best catchers I ever played with. And for him to be part of the day-in, day-out process that we have, it’s been a plus.”
The Sox created the title of game planning coordinator for Varitek this past offseason. Previously a special assistant to the general manager, Varitek’s focus has been on pitchers and catchers, but he’s added insight across the board.
“He can talk hitting, he can talk defense, he can talk pitching,” Cora said. “We’re here to help each other out. That’s what good coaching staffs do. Obviously, he’s on top of pitch sequences and communicating with Christian [Vázquez] and Kevin [Plawecki]. That’s very important. But I think as a person, as the captain, he’s doing the things that he used to do, but in a different way. More vocal, more outspoken, which is great.” Related: Red Sox bats perplexed for second straight game, dropping Oakland opener at Fenway
Varitek is also armed with information, using data to point players in the right direction. For instance, he sifted through the metrics on the advantages of the one-knee catching stance and convinced Vazquez and Plawecki it would be beneficial.
“Any information in anything in this game — whether it be from a pro scout or an analytics department — and you’re not open-minded enough to engage and learn or maybe learn something that you didn’t know or add pieces to things that you didn’t know, you’re not doing yourself a favors,” he said. “This is a game about the players and it’s about them performing, and whatever pieces we can allow them to perform at their height — it shouldn’t be analytic department, staff members, and players, it should be one cohesive, one big group. And I think that’s, that’s why this team’s had some success.”
Varitek acknowledged he eventually would like an opportunity to become a manager, but his role with the Sox is his primary focus.
“Of course,” Varitek said. “But that’s not the focus right now. The focus right now is what you can do to make this team the best that can. We have an unbelievable leader around us, so it’s a great working environment to work with.” Mitch more than the averaging returning Red Sox
Mitch Moreland returned to Fenway for the first time since being traded last August, receiving a warm ovation when he came to bat in the second inning, and it brought back some fond memories for Cora.
“Mitch is a good player, man, and a great person,” Cora said. “What he brought to the equation in the clubhouse was kind of like, a sense of calmness. The way he operates, he takes care of himself. Sometimes it’s a grind physically, but he wants to post every day and I think that that helps the people around him.
“They see Mitch play and they’re like, ‘You know what, I better play too. Let me get ready for this one.’ He did an excellent job for us in both years, and he did an excellent job last year for the Red Sox.”
Moreland spent three seasons with he Sox, winning a World Series in 2018. After being traded to San Diego last summer, he signed with Oakland as a free agent. He went 1 for 4 as the designated hitter on Tuesday, raising his average to .220 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 28 games.
“He’s been fantastic here, and not just in the role that we’ve used him,” said A’s manager Bob Melvin. “Obviously we’ve been able to play him a little bit at first base, too. He’s got a Gold Glove. He’s picking up the DH thing. He knows how to pinch-hit. He’s just a professional hitter who rubs off not just necessarily on our young guys. Related: Speier: After a lights-out April, the Red Sox bullpen is stuck searching for answers
“Whether it’s he or Jed [Lowrie], when they speak in the cage and they talk about certain things, guys are focused on it,” continued Melvin, referencing another former Red Sox. “It’s great to have another resource like him, who has won a world championship as well, and has some of the things that our guys want to have, too. He’s been great here. He’s fit in really well here, and the guys really respect him.”
Checking in on sick bay
Kiké Hernández and Christian Arroyo are expected to be able to return when eligible, Cora said. Hernández has been on the injured list since May 7 with a right hamstring strain. Arroyo has been listed since May 9 (retroactive to May 7) with a left hand contusion . . . In Worcester, Triple-A catcher Connor Wong pulled up lame at second base with what appeared to be a left hamstring injury, slightly souring an 8-5 win over Syracuse to christen Polar Park. WooSox manager Billy McMillon suggested Wong — the only catcher in the minors on Boston’s 40-man roster — would be sidelined for at least a couple of days. Wong will be re-evaluated, but McMillon said that at first glance, the injury wasn’t expected to sideline him for long.
Alex Speier of Globe Staff contributed to this report.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2021 3:35:49 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 6h Cora on middle relief in front of Barnes: “We’re searching”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2021 3:38:44 GMT -5
Red Sox bullpen blows another one in 3-2 loss to Oakland A’s Sox’ pen struggling since May 1
By Jason Mastrodonato | jason.mastrodonato@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald PUBLISHED: May 11, 2021 at 10:12 p.m. | UPDATED: May 11, 2021 at 11:27 p.m.
The game close, the starter done after five or six innings, who are the Red Sox to go to?
It was Matt Andriese on Monday, and that backfired.
It was Darwinzon Hernandez on Tuesday, and that didn’t work, either.
The Red Sox bullpen is slowly starting to unravel.
With the game tied in the seventh inning Tuesday, Hernandez wildly coughed up two decisive runs as the Oakland A’s took a 3-2 win in the series opener.
“We’re searching,” manager Alex Cora said of his bullpen. “We do feel very comfortable with some of the guys back there. We still have to get these kids going. They’re very important. Stuff-wise, we know what they can do. We’ve seen it before. But we need them to be more consistent. When that happens, then structure is going to be a lot easier.”
It’s an important series for the Sox, who have started to feel good about themselves and haven’t been afraid to say so. Cora recently suggested in a joking manner that the Sox are the No. 1 team in the nation. It’s a group that isn’t afraid to talk about how good they are.
But the A’s are good, too. And after winning the first game, both teams are now 22-15. And it’s the San Francisco Giants, at 22-14, that now have MLB’s best record.
The Sox are unquestionably talented, but the bullpen is starting to look like a concern.
Nathan Eovaldi pitched a two-hit gem but was removed from a 1-1 game after six innings and 102 pitches.
Cora called on Hernandez, the hard-throwing lefty who has settled into a late-game role. But Hernandez is prone to losing his cool on the mound, and it happened again on Tuesday. He couldn’t find the strike zone against Matt Olson and issued a leadoff walk. Hernandez thought he had Olson on an outside fastball that was quite clearly not a strike, but Hernandez got emotional about the call and didn’t seem to recover.
“I felt good out there, just trying to control my body and slow it down a bit,” Hernandez said through a translator. “I felt like my first couple pitches, I was going too fast. I just wasn’t able to locate today. That’s the issue here. That’s going to happen.”
After the leadoff walk, Jed Lowrie and Matt Chapman each singled to drive in Olson for the go-ahead run.
“He was wild today,” Cora said of Hernandez. “He wasn’t able to command the fastball. He put himself in a tough spot.”
Hernandez then retired Mitch Moreland before Cora called on Adam Ottavino, who allowed Chapman to score on a single by Elvis Andrus.
One night earlier, Andriese couldn’t keep the game tied in the sixth inning after being called on to relieve starter Martin Perez.
The Red Sox bullpen held it together for the month of April, but, other than Matt Barnes, has been a total mess in the month of May.
Since May 1, relievers not named Barnes have a 1-5 record while allowing 24 earned runs in 30 innings for a 7.20 ERA.
Cora hasn’t had any reliable late-inning options to bridge the gap to Barnes.
Hernandez and Ottavino have been shaky, Andriese has been totally unreliable, Garrett Whitlock has come back down to Earth and there isn’t anywhere for Cora to go.
“As you know, bullpens, they go up and down,” Cora said. “Sometimes they’re great for three weeks and then struggle for three days, then we get it back. Hopefully it’s just something that happened today with Darwinzon and he’ll be back again.”
Three more takeaways:
1. Eovaldi looked great and he needed this one. He’d allowed 16 earned runs in 21 2/3 innings over his previous four starts and Cora thought he needed to switch up his pitch mix. But Eovaldi used just about the same mix he has all year as he handled a very good A’s lineup over six innings of work. He allowed just two hits, two walks and one run, striking out four.
2. Chris Bassit pitched one of the best games anyone has thrown against the Red Sox this year. Using a deceptive delivery and mid-90s fastball, he struck out 10 in seven innings on just 86 pitches. It was just the fourth time in 37 games that a starter has completed seven innings against the Red Sox this year. There’s yet to be a starter to take the mound in the eighth.
3. Bassitt might’ve finished the game if it wasn’t for Rafael Devers’ excellent swing on a hanging two-seamer in the seventh inning. Bassitt left the 92-mph pitch over the middle of the plate and Devers lifted it to the opposite field over the Green Monster for his ninth of the year. Devers had a chance to walk off in the bottom of the ninth, when he stepped up with two on and one out, but he went fishing after some bad pitches and hit into a fielder’s choice.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2021 3:40:56 GMT -5
Red Sox Notes @soxnotes · 7h Longest homerless streaks to begin a season, Red Sox in the last 25 years (1997-2021):
1. Derek Lowe (2002) – 88.1 IP 2. Pedro Martinez (2001) – 55.0 IP 3. Nathan Eovaldi (2021) – 45.0 IP
(h/t @eliassports )
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2021 3:42:35 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox tally 4 hits in 3-2 loss to Athletics; Nathan Eovaldi bounces back with 6 strong innings Updated May 11, 2021; Posted May 11, 2021
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- The league-leading Red Sox offense was no match for Athletics starter Chris Bassitt on Tuesday night at Fenway Park, mustering -- for the second straight night -- just four hits in a loss.
Bassitt struck out 10 batters in seven innings and allowed three hits as the A’s beat Boston, 3-2, in the opener of a three-game set. Boston wasted a strong bounce-back outing from starter Nathan Eovaldi, who allowed a single run on two hits in six frames.
Boston drew first in the first inning, when Alex Verdugo singled, took two bases on Bassitt wild pitches and came around to score on a J.D. Martinez sacrifice fly. Once Eovaldi departed, Darwinzon Hernandez continued his home struggles with a rough seventh inning, walking the leadoff batter before allowing a go-ahead RBI single to Matt Chapman. Elvis Andrus then made it 3-1 with an RBI single of his own off Adam Ottavino.
Rafael Devers brought the Red Sox back within a run with a seventh-inning blast -- his ninth of the year but just his second at Fenway Park. The Red Sox had baserunners in each of the last two innings but were unable to tie things up against Oakland relievers Yusmeiro Petit and Jake Diekman. In the ninth, Diekman walked Verdugo and Bogaerts but Christian Vázquez popped with runners on the corners for the final out.
Boston fell to 22-15 with the loss and holds just a two-game lead in the American League East.
Moreland receives warm ovation
Former Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland, making his first appearance at Fenway Park since being traded last August, received a nice ovation from crowd of 9,264 -- the first time the ballpark was at 25% capacity all season. Moreland twice tipped his helmet to the fans as Vázquez called time and walked halfway to the mound before turning and applauding Moreland himself.
Moreland was 1-for-4 in Oakland’s win.
E-Rod starts Wednesday
Lefty Eduardo Rodriguez will start Wednesday night’s game opposite righty James Kaprielian with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Boston will try get its offense going and snap a two-game losing streak.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2021 3:43:39 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox’s Darwinzon Hernandez has 10.80 ERA at home this year; Alex Cora admits club still ‘searching’ for perfect bullpen structure Updated 12:07 AM; Today 12:02 AM
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- Darwinzon Hernandez’s up-and-down start to the season continued Wednesday night as the Red Sox reliever let a winnable game get away from Boston with a wild seventh inning.
Replacing Nathan Eovaldi with the game tied, 1-1, Hernandez walked Matt Olson to lead off the seventh and then allowed back-to-back singles to Jed Lowrie and Matt Chapman. Chapman’s knock gave Oakland a 2-1 lead; Elvis Andrus later drove in Chapman with an RBI single off Adam Ottavino for Hernandez’s second earned run of the night. The A’s went on to win, 3-2.
The outing continued a string of brutal appearances at Fenway Park for Hernandez, who has surrendered eight runs (six earned), seven hits and nine walks (10.80 ERA) in five home innings this season. Conversely, he has been nearly perfect on the road, striking out 10 in 6 ⅔ scoreless innings.
Neither Hernandez nor manager Alex Cora had an explanation for the discrepancy.
“That’s not something I really focus on,” Hernandez said (through translator Bryan Almonte). “Obviously, I’m just trying to do my job whenever Alex hands me the ball. That’s all I’m thinking about, not whether my splits are different at home or on the road.”
Hernandez, a third-year reliever who has been brilliant at times since debuting in 2019, has had the chance to seize the seventh-inning role ahead of Ottavino and closer Matt Barnes so far this season but has been too inconsistent to claim it outright. Since a brutal four-run outing against the Mariners on April 22, Hernandez had been solid, going five appearances without allowing an earned run and striking out nine in 4 ⅓ innings.
For Cora, the struggles of his two young lefties -- Hernandez and Josh Taylor -- have made it difficult to set up a fixed bullpen structure.
“We’re searching. You’ve seen it,” Cora said. “Obviously, we do feel very comfortable with some of the guys back there. We still have to get these kids going. I think they’re very important. Stuff-wise, we know what they can do. We’ve seen it before. But we need them to be more consistent. When that happens, the structure is going to be a lot easier.”
With two lefties, a switch-hitter and a righty due up as the first four batters of the inning for the A’s, Cora felt that it was a “good pocket” to use Hernandez. The southpaw’s wildness -- fueled by a lack of fastball command -- cost him, especially in the form of the. leadoff walk
“You don’t have to hit rockets or hit home runs when there’s traffic around,” Cora said. “You put the ball in play and good things happen. That’s what they did today.”
Hernandez said his mechanics felt good and that he tried to slow down his tempo after feeling like he rushed the first couple pitches of his outing. He chalked up his struggles to an inability to locate.
“That’s really the issue here,” he said. “There are going to be some days where that’s going to happen.”
In 2019, Cora’s last year as manager, both Hernandez and Taylor served as key bridge relievers to Barnes and Brandon Workman at the end of games. Two years later, both of them have struggled enough to shake up the entire relief hierarchy.
“We need to get the job done in those innings,” Cora said. “(Hernandez and Taylor), they have to do the job.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2021 4:04:54 GMT -5
Oakland @ Boston Wednesday, 12th May 2021 7pm @ Fenway
Kaprielian 0-0 (MLB Debut)
Making his first MLB start. Made his first AAA start last week in Vegas, allowing 2 runs on eight hits, one walk, 5 k;s in just over 4 ip.
E-rod 5-0/3.82
Did not have good fastball command in his last start vs the Orioles, but did well enough to hold them off for the win. Has pitched 5 innings or more in his last 34 starts, the 2nd largest streak in MLB behind Bieber.
A's go with rookie vs. Red Sox veteran Eduardo Rodriguez According to STATS
The Athletics may not stay rooted in Oakland for much longer, but for now, they are staying focused on their task at hand in Boston.
As news broke Tuesday of the possibility of a league-backed relocation, the only thing the Athletics were concerned about was finding a way to prevail against a talented Red Sox team in a midweek series between two division leaders.
James Kaprielian will be turning all of his attention toward the 60 feet, 6 inches between him and home plate at Fenway Park as he makes his first major league start on Wednesday night in the second game of the three-game set.
The 27-year-old right-hander, a 2015 first-round draft pick, made all of 28 minor league appearances before reaching the majors last year.
Kaprielian, ranked by MLB.com as Oakland's 10th-best prospect, went 6-6 with a 3.00 ERA and 116 strikeouts over 102 innings in the minors. He joined the A's on two occasions last season, pitching out of the bullpen twice and allowing three runs in 3 2/3 innings.
"This is a big time in his career. He's getting an opportunity to come here and start," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "He's pitched out of the bullpen for us, you know, has gotten his feet wet at the big league level, but this is a real opportunity for him. I know he's been looking forward to it."
The Red Sox will turn to someone with a more proven track record on the mound, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez.
Rodriguez (5-0, 3.82 ERA) seeks an American League-high sixth win after giving up just one run on seven hits with a pair of strikeouts in a 6-2 victory at Baltimore on Friday.
The southpaw extended his streak of starts with at least five innings pitched to 34, trailing only Cleveland's Shane Bieber (40) for the longest active streak in the majors.
Boston has scored at least four runs in each of Rodriguez's seven starts this season.
"I know every time I go out there I've just got to keep the game like it is because I know the lineup we have, I know they're gonna score some runs," Rodriguez said. "I just go out there and try to keep the lower runs for them."
Rodriguez is 2-2 with a 4.33 ERA in six career starts against the Athletics. Stephen Piscotty (5-for-8, 2 HR, 6 RBIs) and Matt Chapman (3-for-7, 3 RBIs) have feasted on Rodriguez's pitching in their prior at-bats against him.
Oakland quieted the Boston bats and held off the hosts for a 3-2 win to open the series Tuesday night. Chapman hit the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning, and Elvis Andrus' ensuing single knocked in what proved to be the decisive run.
The A's won for the sixth time in nine games and tied the Red Sox, the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants for the major league lead in victories, 22.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox lost their second straight after winning four in a row and five of six.
--Field Level Media
A's at Red Sox Wednesday, at 7:10 PM EST Partly Cloudy According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 60° F with a 2% chance of rain and 7 MPH wind blowing left to right in Boston at 7:10 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2021 9:05:37 GMT -5
The Red Sox have found their first real problem Current Time 0:25 / Duration 14:42
By Rob Bradford 2 hours ago
The issues come and go.
There was the concern over the bottom of the Red Sox' batting order. And the on-base percentage from the leadoff spot was less than ideal. We also had that April stretch where starters weren't supplying more than a few innings.
This, however, seems different.
The Red Sox seem to have their first true roadblock to prolonged success and it is coming in the form of finding consistent routes from the starters to closer Matt Barnes.
The issue surfaced once again in the Red Sox' 3-2 loss to the A's Tuesday night.
With the Sox' starter -- in this case Nathan Eovaldi -- once again doing his job through the first six innings, keeping the game tied at 1-1, Alex Cora brought on what would have seemed to be a logical option, Darwinzon Hernandez.
It didn't work out.
Hernandez couldn't find the plate, resulting in two hits and a walk while getting just one out. And when Adam Ottavino came on and allowed one of the lefty reliever's baserunners to score via a base-hit, the Sox found themselves in a hole they couldn't dig out from.
"We’re searching," Cora said of the Red Sox' set-up men conundrum. "You’ve seen it. We do feel very comfortable with some of the guys back there. We still have to get these kids going. They’re very important. Stuff-wise, we know what they can do, we’ve seen it before. But we need them to be more consistent. When that happens, then structure is going to be a lot easier. For the negative, there was a positive, right? (Hirokazu) Sawawurma was amazing tonight. Hopefully he can keep building from that. As you know, bullpens, they go up and down. Sometimes they’re great for three weeks and then struggle for three days, then we get it back. Hopefully it’s just something that happened today with Darwinzon and he’ll be back again and maybe he’ll get the same guys again and he’ll do what he did in Texas."
As was evident earlier in the season, there are pieces that can serve as part of the solution. Sawamura's two innings Tuesday night offered that reminder. But the trend that has shown itself throughout May is hard to overlook.
Since May 1, the Red Sox relievers have totaled a 1-5 record with a 6.35 ERA, allowing 42 hits and 14 walks in 34 innings. That's just more than 11 hits per nine innings. They have also allowed seven of their 15 inherited runners to score.
It's a far cry from the totals April left us with. That month the Sox' bullpen hits-per-nine-innings was just about six, with an ERA of 3.00, while allowing just 11 of its 33 inherited runners to score.
The problem is finding the lock-down, no-doubt-about-it answers in specific roles for Cora. Right now, the Red Sox simply haven't been afforded that sort of consistency in key seventh and eighth innings.
They certainly might be getting some help in the coming weeks with the return of Ryan Brasier, who is throwing off a mound after dealing with a torn calf muscle. And Worcester has a few interesting options in familiar face Marcus Walden (who has been pitching well thought spring training and early on in the Triple-A season) and newcomer Eduard Bazardo.
And what a perfect world it would be for the Red Sox if Brandon Workman could just return to form. (His Worcester debut didn't go well Tuesday, with the righty giving up a run on a hit and two walks.)
But this certainly feels like a path that will lead to some sort of trade deadline prioritizing.
The good news for Chaim Bloom is that there are certainly more difficult holes to fill. Dave Dombrowski did it in back-to-back years with Brad Ziegler and Addison Reed. And, who knows, maybe the likes of Sawamura and/or Garrett Whitlock continue to emerge, with Hernandez and/or Josh Taylor figuring it out from the left side.
Let the fixing begin.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2021 13:18:18 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox’s Nathan Eovaldi encouraged by strong start despite being outdueled by Chris Bassitt: ‘The fastball felt really good coming out’ Updated 10:53 AM; Today 10:20 AM
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- Like he always does between outings, Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi spent the time between Thursday and Tuesday tweaking his mechanics and making adjustments. Whatever he found worked, as he bounced back from his worst start of the season and threw solid innings in Boston’s 3-2 loss to the Athletics on Tuesday night.
On Thursday, against the Tigers, Eovaldi allowed six earned runs on seven hits in 4 ⅓ innings. On Tuesday, he allowed one run on two hits while striking out four but was outdueled by Chris Bassitt, who struck out 10 in seven innings for Oakland.
“They were both phenomenal,” said Sox manager Alex Cora. “Bassitt has done it the last few years. His ball is going everywhere. A good sinker, good four-seamer, good breaking ball. Had us off balance and then was able to finish us off with fastballs up.
“Nate was solid,” he said. “He was really good. He gave us six innings, did a good job with using his fastball a little bit more. It was a good baseball game.”
Eovaldi used a fastball-heavy attack against Oakland, throwing it for 50 of his 102 pitches (49%), up from his season average of 43%. He got 36 strikes on those pitches and 11 strikes on 13 cutters.
“I didn’t really have great command of my slider or my curveball today but my cutter was really what worked really well today and I mixed in enough off-speed pitches to keep them off balance,” Eovaldi said.
Unlike last time out, when the Red Sox won despite Eovaldi’s performance, the club wasted a quality start by mustering only four hits for the second straight night. Bassitt needed just 86 pitches to cruise through seven innings, allowing three hits and no walks.
“Our offense is the best in the league,” Eovaldi said. “For them to go out there and shut us down, it’s good for them.”
For an offense that leads the majors in OPS, batting average and runs scored, the last two games have been an outlier. Cora credited Bassitt and Baltimore starter Jorge López, who went 5 ⅔ strong innings in a 4-1 Orioles win Monday.
“Those two guys the last two days have been really good,” Cora said. “You’re going to run into this. López, last night was throwing 97 (mph) sinker balls and a good changeup and this guy, he has been one of the best the last few years. You’re going to go through stretches.”
Eovaldi took a no decision, with Darwinzon Hernandez taking the loss after being charged with two runs in a wild seventh inning. But Boston’s No. 2 starter still took away a bunch of positives from one of his longest outings of the year.
“Before, I was kind of getting into a little bit of predictable counts,” he said. “I think that’s why my outings weren’t as great the two prior. Tonight, I felt like I mixed my pitches really well and again, the fastball felt really good coming out.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2021 13:19:10 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox notebook: Jason Varitek ‘more vocal’ as coach than he was as a player, should Hunter Renfroe have caught ball in 7th? Updated 2:01 PM; Today 1:56 PM
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- In his first year as a full-time coach, former Red Sox captain Jason Varitek has worn many hats. The 49-year-old is officially called the club’s “game-planning coordinator” but is involved in all facets of the game, working with catchers, hitters and the pitching staff.
Varitek spends most of his time working with Christian Vázquez and Kevin Plawecki and helps the team’s pitchers but has also emerged as a source of moral support for the entire team. Manager Alex Cora, who played with Varitek in Boston from 2005 to 2008, thinks Varitek’s personality has changed.
“As a person and as the captain, he’s doing the things that he used to do, but in a different way,” Cora said Tuesday. “More vocal, more outspoken, which is great.
“He’s louder in the dugout for sure,” Cora added. “It’s not like he’s a cheerleader but he’s a lot louder pulling for the guys.”
Varitek served a hybrid front office/coaching role in recent years after taking on a special assistant role in 2011. In his old job, he played a significant role in game-planning and on-field coaching. The new title hasn’t changed much, though he’s now around every day instead of leaving the team for stretches like he did previously.
“It has not been much different than what I’ve been doing,” Varitek said. “It’s great to have your hands on people day in and day out in all avenues. Not just getting people out. Not just defensive. It’s offensive, it’s positioning, it’s being a part of everything and watching these guys compete every day and trying to aid them when you can.”
Varitek has long held managerial aspirations and said he still has them. A full-time coaching role is a natural stepping stone toward managing.
“But that’s not the focus right now,” Varitek said. “The focus right now is what you can do to make this team the best that you can. We have an unbelievable leader around us (Cora) and it’s a great working environment to work with.”
Cora has repeatedly said he thinks his former teammate will get a chance in the big chair someday.
“He can run a team and he can impact a team,” Cora said. “I’m glad he’s still with us here. Obviously, I know he has his goals. We talked about it last year a little bit. For him to become a big-league manager is something he really wants. At the same time, right now he wants this organization to win a World Series, which is very important for us. He’s a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Hernández, Arroyo won’t be out long
Utility man Kiké Hernández (right hamstring strain) and second baseman Christian Arroyo (left hand contusion) are both expected to come off the injured list after the minimum 10 days, Cora said. Hernández will be eligible to return May 18 and Arroyo can be activated two days later.
“It feels that way,” Cora said. “Yesterday, after the game we talked and (head athletic trainer Brad Pearson) feels like they should be okay.”
Should Renfroe have caught ball in 7th?
With the Red Sox trailing, 2-1, in the seventh, Athletics shortstop Elvis Andrus hit a bloop RBI single off Adam Ottavino that dropped a few feet in front of right fielder Hunter Renfroe. It appeared Renfroe might have had a play on the ball if he slid or dove, but instead it dropped and gave Oakland an insurance run that ended up being the difference in the game.
Cora didn’t seem to think Renfroe had a play on the ball.
“He’s one of the best defenders in right field,” Cora said. “If he didn’t get it, not too many right fielders can get it.”
Varitek compliments Vázquez
Varitek said he has enjoyed watching the progression of Vázquez, a former defensive-minded backstop who has transformed into one of the best all-around catchers in baseball.
“It has been phenomenal to watch,” Varitek said. “There’s nothing on a baseball field Christian can’t do. His athleticism, his hands, his quickness, his brains behind the plate. Those have all developed and come together over the time. His mental tools are now matching his physical tools.”
Sawamura shines
Though the Red Sox’ bullpen ended up costing them Tuesday’s game, Cora was impressed with the performance of Hirokazu Sawamura. The righty pitched two innings, allowing two hits while striking out four batters on 32 pitches.
“For the negative, there was a positive,” Cora said. “Sawamura was amazing tonight.”
Wong, Groome both banged up in minor-league action
A couple of Red Sox prospects were banged up Tuesday, with catcher Connor Wong and pitcher Jay Groome each leaving their respective games. Wong appeared to tweak a hamstring running the bases for Triple-A Worcester and Groome had to leave his start for High-A Greenville after being struck in the shin by a liner in the third inning.
WooSox manager Billy McMillon told reporters (including MassLive’s Katie Morrison) that he didn’t anticipate Wong being out for long. Groome is day-to-day.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2021 13:25:03 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 7m Mitch Moreland on last night's ovation: "It was definitely special. Something I greatly appreciate and am humbled by. Great fan base. One of the best."
Moreland says he had conversations with the Red Sox "all the way through" free agency.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2021 13:39:24 GMT -5
Game 38: Athletics at Red Sox lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated May 12, 2021, 11:27 a.m. After dropping the series opener, the Red Sox will face the Athletics again tonight. Both teams sport a 22-15 record, with the Red Sox sitting atop the AL East, and Oakland in first in the AL West. Eduardo Rodriguez looks to remain perfect for the Red Sox this season, while James Kaprielian will be making his first start in the majors. Lineups ATHLETICS (22-15): 1. Mark Canha (R) LF 2. Jed Lowrie (S) 2B 3. Ramon Laureano (R) CF 4. Matt Olson (L) 1B 5. Matt Chapman (R) 3B 6. Stephen Piscotty (R) RF 7. Sean Murphy (R) C 8. Mitch Moreland (L) DH 9. Elvis Andrus (R) SS Pitching: RHP James Kaprielian (0-0, 0.00 ERA) RED SOX (22-15): 1. Marwin Gonzalez (S) 2B 2. Alex Verdugo (L) CF 3. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 4. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 5. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 6. Christian Vazquez (R) C 7. Hunter Renfroe (R) RF 8. Franchy Cordero (L) LF 9. Michael Chavis (R) 1B Pitching: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (5-0, 3.82 ERA) Time: 7:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Athletics vs. Rodriguez: Andrus 2-7, Canha 0-10, Chapman 3-7, Kemp 1-2, Laureano 0-3, Jed Lowrie 3-9, Moreland 0-3, Olson 0-2, Piscotty 5-8 Red Sox vs. Kaprielian: Has not faced any Boston batters Stat of the day: Eduardo Rodriguez has 34 consecutive starts of at least five innings, trailing only Cleveland’s Shane Bieber (40) for the longest active streak in the majors. Notes: J.D. Martinez leads MLB in RBI (32), and has 11 RBI in his last 11 games … Rafael Devers is just the fifth Red Sox — age 24 or younger — with at least 30 RBI in his first 35 games of a season. Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, and Bobby Doerr each did it twice, while Jim Tabor did it once … Rodriguez is 2-2 with a 4.33 ERA in six career starts against the Athletics. He gave up just one run on seven hits with a pair of strikeouts in a 6-2 victory at Baltimore on Friday … Kaprielian, 27, was a first round pick in the 2015 draft. He made all of 28 minor league appearances before reaching the majors last year, going 6-6 with a 3.00 ERA and 116 strikeouts over 102 innings in the minors. Song of the Day: The Go Go's "We Got the Beat"www.youtube.com/watch?v=f55KlPe81Yw&list=RDf55KlPe81Yw&start_radio=1
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2021 14:00:03 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 9m On @omfonweei , Cora says he expects Christian Arroyo and Kiké Hernández to each play 2 rehab games for the WooSox this week before rejoining the team. Danny Santana starting in Worcester tonight.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2021 14:02:20 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 11m J.D. Martinez joining us on Zoom. #RedSox
Martinez said he believes a small core can carry a lineup throughout a season.
The question, of course, was asked due to the #RedSox dominance 2-5 and some struggles elsewhere.
Extended comments from Martinez on something he said a couple weeks back -- that it's a stuff over command league in terms of pitching. #RedSox
Martinez won't confirm or deny whether or not he received a COVID-19 vaccine.
The #RedSox are thought to still be under the 85% threshold required to loosen team protocols.
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