|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 4, 2022 3:17:01 GMT -5
With Fenway Park dotted with All-Stars, Michael Wacha really shined as Red Sox blank Angels By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated May 3, 2022, 11:39 p.m.
Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Xander Bogaerts, and Rafael Devers were among the All-Star players on the field at Fenway Park on Tuesday night.
None had a bigger impact on the game than Michael Wacha.
On a day the underachieving Red Sox needed somebody to get their homestand started on a positive note, Wacha worked into the sixth inning of a 4-0 victory against the Los Angeles Angels.
It could have been into the seventh inning or even the eighth but Wacha was taken out of the game with two outs in the sixth despite having thrown only 60 pitches.
Wacha has thrown as many as 92 pitches in a game this season. But only upper-echelon starters get to see a lineup for a third time through these days. To do otherwise bends the rules of analytics and gets managers in trouble.
So with Trout on second base and two outs in the sixth, lefthander Jake Diekman was the choice to face the lefthanded-hitting Ohtani. Four pitches later, Ohtani lined to left field.
It was the right call. But Wacha deserved a chance to at least finish the inning if not work at the seventh.
Alex Cora was matter of fact about his decision.
“It’s about getting 27 outs and winning the game,” he said. “They understand that. There’s certain days he has to get that out. Today we felt that we had Jake in that spot.”
Wacha is 3-0 with a 1.38 earned run average through five starts. The Sox have won four of those games and he has yet to allow more than two runs in a game.
Wacha was perfect until he walked Andrew Velazquez and Taylor Ward with two outs in the third inning. He then fell behind Trout 2 and 0 before coming back to strike him out swinging at a changeup.
“Things were definitely going my way,” Wacha said.
If Wacha was disappointed when Cora came out to get him, he didn’t show it on the field. He didn’t express it in the clubhouse afterward, either.
Starting pitchers know better than anybody how much the game has changed in the last five years. So even though he had allowed only three hits with two walks and two strikeouts, Wacha didn’t complain.
“I trust Cora with everything,” he said. “Our bullpen was lights out. It was really fun to watch them lock it down.”
What makes it easier for starters to accept how they’re used is understanding that they’re not going to be judged on wins and losses.
“It’s not about outlasting the other starter anymore,” Wacha said. “I try and go as long as I can and compete as long as I can. You can’t get mad about it.
“You have some guys like Max Scherzer who will get to 100 pitches but overall it’s a different game. You have to accept it at some point.”
By any measure, Wacha’s one-year, $7 million deal looks like a bargain. It’s certainly unexpected production for a pitcher on his fourth team in many seasons.
Wacha was 10-16 with a 5.11 ERA in his three seasons before joining the Sox.
Wacha’s 2.88 ERA in his final seven games with the Rays last season led to the Sox pursuing him as a free agent. Wacha’s mid-90s fastball played better with a changeup and a curveball as opposed to changeup and a cutter.
It was a switch he made in late August and has stayed with since.
“He’s been great,” Cora said.
With former Sox manager Bobby Valentine in the press box working for Bally Sports West, the Sox played one of their most complete games of the season.
They had eight hits off fearsome Angels starter Noah Syndergaard including a long home run to center field by Rafael Devers in the fourth inning.
It also was a stellar game defensively for shortstop Xander Bogaerts, whose price goes up every day.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 4, 2022 3:19:56 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Angels’ Shohei Ohtani expected to get first start at Fenway on Thursday By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated May 3, 2022, 8:11 p.m.
Shohei Ohtani (right groin tightness) was in the lineup Tuesday as the Angels’ designated hitter, going 1 for 4 with a strikeout in the Red Sox’ 4-0 win, and he is slated to get the start on the mound at Fenway Park Thursday, according to manager Joe Maddon.
“If he continues to progress he’ll pitch Thursday,” Maddon said before the series opener against the Sox.
Ohtani was originally scheduled to start Tuesday, but he was given a little more time. He was pulled from Sunday’s game against the White Sox but entered Monday’s series finale as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning.
Ohtani is 1-1 in two career starts against the Red Sox, allowing five runs over nine innings. Thursday would be his first career start at Fenway. Related: Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez provide the power as Red Sox open homestand with shutout of Angels
“With all respect to all the athletes we have in baseball, he is by far the best athlete we have,” manager Alex Cora said. “I’ve been seeing his progression. And the way he’s been able to adjust and be successful on both sides of the ball is impressive. I don’t even know what his preparation is. But what he has to do to be an elite hitter, an elite pitcher, the mental side of it, scouting reports, how long it takes for him to be ready for us on the mound and be ready for us at the plate, it has to be impressive.”
Hirokazu Sawamura struck out Ohtani to end the game. The two faced each other in Japan during Ohtani’s rookie season in 2013. At the time, Sawamura was still a starting pitcher.
“Everything he has accomplished and will accomplish, I’ll always have respect for him,” Sawamura said. “Whatever he does, it’s just amazing.” Martinez not too happy
Despite his 2-for-4 night that included an eighth-inning homer, J.D. Martinez (left adductor tightness) still feels a bit limited.
“It doesn’t bother me when I hit,” Martinez said. “Just when I’m running out of the box and stuff.”
Martinez said he can manage it, but can’t run hard and said it is a nagging injury he will have to monitor.
“Right now if it’s fine,” said Martinez. “I just have to really tell myself don’t run when I hit the ball.” Who will catch on?
The Red Sox will play the matchup game when it comes to who gets the start behind the plate between Christian Vázquez and Kevin Plawecki.
Vázquez has had a forgettable start to the season, batting .220 with a homer and a .541 OPS. Plawecki has been worse but with a smaller sample size, hitting .150 in 23 plate appearances. Plawecki got the start Tuesday, in part because Noah Syndergaard was on the mound and the Red Sox prefer Plawecki against high velocity. Plawecki went 1 for 3. Neither catcher fared well against it last year (Vázquez hit .125 against pitches 95 miles per hour or faster compared with Plawecki’s .182).
“His swing is short, and he’s shorter to the ball,” Cora said of Plawecki. “And he’s a good fastball hitter. You know, [Syndergaard], he’s not the same guy he was [with the Mets]. He’s throwing a lot of changeups, some sliders. He’s been spinning the ball. But, you know, we felt Tuesday was a good day for [Plawecki] to go out there.”
Sox pitchers have had more success with Plawecki behind the plate this season (a 2.50 ERA with Plawecki compared with a 4.04 ERA with Vázquez behind the plate).
Josh Taylor’s rehab assignment on hold
Josh Taylor (back) had a setback during his rehab stint, Cora said.
“He feels better today,” Cora noted. “But of course, we have to take him off his rehab assignment. We’re going through tests and all that stuff and will know more during the week.”
Taylor was at Fenway receiving treatment Monday and Tuesday.
The injury has followed Taylor for some months, causing the lefthanded reliever to miss spring training.
Taylor has appeared in three games between Triple A Worcester and Double A Portland. Tough break for Austin Warren
The Angels put righthanded reliever Austin Warren on the injured list before the game after he suffered a fractured nose when he was hit by a stray ball during Red Sox batting practice. Righthander Elvis Peguero was recalled from Triple A to take his place and pitched the eighth inning, giving up a solo homer to Martinez … After optioning Jo Adell to Triple A, the Angels started infielder Jack Mayfield in left field instead of Brandon Marsh. It was Mayfield’s first time playing the outfield professionally and he went 0 for 3. Maddon said he wanted a righthanded hitter in the lineup with Red Sox starter Michael Wacha having reverse splits … Tuesday marked the beginning of Asian-American and Pacific Islander monthat Fenway Park. Pregame ceremonies recognized Quincy Asian Resources, Inc., a local nonprofit that supports and empowers Asian and immigrant communities. The national anthem was sung by Sheena Melwani, a social media artist of Indian descent from Natick.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 4, 2022 3:22:40 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 8h Raffy Devers nearly to the back wall of the bleachers under the camera platform. 437 ft.
That ball was poleaxed.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 4, 2022 3:23:05 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 7h Going to first-guess disagreeing with this move. Only 60 pitches for Wacha. He's been great.
Yes, Ohtani is up. But get another 4 outs from Wacha with Whitlock tomorrow and Hill Thursday.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 4, 2022 3:23:41 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 6h Stellar play by Bogaerts being reviewed only because Maddon has a challenge left. It's a clear out.
Totally goes against the spirit of the rule.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 4, 2022 3:26:11 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 7h Bradley with another double - this one on the RF line. He's now up to .364/.440/.545 at Fenway with 4 doubles in 25 PAs
The Red Sox with their third multi-homer game of 2022. All three have come at Fenway.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 4, 2022 3:28:33 GMT -5
Michael Wacha pulled after just 60 pitches in Boston Red Sox win, but that doesn’t take away from his excellent start to the season (1.38 ERA) Published: May. 04, 2022, 12:46 a.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- Tuesday’s win reinforced two things we already knew about the Red Sox. First, Michael Wacha has become a trusted, steady force in Boston’s rotation. Secondly, manager Alex Cora is going to stick to his gameplan no matter how well his starter is throwing the ball.
Wacha cruised through 5 ⅔ innings against the Angels, needing just 60 pitches to record 17 outs. He allowed just three hits while walking two batters and striking out two others. He seemed destined to go deep into the game until Mike Trout reached on an error with two outs in the sixth. With Boston leading, 2-0, Cora pulled Wacha in favor of lefty Jake Diekman with superstar Shohei Ohtani coming to the plate. Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday.
To Cora, it didn’t matter that Wacha had been so effective -- or efficient. With Boston clinging to a small lead and Ohtani coming up for the third time, the lefty-on-lefty matchup was a better one for Boston. The decision paid off, as Diekman got Ohtani to line out to end the inning.
“It’s about getting 27 outs and winning the game,” said Cora, who did something similar Friday night in Baltimore with Rich Hill. “They understand that. There’s certain days when he has to get that out.
“I think in the era that we live, they understand the value of getting outs,” Cora added. “If we were to score more, he would go seven, eight or maybe he gets us a complete game. Where we were in the game, 2-0 with that guy at the plate, regardless of the stuff that you have, the matchup is better at the end of the day. He understands that.”
Wacha, who has pitched in the majors for nearly a decade, admitted that managers have quicker hooks than they used to but said he didn’t mind being pulled out early.
“As analytics gets more prominent in the game, the numbers trend toward (hitters) having better success the third time through the lineup,” he said. “I feel like more managers have been going that way but really, I trust Cora with all that stuff and his plan for the season.”
Cora’s early hook didn’t take away from another brilliant performance from Wacha, who has been Boston’s best starting pitcher in five turns through the rotation. The righty is now 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA in his first five starts with the Red Sox and Boston is 4-1 in those games. In each start, he has allowed two runs or fewer and four hits or fewer, marking the longest streak of any pitcher to begin his Red Sox career. Through the first seventh of the season, Wacha has made Boston’s $7 million gamble on him look brilliant.
“Really good again,” Cora said. “They came out swinging and he was pounding the strike zone with good stuff and got some quick outs. We played some decent defense behind him. Turned some double plays. For a defender, he’s a dream come true with his pace and his throwing strikes.”
Wacha was efficient from the jump Tuesday night, needing just 12 pitches to get through two innings. The Angels swung early and often against him, leading to quick innings -- and eventually, a two-hour, 23-minute game that the Sox won, 4-0.
Wacha said he was surprised to see how much the Angels swing as much as they did (33 swings on 60 pitches) because in his pre-start scouting, he saw a much more patient team. He ran into little trouble except in the third, when he issued back-to-back two-out walks to set the table for Trout (a situation Wacha joked he “would not recommend”). Overall,
“It doesn’t usually go that way, for the most part, but they were definitely coming out swinging early and I was making pitches to the corners and whenever it was over the plate, was able to get a take or a pop-up or something,” Wacha said. “Things were definitely going my way.”
If Wacha’s first month is any preview of what’s to come, the Red Sox will look like geniuses for giving him a one-year, $7 million contract after an up-and-down season with the Rays last year. Boston was encouraged by how Wacha, after ditching his cutter and throwing his curveball and changeup more often, took big strides forward at the end of the season. Those adjustments, plus some others since he arrived at spring training, have led to a very strong start to Wacha’s Red Sox career.
“He has been great,” Cora said. “We talk about what he’s doing this season but what he did toward the end of the season last year was impressive and caught our attention. So far, it has been great.”
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 4, 2022 3:29:44 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 3h Tuesday's win reinforced two things we knew about the Red Sox.
1) Michael Wacha has emerged as a steady, trusted force in the rotation.
2) Alex Cora is going to stick to his gameplan no matter how well his starter is pitching.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 4, 2022 3:30:35 GMT -5
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 6h I know it’s 4 runs, but I’m still not comfortable with Sawamura in this game.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 4, 2022 3:40:36 GMT -5
Halos@ Red Sox May 5th , 2022 7pm @ Fenway
Detmers 1-1/5.19
Whitlock 1-1/0.54
Written by Chris King
A pair of teams from the American League continue a series in the shadow of the Green Monster up in Beantown. The Los Angeles Angels are on the road as they play the middle game of a three-game set with the Boston Red Sox Wednesday night. Los Angeles ended up with a split of their four-game set with the White Sox on the road as they were blanked 3-0 on Monday afternoon in the series finale. Boston dropped the rubber game of a three-game set on the road in Charm City against the Orioles as they fell 9-5 in the finale Sunday afternoon. The pitching matchup for the opening game of the series Tuesday night saw Noah Syndergaard take the mound for the Angels against the Red Sox’ Michael Wacha. First pitch from Fenway Park was slated for 7:10 pm ET.
Reid Detmers is expected to get the ball and make his fifth start of the season for the Angels in this contest. He comes in 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA, a 1.096 WHIP, five walks and 16 strikeouts over 17.1 innings of work. Detmers earned the win in his previous start, which came at home against the Guardians Thursday. He threw five innings, allowing one run on two hits with one walk and four strikeouts in a 4-1 Angels victory. In his last three starts, Detmers is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, three walks and 13 strikeouts over 13.1 innings of action. Detmers, in his 10th career major league start, pitches against the Red Sox for the first time here. As a result, this marks his first career appearance at Fenway Park as well.
Garrett Whitlock is on the mound for his seventh appearance and third start of the season for the Red Sox in this contest. He comes in 1-1 with one save, a 0.54 ERA, a 0.78 WHIP, four walks and 20 strikeouts over 16.2 innings of work on the year. Whitlock took the loss in his last outing, which was a road start against Toronto Thursday afternoon. He threw three innings, allowing one run (none earned) on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in a game Boston dropped 1-0. Whitlock didn’t factor in the decision in his lone career outing against the Angels, which came in relief on the road on July 7, 2021. He threw a scoreless inning, allowing no hits or walks while striking out three in a 5-4 Red Sox loss. Whitlock is 4-2 with three saves, a 2.16 ERA, a 1.104 WHIP, eight walks and 45 strikeouts over 41.2 innings in 24 career appearances, nine starts, at Fenway Park.
Angels at Red Sox Wednesday, at 7:10 PM EST Rainy According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 51° F with a 69% chance of rain and 5 MPH wind blowing in in Boston at 7:10 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 4, 2022 6:53:23 GMT -5
Mastrodonato: Injured DH J.D. Martinez healthy enough to ignite a lifeless Red Sox offense Sox winning percentage .133 better with Martinez in lineup since 2018
By Jason Mastrodonato | jason.mastrodonato@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald May 4, 2022 at 5:35 a.m.
Is there a more irreplaceable player on the Red Sox’ roster than J.D. Martinez?
If there is, it’s Xander Bogaerts, who the Sox inexplicably turned their backs on as he prepares for a likely exit to the free agent market after the season.
Or Rafael Devers, who could see a similar fate after the 2023 season.
But what the Red Sox have learned over the years since Martinez was brought to Boston in 2018 — and are once again seeing it play out on the field right now — is that no player is as important to the offense as Martinez, whose mere presence in the lineup has increased the Sox’ winning percentage by a large margin.
It was Martinez who gave the Sox a little bit of life late in their 9-5 loss to the last-place Orioles on Sunday. It could’ve been the Sox’ most lopsided loss of the season and would’ve marked a brutal end to an already-disappointing road trip. They had used catcher Kevin Plawecki to pitch the eighth inning and entered the ninth down 9-1, only for Martinez to hit a grand slam and give the Sox a little something to feel good about on their off-day Monday.
Martinez doesn’t know what off-days are.
“You know he didn’t take the day off,” manager Alex Cora said after Martinez homered again in the Sox’ 4-0 win over the Angels on Tuesday. “He was swinging somewhere in the city and working on his thing. That’s what it takes.”
Even in the midst of one of the weirdest injuries of Martinez’s career, a left adductor strain that doesn’t impact his swing but causes him a lot of discomfort when he runs, Martinez didn’t rest on Monday.
He had rested three straight games last week and the Sox scored four total runs without him.
He had rested in four straight games the week before, and the Sox scored just 10 total runs without him.
That’s 14 runs in seven games without Martinez, an average of two runs per game. With him in the lineup, they’ve averaged 4.2 runs per game, which puts them just inside the top-10 of MLB offenses.
“It’s tough to sit back and not be in it,” Martinez said. “I know they were hurting. I see just pressure. That’s the biggest thing I can see. Guys pressing, trying to force things to happen instead of letting it happen. Unfortunately it’s part of the game, being able to handle that stuff.
“But if you look at the end of the year, everybody is going to be there. It’s the law of averages, that’s what it says. It just sucks we started off so low because it cost us some games. We have our work cut out for us. We have to power forward. It’s a new season.”
While the Sox signed Trevor Story to likely replace Bogaerts after this year, and they have Marcelo Mayer and Nick Yorke to play middle infield positions down the road, there’s no clear heir at designated hitter, a position that isn’t terribly hard to fill via free agency, but is hard to fill correctly.
The Sox looked dead when they lost David Ortiz to retirement in 2016, and paid the price with Hanley Ramirez as their DH in 2017.
Martinez changed everything with his arrival in 2018.
That year, they went 102-48 with Martinez in the lineup and 6-6 without him. It wasn’t a huge difference, but enough to notice. And it’s continued every season, right through this year, as they’re now 8-9 with Martinez in the lineup and 2-5 without him.
Overall since he joined the Red Sox, they’ve gone 292-221 (.569) with him and just 24-31 (.436) without him.
“He takes it very seriously,” Cora said. “Sometimes he takes too much of a burden when the offense is not clicking. Kind of like what David used to say, ‘I get paid to hit. If I don’t hit, we don’t score.’
“But that’s not the case. It takes nine guys to do everything possible to score runs. The fact that that guy takes his craft so seriously and he’s so responsible with everything he does offensively, it’s a credit to who he is and he’s been great for us.”
Martinez said he doesn’t think the adductor strain is in the past now, but he can’t be sure until he shows up at the park that day. But even when he’s not playing, he’s hitting.
“The only difference when I’m not playing, I’m still in my brain pretending I’m playing, studying, going to the cage,” he said. “I was able to hit while I was out, fortunately enough. It doesn’t bother me when I hit. Just when I run. I was able to just stay in the rhythm of things, I think.”
It sure looks like it. The Sox need him.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 4, 2022 9:49:05 GMT -5
We were reminded that some things have actually gone right for the Red Sox
By Rob Bradford WEEI 93.7 2 hours ago
Prior to Tuesday night, it was difficult to uncover much optimism when it came to the Red Sox.
That's what one of Major League Baseball's least impactful offenses, along with an eight-game division deficit will do.
But thanks to a tidy 2-hour, 23-minute reminder at Fenway Park - which was punctuated with the Sox beating the Angels, 4-0 - we were offered some glimmers of hope.
There have actually been a few things that have stuck to the blueprint, which this night highlighted.
MICHAEL WACHA
The Red Sox' hunch that Wacha was going to be able to carry over the last two months of his 2021 has been dead-on.
The righty didn't allow a run over his 5 2/3 innings, marking the fourth consecutive start he has gone at least five innings. It is also the third time he has thrown 60 or more pitches in a start of five or more innings, allowing two runs or fewer and four hits or fewer in each of his starts.
Wacha joins Chris Sale (2018) and Bret Saberhagen (1997-98) as the only Red Sox pitchers in franchise history to allow two or fewer and four hits or fewer in five consecutive starts any point in their Red Sox career.
In other words, the one-year, $7 million contract is paying off.
"Everybody knows about him," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora, whose starters have a combined ERA of 3.34. "He came into the scene in ’13 and the way he pitched for that organization, getting to the World Series, it was eye-opening. I do believe, he’s only (30). He prepares, he understands information and he wants to keep getting better. Like I said before, Rich (Hill) and him, you add them to Nate (Eovaldi), it’s kind of like veterans that have been there, done that, understand what it takes to go out there every five days. The preparation, not only scouting report-wise but in the weight room and the training room and the way they talk the game in the dugout, it’s a pleasure to have them."
J.D. MARTINEZ
His absence had been noticeable. As has his inclusion the lineup when not sidelined.
Martinez managed two more hits, including his third homer of the season. It boosted the designated hitter's batting average to .317 and OPS to .959, having gone 5-for-9 since his two-game return from an abductor muscle strain.
The Red Sox are now 2-5 when Martinez is not in the lineup.
"It doesn’t bother me when I swing. Just when I run. Running out of the box and stuff," Martinez noted. He added, "It’s one of those things I said was listen, if it’s going to bother me and come on and off where I have to miss three or four games in a row, I’d rather just go on the 10, get healthy and come back.’ They’re like, ‘it’s just one of those things you have to monitor.’ I tweaked it and went out there after five days and immediately hit a couple doubles and had to leg them out right away. It’s one of those things where it just kind of got pissed off. But now I’m just Cadillacing. I’m channeling my inner Dougie (Alex Verdugo)."
“He works so hard at what he does," Cora said. "There were a few swings in Baltimore, actually I said the at-bat before the homer, it felt like he was getting very close to who he is. He drove that ball to right field, of course. He’s just relentless. That’s the word. You talk about yesterday, Pete was talking about how refreshing it was for us, you know he didn’t take the day off. He was swinging somewhere in the city and working on his thing. That’s what it takes. He takes it very serious. Sometimes he takes too much burden when the offense is not clicking. Kind of like what David used to say. I get paid to hit. If I don’t hit, we don’t score. But that’s not the case. It takes nine guys to do everything possible to score runs. The fact that that guy, he takes his craft so seriously and he’s so responsible at everything he does offensively, it’s a credit to who he is and he’s been great for us."
XANDER BOGAERTS
Bogaerts has been the one constant in this Red Sox lineup this season, hitting .356 with an .893 OPS after reaching base for an eighth-straight start Tuesday night.
But what hasn't quite been defined is whatever progress he might have made defensively. Against the Angels, Bogaerts sent a message with a couple of eye-opening plays.
Considering how good Rafael Devers has been to the right of him, the defense emanating from the left side of Red Sox' infield certainly hasn't been the concern some thought it might be.
"It’s fun to watch," Cora noted. "Obviously, you see the errors (4) and he’s hard on himself. The other day, he didn’t set his feet and he threw it away. Today the same play and he set his feet and throws it. It’s been good. So far, even the big guy (Devers) today, he made his first error in I don’t know how many games but he played great defensively. We turned some double plays. Trevor feels a lot more comfortable there and it’s good to see them bouncing around and making plays. It’s been refreshing, to be honest with you."
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 4, 2022 9:50:13 GMT -5
An under-the-radar big difference for Garrett Whitlock By Rob Bradford WEEI 93.7 an hour ago
New season, same Garrett Whitlock. At least that's how it feels for Red Sox fans were first started jumping on the pitcher's bandwagon just about this time a year ago.
Heading into his Wednesday night start, Whitlock carries a 0.54 ERA over his 16 2/3 innings, striking out 20 and walking just four. There just hasn't been many of examples of the righty not being dominant while wearing a Red Sox uniform.
But there is a difference. It's subtle, but, according to Whitlock, pretty impactful.
Thanks in part to the help of Nathan Eovaldi, Whitlock has sneakily transformed his 6-foot-5 frame thanks to a conscious effort to change some bad eating habits.
When the 2021 season ended, Whitlock weighed 223 pounds while carrying 16 percent body fat. Now? He is at 210 pounds with a body-fat ratio of 12 percent.
"I was perfectly fine with the weight, but it wasn’t good weight," Whitlock told WEEI.com. "I wanted to focus on losing body fat and getting more lean muscle.
"The body feels better. I feel like I’m in better overall shape. It’s mostly just trying to be in better condition, and not run out of gas. I kind of feel the same pitching, but it’s every day. Last year was the first time I went through 162 (games) and this year I know what my body needs to do in order to be the same all the way through."
He added, "Toward the end of last year I noticed … It was a big difference between my food and big-league food. I was enjoying that big-league food, I guess. I just caught myself eating too much so I consciously made a change."
So, of course Whitlock turned to the teammate he says has "zero" body fat: Eovaldi.
They started with some offseason advice, and then carried over the good habits to spring training with Whitlock living with Eovaldi, Connor Wong and Kevin Plawecki.
"It wasn’t like I gave up anything. I stopped eating out as much. I really talked to Evo about how to pick the right diet and he took me under his wing," Whitlock explained.
"I guess it’s tough, but mentally I was like, ‘I have to do this for my job.’ So I just had to have discipline and do it. ... I definitely feel fast and I feel athletic. The body is moving good."
It certainly seems that way.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 4, 2022 13:38:14 GMT -5
Game 25: Angels at Red Sox lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated May 4, 2022, 11:16 a.m. After posting their second shutout of the season, the Red Sox continue their three-game series with the Angels at Fenway Park Wednesday. Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez smacked solo home runs in the 4-0 win Tuesday night. The Angels were blanked for the second straight day. Garrett Whitlock is set to make his seventh appearance of the season and third start for the Red Sox. Here is a preview. Lineups ANGELS (15-10): 1. Brandon Marsh (L) RF 2. Mike Trout (R) CF 3. Shohei Ohtani (L) DH 4. Anthony Rendon (R) 3B 5. Jared Walsh (L) 1B 6. Jose Rojas (L) LF 7. Max Stassi (R) C 8. Tyler Wade (L) 2B 9. Andrew Velazquez (S) SS Pitching: LHP Reid Detmers (1-1, 5.19 ERA) RED SOX (10-14): 1. Trevor Story (R) 2B 2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 4. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 5. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF 6. Alex Verdugo (L) LF 7. Christian Vazquez (R) C 8. Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B 9. Christian Arroyo (R) RF Pitching: RHP Garrett Whitlock (1-1, 0.54 ERA) Time: 7:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN+, WEEI-FM 93.7 Angels vs. Whitlock: Kurt Suzuki 0-1, Taylor Ward 0-1 Red Sox vs. Detmers: Has not faced any Boston batters Stat of the day: Red Sox starters have allowed two runs or fewer in 11 of the last 12 games (1.75 ERA, 12 ER, 61⅔ IP), including eight runs total over their last 10 (49⅔ IP, 1.45 ERA). Notes: Whitlock has worked well in both starting and relief roles this season, striking out 20 while allowing just one earned run in 16⅔ innings … Wednesday will mark Whitlock’s second career appearance against the Angels. He struck out the side in one inning during a Boston loss last July 7 … Detmers earned his first win of the season last Thursday against Cleveland. He worked five innings of two-hit, one-run ball, with four strikeouts … Rafael Devers the only player in the majors with two hitting streaks of at least nine games in 2022. He has at least one hit in 21 of his 24 games this season. Song of the Day: Duran Duran: The Reflexwww.youtube.com/watch?v=J5ebkj9x5Ko
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 4, 2022 14:37:21 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 43m No May flowers. Only a tarp.
|
|