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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 23, 2021 18:23:03 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 10m Danny Santana, still inexplicably the leadoff hitter, strikes out on three pitches to get things started at the Trop.
Cora said last night wanted to be aggressive against the Rays.
Getting thrown out at 3rd to end the inning is surely not what he meant.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 24, 2021 0:07:08 GMT -5
More slop last night Santana might as well be bringing up a walking cane to every bat and the old spin rate from Richards is a farce it seems.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 24, 2021 0:08:21 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 2h Richards: "I feel like I need to be a different pitcher than I was the last 9 1/2 years."
Dan Shaughnessy @dan_Shaughnessy · 1h Translation: I can’t cheat anymore. So now what do I do?
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 24, 2021 0:31:59 GMT -5
'A little transition period' for Richards 34 minutes ago Ian Browne
Jun 23, 2021
In his recent slump, which hit a low point in Wednesday night’s 8-2 loss to the Rays, Garrett Richards is struggling to survive as his spin rate dips.
Richards is trying to get a good grip on the baseball, but admits he is struggling to do so following MLB’s recent crackdown which prevents pitchers from using any foreign substance but rosin.
The bottom line is that Richards is going to need to learn how to adapt better than on Wednesday, when he didn’t make it out of the second inning.
Over 1 2/3 innings, he gave up three hits and five runs (four earned) while walking four and striking out none.
“Going through a little transition period right now,” said Richards. “Changing some grips on some of my pitches, learning new pitches, just trying to figure this whole thing out. Like I said, a little transition period, still determined to get it figured out.”
Richards displayed his talent during an eight-start run from April 27 through June 6, in which he went 4-2 with a 2.98 ERA.
But in his last three starts, it has been an entirely different story, with Richards totaling just 11 innings while giving up 21 hits and 12 earned runs.
“Regarding Garrett, he’s got to make some adjustments,” said Red Sox pitching coach Dave Bush. “I know these last couple of starts have not been very good. He knows this is difficult but he’s talented -- he’s very talented. He has the ability to make some adjustments. It’s going to take some work, but I think he can do it. He’s going to commit to it. He’s still a really talented pitcher and he’s going to be able to get people out in the big leagues.”
Red Sox manager Alex Cora has no plans to take Richards out of the rotation. His next start is scheduled for Monday at Fenway against the Royals.
“Unless something happens physically, and he comes here tomorrow and says something is wrong, he'll be ready for the next one,” said Cora.
It was hard not to notice that the spin rate on Richards’ curveball was down roughly 500 rpm from his first 12 starts of the season.
Richards will keep going to the drawing board in an effort to get back on track.
“Yeah, you know, I’m an athlete. I’d like to think I’m going to be able to get over this and figure out a way to get it done,” said Richards.
While the breaking stuff is important, Cora also thinks Richards needs to get back to commanding his fastball the way he was earlier in the season.
“That's something we have to work on, to just find that fastball again,” said Cora. “He did a good job after that Mets start to use it up in the zone and getting swings and misses there. It seems like lately, he's not getting swings and misses. We can talk about the breaking ball and slider, but in this league, if your fastball is not playing, you're going to have trouble.”
The mission for Richards in these next few days prior to his next start will be to figure out a way to get himself out of trouble and back in command.
Part of the solution could come with an improved mindset.
“He’s got to commit to making some changes, that’s the best way I can put it,” said Bush. “It is difficult. He’s not the only one going through this, but any time there’s a dip in performance, doubt can creep in, and insecurity and all that stuff is normal. Players go through that all the time. Part of the process is psychological and being confident he has the ability to do it.”
Bush and the other coaches will do what they can to help with both mechanics and confidence.
“Yeah, he has to make some changes and that’s fine, that’s part of the game, but he is still good enough and we will have to keep reminding him of that,” Bush said. “We have data that will prove that and there’s all kinds of ways we can show him that. So that’s part of the process in between starts is to build him up physically and mentally and get him ready to go.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 24, 2021 0:34:17 GMT -5
Notes: Duran homers again; Wong on callup June 23rd, 2021 Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
Rays phenom Wander Franco made his presence felt in his much-anticipated Major League debut on Tuesday, when he belted a game-tying, three-run homer against Eduardo Rodriguez at Tropicana Field.
Though center fielder Jarren Duran doesn’t have the same national appeal at this stage as Franco, Red Sox fans are still itching to see him arrive in the Major Leagues.
That itch only increased when Duran went yard again for Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, giving him 13 homers in 134 at-bats this season.
Ranked No. 87 among prospects by MLB Pipeline and No. 3 in Boston’s farm system, Duran is slashing .291/.381/.634 in his first Triple-A season.
The numbers make it appear that Duran is ready to be called up. But there is much more that goes into it.
So how will the Red Sox know when the time is right to call up Duran?
“Knowing when it’s the right time to call up any player is some mix of art and science,” said Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom. “That’s even more true in a year like this one, coming off of a missing Minor League season and the late start to 2021. Objective information is important in decisions like these, but so are the opinions of the people closest to the situation, and many other factors as well. Nobody has all of the answers, but it’s important to have a complete process.”
The interest in Duran from Boston’s fanbase is heightened by the fact that Red Sox manager Alex Cora hasn’t been able to find a productive leadoff hitter this season.
“In my experience, making decisions with top prospects that are reactive, based on the needs of the big league club, or because you feel you need a jolt, usually gets you in trouble,” Bloom said. “Often, you don’t get the short-term boost you’re looking for, and you might set yourself back over the long haul as well. As much as possible, we need to stay focused on the individual player and when he’s ready not just to survive, but to succeed.”
The Red Sox are very aware of the good things Duran has done this season. But they need to balance the entire picture.
“At the highest level, it takes more than the ability to drive the ball to have success,” Bloom said. “Making sure he has an approach that will withstand the best pitchers in the world dissecting him with the best possible information is critical. And he continues to show progress on that front as the season goes on. Defensively, we know he’s a work in progress, but he’s also shown consistent improvement there.”
One player who has seen Duran up close is catcher Connor Wong, who was recalled from Triple-A on Tuesday.
“I got a front-row seat to the Jarren Duran show,” said Wong. “He’s incredible. He’s fun to watch. He’s a really hard worker. He’s a great clubhouse guy and he wears his heart on his sleeve. You’ve just got to respect that.”
Wong getting first taste of the Majors Wong, Boston’s No. 16 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is under no illusions that his callup to Boston is permanent. He is filling in while catcher Kevin Plawecki recovers from a left hamstring strain and will try to make the most of this first stint.
In Tuesday’s win, Wong had the thrill of making his MLB debut as a pinch runner in the 11th inning. He wound up scoring the go-ahead run in a 9-5 win for Boston.
“I was just extremely excited,” Wong said of getting his first callup. “It’s kind of what everyone talks about. It’s unreal. You’ve been working for this your whole life and finally coming to the point where you haven’t made it but you’re there. It was really cool. While I’m here, I’m just trying to do whatever they need me to do and do it to the best of my ability.”
Wong spent some time on the Minor League injured list in May with a right hamstring injury, which might have been a contributor to his slow start at the plate for Worcester (.148 average in 61 at-bats).
“I don’t think I’m overwhelmed by the pitching,” said Wong. “I think there’s some timing issues going on -- might be from missing some time, could be just trying to do too much at the plate. It could be a couple of things. I think I’m in a good spot. Just trying to trust the process and keep getting after it.”
Lefties have stepped up Entering play on Wednesday, the Red Sox bullpen ranked fourth in the American League with a 3.70 ERA. While closer Matt Barnes and veteran setup man Adam Ottavino have performed well in their roles, perhaps not enough has been made of the lefty combo of Josh Taylor and Darwinzon Hernandez.
“For them to step up and do the things they're doing, in any given situation facing lefties, righties, with traffic, with no traffic, they’ve been great,” said Cora. “I think those two guys have given us obviously more options. It helps us to rest some guys in certain situations, rest the other lefty in any given day, flip flop them during a series.
“Bring one earlier, then the other one late and then do it the other way around so the lefties or the hitters from the other team don't see them on back-to-back nights. I do believe those two guys have given us what we envisioned and put us in a great spot.”
Taylor, in particular, has been on fire. In his last 20 appearances dating back to April 30, he hasn’t allowed a run.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 24, 2021 0:47:16 GMT -5
OverTheMonster @overthemonster · 5h Even if you don't want to call up Duran for whatever reason, playing time, development, whatever it may be, at least call up Franchy for Santana. There's no reason for him to be on this team right now.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 24, 2021 0:49:48 GMT -5
Garrett Richards struggles again as Red Sox fall to Rays By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated June 23, 2021, 10:45 p.m.
Garrett Richards sat at his postgame presser Wednesday searching for answers.
He was just a week removed from his last start against the Braves when the righthander intimated that he didn’t have a grip on the baseball. He lasted just four innings, allowing six runs (four earned). Richards threw 84 pitches, none of which were curveballs, a pitch that has defined Richards’s career because of its high spin rate.
But Major League Baseball’s crackdown on the use of illegal substances on the baseball — which included sunscreen, something Richards said he’s used throughout his career — led to a lack of feel for his curveball.
The feel wasn’t there in this start against the Rays either. Nor was the grip, frankly, on a season that has sputtered as of recent for Richards.
The Sox starter lasted just 1⅔ innings in an 8-2 loss to the Rays. Once Richards plunked Randy Arozarena with a 2-2 curveball with two outs in the second, manager Alex Cora threw the towel.
Richards got shellacked for five runs — four earned — against a Tampa Bay team that had hit just .202 during their six-game skid entering Wednesday.
“I’m going through a little transition period right now,” Richards said afterward. “Changing some grips on some of my pitches, learning new pitches. You know, just trying to figure this whole thing out. I’m still determined to figure it out.”
Cora said that Richards’s fastball is playing more like a cutter. “He’s got to commit to making some changes,” said pitching coach Dave Bush. “That’s the best way I can put it.”
Richards, who sounded discouraged after his start against the Braves, said he expected to turn his season around.
“I’m an athlete,” Richards said. “I’d like to think that I’m going to be able to get over this and figure out a way to get it done. [The rule change] was kind of this, just kind of got brought on us real quick. So I’ve only had about a week to work on it.”
The four earned runs off Richards all came by the homer. Austin Meadows blasted a two-run shot in the first inning that gave the Rays a 2-1 lead. Then in the second, a two-run homer to left by Mike Zunino extended the Rays’ lead. Richards didn’t register a strikeout.
In his last three starts, Richards has more walks (seven) than strikeouts (six). During the three-game span, Richards has pitched just 11 innings, yielding a jarring 21 hits and 15 runs (12 earned), and a 6.51 ERA in his last six starts.
That should be a concern for the Red Sox.
There are more concerns, however. Richards didn’t shy away from curveball this time. He threw it 11 times, but just three were for strikes. His spin rate, which ranks among the best in the game, was down 534 revolutions per minute. His slider spin rate dropped by 216 RPMs.
“We’re not talking about an overhaul here,” Bush said. “I think it’s just an adjustment to different circumstances right now.” Related: With substance checks in full swing, pitchers league-wide are less than pleased
Brandon Workman took over for Richards and worked 1⅓ scoreless innings. Yacksel Riós and Josh Taylor continued that trend. Rios submitted two shutout innings and Taylor extended his scoreless streak to 21 games with a scoreless sixth.
The Sox had no answers for starter Rich Hill in his five innings. The only run the Sox scored against the lefthander came in the first inning when Xander Bogaerts singled through the right side.
The Sox scored their second run of the game on a Christian Vázquez single in the eighth. But by that time, the game was seemingly over after Brandon Lowe belted a three-run homer to center field off reliever Matt Andriese in the seventh.
Meanwhile, MLB’s ruling on sticky stuff came to the surface in the ninth inning. The Sox noticed some discoloration on the hat of Rays reliever Diego Castillo, forcing him to change to a new one.
Cora met with the umpires after the game to get more information on the situation.
“I just want to make sure that this is how it’s going to be,” Cora said. “And they explained to me the whole thing.”
Moving forward, though, the Sox have questions regarding their own starter in Richards. Are his most recent outings an indication of the type of pitcher he will be for this Red Sox club?
”I feel like I need to be a different pitcher than I was the last 9½ years,” Richards said.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 24, 2021 0:54:10 GMT -5
Red Sox Notebook With substance checks in full swing, pitchers league-wide are less than pleased By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated June 23, 2021, 8:02 p.m.
Day two of Major League Baseball’s new ruling, which cracks down on pitchers’ use of any foreign substance on the ball to enhance spin, location, or command, was met with contention Tuesday.
When Phillies manager Joe Girardi had umpires check Nationals starter Max Scherzer for any sticky stuff, an already-fiery Scherzer got even more fired up. Umpires told starters they would be subject to two checks during their outings. But when Girardi told umpires to check Scherzer again, that’s when the veteran pitcher and future Hall of Famer lost his cool. And after pitching a perfect fifth inning, Scherzer glared at Girardi in the dugout. That’s when Girardi motioned for Scherzer to come toward him and was ejected from the contest.
When manager Alex Cora was asked how he digested that situation and how he would respond, if he were in that situation, Cora said it would be a sticky situation given his involvement in the 2017 Astros cheating scandal.
“For me to check on a pitcher,” Cora explained, “on a personal note it’s like ‘What are you doing? You messed up two years ago and now you point the finger at a guy that is using a foreign substance?’ Obviously, you know, at one point if we have to do it, because it’s just out of control and we see it, then we’ll address it. But as of now, I don’t see it.”
Athletics reliever Sergio Romo sarcastically undid his pants when he was approached by umpires in Oakland’s contest against the Rangers Tuesday.
Cora said that Scherzer’s situation was a unique one, but noted that, overall, pitchers should comply with MLB.
“You saw [Jacob] deGrom,” Cora said. “He smiled [when he was checked]. He gave them his glove and the hat. If the best on the planet doesn’t complain, the rest should follow suit.”
Pedroia back at Fenway
After Thursday’s series finale vs. the Rays, the Sox will travel back to Fenway and meet the Yankees Friday for a three-game series.
Friday will mark something even more momentous with the Sox set to honor Dustin Pedroia in a pregame retirement ceremony. Related: Garrett Richards struggles again as Red Sox fall to Rays
“It will be fun,” Cora said. “To have Petey there. It will be a packed house. I think that’s what he deserves: a packed house at Fenway.”
Cora isn’t sure how much Pedroia will be allowed to be around the team given the COVID-19 protocols. Nevertheless, his presence alone will be felt, Cora noted.
“The fact that he’s going to be in Fenway, and people are going to be able to recognize a great career is going to be amazing,” Cora said.
Christian Arroyo (bone bruise in right knee) came out on the field to walk around Wednesday and was limping. Arroyo playing in Thursday’s series finale seems unlikely, and the hope is to have him back Friday. Cora doesn’t think Arroyo will be placed on the injured list.
Kevin Plawecki, who landed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain Tuesday, played catch for a bit Wednesday and seemed to be moving around well.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 24, 2021 0:55:43 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 5h Garrett Richards said after his last outing that we would be in store for a lot of four-hour games. Indeed.
Cora said that he feels as though Richards's fastball is cutting more. Said he went back to his start against the Yankees and said that pitch was a bit straighter. Thinks that's part of the reason he's running into a ton of barrels against lefties, in particular.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 24, 2021 1:03:01 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h Garrett Richards sounded defeated after his last start. He certainly looked that way tonight.
The #RedSox have a major problem there, and this time a delivery change might not be enough.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 24, 2021 1:03:37 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 3h Matt Andriese since May 1 -- 20 IP, 19 ER.
That's an 8.55 ERA. Unsightly. #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 24, 2021 1:05:44 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 3h Cora sees a lot of cut on the Richards fastball at the moment. Needs to tighten/locate that pitch better. Feels he has enough in terms of secondary stuff to compete. #RedSox
Cora on Richards -- 'Stuff-wise, he was competitive. Location-wise, he wasn't there.' #RedSox
Cora said the umpiring crew found some discoloration on Castillo's hat -- nothing sticky. He wanted clarification on why Castillo was checked and what decisions would be made going forward.
'This might happen again. It might happen to us.' #RedSox
Cora did not want Castillo ejected. He did not ask for the check.
His meeting with the umpires was seeking information. #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 24, 2021 1:08:01 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 3h Richards -- 'It's changed pretty much everything for me. It's changed a lot for me.'
'I feel like I need to be a different pitcher than I was for the last 9 1/2 years.' #RedSox
Richards -- 'I'm just trying to slow everything down and put my body in a good position to throw the ball.'
'I'm worried more about location than I am stuff. That's a big difference.' #RedSox
Richards -- 'Going through a little transition period right now. Changing some grips on some of my pitches. Learning new pitches. Just trying to figure this whole thing out.'
'Trying to just compete. Trying to get outs.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 24, 2021 1:09:03 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 3h Richards -- 'I'm an athlete. I'd like to think I'm going to get over this and figure out a way to get it done.'
'This got brought on us real quick.' #RedSox
Richards -- 'I'm kind of just learning how to throw a baseball right now with what we've got.'
'This is all new for me. I'm trying to figure it out.' #RedSox
Richards -- 'It's frustrating. This isn't cool to be a part of. I'm trying to deal with this stuff myself and not make it a problem for everybody else. Unfortunately my performance affected us tonight.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 24, 2021 1:11:31 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 6h Two on and Santana punches out again.
To me, the point of a lineup is to get your best players the most plate appearances. He has been their worst hitter.
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