Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 6, 2021 4:23:40 GMT -5
Red Sox notebook
Red Sox manager Alex Cora calls J.D. Martinez’s ankle injury ‘very serious’
By Alex Speier and Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated October 5, 2021, 5:27 p.m.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora described the left ankle injury of J.D. Martinez as “very serious” in discussing why the slugger was not available for Tuesday night’s Wild Card Game against the Yankees.
Although Martinez is not on crutches and there remains hope he’d recover in time to contribute in a best-of-five American League Division Series against the Rays, the extent of the swelling made clear that he could not play Tuesday night, even coming off the bench.
“For him not to post, it’s very serious,” Cora said. “That thing looks huge. Humongous. He’ll get treatment today. We’ll go from there. But for tonight, it was a no.”
Martinez suffered the injury while jogging to his position in right field in the fifth inning on Sunday in Washington. Martinez stepped on the second base bag, slipped, stumbled, and rolled his ankle. He remained in the game for that half-inning before being lifted in favor of José Iglesias.
Without Martinez in the middle of the order, Cora altered his lineup. He moved Kyle Schwarber to the leadoff spot, lowering Kiké Hernández to No. 2 with Rafael Devers batting third and Xander Bogaerts fourth. In so doing, Cora was able to spread out lefthanded hitters Schwarber, Devers, and Alex Verdugo.
“Just needed to split the lefties, Raffy and Alex,” said Cora. “That’s the only way we can create balance in the beginning of the lineup without J.D. Kyle has done it.”
Cora acknowledged the disappointment of having to play a win-or-go-home game without Martinez, but noted both that the Yankees are without some key contributors (including DJ LeMahieu) and that Martinez can contribute in other roles.
“He’ll be the best assistant hitting coach in the world tonight,” said Cora. “The goal is obviously hopefully we can do what we do, play a good baseball game and advance, and see where we’re at for the next round.”
Changing role
Iglesias proved a pivotal addition in the season’s final four weeks. Released by the Angels on Sept. 3, Iglesias signed with the Red Sox on Sept. 6 at a time when their middle infield depth had been decimated by COVID-19 infections. In 23 games, he hit .356/.406/.508 while upgrading the team’s defense, playing a significant role in the Sox securing a playoff berth.
Related: MLB playoffs: See the Red Sox-Rays ALDS schedule
“This kid, what he did the last three weeks, it meant so much for us,” said Cora.
But with the Sox in the Wild Card Game, Iglesias became a spectator with a very good seat. Because he wasn’t in the organization by Aug. 31, he’s ineligible to play in the postseason. His contributions for the playoffs can only come as a cheerleader and source of counsel.
“It’s a sad situation that I can’t contribute physically on the baseball field, but at least I can be on the bench, and I’m grateful for that opportunity just to stick around,” said Iglesias. “[The late signing] was totally out of my control. That was the Angels’ decision, I guess. They did what they did and I did what I did.
“I feel very proud of putting this team in this position today. I’ll just be here to support them any way I can. I couldn’t be happier to be here today. I would love to be at second [base] today, but I’ll be on the bench and my energy will be the same to try to get the guys going.”
Iglesias will be a free agent this winter. He would welcome remaining with the Sox.
“Who doesn’t like to play at Fenway Park?” said Iglesias, who signed with the Red Sox as an amateur in 2009 and spent four years with them before getting traded to the Tigers. “It’s a privilege to represent this organization. I would love to come back.”
No Sale
The Red Sox left Chris Sale off the Wild Card Game roster. Given that he’s still building back from his lengthy rehab from Tommy John surgery, the team didn’t consider him as a relief option just two days removed from his 2⅓-inning start on the final Sunday of the regular season. “It just didn’t make sense for us. For how much we love him and we know he can compete, we know where he’s coming from. You’ve got to be smart, too,” said Cora. “Hopefully he can pitch another game in October.” The team did carry rotation members Eduardo Rodriguez and Nick Pivetta as potential bullpen contributors … Lefthander Josh Taylor, who finished the season on the injured list (lower back), showed enough improvement after working out over the weekend in Boston that the Sox activated him for the Wild Card Game. With Taylor active and Eduardo Rodriguez available in the bullpen, the Sox left southpaws Darwinzon Hernandez and Martín Pérez off their Wild Card Game roster. Righthander Hirokazu Sawamura was also left off the roster, as the Sox added three position players, pinch runner/outfielder Jarren Duran, third catcher Connor Wong, and middle infielder Jonathan Araúz.
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Leading men
Schwarbe became the first Red Sox designated hitter to lead off a postseason game since Juan Beniquez led off all three games of an American League Championship Series sweep of the Oakland A’s in 1975. Schwarber wasn’t the only atypical choice to hit in the top spot. The Yankees installed Schwarber’s former Cubs teammate, Anthony Rizzo, at their top spot of the order. “It’s pretty cool coming full circle playing against a really good friend leading off as well — not your prototypical leadoff hitters, but he’s excited about it, too,” said Rizzo … Former Red Sox second baseman and current NESN analyst Jerry Remy, who is undergoing treatment for lung cancer, threw out the first pitch to longtime teammate and broadcast partner Dennis Eckersley … Koji Uehara, one of the heroes of the 2013 championship team, was back at Fenway for the game. He is analyst for NHK, a Japanese network. “I have the ninth inning,” Uehara said. Uehara, now 46, played in the majors from 2009-17. He returned to Japan to pitch two more seasons before retiring … Former Yankees manager Joe Torre, now a consultant with MLB, was at the game … Game 1 of the ALDS in Tampa will be at 8:07 p.m. on Thursday with Game 2 at 7:02 p.m. on Friday … Television and radio broadcasters have not traveled with teams since the start of the pandemic. Yankees radio play-by-play voice John Sterling took a car service up and back from his home in New Jersey, deciding not to stay overnight. His partner, Newton native Suzyn Waldman, spent two nights in town … Triston Casas was named the Northeast League player of the month for September. The 21-year-old Portland first baseman hit .336 with a 1.397 OPS and 15 RBIs in 12 games. Casas was promoted to Triple A on Sept. 22.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora calls J.D. Martinez’s ankle injury ‘very serious’
By Alex Speier and Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated October 5, 2021, 5:27 p.m.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora described the left ankle injury of J.D. Martinez as “very serious” in discussing why the slugger was not available for Tuesday night’s Wild Card Game against the Yankees.
Although Martinez is not on crutches and there remains hope he’d recover in time to contribute in a best-of-five American League Division Series against the Rays, the extent of the swelling made clear that he could not play Tuesday night, even coming off the bench.
“For him not to post, it’s very serious,” Cora said. “That thing looks huge. Humongous. He’ll get treatment today. We’ll go from there. But for tonight, it was a no.”
Martinez suffered the injury while jogging to his position in right field in the fifth inning on Sunday in Washington. Martinez stepped on the second base bag, slipped, stumbled, and rolled his ankle. He remained in the game for that half-inning before being lifted in favor of José Iglesias.
Without Martinez in the middle of the order, Cora altered his lineup. He moved Kyle Schwarber to the leadoff spot, lowering Kiké Hernández to No. 2 with Rafael Devers batting third and Xander Bogaerts fourth. In so doing, Cora was able to spread out lefthanded hitters Schwarber, Devers, and Alex Verdugo.
“Just needed to split the lefties, Raffy and Alex,” said Cora. “That’s the only way we can create balance in the beginning of the lineup without J.D. Kyle has done it.”
Cora acknowledged the disappointment of having to play a win-or-go-home game without Martinez, but noted both that the Yankees are without some key contributors (including DJ LeMahieu) and that Martinez can contribute in other roles.
“He’ll be the best assistant hitting coach in the world tonight,” said Cora. “The goal is obviously hopefully we can do what we do, play a good baseball game and advance, and see where we’re at for the next round.”
Changing role
Iglesias proved a pivotal addition in the season’s final four weeks. Released by the Angels on Sept. 3, Iglesias signed with the Red Sox on Sept. 6 at a time when their middle infield depth had been decimated by COVID-19 infections. In 23 games, he hit .356/.406/.508 while upgrading the team’s defense, playing a significant role in the Sox securing a playoff berth.
Related: MLB playoffs: See the Red Sox-Rays ALDS schedule
“This kid, what he did the last three weeks, it meant so much for us,” said Cora.
But with the Sox in the Wild Card Game, Iglesias became a spectator with a very good seat. Because he wasn’t in the organization by Aug. 31, he’s ineligible to play in the postseason. His contributions for the playoffs can only come as a cheerleader and source of counsel.
“It’s a sad situation that I can’t contribute physically on the baseball field, but at least I can be on the bench, and I’m grateful for that opportunity just to stick around,” said Iglesias. “[The late signing] was totally out of my control. That was the Angels’ decision, I guess. They did what they did and I did what I did.
“I feel very proud of putting this team in this position today. I’ll just be here to support them any way I can. I couldn’t be happier to be here today. I would love to be at second [base] today, but I’ll be on the bench and my energy will be the same to try to get the guys going.”
Iglesias will be a free agent this winter. He would welcome remaining with the Sox.
“Who doesn’t like to play at Fenway Park?” said Iglesias, who signed with the Red Sox as an amateur in 2009 and spent four years with them before getting traded to the Tigers. “It’s a privilege to represent this organization. I would love to come back.”
No Sale
The Red Sox left Chris Sale off the Wild Card Game roster. Given that he’s still building back from his lengthy rehab from Tommy John surgery, the team didn’t consider him as a relief option just two days removed from his 2⅓-inning start on the final Sunday of the regular season. “It just didn’t make sense for us. For how much we love him and we know he can compete, we know where he’s coming from. You’ve got to be smart, too,” said Cora. “Hopefully he can pitch another game in October.” The team did carry rotation members Eduardo Rodriguez and Nick Pivetta as potential bullpen contributors … Lefthander Josh Taylor, who finished the season on the injured list (lower back), showed enough improvement after working out over the weekend in Boston that the Sox activated him for the Wild Card Game. With Taylor active and Eduardo Rodriguez available in the bullpen, the Sox left southpaws Darwinzon Hernandez and Martín Pérez off their Wild Card Game roster. Righthander Hirokazu Sawamura was also left off the roster, as the Sox added three position players, pinch runner/outfielder Jarren Duran, third catcher Connor Wong, and middle infielder Jonathan Araúz.
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Leading men
Schwarbe became the first Red Sox designated hitter to lead off a postseason game since Juan Beniquez led off all three games of an American League Championship Series sweep of the Oakland A’s in 1975. Schwarber wasn’t the only atypical choice to hit in the top spot. The Yankees installed Schwarber’s former Cubs teammate, Anthony Rizzo, at their top spot of the order. “It’s pretty cool coming full circle playing against a really good friend leading off as well — not your prototypical leadoff hitters, but he’s excited about it, too,” said Rizzo … Former Red Sox second baseman and current NESN analyst Jerry Remy, who is undergoing treatment for lung cancer, threw out the first pitch to longtime teammate and broadcast partner Dennis Eckersley … Koji Uehara, one of the heroes of the 2013 championship team, was back at Fenway for the game. He is analyst for NHK, a Japanese network. “I have the ninth inning,” Uehara said. Uehara, now 46, played in the majors from 2009-17. He returned to Japan to pitch two more seasons before retiring … Former Yankees manager Joe Torre, now a consultant with MLB, was at the game … Game 1 of the ALDS in Tampa will be at 8:07 p.m. on Thursday with Game 2 at 7:02 p.m. on Friday … Television and radio broadcasters have not traveled with teams since the start of the pandemic. Yankees radio play-by-play voice John Sterling took a car service up and back from his home in New Jersey, deciding not to stay overnight. His partner, Newton native Suzyn Waldman, spent two nights in town … Triston Casas was named the Northeast League player of the month for September. The 21-year-old Portland first baseman hit .336 with a 1.397 OPS and 15 RBIs in 12 games. Casas was promoted to Triple A on Sept. 22.