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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 18, 2021 16:44:15 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 30m The visiting clubhouse here in Dunedin is a tent behind the third base stands. Alex Cora said the Jays did a good job with the facilities.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 18, 2021 17:28:56 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo 10m 80 minutes before first pitch and no Red Sox lineup.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 18, 2021 17:34:28 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 20s A few #RedSox notes:
* Chris Sale threw another bullpen today. He's progressed to "letting it go" as he works up to facing hitters.
* Ryan Brasier has not faced hitters yet.
* Decent chance Danny Santana joins the team in Philly.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 18, 2021 17:44:44 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe 4m Based on the early arriving fans, this will be a very Red Sox-centric crowd in Dunedin.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on May 18, 2021 18:52:27 GMT -5
Big series. I'd love to be able to take the first. Need a vintage ERod performance.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on May 18, 2021 19:35:15 GMT -5
Nice job by Jansen. Kept his head down, and went with the pitch.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 19, 2021 2:50:10 GMT -5
Missing his 'spots', E-Rod struggles vs. Jays 1:09 AM ADT Jordan Horrobin
Jordan Horrobin @jordanhorrobin
The Blue Jays came out swinging, and Eduardo Rodriguez was not up to the task.
Facing a lineup that attacked early and often, Rodriguez suffered his second loss in as many starts in an 8-0 defeat on Tuesday night at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla.
Rodriguez is known to seek first-pitch strikes -- he entered the night with a first-pitch strike rate of 66 percent, a career high -- and the Blue Jays clearly had the book on him. They swung at 16 first pitches in 26 at-bats (61.5 percent) against Rodriguez, which is the highest rate of his career and nearly double his average (31.1 percent).
That type of aggression changes nothing about Rodriguez's game plan. In fact, he welcomes it because it means he can push deeper into a game -- assuming he's hitting his targets.
"If I was hitting my spots, I'd probably throw eight or nine innings with like 80 pitches, because they were swinging first pitch," Rodriguez said. "It's just about that. It's all about hitting your spots."
The left-hander caught too much of the plate too many times, and the Blue Jays were eager to make him pay. Toronto's first four hits came on Rodriguez's first offering, including a second-inning double by Randal Grichuk. He came around to score the game's opening run, which was all Toronto needed on an uncharacteristically silent night for Boston's offense.
The Jays added on in the fourth, though, tagging Rodriguez for a trio of two-out runs to push their lead to 4-0. Rodriguez almost escaped unscathed, but he issued a walk to No. 9 hitter Danny Jansen. Next up was Marcus Semien, who blooped a single to right (with a 57.9 mph exit velocity, according to Statcast) that scored two. Bo Bichette followed with an RBI double, putting a stamp on a frame that unraveled on Rodriguez quickly.
"It just felt like they kept putting [together] good at-bats, everything with two outs, we weren't able to stop the bleeding," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "I don't want to say luck, but it seemed like everything they put in play was a hit."
Toronto collected 18 hits on the night (the most Boston has allowed this season), 11 of which came off Rodriguez (matching his career high). Suddenly, after winning his first four starts with a 3.52 ERA, Rodriguez has gone 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA in the four starts since.
What he's done consistently for the Red Sox is provide reasonable length, going five innings or further in all eight outings. But part of that length is born from his aim to be efficient. And when that efficiency isn't coupled with accuracy, Rodriguez can get into some major trouble.
"Command is not where it usually is, and that's something that he needs regardless of his stuff -- if he's throwing hard or his velocity's down," Cora said. "There's been a lot of contact. I think teams are doing a good job staying with him and going the other way, so we'll go back to the drawing board and see what we can do."
There wasn't a lot of contact on the other side, as Red Sox hitters spread five hits and two walks over nine innings. They only pushed one runner to third base all night, and in the end, they were shut out for the first time since Opening Day.
In the third week of May, it might still be too early to intently check the standings. But the Red Sox do have something at stake now in Wednesday's matchup with the Blue Jays: Boston needs to win to retain sole possession of first place in the American League East -- which they've held since April 11 -- or else Toronto (a half-game back) will take over.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 19, 2021 2:51:02 GMT -5
Notes: Homer-happy Sox; injury updates May 18th, 2021 Jordan Horrobin
Jordan Horrobin @jordanhorrobin
0:15
0:31
What happens when you take two of the most homer-happy teams in the Majors and drop them into an offensive tinderbox like TD Ballpark? With this week's series between the Red Sox and Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla., we won't have to wonder for long.
"I think you've gotta live with the results, right?" Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "There's gonna be some fly balls that are gonna go out of the ballpark and you cannot get frustrated."
Toronto (56 home runs) and Boston (53) enter their three-game matchup ranked first and third, respectively, in the American League in long balls this season. And according to Statcast's Park Factors ratings, TD Ballpark is tied for first in the Majors as an offense-friendly facility.
Part of that is due to the park's single-level outfield, which can create a sort of jet stream effect that allows balls to carry on particularly windy days. That was the case this past weekend in a series between the Phillies and Blue Jays; particularly on Sunday, when the teams combined for 18 runs and six homers.
"Watching videos and watching a few of the balls that the Phillies hit to right-center over the course of [this past weekend], that right-center gap is real," Cora said. "The ball shoots that way."
Cora suggested that pitching stat lines for this series in Dunedin might end up being misleading if there are some cheap home runs to be had. A pitcher could give up five runs in six innings, say, and still have made a satisfactory start.
As much as the Red Sox's offense has thrived on home runs, their pitching staff has been just as effective in preventing them. Boston has allowed just 0.73 home runs per nine innings this season, which is the lowest in the American League (third in MLB).
Given that, there's not much Cora can advise his team to do. More of the same, on both sides, is all he can hope for.
"From the pitching side, keep doing what we've been doing," he said. "Obviously pitch to weak contact. Offensively, I think we do a good job of driving the ball that way, so we'll see where it takes us."
Injury updates • Kiké Hernández (10-day injured list, right hamstring strain) was activated and placed into Tuesday's starting lineup. He spent the minimum allotted time on the IL, though he still remarked that "10 days felt like a month." In a pair of rehab games with Triple-A Worcester over the weekend, Hernández went 2-for-6 with two home runs, five RBIs and two strikeouts.
• With the Red Sox down in Florida this week, you might think they'd have a chance to check in on Chris Sale (60-day IL, right elbow), who is still rehabbing at the team's spring complex in Fort Myers (a two-hour drive from Dunedin). That's not the case, Cora said, because Sale isn't part of the team's "bubble." Cora said he doesn't know when Sale will throw from a mound next.
"One thing he's really excited about is the way he's bouncing back after all the workouts and all that, so that's a good sign," said Cora.
• Christian Arroyo (10-day IL, left hand contusion) is with Worcester and took batting practice Tuesday for the first time since sustaining his injury.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 19, 2021 3:10:04 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 6h As good as Renfroe's arm is, sometimes he does too much. I.e. missing cutoff men. It was due to burn him and the Sox and it does right there.
This Blue Jays team isn't just a squad full of big boppers. These dudes are hitters. They are handing the Red Sox an offensive clinic tonight. Impressive stuff.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 19, 2021 3:12:25 GMT -5
Blue Jays batter Red Sox in meeting of early AL East leaders By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated May 18, 2021, 10:55 p.m.
Tuesday initiated the start of a series between two of baseball’s most prolific offenses, two separated by 1½ games atop the American League East. The Red Sox had a best-in-baseball .772 OPS. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, were tied for the second-most homers in baseball despite big offseason acquisition George Springer playing in just four games this year.
“It’s a challenge,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said before the game. “And we’re up to the challenge. We feel we have a good team.”
At least on Tuesday they weren’t, bludgeoned by the Blue Jays, 8-0, in Dunedin, Fla.
The bottom of the fourth inning decided the fates of Eduardo Rodriguez and his team. With the Sox trailing, 1-0, after a Danny Jansen RBI single in the second, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. cracked a full-count double to lead off the fourth. Rodriguez retired the next two hitters, but Jansen negotiated a walk to bring up Marcus Semien, who fisted an RBI single of his own to right field.
Gurriel Jr. made it 5-0 in the fifth, singling after a Teoscar Hernández double, and Hernández made it 6-0 in the sixth, singling after a two-out walk to Bichette and a line-drive single by Vlad Guerrero Jr.
The latter was against Matt Andriese, Rodriguez done after the fifth and 11 of Toronto’s 18 hits, tying a career high allowed by the lefthander. Eduardo Rodriguez suffered his second loss of the season, going five innings in the defeat. Eduardo Rodriguez suffered his second loss of the season, going five innings in the defeat.Mike Carlson/Associated Press
“I was missing a lot over the middle of the plate,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve given up a lot of runs and base hits when that happens, and that was [the result] today. I just need to work these next four days and get better for the next one.”
Though the Renfroe mishap didn’t help, neither did Rodriguez’s dip in velocity — a topic of conversation in his first seven starts. He sat 93-95 miles per hour in the first three innings, then 91-93 in the fourth and 91-92 in the fifth.
“I don’t want him to get caught up [thinking] he needs to throw hard right away, and then that happens,” Cora said. “He can actually pitch at 91-92 [early in the game] and do it the other way around. He can gain velocity throughout the outing. So, those are things that we’ll take a look at.” Related: Abraham: Red Sox face Blue Jays for critical series in modest setting of TD Ballpark in Dunedin
In addition to some of the command issues, Cora noted that one of Rodriguez’s pitches wasn’t effective: His cutter. In 2019, hitters tallied a .243 batting average on it. This year, it’s up to .355.
“I think the cutter actually is bigger than usual,” Cora said. “It’s actually playing like a hanging slider instead of it being sharp, and throwing [that] pitch whenever he wants to. He’s been able to elevate the last two starts, but there’s been a lot of contact. I think teams are doing a good job of staying with him and going the other way.”
“He got some quick outs. He was on top of us the whole night, either with the fastball or the breaking ball,” Cora said. “He expanded with the changeup. He’s one of the best and not too many talk about him.”
Andriese allowed seven hits and three runs in the final three innings, with Randal Grichuk smashing a two-out home run to right in the eighth to cap the scoring.
What certainly appeared as if it were an evenly matched game was no contest Tuesday. On what his team needs to do to recover, Rodriguez opted for a simple approach.
“We have to come back tomorrow and pitch well and hit well,” he said. “That’s all we need [to do] as a team.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 19, 2021 3:15:20 GMT -5
Red Sox face Blue Jays for critical series in modest setting of TD Ballpark in Dunedin By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated May 18, 2021, 8:39 p.m.
DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Red Sox usually play the Blue Jays here once or twice during spring training. It’s a long road trip the veteran players try to avoid.
David Ortiz somehow always decided it would be better if he stayed back and worked on his swing when a bus ride from Fort Myers to Dunedin was on the schedule.
TD Ballpark, built in 1990, was renovated in 2019 and it needed it. The visitor’s clubhouse was a concrete cube a few steps from the parking lot that looked more like a prison rec room.
The visiting manager had such a small office that the postgame press conference was usually held outside. Terry Francona once had to shush fans clamoring for his autograph so he could hear our questions.
But there is no skipping Dunedin this week. The first-place Red Sox started an important three-game series against the second-place Blue Jays on Tuesday night.
There was something nostalgic about seeing a major league game played in such a modest setting. There are only 20 rows of seats from the field to the top of the grandstand and no seats in the outfield, only standing room.
The VFW post across Douglas Ave. charges only $20 for parking and had attendants waving US and Canadian flags at passing cars trying to lure them in. It was a 90-second walk from there to the gate behind home plate.
The Dunedin Public Library, visible over the right field fence, had a “Go Jays” sign out front and the Gulf of Mexico is just down the street.
To maintain social distancing protocols, the Jays have zip-tied cardboard cutouts onto about a third of the seats between first base and third base. So actual people, many of them Red Sox fans, were sitting next to facsimile people in the crowd of 1,566.
With games being broadcast back to Canada, the outfield had signs for Tim Hortons coffee shops and other Canadian businesses.
The Blue Jays built a large white tent behind the third base stands for visiting teams. It’s air conditioned and includes room for all the athletic trainers, analysts, and other staff members who go on the road.
There’s a weight room and a batting cage, too.
“They did an amazing job with the clubhouse and the facility to accommodate us and the visiting teams,” Sox manager Alex Cora said before an 8-0 loss. “It’s great.”
Cora said he was interested to see what the setup would be like and arrived early in the day to check it out.
“I was impressed,” the manager said. “Great job by the Jays and the people who took care of this place.”
The biggest difference is the wind. Without a larger stadium to block it, it whips out to right center. The first 14 games here averaged just under 11 runs.
“It’s not easy to play here,” Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. “The wind is everywhere and sometimes you lose the ball.”
The Jays also pushed the start time back to 7:37 p.m. to avoid the setting sun behind home plate blinding the outfielders.
The Sox managed only five hits off Hyun Jun Ryu and three relievers and advanced one runner as far as third. The Jays pounded Eduardo Rodriguez and Matt Andriese for 18 hits, the most allowed by the Sox this season.
The Jays are here because the Canadian government has imposed strict coronavirus protocols that wouldn’t allow travelers from the United States into the country without a two-week quarantine.
That obviously wouldn’t work during a baseball season and the government wasn’t inclined to grant exemptions for the sake of games.
The Jays played home games at their Triple A ballpark in Buffalo last summer. But given what can be raw spring weather in upstate New York, the team decided to play their first 21 home games here before moving to Buffalo on June 1.
There is hope Canada will permit the Jays to return to Rogers Centre in Toronto by August or September. It’s possible the Sox could play the Jays on the road at three different ballparks this season. Related: Red Sox prospect Triston Casas has been on a tear with Portland
MLB has played regular-season games at a Single A ballpark in Williamsport, Pa., in conjunction with the Little League World Series and occasional series in Japan, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
But those were all just single games or one series. This is an extended stay and the Jays have handled it well. Their 10-5 home record is the best in the division.
Montoyo said his players have done a good job of maintaining their perspective.
“We don’t make any excuses,” he said. “One of the reasons we’ve done well is we don’t complain. We just play.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 19, 2021 3:16:58 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Kiké Hernández comes off injured list, bats leadoff for Red Sox By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated May 18, 2021, 7:46 p.m.
Kiké Hernández was activated from the injured list ahead of the Red Sox series opener against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla.
Hernández batted leadoff and went 1-for-4 in the 8-0 loss as the center fielder, giving them a boost at that spot despite his hitting .239/.298/.425 with four homers in 124 plate appearances prior to going on the IL with a right hamstring strain. Despite the underwhelming numbers, Hernández said his only goal was to get through his rehab stint healthy.
“Mission accomplished,” he said.
The Red Sox went 6-4 in the 10 games Hernández missed, and still sit atop the American League East, a half-game ahead of the Blue Jays.
“I think we’re in a good spot right now. We’re in first place,” Hernández said. “There’s a lot of ways we can get better. [But] that’s what you want, finding ways to win games, even when you’re not playing great. And we’ve managed to do that so far.”
The Blue Jays carry one of the more lethal offenses in baseball, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. having a breakout year, slashing .329/.445/.615 with a whopping 1.060 OPS and 11 homers following his 3-for-5 Tuesday.
“He always controls the strikes zone,” manager Alex Cora said. “That’s something that he did in the minor leagues, and he’s doing that at the big league level. And he’s able to drive the ball to right-center. That’s a mark of a good hitter. But at the end of the day it’s about controlling the strike zone. And throughout his career, he’s done that.”
The Blue Jays’ 56 home runs led the American League entering Tuesday, with Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette each adding nine. Randal Grichuk’s blast in the eighth Tuesday was Toronto’s 27th in its 15 regular-season games this season in Dunedin, where they’ll play through Monday before returning to Buffalo, last season’s temporary home, beginning June 1.
Danny Santana continuing to ramp up
INF/OF Danny Santana continues to get his reps with Triple-A Worcester, cracking three more hits (including a double and a home run) as the first baseman in a 9-4 WooSox win over Buffalo.
Even though Franchy Cordero put together two doubles for the Red Sox on Sunday against the Angels, he’s still hitting just .167 and is yet to homer in 91 plate appearances. He could benefit from some minor league at-bats, which would clear space for Santana, who’s 11-for-26 (.423) with three homers between High-A Greenville and the WooSox.
“He feels good,” Cora said. “Swinging the bat well. They have been using him all over the place. So you know where he’s at right now physically and baseball wise, he’s in a good spot.”
Also Tuesday in Worcester, Red Sox pitching prospect Eduard Bazardo left with an apparent arm injury. Bazardo grabbed for his elbow in the top of the ninth inning after just five pitches, and asked to be taken out of the game. Christian Arroyo takes BP
Christian Arroyo (hand contusion) took batting practice with the WooSox at Polar Park on Tuesday. Arroyo stayed back for the first leg of the Sox’ road trip, and the team will make a decision based on how he comes out of BP. Michael Chavis made the trip with the Red Sox, while Jonathan Araúz was optioned to make room for Hernández. There’s a strong likelihood that Chavis will be optioned once Arroyo is ready . . . The Blue Jays activated righthanded reliever Rafael Dolis off the injured list before the game. He pitched the ninth Tuesday, his first action since May 7 because of a right calf strain. Dolis replaced lefthanded reliever Nick Allgeyer, who was optioned on Monday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 19, 2021 3:22:43 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 7h Eduardo Rodriguez has allowed at least six hits in five straight starts.
Eduardo Rodriguez -- 12 hits allowed first three starts, 39 hits allowed last five starts.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 19, 2021 3:23:14 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h Matt Andriese eats the last of his three innings tonight. #RedSox into the 9th facing an 8-0 deficit.
He took one for the team in that spot. Rest of the bullpen gets two full days of rest and should be used aggressively over the next five games.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 19, 2021 3:24:27 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h Cora on Ryu -- 'He changes speeds. He got some quick outs. He was on top of us the whole night.' #RedSox
Cora on Rodriguez -- 'Command is not where it usually is.'
'The cutter is bigger than usual. We're not sure why. It's playing like a hanging slider.' #RedSox
Cora said the walk on Jansen in the 4th was a tough one to concede. It was a 1-0 game to that point. He's struggled against left-handers. Blue Jays applied steady pressure and broke through. #RedSox
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