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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2021 1:28:57 GMT -5
For the Red Sox, pieces aren’t fitting together By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated August 11, 2021, 2 hours ago
Before he grew his hair long and started playing the drums, my nephew loved to play with Lego. Stars Wars, Batman, you name it.
It was fun to help him. But all too often we’d get halfway through putting the Millennium Falcon back together and realize some pieces were missing.
We’d try to make it work with a few bricks meant for the Batmobile, but it wasn’t quite the same.
That’s the problem Red Sox manager Alex Cora has these days. He doesn’t have the right pieces to make it work.
Is there a Lego Titanic?
The Sox lost again, 8-4, against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night. They led, 4-2, after five innings before giving up six runs on nine hits, six walks, and a series of poor defensive plays.
That’s 10 losses in the last 12 games for the Sox, who are now five games behind the Rays in the division.
Matt Barnes, pitching for the fourth time in four days, entered a 4-4 game in the ninth inning and allowed four runs.
Cora would have preferred not to use Barnes. But Adam Ottavino wasn’t available, and his other options weren’t better given that the trade deadline produced only underwhelming Austin Davis and Hansel Robles.
That Barnes was back on the mound speaks to the poor depth in the bullpen.
Barnes nearly pulled it off. But Francisco Mejia’s two-out double scored two runs and a third came when right fielder Hunter Renfroe overran the ball.
Earlier in the inning, Barnes had to throw three extra pitches to get the second out when first baseman Franchy Cordero couldn’t catch a routine foul pop.
“Barnsie right now, he’s doing his best,” Cora said. “I should, kind of like, take care of him in a sense. That’s not fair, obviously. But he wants to do it. He’s willing to do it.”
Barnes, an All-Star for the first time this season, has allowed seven runs over two innings in his last four appearances.
The righthander stayed in the dugout long after the final out, talking to several teammates.
“We’re getting a little frustrated,” said Eduardo Rodriguez, who pitched well into the sixth inning before the bullpen imploded.
It wasn’t just the ninth inning.
The Sox entrusted a 4-2 lead in the seventh inning to rookie Garrett Whitlock, who hadn’t given up a run in more than a month. He got an out before Manuel Margot grounded a single through the right side.
Brandon Lowe followed with a line drive off the wall. Margot, who runs well, easily had third base. But J.D. Martinez threw the ball there anyway and Lowe moved up to second.
Martinez, usually the designated hitter, was playing left field because Alex Verdugo is on paternity leave and the Sox don’t have any other outfielders beyond Marwin Gonzalez, who has a .566 OPS.
Pinch hitter Ji-Man Choi followed with a two-run double. The Sox might have had a lefty reliever ready for Choi, but Cora wanted to save Josh Taylor and Whitlock was a better option than Davis or Martín Pérez.
With the game now tied, Cordero led off the bottom of the inning with a strikeout. Cordero, who is hitting .197, was in the lineup because the Sox are platooning him at first base with another unproductive hitter, Bobby Dalbec.
The Sox needed a first baseman at the trade deadline 12 days ago. They acquired injured left fielder Kyle Schwarber and are teaching him how to play first base. He’s at least a week away from being on the roster.
By then will it even matter?
A 65-50 record, fifth-best in the American League, suggests the Sox can be salvaged. But the team that piled up victories in the first half has vanished.
The pitching is beaten up, the defense is shaky, and a once-potent lineup has averaged 3.79 runs since the All-Star break.
“We have a good team, but we have to keep working at what we’re trying to accomplish and get better on the field,” Cora said. “For us to do this, we have to play a better brand of baseball.”
Half the crowd of 28,356 fled Fenway Park before the top of the ninth inning finished. The Sox once led the majors in comeback wins but those days seem long ago.
The pieces just don’t fit, and Sox fans know it.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2021 1:31:56 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Fresh from Japan, Darren Fenster steps in for shorthanded Red Sox coaching staff By Julian Benbow Globe Staff,Updated August 10, 2021, 8:25 p.m.
Darren Fenster’s flight from Tokyo landed at 5 a.m. Monday, and the text from the Red Sox was waiting for him as soon as he opened his phone.
With bench coach Will Venable still under quarantine in Canada after testing positive for COVID-19, and first-base coach Tom Goodwin doing the same after being in close contact, the Sox needed some hands to fill in. Fenster, the Red Sox’s minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator, was on the coaching staff for the United States baseball team at the Olympics.
The Red Sox asked him if he could be at Fenway the next morning. Fenster had all of two days to process the Olympic experience before duty called back home.
With no hesitation, he jumped on another flight.
“Anytime the big league team calls you, you answer it,” Fenster said. “Whatever the organization needs you to do to help them fulfill their goals — which is we’re right in the middle of a pennant race here — whatever they need, that’s what I’m here to do right now.”
Fenster was on the field Tuesday helping Sox manager Alex Cora with whatever he needed to prepare for the series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays.
“I haven’t even been back 24 hours,” Fenster said. “It probably hasn’t even hit me, really, the entire experience of what we just did, being in the Olympics, but it was absolutely incredible and surreal.”
While Fenster was getting settled in Boston, he learned that the gold medal game was Japan’s most-watched Olympic event. That’s when the magnitude of the US run hit him. He watched Tristan Casas elevate his game on the biggest stage, and Jack Lopez seal a game with his glove to give the US a shot at the gold, though they lost, 2-0, to Japan.
“The way that we competed with a team that shut down their major league and put together an all-star team — a hit here and hit there, and that game is reversed and we’re going home with a gold medal,” Fenster said. “So to be able to compete on that level, with a group of guys who, for all intents and purposes were complete strangers a month and a half ago, I think just spoke volumes to the saying of playing for something bigger than yourself. It was really an incredible experience to just be a part of that, to see that kind of happened in a really organic way.”
The first thing Cora was hoping to see was the medal. Unfortunately, while Olympic athletes take medals home, coaches do not.
“They never have and I don’t think they ever will,” Fenster said. “But you go for what the experience is, and to be able to wear USA across your chest is something that’s incredibly special.”
Helping the big-league club while it was in a tough spot was also important for Fenster. He was in the dugout along with minor league infield coordinator Andy Fox while Venable and Goodwin continued to quarantine.
“They’re going to help us out throughout the process,” Cora said.
Both Venable and Goodwin are in good shape in Canada, Cora said, and still working with the team from afar.
“They’re doing OK,” he said. “It’s not easy. Texting with them today, they’re doing okay . . . It’s uncomfortable, but it’s where we’re at. The two are relentless working with us. They’re doing their homework, they send new information, they’re on top of everything that is going on here. Hopefully, we can get them back soon here with us.”
Kyle Schwarber upbeat after ‘tiny little setback’
A groin injury last week as he was working his way back from a hamstring injury was frustrating for Kyle Schwarber, but he’s optimistic about making his Red Sox debut in due time.
“There’s a tiny little setback, it’s just kind of lingering,” Schwarber said. “But I feel like that it’ll be sooner rather than later to get back out here, so I’m pretty happy about that.”
The Sox added Schwarber in a July 29 trade with the Washington Nationals. At the time of the deal, Schwarber had been rehabbing for three weeks. He said he’s as anxious to get on the field as the Sox are to have him in the lineup.
In the meantime, he’s been running the bases, hitting, and working on defense, including (before the groin injury) some work at first base.
“Knowing me, I want to be out here, I want to play baseball, I want to help,” Schwarber said. “I felt like it’s been a long time already since I’ve been back out playing. Yeah, I get antsy, but you also have to respect the training staff and what their opinions are so they’ll be able to check off the boxes completely to make sure that injury doesn’t happen again. That’s kind of the biggest thing.”
Hirokazu Sawamura back in action after elbow scare
After leaving Sunday’s loss to the Blue Jays due to right elbow tightness, reliever Hirokazu Sawamura entered in the sixth inning and worked out of a two-on jam. Cora said he was comfortable with his decision to pull Sawamura given what he saw from the pitcher. “He’s doing OK,” Cora said. “I do believe that on Sunday, we had to do what we had to do. He’s very important to what we’re trying to accomplish. I didn’t like his body language, I didn’t like his command” . . . Darwinzon Hernandez (right oblique strain), Christian Arroyo (left hamstring strain), and Danny Santana (left groin strain) all went through full workouts. Arroyo will take batting practice Wednesday, while Santana tracks pitches in the bullpen. “Now it’s just a matter of getting back to baseball activities and hopefully they can go into a rehab assignment sometime next week,” said Cora . . . In his first action this season, Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless inning for Triple A Worcester on 10 pitches, following a leadoff walk with a groundout and a double play. Brasier suffered a calf injury in spring training, then a concussion in June when he was struck by a line drive during a simulated game . . . Alex Verdugo is expected to return Wednesday night from paternity leave. He arrived in Los Angeles five minutes before his son, A.J., was born. “One thing’s for sure,” Cora said, “he’s a happy camper” . . . The Sox signed lefthanded pitcher Alex Claudio to a minor league deal and sent him to Worcester. Claudio was released by the Angels on July 30. He was 1-2 with a 5.51 ERA and one save in 41 relief appearances for the Angels this season . . . Right-handed pitcher Marcus Walden, who had spent the season with Worcester, was released Sunday . . . New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner, who shone with five shutouts in the Americans’ victory in the Gold Cup, threw out the first pitch.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2021 1:36:37 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h The #RedSox traded for two relievers at the deadline. That neither of them are deemed trustworthy to pitch in this spot speaks volumes.
Couldn't realistically expect Craig Kimbrel or the like, but someone for leverage work in the 6th/7th isn't too much to ask.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2021 1:37:07 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h That throw has to go to second if you're J.D. Martinez. Keep the tying run out of scoring position, preserve the double play. Not a good decision. #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2021 1:37:56 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 4h
The #RedSox can't do anything right at this point. They're butchers.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2021 1:39:29 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25
#RedSox are 65-50. They're 2-10 in their last 12 games. That's the worst record in the American League.
Cora -- 'They didn't stop playing. They put good at-bat after good at-bat.'
'We were one hit away from putting them away, but we just didn't do it. That's been happening a lot.' #RedSox
Cora on Whitlock in the 7th -- 'We threw a lot of fastballs to Lowe and a lot of fastballs to Choi. Then the next inning we started to mix it up.'
'This kid, he's been solid.' #RedSox
Cora said Thursday's starter is still to be announced. #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2021 1:40:20 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 3h Cora -- 'Barnes right now, he's doing his best. I should probably take care of him in a sense. It's not fair.'
'It's been a grind for him lately. It was a grind for us tonight.' #RedSox
Cora -- '(Barnes) pitched in the doubleheader. He pitched on Sunday. He had to come in today.'
'There are certain situations, for his benefit, body-wise, we'd be better off staying away from him.'
'Everybody has to contribute.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2021 1:40:51 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 3h Cora -- 'We've been talking about defense and baserunning and putting the ball in play with men at third since spring training. We go through ups and downs. They're trying.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2021 1:43:24 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 5h Martinez threw to the wrong base and Lowe took second. Didn't keep the double play in order.
Cordero misjudged a foul pop by about 10 feet. No big deal, just would have been the second out with two runners on.
No error given.
Sox have lost 5 of 6 and 10 of 12. They are 15-19 since July 1 and are now five games out of first.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2021 1:49:01 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 11h Christian Arroyo and Danny Santana had full workouts today. Arroyo will take batting practice on the field on Wednesday, Santana on Thursday. Sox hope to send both out for rehab assignments next week.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2021 1:50:19 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 4h The Red Sox hadn't blown many saves during their 5-week downward spiral - mostly because their starters hadn't given them many leads. But now, one game after blowing a 5-run lead on Sunday, the Sox staff has turned a 3-run lead into a 3-run deficit.
In the last 6 games, the Red Sox bullpen has allowed 21 runs in 21 innings.
* 21 earned runs -- 22 runs.
While the Red Sox bullpen has allowed 22 runs (21 earned) in its last 21 innings (a 6-game stretch), the Rays bullpen since the All-Star break has allowed 24 runs (18 earned) over 23 games spanning 90 2/3 innings.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2021 1:51:36 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 3h Eduardo Rodriguez: ‘We just need to start pitching must better…That’s been the problem the last month.’
Garrett Whitlock: ‘I did not learn quick enough from the inning.’ Bogaerts told Whitlock that the Rays after a few batters were ambushing fastballs, but Whitlock says he should’ve seen it earlier.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2021 1:55:59 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox’s Matt Barnes has history of struggling in second half; ‘I should take care of him,’ Alex Cora says Updated 12:00 AM; Today 12:00 AM
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Red Sox closer Matt Barnes has a 7.88 ERA (8 innings, 7 earned runs) in 10 outings since the All-Star break.
The righty’s ERA has increased from 2.61 ERA to 3.52 during that stretch.
Barnes on Tuesday suffered his third loss in the past four games and the Red Sox fell 8-4 to the Tampa Bay Rays here at Fenway Park.
He entered in the top of the ninth with the score tied 4-4. He gave up four runs, all earned, on two hits and two walks.
Randy Arozarena doubled to lead off the top of the ninth. Three runs scored on Francisco Mejia’s single off Barnes to right field. Hunter Renfroe made an error on the play but all four runs against Barnes were earned.
“(Barnes) right now, he’s doing his best,” manager Alex Cora said. “Kind of like I should take care of him in a sense. It’s not fair obviously. But he wants to do it. He’s willing to do it. But it’s been a grind for him lately.”
Barnes’ second-half slump isn’t anything new to him. He always has been a better first-half pitcher.
He has a 3.44 ERA in 216 career outings during the first half compared to a 4.90 ERA in 133 career outings during the second half.
For his career, he has a 2.63 ERA in March/April, a 2.65 ERA in May, a 5.21 ERA in June, a 2.55 ERA in July, a 8.06 ERA in August and a 2.87 ERA in September/October.
It’s clear the Red Sox need to use him less frequently to keep him durable and effective.
“He pitched in the doubleheader. He pitched on Sunday. He had to come in today. For how valuable he is for us and for how much we rely on him, there’s certain situations that I think for his benefit, body-wise, we’re better off staying away from him,” Cora said. “Even if it’s a tie game. For us to be better, everybody has to contribute. I think it’s more that than anything else. We still trust the guy. We know he’s good.”
Cora said the Red Sox need to talk about Barnes’ usage.
“Because for us to pull this off, it’s not only him and Adam (Ottavino), JT (Josh Taylor) and Whit (Garrett Whitlock). It has to be everybody.”
The Red Sox bullpen has given up 23 earned runs in 32 ⅓ innings (6.40 ERA) during August.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2021 1:57:23 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox rookie Garrett Whitlock ‘did not learn quick enough’ in rough outing vs. Rays: ‘I’ve got to read hitters better’ Updated 1:54 AM; Today 1:54 AM
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- Just because Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock has been dominant throughout his rookie season doesn’t mean he’s not still learning how to pitch in the majors on the fly. Tuesday’s rough outing against the Rays was a prime example of that.
Whitlock, who entered with a 1.17 ERA, had only given up more than one run in one of his first 32 appearances of the season entering Tuesday. His nine-game, 14-inning scoreless streak was snapped ended in the seventh inning, when pinch-hitter Ji-Man Choi brought Tampa Bay back from a 4-2 deficit to tie the game, 4-4, with a two-run double.
Whitlock uncharacteristically allowed four hits and walked two batters in 1 ⅔ innings before the Rays went on to plate four runs against closer Matt Barnes in the ninth inning and win, 8-4. For Whitlock, who threw 13 fastballs in the first 15 pitches of his outing, the adjustment -- with the help of shortstop Xander Bogaerts -- came too late.
“I did not learn quick enough in the outing,” Whitlock said. “Going into the second inning, gave up the first hit and as I was walking to grab the ball from (Bogaerts), (Bogaerts) looked at me and told me, ‘Hey, they’re ambushing fastballs. Start mixing it up.’ I was like, ‘That makes a lot of sense.’ I’ve got to be better about learning quicker and picking that up earlier and not just trying to force my best pitch in there. I’ve got to read hitters better and I’ve got to learn quicker in an outing. If I’d have done that, it could have been different.”
All four hits Whitlock allowed -- a Manuel Margot single, Brandon Lowe double, Choi’s double and a Yandy Diaz single to lead off the eighth -- came off fastballs. He struck out the two batters he faced after Diaz in the eighth, walked Manuel Margot and then was lifted in favor of lefty Josh Taylor with Lowe coming to the plate again.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora gave Tampa Bay’s offense its due.
“Quality at-bats. I think that’s it,” Cora said. “He started mixing up his pitches in the eighth. The changeup started playing. He threw a lot of fastballs to (Brandon) Lowe and a lot of fastballs to Choi. In the next inning, we mixed up the changeup and you saw the results. But they put good at-bats on him. Going the other way with him, obviously. They saw him a few weeks ago or whatever. It seems like they made an adjustment.”
As the Red Sox compete for a postseason spot in the coming weeks, it’s likely that Cora will turn to Whitlock in more frequent, high-leverage situations. The 25-year-old said he’s looking forward to moving on from Tuesday’s crushing loss -- Boston’s 10th in its last 12 games -- both as an individual and as a team.
“We’re still working hard. We’re still grinding,” he said. “It sucks to go through the adversity but it’s something as a team you go through together. You bond through it and you’re fighting for each other. When you let someone down, it sucks, but at the same time, you know they have your back and you’ve got their back. It’s something you’ve got to grind through together.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 11, 2021 2:00:55 GMT -5
John Tomase @jtomase 2h Red Sox run differential: plus-29 Yankees run differential: plus-13 Blue Jays run differential: plus-124 I know which team I'd be worried about, and it's not New York.
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