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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 17, 2021 3:07:10 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Blue Jays Tuesday, 18th May 2021 730pm @ TD BallPark
Erod 5-1/4.15
Gave up 4 runs over six IP in his last start vs the A;s. Rodriguez struck out a season-high nine, so it wasn't all bad. His stuff isn't yet where it was two years ago, but he's still giving the Red Sox five or six solid innings every time out. He'll take a 5-1 record and a 4.15 ERA with him into his next start against the Blue Jays In 15 career appearances vs the Blue Jays he is 5-4/4.52.
Ryu 3-2/2.95
Hyun-Jin Ryu excelled for seven innings against the Braves on Wednesday, giving up one run and five hits. Ryu wound up with six strikeouts and one walk, which is par for the course for him. In seven outings this year, he's finished with 5-7 strikeouts six times and walked one or no batters all seven times.
Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 7:35pm EDT Written by Chris Kubala
It’s the opener of an early week set between AL East rivals on the diamond down in the Sunshine State. The Boston Red Sox are on the road as they kick off a three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays at their makeshift home in Dunedin Tuesday night. Boston missed a chance at sweeping the Angels at home as they fell 6-5 on Sunday afternoon in their most recent contest. Toronto took the rubber game of their three-game home interleague set with the Phillies as they prevailed 10-8 on Sunday afternoon. The teams split two games in Boston in their first series this season on April 20-21.
Boston Red Sox Hoping to Extend AL East Lead Boston had a chance to sweep the Angels but let it slip away late, snapping their three-game win streak in the process. The Red Sox entered Monday leading the AL East by 1.5 games over the Blue Jays, so they’ll look to extend that advantage over their closest pursuers. Boston rallied from a 4-0 deficit after an inning and a half to lead 5-4 heading to the ninth before giving up a two-out, two-run homer to Shohei Ohtani. Kevin Plawecki (his first) and Rafael Devers (his 11th) each homered in the loss for the Red Sox. Nathan Eovaldi allowed four runs on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts over five innings while not factoring in the decision. Matt Barnes (1-1) took the loss as he allowed two runs on two hits with no walks and two strikeouts over 1.1 innings of relief.
Eduardo Rodriguez gets the ball for his eighth start of the season for the Red Sox in this contest. He comes in 5-1 with a 4.15 ERA, a 1.205 WHIP, seven walks and 42 strikeouts over 39 innings of work this season. Rodriguez took the loss in his last start, which came Wednesday at home against the A’s. He threw six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with one walk and nine strikeouts in a 4-1 Red Sox defeat. In his last three starts, Rodriguez is 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA, a 1.69 WHIP, five walks and 16 strikeouts over 16 innings of work. Rodriguez makes his 16th career appearance and 15th start against the Blue Jays in this contest. He is 5-4 with a 4.52 ERA, a 1.151 WHIP, 29 walks and 74 strikeouts over 81.2 innings of work. Rodriguez, in his 135th career appearance and 130th major league start, pitches at TD Ballpark for the first time here.
Toronto Blue Jays Looking to Close Gap in AL East Toronto won a high-scoring affair in the rubber game of their home set with the Phillies to pick up their fifth win in the last six games. The Blue Jays entered Monday second in the AL East race, 1.5 games behind the Red Sox for the top spot so they look to gain ground here. Toronto jumped to an 8-0 lead after three innings but had to hang on late as it took Bryce Harper striking out with two on in the ninth to end it. Marcus Semien (his ninth), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (his 11th) and Bo Bichette (his ninth) each homered in the contest. Robbie Ray (2-1) earned the win as he allowed four runs on seven hits with one walk and nine strikeouts over 5.2 innings before turning things over to the bullpen.
Hyun Jin Ryu is expected to get the ball for his eighth start of the season for the Blue Jays in this contest. He comes in 3-2 with a 2.95 ERA, a 1.059 WHIP, five walks and 38 strikeouts over 39.2 innings of work on the year. Ryu earned the win in his last outing, which came on the road against the Braves Wednesday. He threw seven innings, allowing one run on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts in a game the Blue Jays won 4-1. In his last three starts, Ryu is 2-0 with a 2.87 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, three walks and 17 strikeouts over 15.2 innings of work. Ryu makes his fourth career start against the Red Sox in this contest. He comes in 0-2 with a 4.24 ERA, a 1.235 WHIP, one walk and 15 strikeouts over 17 innings of work. Ryu won his lone start at TD Ballpark in his career, which came against the Yankees on April 13. He threw 6.2 innings, allowing one run (none earned) on four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in a 7-1 Blue Jays victory.
Red Sox are 6-0 in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning record Red Sox are 5-0 in their last 5 games following an off day
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 17, 2021 3:08:02 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 11h Pitching matchups for the #RedSox - #BlueJays series in Dunedin, Fla., that starts on Tuesday:
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 17, 2021 3:13:08 GMT -5
Roster decisions loom for Sox down the line May 16th, 2021 Ian Browne
BOSTON -- With reinforcements on the way, starting with the imminent return of Kiké Hernández -- likely Tuesday in Dunedin, Fla., against the Blue Jays -- the Red Sox are going to have some interesting roster decisions to make in the coming weeks.
If Hernández does return from his right hamstring strain on Tuesday, the first move should be pretty straightforward, as utility infielder Jonathan Araúz will likely get optioned back to Triple-A Worcester.
But when Christian Arroyo comes back from his left wrist contusion in roughly a week, things will get more interesting.
“Christian, he’s going to hit off the tee again today," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "He’ll stay back in the beginning of this road trip, he’ll go to Worcester to get treatment and then he’ll ramp up offensively. The hope is for him to start taking batting practice by Wednesday."
And then there will be an even bigger crunch when Danny Santana, who smashed 28 homers for the Rangers two years ago, has seen enough at-bats at Triple-A that he is ready to join Boston.
Santana wasn’t ready for the start of the season due to suffering a severe right foot infection in Spring Training. But he has looked strong at the plate and in the field at Worcester.
“He’s doing well, he’s playing well, moving well,” Cora said. “He stole a base, I want to say, yesterday or the night before. Hitting, he looks like, timing-wise, he’s there. He’s almost there. We’ve been moving him around all over the place.
“This is a guy, like I said, we were looking for versatility in the offseason and then he was there at the end. I think [chief baseball officer] Chaim [Bloom] and the front office did an outstanding job recognizing players and this is a guy, it gives us another alternative, let’s see where it takes us. We feel good about where he’s at, not only physically but as a hitter and as a player.”
When Arroyo and Santana are ready for action, the Red Sox will have three options -- no pun intended -- for how to fit them on the roster.
The Sox could option infielder Michael Chavis back to Triple-A, even though he’s shown some promising flashes (two doubles and a homer) since he was called up on May 7 to replace Hernández when he went down with a strained right hamstring strain.
Chavis had an important hustle double that helped the Red Sox end an offensive slump in Thursday’s win over Oakland. But the next day, given a chance to lead off against a righty, he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
On Sunday, Cora gave Chavis another chance to make an impact, putting him in the leadoff spot against Angels lefty José Quintana.
“He’s leading off today, he’s playing second,” Cora said before the series finale. “I hate to look ahead. There’s some people who are coming back from the IL, let's take it day by day. The other day, everybody was excited about him hitting a home run and hitting two doubles.
“To win a World Series, it’s more than 26 guys. You have to make moves based on your roster, and the people that you have available. Tomorrow’s an off-day. We’ll see what the future brings. The future for him is today. The future for this team is today. We’ll leave it at that.”
Option 2 would be to option left fielder Franchy Cordero, who smashed two run-scoring doubles on Saturday but has struggled mightily (.167/.222/.226) this season. By getting regular at-bats in a less pressurized environment, perhaps Cordero could gain more consistency with his swing and his approach.
Option 3 would be to option a low-leverage reliever. All season long, the Red Sox have gone with a 14-man pitching staff. It has served them well to this point, as Boston had a 3.75 ERA entering Sunday, sixth in the American League, and a big improvement over the 5.58 ERA the club finished with last season.
The presence of both Arroyo -- who was an important contributor the first few weeks of the season -- and Santana could boost the depth of one of the best offenses in the Major Leagues.
Goody is Energizer bunny Anyone who watched some of the MLB Productions footage from the 2018 World Series run remembers that Red Sox first-base coach Tom Goodwin is one of the most energetic members of the team.
A former Major League outfielder for the Dodgers, Royals, Rangers, Rockies, Giants and Cubs, Goodwin comes in every day with the enthusiasm that a team can use over the grind that is a baseball season.
How does a first-base coach provide energy?
“Honestly, I just try to stay upbeat. This game will bring you down, it’ll drag you down,” Goodwin said. “You’re making more outs than you’re getting hits from the offensive side, so guys always have to feel like they’re getting pumped up. It just helps to have a smile on your face when you’re out on the field. It helps guys if they’re going through something that you don’t even know they’re going though. It just helps to bring that type of positivity and that type of attitude.”
Goodwin is well-regarded by Cora and the entire Red Sox organization and has a good reputation around the game. Would the 52-year-old like to manage someday?
“I think anytime you’re a coach at this level, I think there’s an aspiration to do it,” Goodwin said. “I’ve learned from a lot of good managers, and I think, Alex, of course being one of the best. If you do manage, you take some of those things with you. There are a lot of things he does that you remember. If I am fortunate enough one day to run a club, those would be some of the things that would get brought in.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 17, 2021 3:33:16 GMT -5
Red Sox bullpen looks like it will need reinforcements By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated May 16, 2021, 6:56 p.m.
As the ball hung in the air for what seemed an eternity, Matt Barnes anticipated the celebration. After the Red Sox closer struck out the final batter of the eighth and recorded two quick outs in the ninth, this Mike Trout pop-up seemed like the conclusion of a satisfying 5-4 victory.
“When it left his bat,” said Barnes, “I thought the game was over.”
But it wasn’t. The 225-foot fly ball fell between right fielder Marwin Gonzalez, second baseman Michael Chavis, and first baseman Bobby Dalbec for a single, and on the next pitch, the incomparable — unless comparable to Babe Ruth? — Shohei Ohtani jumped on a fastball on the inner half and snuck it inside the Pesky Pole for the game-winning homer.
“That’s the beauty of playing here,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora after the 6-5 Angels win. “Trout makes contact, the ball finds green, then Ohtani gets a fastball and wraps it around the Pesky Pole. It looks tough, it looks like [Barnes] struggled, but he actually pitched well.”
Of course, if all had gone according to script, Barnes never would have had to face Trout. The mix of misfortune and mislocation against the two Angels stars could have been avoided had the previous inning unfolded differently.
With the Sox ahead, 5-4, Cora summoned Adam Ottavino — holding righthanded hitters to 3-for-32 (.094) entering Sunday — for the eighth to face Angels cleanup hitter Anthony Rendon, a righty. Behind Rendon was lefty Jared Walsh, but four other righties at the bottom of the Halos’ order seemed easy pickings for the 35-year-old.
But after Ottavino struck out Rendon, he gave up a single to Walsh and walked righthander Taylor Ward. He nearly gave up the lead to José Iglesias, who hit a rocket to the gap in right-center, but Ottavino was bailed out by an excellent running catch from Gonzalez.
At that point, with a walk and almost an extra-base hit allowed to a righty, Cora decided he’d seen enough. He summoned Barnes with two outs in the eighth, looking for the righthander’s second save of more than three outs this year.
“I don’t think Adam was sharp today,” said Cora.
Such an assessment wasn’t isolated. There have been few days this year when Ottavino has looked like a lockdown setup option. Sunday marked the 17th time this year that the Sox have asked Ottavino to face at least three batters. He’s allowed at least one baserunner in 14 (82 percent) of those appearances.
Ottavino does an excellent job of avoiding hard contact, with no homers allowed in 75 plate appearances. The Sox continue to see him as a strong setup option.
“His stuff is really good,” said Cora. “We’re counting on him to get outs in the seventh and the eighth whenever we need him. We’re going to keep trusting him. He’s one of the best ones.”
But Ottavino’s longstanding control issues, struggles against lefties (.333/.455/444 against him), and shrinking strikeout rates against righties — 26.2 percent, down for the third straight year from his career-high of 39.4 percent in 2018 — mean that more often than not, Ottavino flirts with trouble, if not barreling headlong into it. After all, if Cora trusted Ottavino as “one of the best ones,” he probably wouldn’t have Barnes warming up behind him in the eighth inning.
The Red Sox remain in an enviable spot — in first place in the AL East after more than a quarter of the season, with a 1½-game advantage over the Blue Jays heading into the series between the two teams in Dunedin, Fla., starting on Tuesday.
But their bullpen shortcomings have been apparent this month. The relievers have been charged with six losses in May (most in MLB) and five blown saves (tied for second most). At a time when teams rely on waves of relievers to dominate the final innings, the Red Sox lack anyone beyond Barnes to offer calm in the game’s most critical moments.
It wasn’t hard on Sunday for Barnes (1-1, 9 saves) to shrug off his first blown save of the year.
“In my job, I have to be perfect almost every single time. And when I’m not, it gets seen a little more in the public’s eye, which is totally fine. That’s what I signed up for,” said Barnes. “But I’m going to get back on the horse on Tuesday and this doesn’t change a thing.”
Barnes has pitched in a way to give such a claim credibility. But beyond him, the questions are growing rather than disappearing. Related: Michael Chavis still chasing better zone control, perhaps all the way back to Worcester
At a time when trade conversations are just starting to take place, the Red Sox likely will have to wait to see if a solution comes from within, whether greater reliability from Ottavino, or higher-leverage roles for Josh Taylor or Hirokazu Sawamura, or perhaps through a more traditional (and frequent) relief workload for Garrett Whitlock. Perhaps Ryan Brasier, who’s starting to throw off a mound while rehabbing his calf injury, will get healthy and claim the late-innings role the Sox envisioned for him entering the year.
But for now, the Red Sox look like a team that will be worth supplementing in mid-season through the trade market, and whose ability to stay in the race may depend on the ability to find a truly dominant complement to Barnes in the bullpen.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 17, 2021 3:35:49 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Michael Chavis still chasing better zone control, perhaps all the way back to Worcester By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated May 16, 2021, 7:46 p.m.
Michael Chavis was 2 for 5 with a double in Sunday’s 6-5 loss to the Angels. His one-out single in the fifth played a key role in the Red Sox coming back from a 4-1 deficit, when Rafael Devers followed it with a three-run homer.
But the game didn’t come without its typical Chavis outcomes, with all three of his outs coming by the strikeout. José Quintana fanned Chavis twice. In the first inning, Chavis chased a pitch above the zone for strike three. In the third, Chavis chased three pitches that were also above the zone, and in the ninth, Chavis swung through three Mike Mayers pitches at the top of the zone.
As the Sox begin a six-game road trip against the Blue Jays and Phillies following a Monday off-day, it appears Chavis’s immediate future is a trip back to Worcester. Kiké Hernández is working his way back from a hamstring injury and could be activated off the injured list ahead of Tuesday’s game.
Plate discipline and fastballs above his hands remain a weak part of Chavis’s game. He entered the day chasing pitches outside the zone 51 percent of the time. On fastballs at or above the zone, Chavis is 5 for 45, with 39 strikeouts.
When asked what Chavis’s future held before Sunday’s game, Cora didn’t intimate too much.
“I hate to look ahead,” Cora said. “There’s some people that are coming off the IL. Let’s take it day by day, you know, the day everybody was excited to win a World Series, it’s more than 26 guys. You have to make moves based on your roster and the people that you have. We’ll see what the future brings, but the future for him is today.”
Christian Arroyo’s brief setback as he recovers from a left hand contusion might buy Chavis a few more games on the big-league roster. There’s a strong possibility Jonathan Araúz is instead optioned once Hernández returns.
As for Chavis, he’s noted a couple of times that he wasn’t able to work on those weaknesses prior to the start of the WooSox season, in part, because they didn’t have umpires. Often, it would be just another player calling balls and strikes.
“It was difficult to get working,” Chavis said. “I wasn’t able to get my routine going just because we weren’t playing legitimate games. We didn’t have umpires, and the one thing I was told to do down there was focus on zone recognition.”
If that’s the case, the lack of improvement has certainly been evident the last week or so. Garrett Whitlock returns
Garrett Whitlock was activated off the COVID-restricted list ahead of Sunday’s game. Whitlock recently felt symptoms after receiving his second COVID-19 vaccine shot. Colten Brewer was optioned back to Triple A . . . Hernández played seven innings in the outfield Sunday against Syracuse and hit two home runs, including a grand slam in his second at-bat. He finished 2 for 4 with 5 RBIs . . . Arroyo hit off the tee again, but won’t be with the Red Sox for the start of the road trip and will head to Worcester instead to get treatment and continue his progression. The Red Sox hope Arroyo can begin taking batting practice Wednesday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 17, 2021 6:20:21 GMT -5
could be big the guy kills us
Rob Longley @longleysunsport · 13h Next up on the #Bluejays injured list? Could be Rowdy Tellez who suffered a mild strain in his hamstring in today's win, according to manager Charlie Montoyo.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 17, 2021 6:25:24 GMT -5
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 17, 2021 9:25:18 GMT -5
Tomase: Upcoming schedule gauntlet will put Red Sox to test 24M ago / by John Tomase John Tomase RED SOX INSIDER
The Red Sox may have aced the first six weeks of the 2021 campaign, but it turns out those 42 games were simply prologue for the season-defining gauntlet that awaits.T
Usually when we highlight a difficult portion of the schedule, we're talking 10 or 15 games. A particularly brutal stretch might last a month.
But the Red Sox are about to embark on a run of games that has no equal in recent franchise history. They visit the Toronto Blue Jays in Florida on Monday and they'd better buckle in, because the schedule simply does not relent. Tomase: The Red Sox suddenly have a Yankees problem
And we don't just mean the rest of May. We're looking at all of June. And then all of July. It might be mid-August before the Red Sox get a break with series vs. the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, and Minnesota Twins.
In fact, depending on which way the fading Kansas City Royals go after their blistering start, it's possible the Red Sox will only face two teams with losing records in the next two and a half months -- three games vs. the Miami Marlins and three in Los Angeles against the same Angels club that beat Matt Barnes on Sunday with one big swing from Shohei Ohtani.
The Red Sox believe they're one of the best teams in baseball, and they're going to get a chance to prove it. Only two games separate the top four teams in the AL East, from the Red Sox at 25-17 to the Jays (22-17), New York Yankees (22-18), and Tampa Bay Rays (23-19). Between now and Aug. 18, the Red Sox will play those three division rivals a staggering 42 times in 81 games. That's more than half their games for exactly half a season.
Meanwhile, they'll face no shortage of contenders, from the second-place Philadelphia Phillies, to Ronald Acuna Jr. and the surprisingly underachieving Atlanta Braves, to the rampaging Houston Astros, to the division-leading Oakland A's. Even the Marlins, mired in fourth in the NL East after sneaking into the playoffs last year, own the best run differential in their division. It's not like the last-place Angels can be characterized as a gimme, either, not with maybe the two best players in the game in Ohtani and Mike Trout.
Even if you cut things off at Aug. 1 when the Red Sox complete a three-game set in Tampa, they're looking at SIXTY-SEVEN straight games with barely a let-up. Entering a gauntlet Percent of Red Sox' next 67 games against teams above .500 74.6%
"I think the league is more balanced than what people made it seem before the season started," manager Alex Cora said recently. "I know there are a few teams a little bit banged up, but that's the grind of 162. It's not a sprint. It's not 60 games. A good start is just that, a good start. And we are playing in a tough division.
"This division for whatever people want to make it, it's balanced. Like I said even before the season started, the Orioles who nobody feels they have a good team, but they have some positives on their roster and they're trending up, what they're trying to do as an organization. Their starters are a solid, their bullpen has been amazing, they've got some dynamic players. In this division, it's going to be a dog fight all the way to the end."
It's easy to see where the Red Sox will be tested. Their bullpen remains inconsistent in front of Barnes, who was forced into Sunday's game in the eighth inning after Adam Ottavino put the tying run on second. Left-handers Darwinzon Hernandez and Josh Taylor -- and Ottavino, for that matter -- don't throw enough strikes. Once-reliable setup man Matt Andriese has seen his ERA climb near 5.00, and he's probably first man up if the rotation springs a leak. Right-hander Hirokazu Sawamura has allowed four home runs in only 16.1 innings.
Cora admits he's still searching for the right mix. That's a nerve-wracking proposition vs. the division foes alone, since one bad week could drop the Red Sox from first to fourth.
The Blue Jays have weathered injuries to two of their most important players -- $150 million outfielder George Springer and perennial Cy Young candidate Hyun-Jin Ryu.
The Yankees are surviving a COVID outbreak, as well as injuries to slugger Giancarlo Stanton and dependable outfielder Aaron Hicks. The Rays are doing what they always do, which is stay in contention against all logic and reason.
They're all about to be the only items on the menu for a Red Sox club that is certainly off to a great start, but with this rather glaring caveat -- the season effectively starts now.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 17, 2021 11:26:05 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox notebook: Adam Ottavino ‘not sharp’ in 8th inning Sunday, Christian Arroyo (hand) won’t go with club to Dunedin Updated 11:45 AM; Today 11:45 AM
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- The Red Sox are still working to find the perfect bridge to closer Matt Barnes at the back end of their bullpen, and on Sunday, they had to call upon Barnes for his second 4+ out save in five chances.
Adam Ottavino, called upon for the eighth inning with Boston leading the Angels, 5-4, struck out the leadoff hitter before surrendering a single to Jared Walsh and walking Taylor Ward to put two men on with one out. Though he retired Jose Iglesias on a hard-hit ball to right field, Ottavino couldn’t get out of the inning and manager Alex Cora went to Barnes to attempt a four-out save.
Barnes struck out Phil Gosselin to end the eighth before blowing the save an inning later when Shohei Ohtani hit a game-winning, two-run homer with two outs. Though the eighth inning ended well, Ottavino’s struggles put Barnes in a tough spot.
“I don’t think Adam was sharp today and we’ve got an off day tomorrow,” Cora said “Yesterday was an easy day for us. Four outs, it’s not that different for him. He actually got them. It just didn’t look that way (referencing Mike Trout’s bloop single).”
Ottavino has a 3.86 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 16 ⅓ innings this season, but walks continue to be a concern. The veteran has issued 12 free passes -- and hit two batters -- in 19 appearances. Sunday’s outing broke a streak of three appearances without walks for Ottavino; he struck out two in a perfect eighth inning Friday night.
“Everybody was praising him two days ago when he attacked the strike zone,” Cora said. “We just keep working. He doesn’t want to walk people.”
Ottavino has not been bad for the Red Sox and, in fact, his Statcast numbers suggest that walks are really his only significant issue. For now, the Red Sox are comfortable sticking with him in the eighth inning as the primary setup man for Barnes.
His stuff is really good. This is a guy, we’re counting on him to get outs in the seventh and the eighth, whenever we need him. We’re going to keep trusting him. He’s one of the best ones. His stuff is really good. So we’ll keep working.
Cora upbeat on virus trends
With capacity at Fenway Park expanded to 25% and the CDC lifting the nationwide mask mandate earlier in the week, Cora admitted he’s beginning to feel as though things are -- slowly, but surely -- getting back to normal in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Respecting what’s going on outside of our baseball world… there are a lot of people struggling still and countries that are trying to find a way to get going,” Cora said. “But yes, it feels that way. I do believe with everything that we’re doing as a country, in the world, for this to be part of the past — although it will always be part of the present — I think we’re doing a good job. It feels okay. It’s not normal yet, but it feels a lot better than a few months ago.
“Just looking around at Fenway, leaving the stadium the last two days, it feels close,” he continued. “We’re not there yet but it feels good that people are starting to move on, live their lives and they’re doing it the right way, too.”
Arroyo a bit behind; Santana progressing
Second baseman Christian Arroyo (left hand contusion) hit off the tee Sunday at Fenway Park and will head to Worcester early in the week instead of traveling with the Red Sox to Dunedin, Fla., for the start of their road trip. The hope is that Arroyo can take batting practice by Wednesday and potentially join the Red Sox for their weekend series in Philadelphia.
Infielder/outfielder Danny Santana (foot infection) is getting close to joining the Red Sox, Cora said.
“He’s doing well, he’s playing well, moving well… it looks like, timing-wise, he’s almost there,” Cora said. “We’ve been moving him around all over the place. He’s moving well.”
Goodwin still bringing energy in 4th season, impressed with Renfroe
First-base coach Tom Goodwin, now in his fourth season with the club, has been a consistent energetic presence for the Red Sox since joining Alex Cora’s staff in 2018. The former big-league outfielder has built strong relationships with many of Boston’s players and is often seen providing a boost on the field or in the dugout during games.
“I just try to stay upbeat,” Goodwin said. “This game will bring you down, it will drag you down. You’re getting more outs than you’re getting hits, obviously, from the offensive side. Guys always have to feel like they’re getting pumped up. It just helps to have a simple on your face when you’re out there on the field. It helps guys, if they’re going through something you don’t even know they’re going through, it helps to bring that type of positivity and that type of attitude.”
Goodwin is tasked with coaching the club’s outfielders and baserunners and is particularly impressed with what he has seen defensively from Hunter Renfroe.
He has been marvelous… the way he is out there with the guys, he’s almost a center fielder playing right field where he communicates a lot as far as the positioning goes,” Goodwin said. “We talk to our information guys about the positioning and he has a lot of input on that, on where he feels comfortable playing, where we should make a change here or there. He’s got the floor when it comes to that and it shows out there, how he feels.”
Jays up next... in Florida
The Red Sox spent Monday in Boston and will fly to Dunedin, Fla. on Monday night ahead of a three-game series against the Blue Jays that starts Tuesday night. The Jays are playing their early home games at their spring training stadium (TD Ballpark) due to COVID-19 restrictions preventing them from playing at home in Canada.
Tuesday, 7:37 p.m. -- LHP Eduardo Rodriguez vs. LHP Hyun Jin Ryu
Wednesday, 7:37 p.m. -- RHP Garrett Richards vs. RHP Ross Stripling
Thursday, 7:37 p.m. -- RHP Nick Pivetta vs. LHP Steven Matz
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 17, 2021 11:30:30 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo 2m Red Sox optioned Jonathan Araúz to Worcester after yesterday's game. Not official yet, but Kiké Hernández is expected to be activated tomorrow.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 17, 2021 13:21:05 GMT -5
Red Sox Notes @soxnotes · 13m The Red Sox lead the AL in starting pitcher FIP (3.29).
Sox starters have thrown at least 5.0 innings 35 times, most in the majors.
Sox starters have thrown 6.0+ innings in 7 of their last 10 games.
In their last 20 games (beginning 4/25), Sox starters have a 3.25 ERA.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 17, 2021 13:29:39 GMT -5
Who’s Hot, Who’s Cold: Blue Jays Batters
Taking a look at the Jays offense over the last two weeks. By Tom Dakers@bluebirdbanter May 17, 2021, 1:57pm EDT
Over the past 13 games, the Blue Jays are 8-5. The bats have come around. They have averaged 5.5 runs/game. As a team, they have hit .263/.316/.437.
Hot
Marcus Semien: Started all 13 games. Hit .345/.390/.618 with 6 doubles, 3 home runs, 4 walks, 16 strikeouts, 1 stolen base.
Played 1 game at short. He’s been terrific in the leadoff spot, despite all our complaining. Defensively, he seems like a terrific second baseman. I hope this hot streak lasts the season.
Teoscar Hernandez: Started all 13 games. Hit .333/.418/.563 with 2 doubles, 3 home runs, 7 walks, 8 strikeouts, 2 steals, 1 caught.
Yeah, he is good. He is the perfect guy to hit behind Vlad. He keeps the pitches honest. His defense has looked reasonable to me. Walk rate is 8.2%, up some from last year’s 6.8. And strikeout rate is down a bit too, but then it is early.
Vladimir Guerrero: Started all 13 games. Hit .288/.351/.577, with 3 doubles, 4 home runs, 5 walks, and 8 strikeouts.
Not hugely hot (for him), but a home run in each of the last 3 games pushed him over the top. Over his last 6 games, he has a 1.287 OPS. His defense has been terrific, minus his first error last night. There was a little bit of panic. And he is more entertaining than any player in the MLB. He seems like a very happy guy, and why shouldn’t he be?
Cavan Biggio: Played in 13 games, starting 12. Hit .282/.404/.410 with 2 doubles, 1 home run, 8 walks, 10 strikeouts, 2 steals, caught once.
He started one game in right and one game at second. A few days ago, people wanted him sent down, but a .404 OBP should make everyone happy. Defensively, the throws have been better from third. He hasn’t had an error in the last two weeks. The spin and throw to first thing isn’t something I’d like to see every day, but that he hit the target doing it. Like Bo, I think players can have slumps defensively too, and I’d imagine that Cavan will have the odd one. Cold
Lourdes Gurriel: Started all 13 games. Hit .212/.208/.269 with 3 doubles, 0 walks, 9 strikeouts, 1 caught stealing.
No walks. His cold stretches would be easier to take if he could take the odd walk. He has looked better the last few games, .412 average in the last four. He made his first error of the season yesterday, which really shows how useless fielding average is. The thing is, he has all the tools to be a good outfielder. I do feel bad that he is in that sun field. Anybody would have trouble making plays staring into the sun. I’m ready for him to go on a hot stretch and carry the team for a couple of weeks.
Danny Jansen: Played in 12 games, starting 8. Hit .182/.206/.455 with 3 home runs, 0 walks, and 11 strikeouts.
I feel bad that he is in the cold group since he’s actually started to get the occasional hit. And 3 home runs are pretty good. But, no walks? He seems to be having long at-bats. He just isn’t getting on. I guess if you got 13 games without a hit, pitchers tend to find the strike zone. But his defense looks excellent. He seems to be able to block anything. There has only been one wild pitch and no passed balls with him behind the plate this season (considering the pitchers we have, that’s quite the achievement). And, until yesterday, he hadn’t allowed a stolen base in the two weeks. Yesterday wasn’t good, 5 steal against (but then they came when we had a big lead and weren’t really holding runners close to first).
Randal Grichuk: Played in 13 games, starting 12. Hit .224/.255/.367 with 4 doubles, 1 home run, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts, 1 caught stealing.
How long will it be before we stop hearing about how he has figured it out this year? Defensively, he’s been fine. I’d like him in right better than center, but we play the cards we are dealt. Not seeing that ball off the bat yesterday was too bad, but we’ll get those things playing in a minor league park on occasion.
Rowdy Tellez: Played in 8 games, starting 6. Hit .200/.231/.320 with 1 home run, 0 walks, and 5 strikeouts.
Two games started at first base. I hope he isn’t headed for the IL. I wish there was a way to test this, but I’m sure he gets more badly missed strike calls against him than anyone. Badly timed too.
In Between
Bo Bichette: Started all 13 games. Hit .291/.328/.436, with 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 3 walks, 17 strikeouts, and 4 stolen bases.
DHed in one of those 13 games. I find it hard to believe he’s played only 114 MLB games, with injuries and a shortened season. His defense has looked so much better, he didn’t have an error in the last two weeks, and he’s made some excellent plays. I think players have slumps on defense too. Also Played
Reese McGuire: Played in 6 games, starting 5. Hit .333/.429/.333 with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts.
I would have bet money that we wouldn’t have seen him with the Jays this season. With so many catchers on the 40-man, who figured we’d put him back on it? Slightly surprised no one took him off waivers, for that matter. Small sample size, but he has one more hit than he had last season in less than a third as many at-bats.
Jonathan Davis: Played in 6 games, starting 2. Hit .273/.385/.364 with 1 double, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, 1 steal.
The perfect fourth outfielder type.
Santiago Espinal: Played in 5 games, starting 2. Hit .200/.273/.400 with 1 triple, 1 walk. 1 steal.
They should never pinch hit for Tellez, but an excellent utility player. IL
Joe Panik: Played in 2 games before hitting the IL. 7 PA without reaching base. I haven’t seen anything about when he is likely to come back.
Alejandro Kirk: On the 60-day IL. We won’t be seeing him for a while.
George Springer: Apparently he has swung the bat and has done some running. The team is talking about having him do a rehab assignment this time around. I’m hoping he’ll be back by June.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 17, 2021 15:22:17 GMT -5
The Red Sox are expected to activate Enrique Hernandez from the 10-day IL on Tuesday prior to their game with the Blue Jays. Boston made the first move in this direction by optioning infielder Jonathan Arauz to Triple-A today, thus clearing a spot on the active roster. A right hamstring strain sent Hernandez to the injured list on May 7, so the utilityman would miss only the minimum 10 days of action. Christian Arroyo’s IL placement due to a hand contusion was also retroactively dated to May 7, but Alex Speier of the Boston Globe notes (Twitter link) that Arroyo won’t join the Sox for the start of their road trip against the Jays and Phillies this week. Arroyo did begin hitting off a tee yesterday, however, so his return might not be far off. The Red Sox have played with a three-man bench for much of the season, and if they choose to stick with this roster alignment, Michael Chavis would be the odd man out once Arroyo is ready to be reinstated from the IL.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 18, 2021 3:14:08 GMT -5
Red Sox notebook Red Sox plan to increase roster versatility soon with promotion of Danny Santana By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated May 17, 2021, 5:09 p.m.
Man-for-all-positions Danny Santana could join the Red Sox roster as soon as the current six-game road trip.
Santana has hit .364/.423/.682 with two homers, a double, and a steal in six games with High A Greenville and Triple A Worcester. He has played shortstop, second, third, left, and center in those half-dozen contests.
“He’s almost there,” manager Alex Cora said. “We’ve been moving him around all over the place. He’s moving well.
“This is a guy, it gives us another alternative. Let’s see where it takes us. We feel good about where he’s at, not only physically, but as a hitter and as a player.”
Santana, 30, had an April 30 opt-out in his minor league deal, but he and the Red Sox agreed to push that date into May when the start of his season was delayed by a foot infection in spring training. He’ll remain in Worcester at least through Tuesday, but his ability to move all over the field and switch-hit could prove particularly valuable during Boston’s weekend series against Philadelphia, during which National League rules will be in effect (with no designated hitter).
In 2019, Santana hit .283/.324/.534 with 28 homers and 21 steals in 130 games for the Rangers. But in 2020, while limited to 15 games by an elbow injury that ultimately required modified Tommy John surgery in September, his numbers slid to .145/.278/.273.
The Sox signed him in spring training — while he was still working his way back from the surgery — to a minor league deal that included a prorated $1.75 million big league salary. Though Santana was slowed by the foot infection, both his foot and elbow have recovered to the point where he’s likely to help in the big leagues in the near future.
The presence of Santana along with Kiké Hernández (expected back from his hamstring injury Tuesday) and Marwin Gonzalez would give the Red Sox three of the most versatile players in the game. Outfield assistance
During a big league career that spanned parts of 14 seasons from 1991-2004, Red Sox outfield/first base coach Tom Goodwin jokingly suggests, he modeled his outfield play on an icon from another sport.
Goodwin described himself as “a guy who didn’t have a strong arm at all — I think I had maybe two in my career. I was like Shaq with assists.”
Goodwin was being a bit unfair to himself — he had 34 career assists — and Shaquille O’Neal, whose 299 assists in 1999-2000 are the third-most by a 7-footer in the last 25 years. That said, it’s safe to say that neither Goodwin nor O’Neal delivered assists at the eye-catching pace of this year’s Red Sox outfield.
The Sox lead the majors with 13 outfield assists (entering Monday, no other team had more than 10). Hunter Renfroe has been particularly dazzling, with five assists from right field — tied for the most by any outfielder this season.
In addition to his arm, Renfroe also has shown impressive range. He is tied for the lead among right fielders with eight defensive runs saved (per Baseball Information Solutions) while MLB.com ranks him the fourth-best right fielder with two outs above average (a metric that evaluates only his range and not his arm).
“He’s been marvelous — not just throwing,” said Goodwin. “He’s almost a center fielder playing right field. He communicates a lot as far as the positioning goes. He’s just done a great job being a leader out there.”
Goodwin said that Renfroe’s pregame work was reminiscent of that of former Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. Araúz to Worcester
With Hernández set to come off the injured list, the Red Sox optioned Jonathan Araúz to Worcester after Sunday’s game. Araúz is 2 for 8 with a double and two walks in four big league games this year. Hernández, serving as the team’s primary center fielder while also seeing a half-dozen games at second base, is hitting .239/.298/.425 with four homers and 12 extra-base hits in 30 games … After Monday’s off-day, the Red Sox are set to open their lone series in Dunedin, Fla., Tuesday. The Blue Jays are still playing home games at their spring training venue, TD Ballpark, but when the Red Sox next play them on the road in July, the Jays will have migrated north to Sahlen Field in Buffalo. They aren’t permitted to host games in Toronto under COVID-19 travel restrictions … The Red Sox will face Jays ace Hyun Jin Ryu in the opener Tuesday. The lefty is coming off his best start of the season (7 innings, 1 run, 6 strikeouts) in a 4-1 win against the Braves last Wednesday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 18, 2021 3:59:26 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 13h Rodriguez, Richards, Perez, and Pivetta all have just about the same FIP (K, BB, HR), Rodriguez with an ERA a bit higher than you'd expect, Pivetta a bit lower.
Eovaldi is a distant moon, the worst ERA in the Red Sox rotation, with a FIP trailing only Burnes, deGrom, and Cole.
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