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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 15, 2021 1:58:55 GMT -5
Cora recalls memories, mistakes in Houston October 14th, 2021 Martín Gallegos
Martín Gallegos @martinjgallegos
HOUSTON -- Walking into Minute Maid Park for the American League Championship Series is a familiar scene for Red Sox manager Alex Cora. Just three years ago he was in this very stadium celebrating an AL pennant in what was his first year as Boston’s skipper.
Based on everything that has transpired since then, though, three years seems more like an eternity.
In 2018, Cora’s managerial legacy was booming as he went on to become just the fifth rookie manager in Major League history to win a World Series. Of course, what followed has been well-documented over the past few years. The Astros were found to be involved in a sign-stealing scandal that occurred in 2017. Cora, who was Houston’s bench coach that year, later was suspended for the entirety of the 2020 campaign.
Though Cora has already been back to Houston since all that happened, his mixture of emotions remained upon his arrival to Minute Maid Park for Thursday’s media day in advance of tonight’s ALCS opener.
“It feels weird because I was part of it,” Cora said. “I made a mistake and paid the consequences. I'm still paying the consequences. For me, it’s a little bit hard. But it's what we did. We put ourselves in this situation.
“Like I said, I'm sorry. I made a mistake and I'm living it.”
Re-hired by the Red Sox last November, Cora knew the scrutiny that would follow his return. All he could do is hold himself accountable, which he’s done throughout the season as questions about his involvement in the 2017 ordeal have continuously been fired his way. On the field, he’s continued to win.
The Red Sox are once again firing on all cylinders under Cora’s guidance, now just four wins away from another trip to the World Series. Much of that success can be attributed to his masterful strategizing, particularly in the playoffs. Entering Friday’s game, Cora’s 15-4 postseason record is the top winning percentage (.789) of any manager with at least 15 postseason contests under their belt.
“I still have the passion of the game,” Cora said. “I learned a lot the last 24 months about me and my family and the people that surround me. They've been amazing. They've been there on the ups and the downs, and I appreciate that. It wasn't easy coming in, obviously, but I love this game.
“I know that on a daily basis I'm going to give my best, and I'm still enjoying it regardless of how it looks. It's been a roller coaster on the field and off the field this season, but we are where we are. We're right there.”
Getting back to the Fall Classic would be quite the redemption story for Cora. But standing in his way is a supremely talented Astros club full of players with whom he still shares a close bond, none stronger than his connection to fellow countryman Carlos Correa.
The origin of the relationship between Cora and Correa predates their time with Houston in 2017. In fact, it goes back over a decade to when Correa was still a teenager at Puerto Rico Baseball Academy in Gurabo, Puerto Rico.
“He’s like a father to me,” Correa said of Cora. “More than a friend. He’s taught me a lot about this game.
Asked what has impressed him about Cora over the years, Correa said, “Just the information. Knowledge is power in this game. If you give your players the right information and what to look for, they’re going to go out there and perform. That’s what he does very well.”
For Cora, watching Correa brings him a great deal of pride. On Thursday morning, he texted Correa’s father, Carlos Sr., with praise for the player his son has grown into.
“This is what we envisioned [for him] a few years ago,” Cora said. “The leader. There's a lot of conviction behind him. He is very firm on what he believes, and he is a great player. You don’t go first overall in the Draft because you’re lucky. It’s because you're good and people expect you to be great, and that's what he is. He is a great player."
Of course, those compliments will be thrown out the window come Friday night. That line of communication will come to an end, at least temporarily.
“We’re gonna keep our distance for a little bit and focus on this series,” Correa said. “After that, we’ll talk again.”
“In about 12 hours, it's over,” Cora said. “We disconnect. I love the fact that they're performing. But this is business.”
It’s clear that Cora is having fun again. He can’t change anything about the past. All he can do is look to the future as he pushes toward building his legacy. It continues with this ALCS, with a Red Sox group in which he maintains a great deal of confidence.
“I'm enjoying this,” Cora said. “I am enjoying the group. I think we are clicking at the right time. Those guys are having a blast. This is what it's all about.
“There's going to be four teams for a chance to play in the World Series. It doesn't matter how you get here. It's just a matter of what you do from here on, and we're prepared for it.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 15, 2021 2:00:17 GMT -5
Sale to start ALCS Game 1, Eovaldi G2 October 14th, 2021 Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
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HOUSTON – Red Sox manager Alex Cora continues to be a box full of surprises in October.
Instead of calling on Nathan Eovaldi, Boston’s best starter this season, to take the ball in tonight’s Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Astros, Cora is instead giving the nod to Chris Sale.
This, despite the fact that Sale totaled just 10 outs over his last two starts.
Eovaldi will start Game 2 on Saturday. The flame-throwing righty would have been on the standard four days of rest in Game 1.
Why did Cora go in this direction?
“Just the whole series. It's a [best-of-seven] series,” Cora said. “You have to win four. Everybody has to be part of this. We feel comfortable with Chris with the rest that he got. And, obviously, giving Nate one more day is going to benefit.”
Because this will be the first game that the Red Sox have played since Monday, they will have a fully rested bullpen behind Sale.
Eovaldi is a safer bet to go deeper into Game 2 on Saturday, when the bullpen likely won’t be as rested.
In any other season this alignment wouldn’t have been a surprise, given that Sale -- a seven-time All-Star -- is the most accomplished pitcher in this series and one of the best in MLB over the last decade.
But in this case it is for two reasons.
The first is that Sale has made just 10 starts (including the postseason) in his return from Tommy John surgery, pitching to a 4.02 ERA.
The other is that Sale’s last two outings -- Game No. 162 against the Nationals and Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Rays -- were his two worst of the season.
Sale, who has worked relentlessly behind the scenes in recent days to get himself back on track, appreciates the vote of confidence from his manager.
“It says a lot about him and his trust in me,” Sale said. “I appreciate that. I don't take that lightly.”
True to form, Sale was blunt about his last two starts, in which the Red Sox overcame a 5-1 deficit in the regular-season finale and a 5-2 hole after his abrupt departure (one inning, five runs) in Game 2 of the ALDS.
“You know, there's no hiding from it, I’ve been absolutely horrible,” Sale said. “Probably my two worst starts of my career back to back leading up to this.”
Instead of sulking about the way things have went for him, Sale has done everything in his power -- with the help of Boston's coaches and training staff -- to regain his groove.
“You know, I know what I had to do in between. I know I had a job to do, and I knew I had work to get in,” added Sale. “Following my last start in Tampa, I got off the mound every single day because I knew I had to get something going if we were going to be successful, and I know that I'm going to be a part of that. Trying to iron out some kinks and get back in a good rhythm and find it and just ride it out as long as I can.”
Sale identified two key issues that he’s been working on.
“Changeup and just fastball command are the two things,” Sale said. “My slider has been good enough, I would say up to this point. The two things I really needed to focus on was fastball command and just -- like I said last time -- consistency with my changeup. Throwing three out of 10 good is not cutting it here, and that was something that I really tried to focus on and sharpen over the last few days.”
Though Sale is never one to make excuses, he acknowledges that his return from Tommy John surgery has presented him with challenges that he’s never faced before.
“You can't run a marathon without running a marathon. You can't just wake up one day and say, 'You know what, I'm just going to run 26 miles,' and then do it and think you're going to be successful at that,” Sale said. “You have to practice that, and you have to just day in and day out just relentlessly, tirelessly work on that, and over the last week I've had enough time to do that, and we'll see what we get tomorrow, but I like where we're at.”
Cora finds it easy to envision a rebound start from his power lefty.
“It's Chris Sale,” Cora said. “At one point he had to pitch in this series, and we're very comfortable with him going [Friday]. I don't expect him to come out in the first inning. I expect him to go out there and pitch a good game and give us a chance to win.”
There will be no lack of confidence in the dugout or clubhouse with Sale opening up the series for the Red Sox.
“If you told me [that] Chris Sale was pitching in the ALCS first game, I think there wouldn't be a manager or team out there that wouldn't feel confident with him going out there,” slugger J.D. Martinez said. “I mean, yeah, he has had some struggles. You know, he has kind of got thrown back into things due to his injury. The last couple of months he has been thrown into it, into a pennant race, so it's been a lot of a task for him. But it's Chris, you know?”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 15, 2021 2:03:31 GMT -5
Red Sox-Astros Game 1 FAQ (8 ET, FOX) October 14th, 2021 Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne Brian McTaggart
Brian McTaggart @brianmctaggart
Should they just start calling the American League Championship Series the Houston Astros invitational? Remarkably, this is the fifth straight ALCS trip for the Astros, who will be facing a Red Sox team that is in this round for the seventh time in the last 19 seasons. This best-of-seven series will open tonight at Minute Maid Park.
It will be another reunion between Red Sox manager Alex Cora and the Astros. Cora was Houston’s bench coach during their 2017 World Series-winning season. Of course, that title has come under heavy scrutiny for the sign-stealing scandal that Cora was found to be a central part of, leading to his suspension from MLB for the 2020 season. Yes, that will get talked about a lot in the coming days, and Cora will continue to say all the right things, as he has all along.
“I texted him yesterday when he won, and he texted me right away [after Game 4],” Astros shortstop Carlos Correa said of Cora. “When I got to my locker, I had a text message. He told me yesterday, ‘See you soon,’ and I said, ‘Yes, sir.’ Right now, I told him ‘See you soon.’”
And then the games will start and the focus will shift to where it should be -- on the field, where two battle-tested teams will square off for a chance to compete in the Fall Classic. Houston has a high-powered offense that scored 863 runs during the regular season. However, the Sox can also swing the bats, as they compiled 829 runs and got hot against the Rays in the ALDS. Both teams have had issues in the bullpen. Houston has a better overall pitching staff, as evidenced by a 3.78 season ERA -- compared to 4.26 for Boston.
Both teams took out their opponents in four games in the ALDS. The Astros did so in much more convincing fashion, outscoring the White Sox, 31-18, while Boston edged out Tampa Bay, 26-20. This is the rubber match between these two squads in October. The Astros defeated the Red Sox in four games in the ‘17 Division Series. The Sox returned the favor by downing the Astros in five games in the ‘18 ALCS.
When is the game and how can I watch it? The game will air in primetime on FOX at 8 p.m. ET/7 CT on Friday. It is also available to stream on MLB.TV with authentication.
What might the starting lineups look like? Red Sox: The Red Sox have picked the right time of year to be taking some of their best at-bats of the season. Not only are the Sox hitting with power, but they are also doing a good job with situational hitting. With a lefty on the hill for the Astros in Game 1, there's a chance Bobby Dalbec will get the start at first base. This would make Alex Verdugo -- who crushes righties -- a late-game weapon off the bench. In this scenario, Kyle Schwarber would start in left field; J.D. Martinez probably isn’t an option there given his balky left ankle.
1. Kyle Schwarber, LF 2. Kiké Hernández, CF 3. Xander Bogaerts, SS 4. Rafael Devers, 3B 5. J.D. Martinez, DH 6. Hunter Renfroe, RF 7. Bobby Dalbec, 1B 8. Kevin Plawecki, C 9. Christian Arroyo, 2B
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Astros: The Astros averaged 7.8 runs per game in the ALDS with pretty much the same lineup, though the status of rookie center fielder Jake Meyers is in doubt after he banged his shoulder into the wall in Game 4 of the ALDS. Even so, Chas McCormick is a solid replacement:
1. Jose Altuve, 2B 2. Michael Brantley, LF 3. Alex Bregman, 3B 4. Yordan Alvarez, DH 5. Carlos Correa, SS 6. Yuli Gurriel, 1B 7. Kyle Tucker, RF 8. Chas McCormick, CF 9. Martín Maldonado, C
Who are the starting pitchers? Red Sox: The expectation was that Cora would start Nathan Eovaldi, his best starting pitcher this season, in Game 1. But in a surprise decision, Cora tabbed struggling lefty Chris Sale (5-1, 3.16 ERA in the regular season) to open the series with Eovaldi going in Game 2. Due to recent adjustments Sale has made to improve his changeup and fastball command, the Red Sox expect a resurgence from the left-hander. This, even though Sale has recorded just 10 outs over his past two starts, lasting only one inning in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Rays.
One reason Cora likes Sale in Game 1 is that the Red Sox will have a fully-rested bullpen due to getting three days off between the ALDS and the ALCS. Sale is 5-5 with a 3.08 ERA lifetime against the Astros, including the postseason.
Astros: Left-hander Framber Valdez (11-6, 3.14 ERA), who would have started Game 4 for the Astros had Game 3 not been rained out, will get the ball in Game 1 instead. Valdez is better against right-handers (.626 opposing OPS) than he was against left-handers (.717), thanks to one of the best curveballs in the league. The key will be controlling walks; he averaged 3.88 walks per nine innings. Sidelined for the first two months of the season because of a broken finger suffered in Spring Training, he threw 134 2/3 innings, allowing 110 hits (12 homers) and 58 walks with 125 strikeouts.
How will the bullpens line up after the starter? Red Sox: As veteran Cora watchers know, it’s best not to predict what he will do with his bullpen in postseason games. Anything goes with Cora, including the liberal use of starting pitchers as “rovers.” Nick Pivetta seems to be the rover of choice this October, but there’s a chance the righty could move back into the rotation. Rookie Rule 5 Draft pick Garrett Whitlock is Cora’s most trusted reliever, and he will likely get most of his work in the eighth or ninth inning. Tanner Houck, the electric 25-year-old righty, can give dominant bulk performances, such as when he fired five strong innings in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Rays.
For the Red Sox, the beauty of beating the Rays in four games instead of five was the chance to reset a ‘pen that has been asked to do a lot lately. Ryan Brasier, Hansel Robles, Whitlock and Houck are four pitchers in particular who will benefit from three days without a game.
Astros: Astros relievers threw 17 1/3 innings in four games of the ALDS, which was one out shy of the workload of the starters (17 2/3). All in all, they’re in really good shape despite that heavy workload, especially with two days off between the ALDS and ALCS. Yimi García and Phil Maton giving them quality innings in Game 4 was a huge development, and Ryne Stanek, Kendall Graveman and Ryan Pressly at the back end were nails. The big question will be how they cover potentially even more innings in a longer ALCS, especially if Lance McCullers Jr. isn’t able to start. That means Cristian Javier or Zack Greinke could move back into the rotation, but they’re not stretched out to pitch deep into games.
Are there any relievers who are unavailable?
Astros: None.
Any injuries of note? Red Sox: Righty Garrett Richards was taken off the roster in the Division Series when he strained his left hamstring, which makes him ineligible for this series. Star third baseman Rafael Devers is dealing with discomfort in his right forearm that is exacerbated when he swings and misses at high fastballs. When pitchers miss low, he’s been making them pay. Go back and look at his three-run bomb in Game 4 of the ALDS for proof. Martinez hasn’t been running at close to 100 percent since he sprained his left ankle tripping over second base in the final game of the regular season, but the Red Sox generally don’t rely on the big slugger for his legs.
Astros: Meyers banged his shoulder into the wall in Chicago in Game 4 and had to be removed from the game, so his status for the series is up in the air. If he can’t play, McCormick will be the starter in center. McCullers left his start in Game 4 of the ALDS after only four innings with tightness in his arm. His status remains up in the air, too.
Who is hot and who is not? Red Sox : The Astros can only hope that the three days off for the Red Sox will cool off Hernández, who hammered Rays pitching in the ALDS, going 9-for-20 with three doubles and two homers. Schwarber loves the October spotlight and is 6-for-19 with two homers and a 1.041 OPS during Boston’s current run. Dalbec has been prone to streaks in both directions and he’s in one of his cold runs right now, with an 0-for-10 mark so far this postseason.
Astros: Brantley has a 15-game postseason hitting streak, which ties for the longest active streak among active players (Alcides Escobar has a 15-game run, all from 2015). Altuve (.313), Correa (.385, four RBIs), Tucker (5-for-17, two homers, seven RBIs), Alvarez (3-for-11) and Bregman (6-for-16) each swung the bat well in the ALDS, while Gurriel went 3-for-17 in the ALDS, including two hits in Game 4, and Maldonado went 1-for-15.
Anything else fans might want to know? • The Astros dominated this matchup during the regular season, taking five of seven games from the Red Sox while winning the scoring battle, 42-25.
• In the 2018 ALCS, the sides split the first two games and Boston stunningly won all three games in Houston to advance to the World Series
• The Astros are the third team to reach the LCS in five consecutive seasons, joining the Braves (’95-’99) and A’s (’71-’75).
• Cora has a 15-4 postseason record and his .789 winning percentage is the best in history for any manager with a minimum of 15 playoff games.
• For venerable Astros skipper Dusty Baker, this is his fourth trip to the LCS. He is looking for his second pennant and his first trip to the World Series since ‘02.
• Hernández was selected by the Astros in the sixth round (191st overall) of the 2009 MLB Draft. He appeared in 24 games with the Astros in 2014 before being dealt to the Marlins. Did you like this story?
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 15, 2021 2:07:38 GMT -5
A reunion series with Houston puts all of Alex Cora’s cards on the table for inspection By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated October 14, 2021, 8:49 p.m.
HOUSTON — The shadow of 2017 has nothing to do with the 2021 American League Championship Series between the Red Sox and Astros, yet it is the prism through which everything will be viewed. For Alex Cora, that reality is both undeniable and uncomfortable, but ultimately unimportant.
Cora sat in the interview room spotlight prior to the Red Sox off-day workout at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, the same venue he called home as Astros bench coach en route to a title in 2017. He spoke of the close bond he still shares with Carlos Correa, Yuli Gurriel, and other Astros players who were part of that championship team.
Some of the best moments of Cora’s career happened at Minute Maid, including the champagne celebration in October 2018 after the Red Sox — in Cora’s first year as Boston manager — swept three road games in Houston to advance to the World Series.
Yet those memories are intermingled with regret for the actions that led to his suspension for the entirety of the 2020 season. And whenever Cora sees crowds (including those in Boston) taunting the Astros for their misdeeds, he recognizes that the judgment falls upon not just Correa, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Gurriel, but also him.
The ALCS against his former team brings all of that to the surface.
“I’m sorry. I made a mistake, and I’m living it. It’s uncomfortable because I know that when they get booed or [fans] scream at them, I was there. I was part of that,” Cora said. “I made a mistake and paid the consequences. I’m still paying the consequences. . . . People obviously don’t like them because of what we did in 2017, so that [booing of the Astros] for me is a little bit hard. But it’s what we did. We put ourselves in this situation.
“And for those that think it’s in the past, no. We live it every day. We live it every day. I live it every day. I mean, we made a mistake and we’re paying the price,” he continued. “I live it — not as loud as they get it, but I get it on the road all the time. It’s weird because I was part of it, but like I said, I’ve been addressing this the whole season. I haven’t hidden. I’m here.”
Indeed he is. And Cora’s presence in the ALCS in Houston not only serves as a reminder of the scandal four years ago, but also of his role in helping pull the Sox from their last-place embarrassment of a year ago.
The Red Sox were expected to be a respectable team, but not necessarily a contender this year. Yet any time it seemed they would lapse into also-ran status, they stubbornly pushed forward, finding reserves to continue on a postseason path.
With the season on the line in a season-ending three-game series in Washington, then in a Wild Card Game against the Yankees, and then in the ALDS against the Rays, the team kept conjuring new ways to win. Players credited Cora with his creative, shifting use of the roster to continue to find the right combinations that allowed the team to emerge as one of the last four standing in the playoffs. Related: Chris Sale will start for Red Sox in Game 1 of ALCS, Nate Eovaldi in Game 2
As much as Cora has apologized and continues to acknowledge his past wrongdoing, his managerial moves remain bold. He pulled starters Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez in the first three innings against Tampa when they struggled. He stuck with Nick Pivetta and Tanner Houck beyond any scripted relief limits. He adapted both his lineup (inserting Kyle Schwarber as a leadoff hitter for the postseason) and bullpen on the fly. And now, as the Sox prepare to start the ALCS against the Astros, Cora made the surprising decision to commit to the recently struggling Sale as his Game 1 starter.
The manager’s maneuvers have worked thus far at the most critical stage of the year, and have emboldened Cora’s team.
“We’ve been up against a pretty tall order the entire year, in terms of people not thinking we were who we thought we were,” said Chris Sale. “Everything that we’ve done this entire year has been incredible because of the work, because of the drive, because of our mentality, you know, and I think A.C. has a lot to do with that. I think that he is an unbelievable leader.
“He just makes you feel a certain way, and he gives you a certain confidence going into games. Good, bad, or indifferent, it doesn’t matter who we’re facing, if we’re up 10, down 10, his steadiness is felt throughout the entire team and throughout the entire organization. All those things combined make for something pretty special, and that’s why we’re here.”
The Red Sox are on a stage in which Cora will command immense visibility. He would prefer that the conversation center around the dazzling talents on both teams, or about the baseball decisions being made by him and Houston counterpart Dusty Baker, but he understands his place in a meeting of the Red Sox and Astros in October with a World Series berth on the line.
“Hopefully, hopefully, people will talk about the players and what they do and the talent that is on the field,” said Cora. “[But] I can handle this. I’ve been doing it for 12 months or a year and a half. I’ve been able to deal with this.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 15, 2021 2:10:28 GMT -5
The Red Sox may be taking a calculated risk, but starting Chris Sale in Game 1 could be pure genius By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated October 14, 2021, 8:59 p.m.
HOUSTON — The ALCS starts on Friday night. But Alex Cora threw the first curveball on Thursday afternoon and it caught everybody looking.
“Chris is starting Game 1. Nate is starting Game 2,” he said.
That would be Chris Sale, who has pitched twice in the last 16 days and given up seven earned runs over 3⅓ innings in those games.
With ace Nate Eovaldi rested and ready, the Sox are going with the starter who is their biggest question mark.
“I’ve been absolutely horrible. Probably my two worst starts of my career back-to-back leading up to this,” Sale said.
He’s not exaggerating. Until a few days ago, when he started looking better during side sessions, it was reasonable to think Sale should be left off the roster for this round or used only in relief.
Instead he’s starting Game 1.
“Everybody has to be part of this. We feel comfortable with Chris with the rest that he got,” Cora said.
That’s just it, everybody doesn’t have to have a role. The postseason is a time to push contracts, egos, and lineage aside and use the best players available. It doesn’t matter who Sale once was. It matters who he is now.
The Sox are taking a big risk.
But it might be genius. I kind of like it. Related: Speier: A reunion series with Houston puts all of Alex Cora’s cards on the table for inspection
The Sox haven’t played since Monday. If Sale looks shaky in the first inning, Cora has a full complement of relievers to choose from. Three starters — Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta, and Eduardo Rodriguez — will be available.
“Obviously, we are going to be aggressive,” Cora said.
The upside is that this is Chris Sale they’re taking a chance on. He’s a seven-time All-Star and one of the nastiest pitchers of his generation.
He’s also embarrassed by how he’s pitched the last three weeks.
You’ve probably watched some of Sale’s postgame press conferences over the years. His personality is not to cover up when he’s backed into a corner. It’s to come out fighting.
Sale has taken baby steps since returning from Tommy John surgery in August. Only once in nine regular-season starts did he reach six innings and 90 pitches. The Sox were careful to give him extra days and line him up to face weak teams as often as possible.
It worked for a while before Sale stumbled. Now Cora is demonstrating his trust in Sale, both the pitcher and the person.
“I don’t take that lightly,” Sale said. “I know what I had to do in-between. I knew I had a job to do, and I knew I had work to get in.
“Following my last start in Tampa, I got off the mound every single day because I knew I had to get something going if we were going to be successful, and I know that I’m going to be a part of that.”
Sale abandoned his changeup in his last two starts, relying only on his fastball and slider. He’ll need a third pitch against an Astros lineup that scored 31 runs in four games against the White Sox to advance.
Did he find his changeup since he last took the mound?
“My slider has been good enough I would say up to this point. The two things I really needed to focus on was fastball command and consistency with my changeup,” he said.
“Throwing three out of 10 good is not cutting it here, and that was something that I really tried to focus on and sharpen over the last few days.”
This is not a gimmick to get Houston to remake its lineup for a lefty then spring Houck or Pivetta on them.
“No, we’re not doing the opener thing,” Cora said.
It’s not blind faith, either. The Sox have been breaking down Sale’s mechanics and believe they’ve corrected a flaw that affected his balance and direction toward the plate.
They were encouraged enough by a recent bullpen session to bring Sale back into the rotation. Of course that’s a lot easier knowing Eovaldi starts Game 2.
So Sale gets another chance, one he’s hungry for.
“You can’t run a marathon without running a marathon. You can’t just wake up one day and say, you know what, I’m just going to run 26 miles and then do it and think you’re going to be successful at that,” he said.
“You have to practice that, and you have to just day in and day out just relentlessly, tirelessly work on that. Over the last week I’ve had enough time to do that, and we’ll see what we get tomorrow, but I like where we’re at.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 15, 2021 2:12:31 GMT -5
alcs Chris Sale will start for Red Sox in Game 1 of ALCS, Nate Eovaldi in Game 2 By Michael Silverman Globe Staff,Updated October 14, 2021, 5:27 p.m.
HOUSTON — Both the Red Sox and Astros delivered surprising news Thursday about who’s in and who’s out for the first two starts of their AL Championship Series.
Chris Sale, who’s been “absolutely horrible” by his own admission, will get the nod for the Red Sox in Game 1. Nate Eovaldi, who’s been the opposite this postseason, will start Game 2.
The Astros, meanwhile, announced that their best starter, Lance McCullers, will miss at least the first two games and very well could miss the entire series pending results of an MRI of his right forearm. That development meant the Red Sox lineup will face lefty curveball specialist Framber Valdez in Game 1, and righthander Luis Garcia Saturday afternoon in Game 2.
Eovaldi’s name was expected, having been the staff ace most of the season and excelling to date in the playoffs. Eovaldi allowed just one run in 5⅓ innings in the Wild Card Game victory over the Yankees, then he stabilized the rotation and bullpen in the Division Series by holding the Rays to only two runs over five innings in Game 3.
In Eovaldi’s 32⅔ innings and eight career postseason appearances, he has a 1.93 ERA.
There was suspense over who would get the other start, given the poor efforts from Eduardo Rodriguez and Sale in the first two games against Tampa. Sale’s one-inning, five-run start was worrisome enough to turn an ace still recovering from Tommy John surgery into a dark horse for the Game 1 or possibly any game in this series.
For manager Alex Cora, the decision came down to bullpen usage, Sale’s recent improvements in his side work, and his overall track record.
”We feel comfortable with Chris with the rest that he got, and obviously giving Nate one more day is going to benefit,” said Cora. “It’s Chris Sale. At one point he had to pitch in this series, and we’re very comfortable with him going [Friday]. I think the structure of the series and the structure of our bullpen [Friday] is going to be, we’re going to be aggressive regardless. I don’t expect him to come out in the first inning.”
Ever the cagey skipper, Cora said “we’re not doing the opener thing” with his starter, then clarified to say “I mean, we’re not doing it [Friday].”
In eight postseason appearances, five as a starter, Sale has a 7.27 ERA in 26 innings. In the Red Sox’ 2017 ALCS loss, the Astros pounded Sale for seven runs in five innings in Game 1 at Houston, then for two runs over 4⅔ innings in Game 4 at Fenway. Sale improved some against the Astros in 2018, allowing two runs on one hit and four walks in four innings.
Given the sterling performances of long relievers Nick Pivetta and Tanner Houck against the Rays, Cora has faith the Red Sox will be covered in case of any subpar efforts from any starter.
”Knowing that we have Tanner and we have Garrett [Richards] and we have Nick and we have Eduardo and these guys who — you know, Martín [Perez] — they can give us multiple innings. And it’s not just multiple innings. It’s quality innings and good matchups for us.” Related: ALCS: See the Red Sox-Astros schedule
(Richards, it should be noted, is not eligible for the series after having been removed from the Division Series roster due to a strained hamstring. He did play catch during the workout, and could return for the World Series should the Red Sox get there.)
Said Sale about Houck and Pivetta: “I don’t think that we can give those guys enough credit, honestly.”
Astros manager Dusty Baker did not sound as if Cora’s aggressive use of his bullpen in the postseason will influence his own decisions.
”If I was as concerned about what he is doing, then that would make me a counter-puncher versus a puncher, do you know what I mean?” said Baker. “I’m more worried about getting the max out of my team than I am what they’re doing over there.” Changes to the mix?
Lefthander Darwinzon Hernandez, left off the Wild Card Game and Division Series rosters, is in the mix for making the ALCS squad.
”[The Astros’ hitters’] platoon splits, they’re not too different — their lefties hit lefties, and the righties, they hit everybody,” said Cora.
Hernandez was equally effective against righties (.202 against) and lefties (.204) this season.
The availability of Astros outfielder Jake Meyers, at least for Game 1, is up in the air. Meyers hurt his left shoulder on a catch during the Division Series. Potential Hall of Famer Zack Greinke is not stretched out enough to be considered for a start, but is in the reliever mix, Baker said.
The 26-man lineups for both teams need to be submitted by 11 a.m. ET. On the mend
One other element of drama was resolved Thursday: J.D. Martinez and his sprained left ankle will be active for the series. ”It’s doing a lot better, the swelling has gone down a lot — I mean, night and day from what it was,” said Martinez, who hurt himself stepping on second base while jogging to the outfield in the final game of the regular season. “It obviously still hurts. You know, certain things, certain movements still bother it, but it’s a lot better than it was yesterday and the day before and the day before.” Martinez won’t be surprised or disappointed if he hits sixth, like he did in the last three games of the Division Series, rather than his customary third or fifth spot. ”Honestly, I think it’s better, I think being able to split righty, lefty, righty, lefty. Especially with Tampa and the team with Houston, a very analytic team, they’re going to be looking for the best matchups constantly. And I think they’re going to have to choose at some point if they want a righty to face [Alex] Verdugo or a lefty to face either me or Bogey [Xander Bogaerts], you know what I mean? They’ve got to bite the bullet somewhere” . . . First pitch for Game 2 is scheduled for 4:20 p.m. ET; the roof at Minute Maid Park will be closed, as it will be for Friday’s Game 1. For Game 3 at Fenway on Monday, first pitch is scheduled for 8:07 p.m.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 15, 2021 2:24:00 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox’s Chris Sale felt ‘lesser than dirt’ after ALDS start vs. Rays, has worked on changeup, fastball command Updated: Oct. 14, 2021, 8:04 p.m. | Published: Oct. 14, 2021, 7:52 p.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
HOUSTON — Red Sox ace Chris Sale lasted just one inning in his Game 2 ALDS start vs. the Rays last Friday. He allowed a grand slam to Jordan Luplow and the Red Sox fell behind 5-2 in the first inning.
“You feel lesser than dirt — or I do, anyways — after that last start of mine in Tampa,” Sale said Thursday. “I put a lot of pressure on myself, and for my teammates to come and say, ‘Hey, man, you’re good. You’re the same guy. Keep grinding,’ that says a lot about who I have in my corner and the teammates I have. And I’m appreciative of that.”
Sale will start Game 1 of the American League Championship Series vs. the Astros on Friday. First pitch is at 8:07 p.m., eastern, here at Minute Maid Park.
Sale, who returned in August from Tommy John surgery rehab, lasted just 2 ⅓ innings in his final regular season start at Washington. He gave up two runs, four hits and three walks.
He allowed five runs on four hits, including Ludlow’s grand slam, in the one inning he pitched against the Rays in the ALDS.
“There’s no hiding from it, no secret,” Sale said. “I’ve been absolutely horrible. Probably my two worst starts of my career back-to-back leading up to this. I know what I had to do in between. I know I had a job to do. And I knew I had work to get in. Following my last start in Tampa, I got off the mound every single day because I knew I had to get something going if we were going to be successful. And I know that I’m going to be a part of that. Trying to iron out some kinks and get back in a good rhythm and find it and just ride it out as long as I can.”
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Sale corrected some things mechanically that manager Alex Cora said will help him be more balanced and direct to the plate.
“Changeup and just fastball command are the two things that I was really (working on),” Sale said. “My slider has been good enough, you know, I would say up to this point. The two things I really needed to focus on was fastball command and just, like I said last time, (more) consistency with my changeup. Throwing three out of 10 good (ones) is not cutting it here. And that was something that I really tried to focus on and sharpen over the last few days.”
Sale has lacked a third pitch, especially against righties. The opposition went 18-for-40 (.450 batting average) with two homers and two doubles against Sale’s changeup in the regular season.
The lefty uses the changeup primarily against right-handed hitters. He threw 152 changeups (143 to righties and nine to left-handed batters).
Sale posted a 2.90 ERA in his first eight starts this year before the game against Washington. He said there’s nothing wrong with him physically and he didn’t hit a wall.
“No, it was just one of those things. It kind of got out of whack,” he said. “I’m not one for excuses, but I had two years off. You know, I didn’t do much pitching. I did zero pitching actually. So I needed repetitions. Any time you want to be good at something or any time you want to be consistent at something you need reps. You just have to do it.
“You can’t run a marathon without running a marathon,” Sale added. “You can’t just wake up one day and say, ‘You know what, I’m just going to run 26 miles and then do it and think you’re going to be successful at that.’ You have to practice that, and you have to just day in and day out just relentlessly, tirelessly work on that. And over the last week I’ve had enough time to do that, and we’ll see what we get tomorrow, but I like where we’re at.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 15, 2021 2:25:18 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox notebook: ALCS roster close to being finalized, J.D. Martinez’s ankle ‘doing a lot better;’ game times released for Games 2 &3 Updated: Oct. 14, 2021, 8:33 p.m. | Published: Oct. 14, 2021, 8:33 p.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
HOUSTON -- The Red Sox are close to finalizing their 26-man roster for the ALCS against the Astros, and there might be some changes from the group that took the field against the Rays in the ALDS.
Manager Alex Cora said the club’s coaching staff was working to finalize the roster Thursday night ahead of Friday’s 10 a.m. deadline. As of Thursday afternoon, the coaches had yet to inform players.
“There are some decisions that are based on who they are and what they do,” Cora said. “Their platoon splits, they’re not too different. Their lefties hit lefties, and the righties, they hit everybody. We’re getting close to making a decision. We’re getting close to get our 26-man roster.”
Any major changes from the ALDS roster are likely to come in the bullpen. Matt Barnes’ spot could be in jeopardy, with Hirokazu Sawamura as a possible replacement. The Sox carried three lefties in their bullpen (Austin Davis, Martín Pérez and Josh Taylor) against the Rays but could switch up that group against Houston. Darwinzon Hernandez is a candidate to make the team.
Positionally, the Red Sox could opt to carry Jarren Duran over Danny Santana as a pinch-running option. Duran, along with a few other players who weren’t active for the ALDS, is with the club in Houston.
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Martinez says ankle improving
Designated hitter J.D. Martinez said his left ankle has improved significantly in the last few days. Martinez missed the AL Wild Card Game and Game 1 of the ALDS with a serious sprain after injuring himself tripping over second base on the last day of the season.
“It’s doing a lot better. The swelling has gone down a lot,” Martinez said. “I mean, night and day from what it was. It obviously still hurts. You know, certain things, certain movements still bother it, but it’s a lot better than it was yesterday and the day before and the day before. So since the first day I started playing, it’s a lot better, and that’s all you can ask for.”
Martinez’s ailment didn’t seem to bother him much against the Rays, as he hit .467 (7-for-15) with a homer, four RBIs and a 1.200 OPS in the final three games of the series.
Cora will remain aggressive with “rovers”
The ALDS meant the return of the “rover” -- the idea of starters pitching in relief roles on days they aren’t pitching. Unsurprisingly, Cora plans to use his starters similarly against Houston, with Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta and Eduardo Rodrogiez among those available in relief for the first two games of the season.
“I always said that you play today and tomorrow might rain,” Cora said. “If it rains here, it doesn’t matter. We have a roof. You try to win the game that you play today, and then after that you make adjustments, but knowing that we have Tanner and we have Garrett (Whitlock) and we have Nick, and we have Eduardo... they can give us multiple innings. And it’s not just multiple innings. It’s quality innings and good matchups for us.
“So that’s the way we do it,” Cora continued. “That’s the way we feel about it. I know there’s other organizations that they don’t agree with it, but at the end of the day, you don’t get too many chances to win the World Series, right, or get to this point, so I think you have to maximize your opportunity, and that’s what we try to do.”
Cora addresses sign-stealing -- again
The Sox-Astros ALCS means Cora once again returns to Houston, where he was the Astros’ bench coach -- and a key player in the club’s sign-stealing scandal -- back in 2017. The manager doesn’t want his wrongdoing to be a storyline during the series.
“Hopefully, people will talk about the players and what they do and the talent that is on the field. I can handle this,” he said. “I’ve been doing it for, what, 12 months or a year and a half. I’ve been able to deal with this. Like I said, you know, I’m sorry. I made a mistake, you know, and I’m living it.
Like he said in late May and early June, when the Red Sox and Astros faced off during the regular season, Cora said it makes him uncomfortable to see Astros players booed by opposing fans because he was part of the team’s scheme four years ago.
“If you get booed because you are a great player, yeah, I understand that,” he said. “But certain people obviously they don’t like them because of what we did in 2017, so that part, you know, for me is a little bit hard, but, you know, it’s what we did. We put ourselves in this situation.
“And for those that think it’s in the past, no, we live it every day,” he said. “We live it every day. I live it every day. I mean, we made a mistake, and we’re paying the price. For the fans to let them know how they feel, I understand. I live it, you know. Not as loud as they get it, but I get it on the road all the time. It’s weird, right, because I was part of it, but like I said, I’ve been addressing this the whole season. I haven’t hidden. I’m here. I’ve been talking about it.”
Game times announced
MLB had already announced that Game 1 would be held Friday night at 8:07 p.m. ET. On Thursday, the league released the game times for Games 2 and 3.
Game 2 will be a matinee, starting at 3:07 p.m. ET Saturday afternoon at Minute Maid Park. The teams will be off Sunday before the series goes to Fenway Park on Monday; first pitch of Game 3 is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. ET.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 15, 2021 2:31:03 GMT -5
ALCS Game #1 Red Sox @ Astros Friday, 15th October 2021 8pm @ Minute Maid Park
Sale 5-1/3.16
Valdez 11-6/3.14
Red Sox-Astros ALCS about more than Alex Cora connection
Alex Cora serves as the all-too-convenient tie that binds the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros as the teams head into Game 1 of the American League Championship Series on Friday in Houston.
Cora, after all, was the Astros' bench coach for their World Series title-winning team in 2017 and the Red Sox' manager during their championship-winning season the following year. His involvement in the cheating scandal has been rehashed ad nauseam, and to his credit, he hasn't shied away from it.
OK, can we move on? Because there is much more to discuss entering this best-of-seven series.
Cora, on Thursday, raised a few eyebrows in tabbing Chris Sale (0-0, 45.00 ERA) as the starter for Game 1 against Houston's Framber Valdez (0-0, 8.31) in a battle of left-handers.
Sale, 32, was shelled last Friday, allowing five runs on four hits in one inning of a no-decision against Tampa Bay. Boston responded by winning that contest on its way to dispatching the Rays in four games during the AL Division Series.
Despite Sale's struggles, Cora expressed confidence in the hurler heading into the series opener.
"Everybody has to be part of this. We feel comfortable with Chris, with the rest he got," Cora said of Sale, who posted a 5-1 record with a 3.16 ERA in nine starts this season.
Sale missed both series in June versus Houston as he worked his way back from Tommy John surgery. He is 5-3 with a 2.20 ERA in nine career starts against the Astros.
Cora also noted right-hander starter Nathan Eovaldi will benefit from receiving an extra day of rest before starting Game 2 on Saturday.
Speaking of extra rest, Red Sox outfielder and DH J.D. Martinez admitted Thursday the swelling in his ankle has "gone down a lot." The slugger went 7-for-15 with one homer and four RBIs in three games against Tampa Bay in the ALDS.
The Astros, who won five of the seven meetings against the Red Sox in June, will be making their fifth straight ALCS appearance.
Valdez, 27, struggled in his lone postseason action last week after posting an 11-6 record with a 3.14 ERA in 22 starts during the regular season. He allowed four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings of a no-decision against the Chicago White Sox on Friday.
Valdez owns a 2-1 record with a 1.59 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) against the Red Sox. He has permitted two runs and struck out 18 batters in 14 1/3 innings en route to posting a 2-0 with a 1.26 ERA in two starts versus Boston this season.
"I know that I've worked really hard to be able to have the results that I have and be able to have the performances that I have, and it means a lot that they have the confidence in me to be a starter for (Friday)," Valdez said through an interpreter.
Luis Garcia will start Game 2 for the Astros. As for Game 3, well, there's a bit of mystery there with fellow right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. nursing forearm tightness in his pitching arm.
"Any time you have a pitcher come out with forearm anything, you want to take your precautions and make sure you know exactly what's going on," Houston general manager James Click said Thursday.
Astros manager Dusty Baker seemed to suggest Thursday that fellow right-hander Jake Odorizzi likely will fill the roster spot should McCullers be unable to compete. Odorizzi was left off Houston's ALDS roster against the White Sox.
Astros outfielder Jake Meyers participated in practice Thursday for the first time since injuring his shoulder while attempting to make a leaping catch in Game 4 versus the White Sox.
Baker, however, told reporters that he hasn't made a decision on Meyers' involvement for the upcoming series.
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 15, 2021 6:22:55 GMT -5
Why the Red Sox are taking the Chris Sale Game 1 gamble Current Time 0:21 / Duration 1:36
By Rob Bradford an hour ago
Alex Cora wasn't fooling around.
The Red Sox manager made a beeline for the chair for his American League Championship press conference, sat down and waited exactly 15 seconds before answering a question before any were asked.
"We're going Chris and we're going Nate. Chris is starting Game 1. Nate is starting Game 2," Cora told the gathering at Minute Maid Park prior to his team's workout.
He was diving in, just as was the case when actually making the decision to start Chris Sale in Game 1.
"It's a seven-game series. You have to win four," the manager elaborated. "Everybody has to be part of this. We feel comfortable with Chris with the rest that he got. And obviously giving Nate one more day is going to benefit. The off day, the structure of the bullpen tomorrow, so we should be OK."
Then comes the question ... why?
The first answer is simple, and one that Cora alluded to. You aren't going to get where you want to go without some sort of contribution from Sale.
There can be doubts about how the lefty might be able to weave his way through the high-powered Astros lineup at Minute Maid Park, and there probably should be. As Sale mentioned in his own press conference, he is coming off two starts in which he allowed a combined seven runs over 3 1/3 innings. And there is that one five-inning, seven-run outing in his only postseason matchup at Minute Maid Park four years ago.
But there is the premise that someone with the track record of Sale can't be held down forever. As Cora noted, David Price was mired in the same sort of conversation before he stepped up to throw six shutout innings on the road against the Astros in Game 3 of the 2018 ALCS.
"I mean, I know what it takes. We've been there as a team. We collectively know what it takes to get to the top and chase that pinnacle that we're all chasing," Sale said.
H"ow quickly it came crashing down a year later, personally for myself. As a team we didn't have a great year, but, you know, yeah, I had a lot of time off, and I had a lot of time to really get back to appreciating the little things and, you know, trying not to make more of something that isn't. And like I said a month or so ago, I don't take days for granted. I don't have off days. I don't waste Big League time anymore, and I think that gives me a clear mind pitching.
"When I suck, I know, hey, at least I did everything I could to get here. Not that I'll ever be okay with it, but it makes it easier to get back on the horse and say, all right, man, no one is going to feel bad for you. Back on the grind. You know, my work, my dedication I think is higher, and my appreciation for what I do is much higher."
Then there is the timing.
If Sale does falter, Cora is in a great position to be at the ready with the likes of Nick Pivetta or Tanner Houck. It's a backup plan that wouldn't have as much heft had either pitcher had to be used prior to Sale's start.
The plan is for Sale to go as long as he can. ("No, we're not doing the opener thing," Cora said.) But this time of year, benefit of the doubt gets shortened exponentially.
"It's Chris Sale. At one point he had to pitch in this series, and we're very comfortable with him going (Friday)," Cora noted. "I think the structure of the series and the structure of our bullpen tomorrow is going to be -- we're going to be aggressive regardless. I don't expect him to come out in the first inning. I expect him to go out there and pitch a good game and give us a chance to win. You got to trust everybody in this roster. We got 26 guys that they have to do a job for us to advance to the World Series, and he is one of them. And that's the reason he is pitching tomorrow, and then Nate will follow him."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 15, 2021 8:09:03 GMT -5
Rafael Devers is ready for the Astros to bring the heat
By Rob Bradford 4 hours ago
HOUSTON - Tim Hyers has seen a lot. But this was something different.
"I've never been part of something like that," the Red Sox hitting coach told WEEI.com during Thursday's workout at Minute Maid Park.
The moment took place on the exact field Hyers' club finds itself for the American League Championship Series, taking on the same team, the Astros, that stand in between the Red Sox and the World Series.
For four games against Houston, Rafael Devers saw 62 pitches. All but one of them were fastballs. The result? Seven strikeouts in 15 plate appearances.
"Yeah, I never missed fastballs like that," Devers said with a smile. "We don’t know what will happen. I don’t know. But I will be ready for fastballs. I make my adjustments every time they do that."
And make no mistake about it, Devers has made those adjustments. Take, for instance, his home run in Game 4 of the American League Division Series. That came off a 98 mph heater from Tampa Bay lefty Shane McClanahan.
After finishing May with a .167 batting average against fastballs, Devers immediately came out of that Astros series and showed big league baseball what was what. June (.369), July (.309) and September (.316) all saw great success against fastballs.
But it was hard not to walk into Minute Maid and not think about what transpired four months ago.
"I have definitely seen teams go to a one-pitch approach against a certain hitter before, but that was a little extreme," said Red Sox reliever Adam Ottavino. "Everybody knows how good Raffy, so to think throwing him that many fastballs seems a little crazy but I’m sure they had their reasons. At the time it did work for three-quarters of the series. It was unique. Definitely unique. I have seen some teams do stuff like that and it gets in a hitter’s head. It’s like, how many can they throw? It’s kind of weird."
"I just think it was a timing issue," added Hyers. "He synced up his lower half a little better after that. That’s series to series where you learn how teams attack you and you have to make the adjustment. That one is pretty dramatic. But from time to time, hitters will be exposed and they will have to clean it up.
"It tells you how pitching is these days. It is designing and game-planning. It’s different. They are not afraid to go back to one weakness for a long period of time. Obviously, they have good arms, too. It’s a really good pitching staff."
The good news for the Red Sox is that there are other memories regarding Devers and the Astros in October that aren't quite as uncomfortable.
In eight games against Houston during postseason play since 2017, Devers has gone 9-for-24 (.375) with three walks and three homers for a 1.198 OPS. It started with the rookie finally supplanting Deven Marrero in that ALDS four years ago, and was most recently punctuated by a Game 5 homer in the 2018 ALCS at Minute Maid Park.
Judging by what we have seen so far, the Astros might be throwing their fastballs to an entirely different version of Devers for the next few days.
"You try and gauge aptitude and fearlessness, but we have nothing to compare to this," said Red Sox assistant general manager Eddie Romero, thinking back to a younger third baseman. "There was something about Raffy that he always wanted to be great. He always found a way to compete. So once the development cycle was sort of nearing getting him to the big leagues I don’t think there was any doubts he would do what was necessary to excel at the highest levels.
"I can’t say (the postseason success) was surprising or expected because it’s so difficult to do. But he does keep his tempo the same, not letting things speed up while keeping the ability to slow things down, which is key in these situations. I think the record speaks for itself."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 15, 2021 8:13:27 GMT -5
Nick Pivetta ‘glad’ Boston Red Sox fans enjoy his fiery celebrations; ‘His body gets all stiff. Looks like he’s on stilts’ Updated: Oct. 15, 2021, 8:33 a.m. | Published: Oct. 15, 2021, 7:29 a.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
HOUSTON — Red Sox reliever Adam Ottavino has spent 11 seasons in the big leagues and played for four different teams.
He has seen plenty of pitchers fired up after recording big outs but nothing quite like the emotion Nick Pivetta showed during Game 3 of the ALDS against the Rays on Sunday.
“A lot of people get fired up and do their quick yell or whatever,” Ottavino said here at Minute Maid Park on Thursday. “Darwinzon (Hernandez) does pretty good ones. (Hirokazu) Sawamura, too. I was yelling early in the year for a while. Tommy Kahnle is a guy I played with who would always kind of yell and flex and spin off. Everybody has their own thing. But his (Pivetta’s) full stomps back to the dugout, those are unique to him. His body gets all stiff. Looks like he’s on stilts. That’s the Pivetta special.”
The Red Sox will open the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros on Friday. Game 1 is here at 8:07 p.m., eastern.
Pivetta’s 4 scoreless innings of relief in Game 3 of the ALDS vs. the Rays is a main reason Boston made it to the ALCS.
“That is as big-time an outing as you’re going to find,” Ottavino said.
Pivetta earned the win, pitching a scoreless 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th. He allowed three hits and one walk while striking out seven.
“I told him before the series whether he started a game or not, he was going to end up having some big spots to pitch in so just stay focused. You never know,” Ottavino said. “He hadn’t been out of the pen (this season). So he’s kind of bouncing off the walls down there.”
He not only put on a show with his pitching. His fiery celebrations fired up the crowd. See a compilation video here.
Red Sox fans certainly enjoyed his emotion, even making GIFs of him on his way back to the dugout.
“I’m glad they do (enjoy it),” Pivetta said. “I think that’s what our job is, to put on a show, compete, try our hardest so these people who come here they enjoy their experience. And they enjoy the love of the game. I think that’s what it’s all about.”
Pivetta showed emotion after some big inning-ending outs during the regular season. But he has taken it to another level here in the postseason.
“I think it’s just the nature of the beast,” Pivetta said. “It’s just the nature of the game. It’s the excitement. It’s the crowd. It’s my teammates pulling for me. You put everything on the line. It’s do or die all the time. The competitive nature of this game gets you pumped up.”
Ottavino added, “That’s just Pivetta’s personality, fired-up. It’s unique to him.”
Pivetta said he doesn’t like watching his celebrations when he reviews video of his outings.
“I just do what I do. I just more look at how I pitch and ignore the rest of the stuff,” he said.
Catcher Christian Vázquez said he has never seen one of his pitchers so fired up.
“It means a lot,” Vázquez said. “He pitched very well. He deserved that win. It was a fun game. Everything. It was a lot of energy.”
Travis Shaw added, “Everyone was hyped. It was a huge moment those last four innings. He kept us in the game. He was giving us a chance to win it each inning. It took a little bit longer than we would have liked it to taken. But any time a pitcher is that hyped up and ready to go, the offense feeds off of it.”
Ottavino said Red Sox players think Pivetta’s emotional celebrations are “kind of funny” and most people get a laugh out of it.
“I think at the same time, he was obviously giving it all. So that’s inspiring no matter what if you’re on his side,” Ottavino said.
Is it fun to have Pivetta down in the bullpen during games?
“I wouldn’t say fun. He’s frenetic,” Ottavino said. “He can’t sit still. But sometimes that’s a good thing.”
Pivetta appreciates how loud Fenway Park has gotten this postseason.
“For me, it’s very loud but in a way it is quiet because I’m so focused,” Pivetta said. “You can’t let anything else get to you in those moments. I have a job to do. I have a hitter to face. I have a pitch to execute. It’s more that focus. It’s a harness of emotions, of thoughts to get the job done.”
Pivetta never pitched in the MLB postseason before this season. He pitched in the 2017 World Baseball Classic for Canada.
“That was pretty big. That was exciting. That was my first kind of taste,” Pivetta said. “But nothing to this stature. Nothing to this greatness. I think just being here in the postseason and having these baseball games, how much they mean game to game and how much each team is putting on the line every single night. You saw it from the Rays. Almost everybody from their pitching staff pitched (in Game 4) after going back-to-back days. Everybody is just putting everything on the line because they care so much. I think that’s what it’s all about.”
Pivetta tried to treat his two relief outings in the ALDS like starts.
“Because that’s what I’m most used to,” he said. “I don’t let the moment get too big. I just try to stay competitive, stay within myself. And just enjoy the moment and have fun playing baseball. At the end of the day, I think that’s the biggest thing.”
Pivetta said has enjoyed pitching in Boston.
“I love it here,” Pivetta said. “I love the fans. I love the people. I love the city. I think they have a tremendous amount of love and respect for the game.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 15, 2021 8:18:08 GMT -5
Whatever happens is gonna happen in this series the Red Sox have come a long way everything was gravy for me after they won the Wild Card this series should be fun to watch, and both teams won't quit.
Gonna be a hell of a week-end in Boston with this series starting up... Bruins opener.... and Patriots playing the Cowboys....
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 15, 2021 9:31:24 GMT -5
A capsule look at the Red Sox-Astros playoff series These teams met in the 2018 ALCS, when Boston eliminated defending champion Houston. Manager Alex Cora will face his former team.
By The Associated Press, Associated Press October 15, 2021 | 10:08 AM
A capsule look at the best-of-seven American League Championship Series between the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros:
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Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Friday, at Houston, 8:07 p.m. (Fox); Game 2, Saturday, at Houston, 4:20 p.m. (Fox and FS1); Game 3, Monday, Oct. 18, at Boston, 8:07 p.m. (FS1); Game 4, Tuesday, Oct. 19, at Boston, TBD (Fox); x-Game 5, Wednesday, Oct. 20, at Boston, TBD (Fox); x-Game 6, Friday, Oct. 22, at Houston, TBD (Fox); x-Game 7, Saturday, Oct. 23, at Houston, TBD (Fox or FS1).
x-if necessary.
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Season Series: Astros won 5-2.
___ BOSTON RED SOX
Record: 92-70.
Playoff Entry: AL wild card.
Manager: Alex Cora (third season; two stints).
Projected Rotation: LHP Chris Sale (5-1, 3.16 ERA, 52 Ks, 42 2/3 IP in 9 starts after return from Tommy John surgery), RHP Nathan Eovaldi (11-9, 3.75, 195 Ks in 182 1/3 IP), LHP Eduardo Rodríguez (13-8, 4.74), RHP Nick Pivetta (9-8, 4.53).
Top Hitters: 3B Rafael Devers (.279, 38 HRs, 113 RBIs), SS Xander Bogaerts (.295, 23, 79), DH J.D. Martinez (.286, 28, 99), RF Hunter Renfroe (.259, 31, 96).
Top Relievers: RHP Matt Barnes (6-5, 3.79 ERA, 24/30 saves), RHP Garrett Whitlock (8-4, 1.96, 2 saves), RHP Tanner Houck (1-5, 3.52, 87 Ks, 21 BBs, 69 IP in 18 games, 13 starts), RHP Hansel Robles (3-5, 4.43, 14 saves with Minnesota and Boston), RHP Adam Ottavino (7-3, 4.21, 11 saves).
October Glance: Red Sox are back in playoffs for first time since winning 2018 World Series. They advanced to Division Series by beating rival New York Yankees 6-2 at home in AL wild-card game behind Eovaldi. Bogaerts and Kyle Schwarber hit early homers off Gerrit Cole at Fenway Park, and Alex Verdugo had three RBIs. … Boston then took down top-seeded and AL East champion Rays 3-1 in best-of-five ALDS, joining Minnesota Twins (1991 World Series) as only teams to clinch a postseason series with consecutive walk-off wins, according to STATS. Red Sox batted .341 with 9 homers and .915 OPS in the series. … These teams met in 2018 ALCS, when Boston eliminated defending champion Houston 4-1 on way to title. Astros downed Red Sox 3-1 in 2017 ALDS en route to their lone World Series crown. Cora was bench coach on that Houston club before guiding Red Sox to 2018 championship. Then he was let go by Boston and suspended by MLB for 2020 season for his role in Astros’ 2017 sign-stealing scandal. He was rehired by Red Sox last offseason. … Boston finished fifth in AL East without Cora during pandemic-shortened 2020 season, making this the third time team has rebounded from a last-place finish to make the postseason. … It is the first wild-card berth for the Red Sox since 2009, before current one-game playoff was instituted in 2012. … Swept at home by Yankees from Sept. 24-26 to fall into third place but swept the Nationals in final three games of season to clinch top wild card. … Scored 334 of their 829 runs with two outs, most in majors. … Led the big leagues with 330 doubles. … Six players had at least 20 homers, including Bobby Dalbec (25) and Kiké Hernandez (20). … Martinez was left off wild-card roster following freak injury at Washington in season finale, when he stumbled over second base while jogging out to his position in right field between innings and twisted his ankle. But he returned in ALDS and went 7 for 15 (.467) with a clutch homer and 4 RBIs … Hernandez is hitting .435 (10 for 23) in playoffs with 2 HRs, 3 doubles and 6 RBIs. … Eovaldi pitched 6 scoreless innings in his last regular-season start, against Baltimore on Sept. 29. He’s struck out 16 over 10 1/3 innings in two playoff outings, allowing three runs and seven hits with one walk. Boston has won nine of his past 10 starts, including postseason. … Eovaldi led all AL qualified pitchers during regular season with 1.79 walks per nine innings, ranked second with 5.57 K/BB and seventh with 195 strikeouts. … Sale has struggled of late and lasted only one inning in Game 2 at Tampa Bay, giving up five runs and four hits on 30 pitches. … Boston is 15-3 in potential postseason clinchers since 2004 and has won its last eight.
___ HOUSTON ASTROS
Record: 95-67.
Playoff Entry: AL West champion.
Manager: Dusty Baker (second season).
Projected Rotation: LHP Framber Valdez (11-6, 3.14 ERA, 125 Ks), RHP Luis Garcia (11-8, 3.30, 167 Ks as rookie), RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (13-5, 3.16, 185 Ks, MLB-high 76 walks), RHP José Urquidy (8-3, 3.62 in 20 starts).
Top Hitters: 1B Yuli Gurriel (AL-leading .319, 15 HRs, 81 RBIs), 2B Jose Altuve (.278, 31, 83), LF Michael Brantley (.311, 8, 47), SS Carlos Correa (.279, career-high 26, 92), DH Yordan Alvarez (.277, 33, 104), RF Kyle Tucker (.294, 30, 92, 37 doubles).
Top Relievers: RHP Ryan Pressly (5-3, 2.25 ERA, 26/28 saves), RHP Kendall Graveman (1-1, 3.13 in 23 games with Houston; 4-0, 0.82, 10 saves in 30 games with Seattle), RHP Ryne Stanek (3-5, 3.42, 2 saves), RHP Zack Greinke (11-6, 4.16 in 30 games, 29 starts).
October Glance: Heavy-hitting Astros are third team in baseball history to reach five straight League Championship Series. Looking to return to World Series for second time in three seasons and earn second championship overall, after 2017 crown was tainted by electronic cheating scheme. … Even without injured ace Justin Verlander and 2017 World Series MVP George Springer, who left for Toronto as a free agent last offseason, Houston won AL West for fourth time in five years — finished second to Oakland during pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Playoff-tested Astros then dispatched AL Central champion White Sox 3-1 in Division Series with impressive display of clutch hitting. Tucker had 2 homers and 7 RBIs in series. … Houston took three of four from Boston at home in series that ended June 3, then won two of three at Fenway Park from June 8-10. Astros outscored Red Sox 42-25 and compiled .884 OPS to .612 for Boston. Houston had 3.05 ERA to 6.00 for Red Sox. … Astros are a little banged-up coming into series. McCullers, the team’s top starter, allowed one earned run over 10 2/3 innings in two ALDS starts against White Sox. But he exited Game 4 with right forearm tightness after four effective innings. If he can’t pitch in ALCS, it would be a big blow. … Rookie CF Jake Meyers also got hurt in Game 4 when he crashed into wall trying to make leaping grab. He departed with left shoulder discomfort and was replaced by Chas McCormick. … The 72-year-old Baker is the first manager to win division titles with five teams after also leading the Nationals, Reds, Cubs and Giants to crowns. This is his eighth division championship and 11th trip to playoffs. He’s still seeking first World Series title as a manager. … Houston’s longest winning streak this season was 11 games from June 13-24. … Led majors with a .276 batting average, .339 OBP, 863 runs and 1,496 hits. Ranked second in majors by striking out just 1,222 times. … 3B Alex Bregman returned Aug. 25 after missing more than two months with quadriceps injury. He hit .270 with 12 homers and 55 RBIs in 91 games. … Pitching staff was fourth in AL with 3.76 ERA. … Greinke, who returned from injured list on last day of regular season, worked in relief against White Sox. The 37-year-old right-hander, who won 2009 AL Cy Young Award, also threw 2 1/3 innings of relief in regular-season finale for his first appearance out of bullpen since 2007. … Correa, a free agent this fall, had one of his best seasons and led all position players with 7.2 WAR. His 2.9 defensive WAR also ranked first.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 15, 2021 9:47:20 GMT -5
Getting to know the Astros lineup
It’s an extremely talented group that is going to put up tough at bats pretty much every time up. By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins Oct 15, 2021, 10:30am EDT
The Red Sox are going to have their hands full in this ALCS against the Astros, and that’s largely going to be because of a lineup that was statistically the best in baseball this season. Houston’s offense led the league in runs scored, batting average, on-base percentage, strikeout rate, and wRC+, while merely finishing third in slugging percentage. They go seven deep with hitters who can be considered anywhere from very good to elite, and really there is only one “break” in the lineup overall. Here’s a look at the individual hitters with whom Boston’s pitching staff will have to try and deal. Jose Altuve, 2B
While some of the stars from past Houston rosters to have made it this far are gone, Altuve is the face of the team and he remains. The diminutive second baseman is most known for that heigh, but he’s a hell of a hitter as well. Like most of this lineup, he’s going to be very tough to strike out, finishing with a rate of just 13 percent. The righty also walked at a higher rate than ever this year, and finished the regular season with 31 homers and a .211 Isolated Power. He’s been putting the ball in the air more than ever before, and with his pull-heavy hitting style he can take advantage of that short left field in both venues really, but especially in Houston. The way to beat Altuve is to get ahead in counts and put yourself in a position where you can lean on the breaking ball, as he struggles much more against those pitches than any other this year and over his career. Michael Brantley, LF/DH
Brantley is certainly not the best hitter in this Houston lineup, but he’s a key piece who almost always hits second, and he’s the kind of player who can be a total pest for Red Sox pitchers all series. In a lineup full of contact hitters, he’s the toughest to strike out with a rate under 11 percent. That’s almost unheard of in today’s game. He’s getting older, currently in his age-34 season, so he doesn’t have the same power he had in his hey day with Cleveland (and even then it was more average than great) and his walk rate has actually fallen as well. But his ability to put nearly everything in play while also carrying an above-average hard-hit rate could make him a tough matchup for a shaky Red Sox defense. Brantley has struggled to square up lefties this year, though, so expect to see a lot of Josh Taylor and Austin Davis when they can make the matchups work.
Alex Bregman, 3B
On true talent, there’s a good argument that Bregman is the best player on this Astros team, but his numbers this year don’t really jump off the page. The star infielder missed some time in the middle of the season with a quad injury, playing in just 91 games on the season. When he was in the lineup, the power was strangely absent relative to what we would typically expect from the Astros third baseman. His plate discipline was typically great, walking 11 percent of the time and strikeout at a 13 percent clip, but his ISO was just .152. A big part of that issue was that Bregman was hitting more balls on the ground than he typically does, especially against fastballs. Yordan Alvarez, DH
Alvarez first burst onto the scene in 2019 when he looked like the best hitter on the planet in his rookie year. He then missed most of the shortened 2020 season, but he’s come back and been a huge presence in this lineup yet again in 2021. The slugger finished the year with a 138 wRC+. He hits the ball as consistently hard as anyone in the game, and draws a good amount of walks to go along with it. He will strike out some, which makes him something of an anomaly in this lineup, though he did carry reverse splits this season. It’s going to be offspeed pitches with which he has the most trouble, so look for Red Sox pitchers to attack him with changeups and splitters when he’s at the plate. Yuli Gurriel, 1B
Gurriel kind of gets lost in the shuffle in this Houston lineup a lot of the time, but the first baseman has been a key component for a few years now. He doesn’t really hit for the power you’d expect from a first baseman, but like most everyone else in this lineup he is nearly impossible to strike out with a rate just over 11 percent on the season. In the past, he could be tempted into expanding the zone to neutralize the contact rate, but he’s changed that this year with a nearly 10 percent walk rate. His previous career-best was six percent. That’s a huge change in his game and was a big reason he finished more than 30 percent better than league-average by wRC+. Breaking balls have given him the most trouble this year, so look for Chris Sale in particular to lean heavily on the slider. Carlos Correa, SS
Correa is another one of the faces on this franchise, though his time in Houston may be nearing an end as he’s set to hit free agency at the end of the year. The big shortstop has improved defensively, and at the plate he’s still one of the best in baseball at his position. He finished with a strikeout rate below 20 percent for the first time since 2017, walked more than he ever has in his career, and also finished with an ISO over .200. Put it all together and you get a 134 wRC+ at a premium position. His Savant page is almost all red, which is not great as an opponent. He’s a monster of a fastball hitter, which is tough when he’s hitting sixth behind all of these other hitters who are so great at getting on base.
Kyle Tucker, LF
It’s almost comical that Tucker is a seven hitter, because on talent he is certainly much better than that. A former top prospect, he had been blocked from full-time roles by the likes of George Springer. He was merely good in the first half with a 125 wRC+, but in the second half he finished with a mark of 177, a mark bested only by Bryce Harper and Juan Soto among qualified hitters. He’s another all-around beast, with a low strikeout rate, high walk rate, and above-average power. Tucker also had a lot of success against the Red Sox earlier this year, finishing those two series with an OPS over 1.200. He’s also a double-digit base stealer to top it all off. In the past he was most easily beaten with breaking balls, though he seemingly shored up any issues there this season. Jake Meyers, CF
There is certainly a drop off with the bottom two lineup spots, but Meyers did have himself a solid run in the bigs at the end of the year. The former 13th rounder made his debut this season and only had 49 regular season games under his belt before the postseason, putting up a 111 wRC+. Some of that was due to a high BABIP that is likely just small sample size noise, but there is some pop in the bat. That said, his profile looks a lot like you would expect from someone with his lack of experience, as he has been spectacular against fastballs but has struggled mightily against anything else. Again, hitting behind such good hitters can give him the opportunity to see more fastballs with runners on base, but Red Sox pitchers have to do everything they can to pepper Meyers with breaking balls and offspeed pitches. Martín Maldonado, C
Maldonado is the one break Red Sox pitchers should get in this lineup, as he is much more of a defensive-minded backstop. The catcher strikes out a ton and doesn’t hit for much power, finishing the year with a 63 wRC+. That said, he will draw some walks so the Red Sox absolutely need to throw him strikes. If he beats them with contact, it is what it is. But they cannot afford to put the one below-average hitter (by 2021 wRC+, at least) in this lineup on base for free.
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