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Post by Kimmi on Apr 16, 2022 7:52:21 GMT -5
As far as home openers go, this one left a lot to be desiredBy Chad Finn Globe Staff,Updated April 15, 2022, 8:39 p.m. Not a great game and not a fun one to watch. It's so frustrating when the opposing team seems to be up to bat for 30 minutes, then our at bat is over in 2 minutes. Is that like a time of possession thing in football? LOL
Hopefully today has a better end result.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2022 9:27:45 GMT -5
Game 8: Twins at Red Sox lineups and notesBy Amin Touri Globe Staff,Updated April 16, 2022, 4 minutes ago After Friday’s disappointing season opener, the Red Sox will hope to earn their first Fenway win of the season on Saturday afternoon. Tanner Houck is looking for a bounceback of his own, having struggled through just 3 ⅓ innings at Yankee Stadium last week in his first start of the season. The righthander has only face Minnesota once, a no-decision last August after allowing three runs in 4 ⅔ innings of work. The Sox will try and get the bats going against Twins offseason acquisition Sonny Gray, one of their favorite opponents — Gray is 1-6 against Boston in his career, with a 6.64 ERA in nine appearances. Lineups TWINS (3-4): 1. Luis Arraez (L) DH 2. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B 3. Carlos Correa (R) SS 4. Max Kepler (L) RF 5. Trevor Larnach (L) LF 6. Gio Urshela (R) 3B 7. Nick Gordon (L) CF 8. Miguel Sano (R) 1B 9. Ryan Jeffers (R) C Pitching: RHP Sonny Gray (0-0, 3.86 ERA) RED SOX (3-4): 1. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF 2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 4. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 5. Alex Verdugo (L) LF 6. Trevor Story (R) 2B 7. Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B 8. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) RF 9. Christian Vazquez (R) C Pitching: RHP Tanner Houck (0-0, 8.10 ERA) Time: 4:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Twins vs. Houck: Arraez 1-2, Gordon 1-2, Kepler 1-3, Polanco 1-3, Sanó 1-1, Sánchez 0-6, Urshela 0-1 Red Sox vs. Gray: Bogaerts 4-11, Bradley Jr. 5-20, Devers 2-9, Hernández 0-2, Martinez 4-10, Plawecki 0-2, Shaw 2-8, Story 0-3, Verdugo 0-2, Vázquez 0-4 Stat of the day: Gray’s 6.64 career ERA against the Red Sox is his second-worst mark against any team; only the Athletics have hit him harder. Notes: Gray hasn’t faced the Red Sox since a scoreless, two-inning relief appearance in 2018, when he pitched for the Yankees. However, Gray allowed six runs in each of his two other 2018 appearances against Boston, both starts ... Byron Buxton went for an MRI exam after leaving Friday’s game with knee soreness following a slide into second, but his status wasn’t updated by Friday night ... Rafael Devers is on a 12-game hit streak dating back to last season, the longest of his career ... Both teams are looking to climb back to .500 with a win Saturday. Song of the Day : Kiss - Heaven's On Firewww.youtube.com/watch?v=EZjevnnkA20
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2022 13:38:19 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox injuries: Josh Taylor likely to begin rehab in Worcester on Sunday; James Paxton throws bullpen Updated: Apr. 16, 2022, 1:49 p.m. | Published: Apr. 16, 2022, 1:48 p.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Josh Taylor (low back strain) most likely will begin a rehab assignment for Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said.
“He threw a live BP yesterday and obviously we have to wait for today to see how he feels but there’s a good chance his rehab assignment starts tomorrow,” Cora said here at Fenway Park on Saturday.
Cora said Taylor probably will need about five or six rehab outings before he’s ready to be activated.
“Let’s have the first one first and then we’ll decide what we do,” Cora said.
Taylor had a strong 2021 season, posting a 3.40 ERA, 2.83 FIP and 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings in 61 outings (47 ⅔ innings). He recorded a 2.06 ERA and batters hit just .197 against him during his final 52 outings starting April 30.
Paxton throws bullpen
James Paxton, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, threw a bullpen session Friday.
“Everybody’s very excited to see where he’s at in his progression,” Cora said.
Cora said Paxton probably is throwing about 20 pitches during bullpen sessions at this point.
Chris Sale and Paxton will be with the Red Sox for this entire homestand, then will travel with the team for three games in Tampa Bay. Both then will head back to the JetBlue Park facility in Fort Myers.
“They’ll drive to Fort Myers and keep doing their thing down there,” Cora said.
Sale playing catch
Sale (stress fracture in his right rib cage) is throwing again. He threw here at Fenway Park on Friday and it marked about the fifth time he has thrown.
“He’s playing catch and that’s a good sign,” Cora said. “He feels great, which is a good sign.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2022 13:39:31 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox yellow and blue uniforms return ahead of ‘special’ Marathon Monday Published: Apr. 16, 2022, 2:21 p.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — The yellow and blue marathon uniforms are back.
The Red Sox will wear their City Connect Series uniforms here Saturday and Sunday ahead of Marathon Monday. They will wear their white jerseys with “Boston” across the front for their 11:10 a.m. Patriots’ Day game Monday.
The Red Sox first wore the yellow and blue uniforms last season. They went 6-2 in games they wore them.
Monday will be the first time since 2019 that Marathon Monday has taken place during Patriots’ Day weekend.
“It’s great for the city,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Just the whole atmosphere. The whole weekend itself is amazing. It just happens we had the home opener and now Monday, which makes it a lot more special. We’ve got the yellow uniforms today and tomorrow and then the Boston uniform on Monday. I know how much it means.”
The 2021 Boston Marathon was postponed until Oct. 11. The Red Sox played Game 4 of the ALDS vs. the Rays at Fenway Park that evening.
“That was unreal,” Cora said. “The whole atmosphere from 7 a.m. all the way till the last out of that game. The whole city. ... It’s a special one. As a player, you talk about it. And yeah, you see the 11 a.m. but it doesn’t matter. Everybody knows it’s a special day and we’re going to enjoy it.”
Per the Red Sox pregame notes, “Unveiled in April 2021, the uniform adopts the blue and yellow colors that honor the spirit of Patriots’ Day weekend, and features ‘Boston’ in a stencil font across the chest paying tribute to the Boylston Street finish line. The numbers ‘617′ are highlighted on the left sleeve as a nod to the area code for Boston and Fenway Park. The numbers appear within a racing bib, honoring one of the city’s most iconic annual sports traditions.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2022 13:43:50 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 2h Story signing late, leaving camp for a birth, getting 11 spring at-bats, and then getting food poisoning has left him discombobulated. For the last 4 years he's swung and missed 24-27% of the time, so far this year 56%. 10 balls in play: 3 topped, 7 hit under, no solid/barrel.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2022 13:47:06 GMT -5
Rob Bradford @bradfo · 1h Xander helps executes a flawless wedding proposal with a couple from Aruba
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 1h The ring is probably worth more than the Sox’ lowball offer to Bogaerts. Quote Tweet Rob B
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2022 13:48:07 GMT -5
Sean McAdam @sean_McAdam · 1h Red Sox are wearing the yellow and blue “City Connect” jerseys today. They were 6-2 wearing them a year ago.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2022 14:44:53 GMT -5
Alex Cora reflects on Jerry Remy’s pizza call, Boston Red Sox’s tribute that ‘brought a smile to everybody’ Friday Updated: Apr. 16, 2022, 3:37 p.m. | Published: Apr. 16, 2022, 3:34 p.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Fifteen years ago today marks Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo’s famous pizza toss call.
It happened Monday, April 16, 2007 (Marathon Monday). J.D. Drew hit a foul ball into the left field stands at Fenway Park. Beer spilled and a fan wearing a Patriots jacket tossed a slice of pizza at another fan in the location of where the ball dropped.
“Here comes the pizza,” Remy said as the NESN broadcast replayed what happened.
“Highly unnecessary,” Orsillo said, laughing.
“The guy with the Patriots jacket and of course he’s been asked to leave the ballgame for ruining a good piece of pizza,” Remy joked.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora, then a Red Sox player, started at second base for Boston that day. He rewatched the pizza toss this morning.
Cora also reflected on the Opening Day tribute Friday that paid tribute to Remy who died of lung cancer at age 68 on Oct. 30, 2021.
Cora said the pregame video tribute Friday allowed everyone to remember Remy in the fond way he should be remembered. It was a celebration of his life instead of feeling sadness.
Remy called Red Sox games on NESN for more than 33 seasons.
“Just watching the video, it was one of those moments,” Cora said. “I think the cool thing about yesterday remembering Jerry, it wasn’t like, ‘Wow. We miss him’ and just feeling bad about it. It was the other way around. ... I think he brought a smile to everybody in the stadium. It was kind of like, ‘This moment, this is the man we want to remember. This is the way we want to remember him.’”
“And this morning I saw the pizza (video),” Cora added. “And his famous quote, whatever. ‘Here comes the pizza’ or whatever he said. It’s one of those where if you are from Boston, and you know Marathon Monday, you know the pizza game happened. So yeah, it’s just one of those that it was great.”
The Red Sox also are paying tribute to Remy this season with No. 2 patches on their jerseys. Jerry Remy Patch
A jersey patch honoring Jerry Remy is shown March 19, 2022. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox)
The NESN booth here at Fenway Park was named in Remy’s honor. Jerry Remy Booth
The NESN booth at Fenway Park has been named "Jerry Remy Booth."
Cora was in the dugout when the fan tossed the pizza slice.
“We didn’t see it right away,” Cora said. “I think we saw it afterwards.”
The Red Sox beat the Angels 7-2 that day.
“I know we scored a lot of runs in the first inning, right?” Cora said.
“I think I was part of it, too, offensively,” Cora added, laughing.
Yes, Boston put together a six-run first inning against Ervin Santana. The rally included Cora delivering an RBI double.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2022 15:45:06 GMT -5
dear jesus Verdugo with a long blast to RF 2 run homer flies over the pens....
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2022 15:46:36 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 1m Verdugo absolutely launches one into the bleachers, into section 40 (just to the right of the 420 sign) on a 2-2 pitch. In the season's first week and a half, he's been demolishing the ball.
437 feet for Verdugo, 109 mph off the bat.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 16, 2022 18:24:59 GMT -5
Sawamura is so over rated usual deep count shit and more runs
6-1 Twins
5th He's really disappointed me. Some of it my fault for thinking that the next Japanese pitcher might be the next Koji, but he's too inconsistent.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 16, 2022 18:31:30 GMT -5
As far as home openers go, this one left a lot to be desiredBy Chad Finn Globe Staff,Updated April 15, 2022, 8:39 p.m. Not a great game and not a fun one to watch. It's so frustrating when the opposing team seems to be up to bat for 30 minutes, then our at bat is over in 2 minutes. Is that like a time of possession thing in football? LOL
Hopefully today has a better end result.I have no data, but it does feel like some of our innings are really short. The only one I remember was the one at Detroit, but the Detroit fielders weren't helping the cause. OTOH, when Whitlock has been out there, the opposing innings seem pretty quick. I had the game on, switched for a minute, and it went from 1 out to 'game over' before I switched back.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2022 19:27:03 GMT -5
Alex Verdugo, Xander Bogaerts homer as Boston Red Sox win; Tanner Houck tosses 5.2 scoreless innings Published: Apr. 16, 2022, 6:56 p.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Alex Verdugo and Xander Bogaerts both blasted two-run homers. Starter Tanner Houck, meanwhile, topped out at 96.2 mph during 5 ⅔ scoreless innings.
The Red Sox won 4-0 over the Twins here at Fenway Park on Saturday.
These two teams will be back in action Easter Sunday with a 1:35 p.m. first pitch.
Verdugo’s 437-foot homer in the second inning put the Red Sox ahead 2-0. It left his bat with a 108.6 mph exit velocity.
Bogaerts entered 2-for-18 with eight strikeouts in his past five games. He got ahead 3-0 in the count in his first at-bat, then struck out looking at three straight pitches.
But he broke out of his slump in the third inning. He connected on a 94.3 mph fastball inside and sent it over the Green Monster. His blast was an estimated 400 feet and left his bat at 102.1 mph.
Houck delivers
Tanner Houck tossed 5 ⅔ scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out four. He left to a standing ovation.
Houck showed excellent velocity. The righty threw 30 four-seam fastballs, averaging 95.5 mph and topping out at 96.2 mph, per Baseball Savant.
He threw 19 two-seam fastballs, averaging 94.4 mph and topping out at 95 mph.
He mixed in 27 sliders and 13 split-fingered fastballs.
Houck said earlier this month he planned to throw his split-fingered fastball more, even to right-handed batters. He threw it 15% of the time Saturday, including an 0-2 splitter to right-handed hitter Carlos Correa in the fourth inning.
Houck’s longest start last season was 5 ⅓ innings (Aug. 29 at Cleveland). He pitched 6 innings in two of his three starts in 2020.
Story likely to receive day off Sunday
Trevor Story crushed a single with an exit velocity of 103.1 mph to right field in the fifth inning.
He likely will receive a day off Sunday.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said before Saturday’s game. “He might hit three homers today and then he’ll play tomorrow. But most likely he’ll get tomorrow off and then play again Monday.”
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 16, 2022 21:12:00 GMT -5
Alex Verdugo, Xander Bogaerts homer as Boston Red Sox win; Tanner Houck tosses 5.2 scoreless inningsPublished: Apr. 16, 2022, 6:56 p.m. By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com Houck delivers Tanner Houck tossed 5 ⅔ scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out four. He left to a standing ovation. Houck showed excellent velocity. The righty threw 30 four-seam fastballs, averaging 95.5 mph and topping out at 96.2 mph, per Baseball Savant. He threw 19 two-seam fastballs, averaging 94.4 mph and topping out at 95 mph. He mixed in 27 sliders and 13 split-fingered fastballs. Houck said earlier this month he planned to throw his split-fingered fastball more, even to right-handed batters. He threw it 15% of the time Saturday, including an 0-2 splitter to right-handed hitter Carlos Correa in the fourth inning. I think that's the big takeaway for the game. Whitlock was sensational, as usual, but Houck showed more control today. We need more innings from our SPs.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 17, 2022 2:46:32 GMT -5
Backed by defense and best friend, Houck fires gem April 16th, 2022 Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- The Red Sox no longer talk as much about the promise of Tanner Houck.
These days, the conversation shifts more to the results they expect and need from the 25-year-old righty.
This made Saturday an important step forward after a clunky first start of the season at Yankee Stadium in which Houck got only 10 outs.
Standing on the Fenway Park mound for the first time this season, Houck controlled the Twins throughout 5 2/3 scoreless innings, holding them to two hits while walking three and striking out four as Boston stifled Minnesota, 4-0.
“I made some adjustments that I’m super happy with, and was pounding the zone a lot more. Obviously I’m continuing to grow and take steps in the right direction,” said Houck. “So I’m super happy with how it went tonight, and I’ll get ready for five days from now.”
That’s a nice routine for Houck to be able to settle into. Last year, he served as the ultimate definition of a swingman, bouncing from the rotation to the bullpen, and from the Majors to Triple-A. That cycle rinsed and repeated until the postseason, when Houck was counted on for high-leverage outs.
This season, the plan is that he will be a fixture in the rotation and on the Major League roster.
The double-play grounder (two of them) and a strike-em-out, throw-em-out DP were Houck’s friends on a day that the Twins never sent more than four batters to the plate against him in an inning.
Houck fell one out shy of his first six-inning outing since recording two of them in his September call-up season of 2020.
“They showed some discipline early on but at the end it was weak contact,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “He was able to give us 5 2/3 [innings] and pass the baton to the bullpen and the bullpen finished it.”
Was Houck dominant? The modest five whiffs on the 35 swings the Twins took against his 89 pitches show he wasn’t quite that.
Did he keep the Twins -- who clearly came in with the mindset of being patient -- off-balanced? The 15 called strikes paint the picture that he did, as did a spray chart which shows Houck hitting several different quadrants of the plate.
Did Houck have plenty of life on his pitches? His fastball maxed out at 96.2 mph and his sinker hit 95, so that answers that.
“What he did was, even when he got behind and even when got into these three-ball counts, he won those early in the game,” credited Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. “I think almost every lefty got to a three-ball count the first time through or maybe even more than that. That’s usually a good sign for us. Today it wasn’t.
“He got to the end of those at-bats, whether it be 3-1, 3-2, and made good pitches and either got a swing and a miss or got some weak contact and found a way to pitch through. That’s impressive.”
Houck’s pitch mix is why the club believes he can be a starter all season rather than the swingman role he was so effective in last season.
This was the allotment of pitches for Houck on Saturday: He threw 30 fastballs, 27 sliders, 19 sinkers and 13 splitters.
“I was super happy with where everything was at,” Houck said. “Like I said, mechanics are coming along to where I feel a lot more confident, it’s easier to repeat. And I’m just truly excited for what the season still has to bring.”
Tabbed as the No. 3 starter for a rotation that currently lacks two impact injured veterans in Chris Sale and James Paxton, Houck is out to prove he can be a top-three of the rotation type of pitcher.
Clearly, he has some believers in the clubhouse.
“He didn’t have his best slider and he still didn’t give up any runs,” said Xander Bogaerts. “That shows you how impressive he can be. He can be really good for a long time.”
Baton to bestie For Houck, one of the thrills of this one is that he essentially passed the baton to his best friend on the team in Garrett Whitlock, who got the final seven outs. In between, lefty Matt Strahm served as the bridge with three outs.
Whitlock and Houck are again the two young guns on a veteran-laden staff and Cora will rely heavily on both.
“Houck is just nasty and then obviously you have Mr. Four-Year [contract extension] Whit over here, just throwing bowling balls and doing what he does,” said Alex Verdugo, who mauled his third homer of the season to aid the cause. “It’s a lot of fun out there when they are pitching and you know not too many balls are probably going to be hit to the outfield.”
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