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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 23, 2021 3:16:48 GMT -5
Alex Speier
@alexspeier
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5h
Red Sox beat the Mets, 12-5. They've won seven straight - their third seven-game winning streak this year. Other seasons in the last 30 years in which the Red Sox had three winning streaks of 7+ games:
2018.
That's it.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 23, 2021 3:18:45 GMT -5
Alex Speier
@alexspeier
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5h
Cora: ‘I do believe this is the most complete roster we’ve had the whole season…We’re in a great spot.’
Cora says ‘there’s a pretty good chance’ the yellow uniforms will be back on Friday. ‘They’re part of our routine right now.’
Sale on hitting 97: ‘I think that’s something that’s still building.’ He says he’s not as reliant on velocity as he has been in the past and is comfortable adapting to whatever he has in the tank, but is pleased with progressive increases in velo across outings.
Sale on Schwarber: ‘He’s been clutch. There’s no doubt about it. Tonight was obviously his show. You couldn’t ask for any more, honestly, from someone acquired at the trade deadline.’
Sale on yellow uniforms: ‘I love them. … What it represents means even more to us.’
Schwarber on September contention: ‘The writing’s on the wall - especially the big wall in left field out there.’
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 23, 2021 3:20:50 GMT -5
Red Sox Notebook: Christian Arroyo returns, but red-hot Jose Iglesias stays at second base
Red-hot Iglesias ineligible for the postseason
By Jason Mastrodonato | jason.mastrodonato@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald
PUBLISHED: September 22, 2021 at 5:14 p.m. | UPDATED: September 22, 2021 at 8:02 p.m.
Christian Arroyo will likely be the starting second baseman if the Red Sox reach the postseason.
But in order to reach the postseason, they’ll need Jose Iglesias to continue his impressive run in his first-ever big league opportunity at the position.
Iglesias, a shortstop by trade, was moved to second when Xander Bogaerts came back from the COVID-19 related injury list. There’s no question Iglesias is a better shortstop than Bogaerts, but it makes little sense to move Bogaerts around at this point.
Instead, Iglesias is looking like the best second baseman the Red Sox didn’t know they needed. The 31-year-old defensive wizard is hitting .382 with five extra-base hits and five RBI in 13 games with the Sox.
Arroyo was activated off the COVID-IL on Tuesday but looks like nothing more than a pinch-hitting option while Iglesias stays in the lineup. Manager Alex Cora wouldn’t say Iglesias is the starter, but it appears clear.
“We’re taking it day by day,” Cora said. “José is playing second today. If there’s a situation where we need Christian late in the game against a lefty, we’ll use that, but right now, José is doing an amazing job not only defensively but offensively.”
He’s ineligible for the postseason because he wasn’t in the organization before Sept. 1.
“We cannot look too ahead of what’s going on tonight,” Cora said. “That’s the way we see it. Obviously we’re in a good spot but it’s not comfortable, you know? We’ve got to keep playing good baseball. He’s been part of this the last few days. He’s done an amazing job.”
It’s fair to wonder why the Sox didn’t try to add a quality second baseman before Sept. 1.
Iglesias was a pending free agent on an Angels team that wasn’t going anywhere. They released him in early September and the Sox quickly snatched him up for nothing. But why couldn’t they add a player like that before the trade deadline?
Arroyo had been injured in mid-July. Kiké Hernandez was playing a lot of second base, but Jarren Duran was struggling in center field and Hernandez’s move back to center seemed inevitable.
Dalbec on the bench
Second base isn’t the only position that continues to be fluid.
The first base/left field/designated hitter rotation with four guys for three spots continue to be interesting to watch.
Bobby Dalbec was back on the bench Wednesday despite staying red hot at the plate and looking new and improved on defense at first base.
But Kyle Schwarber needs to play, too, and the Sox put him back in at first base against the Mets, with J.D. Martinez at DH and Alex Verdugo in left field.
“For how good Bobby has swung the bat, there are certain matchups where we’ll protect him or we’ll stay away from it,” Cora said. “We do believe this is a good one for Hunter Renfroe, for Kyle, for Alex, and for Iglesias. So that’s where we go.
“Obviously we’ve got some good players now. We’ve got some good hitters, guys that even when they’re not swinging the bat well, they’re getting on base, in the case of Kyle, right? And he’s actually trending up. It’s a good problem to have. I think it gives us options late in games. We have a deeper bench, regardless of who is starting. We can be aggressive as far as pinch hitting.”
Duran in AAA
Duran has returned from his stint on the COVID-IL and played in three games with Worcester, going 2-for-9 with a double.
Cora said it’s important for Duran to get at-bats in Triple-A right now. He struggled in the big leagues, hitting .215 with a .578 OPS, though the Sox might want him on the postseason roster because of his speed as a late-game pinch runner.
Danny Santana and Yairo Munoz have returned from quarantine but are still on the COVID list and battling other injuries. Jonathan Arauz has returned as well, though the Sox don’t need to activate him right now since they have Iglesias and Arroyo at second base.
“Danny just got back yesterday,” Cora said. “He’s been out for 10 days. Now his process to build up starts, too. He’s kind of like in the same situation as Christian, he hasn’t played much lately. We’ll see where it takes us…
“I’m glad that everybody is here, everybody is healthy, and hopefully we can turn the page. We’ve still got to do our stuff, protect each other, and take care of the group, but I’m relieved everyone is here now.”
Adam Ottavino hasn’t pitched in a week, but Cora said he’s benefited from the rest and the club is ready to use him when necessary.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 23, 2021 3:22:14 GMT -5
Chris Sale approves of Red Sox’ lucky blue and yellow ‘City Connect’ uniforms: ‘We play well in them’
Sox have won five straight in yellow unis
By Steve Hewitt | stephen.hewitt@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald
September 23, 2021 at 12:31 a.m.
The Red Sox keep winning, and that means their blue and yellow uniforms are here to stay.
Five months after they debuted during Patriots’ Day weekend, the Red Sox’ “City Connect” uniforms returned last weekend against the Orioles at the players’ request. After sweeping the O’s, they decided they’d continue to don the uniforms until they lost.
They still haven’t lost after a two-game sweep of the Mets ran their winning streak to seven games, which means they’ll appear for a third consecutive series when they open up a three-game set against the Yankees on Friday night at Fenway Park.
“There’s a pretty good chance,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We’re not superstitious, we just love routines. It just so happens at 6 o’clock the uniforms are there. It’s part of our routine right now.”
Chris Sale approves of them, and not only because the Red Sox keep winning in the uniforms, which pay homage to the Boston Marathon with its colors and design and celebrates Boston’s boldness, culture and creativity.
“I love them,” Sale said after Wednesday’s win over the Mets. “I do. I know that might be a surprise to some people, but I think it’s great. Obviously what it represents means even more to us. It’s kind of crazy, right? We’re wearing yellow, we’re wearing baby blue. We’re a red, white, gray, blue team. But it makes it fun. I think the fans love it, and what it represents means even more to us.
“I think you’re going to see them quite a bit more because we play well in them. For now, we’re going to keep that rolling and have some fun with it. We love these unis.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 23, 2021 3:27:31 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats
@redsoxstats
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6h
Edward Mujica might have a better shot at making a playoff roster than Barnes right now
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 23, 2021 6:34:59 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox’s Chris Sale reaches 96.8 mph; ‘I’ll play the cards I’m dealt’
Updated: 6:42 a.m. | Published: 6:31 a.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Chris Sale topped out at 96.8 mph with his fastball in the Red Sox’s 12-5 victory over the Mets on Wednesday.
“I think that’s something that’s still kind of building,” Sale said about velocity. “I don’t really rely on it as much as I used to. And I really don’t put as much into it. If it’s there, it’s there. If it’s not, I’ll find a way. Yeah, it’s something I would progressively like to uptick. But I’ll play the cards I’m dealt. So on a given day if I’ve got it, I’ve got it. If not, I’ll find a way.”
Sale went 5 innings, allowing two runs, six hits and two walks while striking out eight.
The lefty hasn’t always had his top velocity or his signature wipeout slider since returning from Tommy John surgery rehab in August. We probably won’t see it all come together for Sale until 2022.
But he still has been able to get results. He improved to 5-0 with a 2.57 ERA in seven starts. He’s using pitchability instead of overpowering hitters.
Sale threw 48 four-seam fastballs, averaging 93.8 mph, per Baseball Savant. He recorded eight swings-and-misses with the fastball, four with his slider and three with his changeup.
“I felt like I was in a rhythm for the most part,” Sale said. “Kind of fighting some stuff still. Front side stuff. But for the most part overall today was awesome.”
Sale has topped out at 98.2 mph this season. He did it vs. the Twins on Aug. 26 and averaged 94.4 mph in that game. He reached 97.3 mph vs. the Rays on Sept. 6.
Sale has pitched 5 or fewer innings in five of his seven starts. He has pitched 6 innings just once.
He hasn’t thrown more than 95 pitches in a start. He has thrown fewer than 90 pitches in six of seven starts.
But he said he has no doubt he’ll be able to go deeper into games if the opportunity presents itself in the postseason.
“I don’t have any reserve or question in my ability to pitch into later innings or higher pitch counts,” Sale said. “I train for this. This is what I prepare myself for on a daily, on a weekly, monthly, yearly basis. So when we get to crunch time and that’s what’s called upon, then we’re going to do it. I’ve got too much love and respect for these guys at the top to question it. I know what the plan is. I know where we’re at and what we’re trying to accomplish. When that time comes, we’ll handle it.”
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Sept 23, 2021 19:28:00 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats
@redsoxstats
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6h
Edward Mujica might have a better shot at making a playoff roster than Barnes right now I have no idea what that means. |
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