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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2022 2:53:02 GMT -5
The Red Sox are flat-out wasting Garrett Whitlock Current Time 0:20 / Duration 1:44
By Rob Bradford WEEI 93.7 4 hours ago
While the Red Sox were melting down in what would be a 10-4, 10-inning loss to the Angels Wednesday night - losing leads three different times - a story came out in the Athletic, ranking baseball's best aces.
The starting pitcher who earlier in the evening had struck out nine hitters over five innings, exiting with an ERA of 1.25, was not on the list. Why? Because Whitlock and the Red Sox are caught in a no man's land that has both the pitcher and the team in a spot neither should be finding themselves.
Whitlock should be an ace. The kind of starter that enters into the conversations with Corbin Burnes, Jacob deGrom, Gerrit Cole, Max Scherzer and the rest. But, unfortunately for all involved, that is has no longer become an option.
As good as Whitlock has been in his brief return to life as a starter, the construction of the Red Sox roster simply won't allow him to live that life. He is needed elsewhere. In fact, he is really needed everywhere, but priorities are priorities. And as Wednesday's debacle showed, the Red Sox' life support will be officially unplugged if the best pitcher on the team isn't around at the end of games to save the day.
Chaim Bloom rolled the dice by banking on the game-ending potential of one pitcher (Hansel Robles) who came to camp on a minor-league deal, and another (Jake Diekman) who has given up eight hits and seven walks in 8 2/3 innings. The backup plan hasn't worked, with Matt Barnes' struggles continuing, this time in the form of four runs in just 2/3 innings, pushing his ERA to 8.64.
The dagger this time around came when Diekman came in with two outs and two on in the ninth inning, proceeding to surrender a game-tying single to Jared Walsh on what would be a nine-pitch at-bat. (Of the nine pitches, eight were sliders.)
There are pieces of this bullpen that certainly could be useful when piecing together the uncertain innings after each starter. But there has to be some reliability to find that final out, and, as we were reminded once again - (they are a horrific 5-for-12 in save opportunities) - that has not been locked in on.
"You guys know I like structure. I like it," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "We tried the whole ace reliever in 2019 if I’m not mistaken. It’s different than this, of course. We’ve got some guys where ... the three lefties gives us an advantage on certain days. Today we had the two. ... (Matt) Strahm did great. But I think it’s one of those that we would love somebody to step up and be consistent to throw strikes, go through three batters and turn the page. That’d be great so we could actually set up the sixth, the seventh, the eighth. But so far, we’ve been up and down with this. We’ve been inconsistent. Trusting the players we have, the talent we have, somebody will step up."
Unfortunately for those hoping enjoy the stylings of ace starter Garrett Whitlock, that somebody will have to be ace reliever Garrett Whitlock.
As bizarre as it may seem, it sure feels like getting that final out seems a whole lot more important than the 15 to begin the game. That is the world these Red Sox are living in.
"It all depends how you see it," Cora said of the role of Whitlock, who struck out six of the first eight batters he faced, including his first four. "He gave us 15 outs. Everybody has to do their job at the end of the day. We cannot rely on one guy. We saw what he did last year, what he did early on. He’s done an amazing job starting for us too. He did it in Tampa, in Toronto and tonight. Really doesn’t matter, he’s not going to pitch every day. The other guys have to step up and so far it’s been inconsistent."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2022 2:56:38 GMT -5
Matt Barnes: 'I have to figure my s— out' By Rob Bradford WEEI 93.7 2 hours ago
One year ago Matt Barnes was living life as one of Major League Baseball's best closers.
By the time Cinco de Mayo hit, he was 7-for-7 in save opportunities, striking out 26 and walking just three in 16 innings. Opponents had a measly .113 batting average against Barnes, whose ERA stood at 2.25.
He was simply daring hitters to catch up to a 97 mph fastball, while watching them flail at one of the game's best curveballs.
Now? Think whatever would be the exact opposite.
After allowing four runs in his 2/3 innings - paving the way for a six-run 10th inning for the Angels on the way to a 10-5 loss for the Red Sox Wednesday night - Barnes is living a very different life than 365 days before.
"Listen, the starters have done an unbelievable job," said Barnes, referencing a group that has now held their opponents to a .183 batting average in the last 13 games. "They have been putting up zeroes left and right. The offense is doing their part. It’s our job to come in and lock down ballgames. A lot of that falls on me. I’ve been terrible. Let’s just call a spade a spade. So I have to figure my (expletive) out. We’re going to get there. I’m working on it every day and feeling better every day. I know the results are terrible, but I’m not going to stop. It’s definitely frustrating."
His ERA stands at 8.64, striking out just six while walking five in 8 1/3 innings. The overpowering fastball of early 2021 has become not only two mph slower, but doesn't carry the spin of a year ago. Same goes for his curveball.
"It’s a lot easier to get swings and misses with 97 than it is with 93," Barnes said. "Ninety-seven allows the curveball to play that much more. I’ve always been a guy throughout my career whose command has come and gone periodically, but I’ve always had stuff. I’ve always had the ability to go out there and if I got my stuff and got in a jam I could get out of it. It’s definitely frustrating. I don’t know if there is a rhyme or a reason.
"But, like I said, we’re going to continue to work. The ball feels pretty good coming out of my hand. We’re just not there yet. We’ve got a lot of games left and this team is really good. Everybody in here believes in what we’re doing and what we’re going to accomplish at the end of the year, but personally, I’ve got to pick my (expletive) up."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2022 2:58:47 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 5h The Red Sox lead the big leagues in one-run losses and extra-innings losses.
There have been 20 blown saves this year in the 9th inning or later. The Red Sox have 4 of them. No other team has more than 2.
Asked Chaim Bloom a couple of days ago about the Red Sox' blown saves and state of bullpen: "The more you’re asking of guys, the more there’s a chance for them not to deliver. ... We're pretty happy with the guys we added."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2022 3:04:14 GMT -5
Matt Barnes takes responsibility as Red Sox’ bullpen issues mount: ‘I’ve been terrible’ ERA falls to 8.64 after Wednesday’s 10-5 loss
By Steve Hewitt | stephen.hewitt@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald May 5, 2022 at 12:30 a.m.
The Red Sox need a better version of Matt Barnes, and he knows it.
After another poor outing as part of another Red Sox bullpen meltdown in their 10-5 loss to the Angels on Wednesday, Barnes’ ERA is at 8.64 in 10 appearances this season. He didn’t hide from his struggles.
“I’ve been terrible,” Barnes said. “Let’s just call a spade a spade, right? So I gotta figure my (expletive) out. We’re going to get there. I’m working on it every day and feeling better every day. I know the results are terrible, but we’re not going to stop. It’s definitely frustrating.”
Red Sox manager Alex Cora has been hoping Barnes can regain the form to reclaim his role as the team’s closer after his disastrous second half in 2021, but it doesn’t seem like the veteran has made significant progress.
On Wednesday, it unraveled quickly on him. The Red Sox had already taken their seventh blown save of the season after blowing a ninth-inning lead when Cora summoned Barnes for the 10th, and he actually had a chance to pitch a clean inning after two quick outs. But Taylor Ward crushed Barnes’ 94.5-mph fastball to left for the go-ahead two-run homer, and that opened the floodgates for the Angels.
Barnes’ fastball still isn’t where he wants it. It averaged 93.5 mph on Wednesday, And to make matters more frustrating, he felt like he found something while playing catch before his latest outing. But it obviously didn’t translate to the game.
“That’s the most frustrating part,” Barnes said. “I was just playing catch today and I felt something click, and I was like, ‘Oh, that felt really good.’ It’s easy to say it feels good when I’m playing catch at 75-80 percent without a slope and hitters and things like that. I can’t get on the mound and start thinking about what I’m trying to do mechanically. I have to go out there and try and do my best to compete. But it’s definitely frustrating. We’re going to keep working. But a lot of this falls on me. I’m just not being good.”
Barnes is likely blaming himself for the bullpen’s problems because he knows his struggles since last season have put them in a difficult position, and without a trusted closer. After a stellar first half in 2021 that made him a first-time All-Star and earned him a two-year extension, he’s suffered a stunning fall. In 28 regular season appearances since the start of last August, Barnes has produced a 9.00 ERA.
“You have to keep working with him, that’s the bottom line,” Cora said. “He threw some good breaking balls. The fastball is not there. It’s not a lack of work. He’s doing everything possible to get his mechanics where he’s supposed to be. (Pitching coaches) Bushy (Dave Bush) and Walk (Kevin Walker), they’re locked in with him. There are some good days and some days where the fastball is not there, but we just have to keep working on it.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2022 3:14:10 GMT -5
Halos @ Red Sox Thursday, May 5th 2022 1:35pm @ Fenway
Ohtani 2-2/4.19
Hill 0-0/3.71
Los Angeles Angels vs. Boston Red Sox Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 1:35pm EDT Written by David Delano
Ohtani takes on Fenway Park After the first 25 games, Los Angeles is first in the AL West, 1.5 games ahead of the Houston Astros. The Angels have not finished a season in first place since 2014 when Mike Tout won the first of his three MVP awards. The Angels dropped their second straight game on Tuesday as they were shut out on consecutive days.
Even with the recent cold spell, the Angels have performed well offensively this season. They are third in MLB with a .732 OPS, fifth averaging 1.15 home runs per game, eighth with a .244 team batting average, and 11th averaging 4.5 runs per game. Brandon Marsh leads all Angels with 15 RBI, and Mike Trout leads Halos with six home runs, followed by Taylor Ward with five homers. 2021 AL MVP Shohei Ohtani leads the team with four stolen bases and has four home runs and 12 RBI.
Ohtani (2-2, 4.19 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) is scheduled to make his fifth pitching start of the season on Thursday. Ohtani is 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA in two career starts against Boston as a pitcher. As a hitter, Ohtani is batting .268 with three home runs, nine RBI, and no stolen bases in 14 games against the Red Sox. Ohtani's last start was on April 27, when he allowed two earned runs and five hits in five innings against Cleveland.
Red Sox falling out of contention early The season is young, but the American League East is highly competitive, with the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Rays looking to be legit pennant contenders this year. Boston is currently fourth in the division and already eight games out of first place after only 24 games.
The Boston Red Sox offense has struggled this season, ranking 20th with a .231 team batting average, 23rd with a .631 OPS, 24th scoring 3.6 runs per game, and 25th averaging 0.61 home runs per contest. Alex Verdugo and J.D Martinez both have hit three home runs this season and are tied for the club lead with 13 RBI. Rafael Devers leads the team with four home runs and has driven in 10 runs.
Rich Hill (0-1, 3,71 ERA, 1.29 WHIP) is scheduled to make his fifth start of the season on Thursday. In eight career appearances against the Angles, Hill is 0-1 with a 4.86 ERA. On Friday against Baltimore, Hill tossed four shutout innings, allowing only one hit.
Angels at Red Sox Thursday, at 1:35 PM EST Partly Cloudy According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 59° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 6 MPH wind blowing left to right in Boston at 1:35 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2022 8:44:37 GMT -5
So the "game plan" today... 4 innings of Hill regardless if he is cruising or not Houck for no more than a turn thru the line up then: - gas can gang -pray for rain -asteroid strikes
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2022 9:25:01 GMT -5
Game 26: Angels at Red Sox lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated May 5, 2022, 4 minutes ago We’ve got day baseball! Now for the bad news: The Red Sox saw the bullpen implode Wednesday night in a 10-5 loss, snapping their win streak at one. They are now eight games behind the Yankees in the American League East just 25 games into the season. They could still take the series with a win this afternoon. To do so, they’ll have to beat Shohei Ohtani, who is making his first start at Fenway. The Red Sox will counter with Rich Hill. Here is a preview. Lineups ANGELS (16-10):1. Taylor Ward (R) RF 2. David Fletcher (R) 2B 3. Shohei Ohtani (L) P 4. Anthony Rendon (R) 3B 5. Jared Walsh (L) 1B 6. Max Stassi (R) C 7. Jack Mayfield (R) LF 8. Brandon Marsh (L) CF 9. Andrew Velazquez (S) SS Pitching: RHP Shohei Ohtani (2-2, 4.19 ERA) RED SOX (10-15): 1. Trevor Story (R) 2B 2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 4. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 5. Alex Verdugo (L) LF 6. Franchy Cordero (L) RF 7. Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B 8. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF 9. Kevin Plawecki (R) C Pitching: LHP Rich Hill (0-1, 3.71 ERA) Time: 1:35 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Angels vs. Hill: David Fletcher 0-1, Anthony Rendon 2-3, Kurt Suzuki 1-4, Mike Trout 0-1, Tyler Wade 1-2 Red Sox vs. Ohtani: Christian Arroyo 0-3, Xander Bogaerts 0-3, Jackie Bradley Jr. 1-1, Rafael Devers 1-4, Kiké Hernández 1-3, J.D. Martinez 1-3, Trevor Story 0-2, Alex Verdugo 1-3, Christian Vázquez 0-0 Stat of the day: The Red Sox have played the most extra-inning games in MLB this year, dropping all five.Notes: Hill has faced the Angels eight times in his career with only two starts, the last one in 2017. He has allowed nine runs and 10 hits over 12⅓ innings in those two starts. … Ohtani had his fifth start of the season delayed after he suffered right groin tightness Sunday against the Chicago White Sox. He has allowed five earned runs over nine career innings (two starts) against the Red Sox. … Sox starters have held opponents to a .183 AVG (42-for-230) over their last 13 games. … The Sox have homered in four of their last five games (five total home runs), including each of the last three, after hitting one over their previous 10 games. Song of the Day:Golden earring - Twilight zonewww.youtube.com/watch?v=a1sf2CzEq0w
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2022 10:26:57 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 14m Kiké Hernandez is not in the lineup because he feels sick. Team hopes it’s not virus related
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2022 11:38:23 GMT -5
Steve Hewitt @steve_hewitt · 29m Red Sox tickets still available as low as $17 on StubHub less than 90 minutes before first pitch for Shohei Ohtani's first pitching start at Fenway. Great weather day too if you can make it.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2022 13:24:13 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 11m Nine up, nine down for Rich Hill, at about a clip of 10 pitches per inning.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2022 13:31:23 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 1m Jackie Bradley Jr. lost a Shohei Ohtani skyscraper in the sun. It clanked off the angled part of the bullpen wall in the triangle. Hill is a) unlucky Bradley lost it and b) lucky the ball wasn't two feet further to the right. Single puts runners on first-and-third.
Houck is warming with two on and one out in the fourth.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2022 13:41:11 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 1m Through 50 pitches, Ohtani has thrown 42 strikes. Insane.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2022 13:49:42 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 6m Ohtani: 53 pitches, 45 strikes, 16 swings/misses. Amazing.
Rich Hill gets Stassi to swing over a two-plane breaker. He has 5 Ks through 4 1/3 shutout innings.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2022 13:56:28 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 5m Hill fans Brandon Marsh on a breaking ball. 5 scoreless innings, one hit, one walk, 6 strikeouts. Hill's ERA drops to 2.86.
Bradley, who flew out to the warning track in his first PA, doubles down the RF line on a two-strike splitter in his second PA. Bradley is having very good PAs at Fenway.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 5, 2022 14:03:55 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 4m Story hears some boos for what I think is the first time after a strikeout on an Ohtani slider. He's 0-for-3 with 3 Ks. He'd had to be ready for high-90s -- Ohtani has been pounding him with fastballs -- and couldn't check on the breaking ball. 3 Ks on 3 different pitch types.
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