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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 11, 2022 23:47:34 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 3h Ball four Will Robinson. Danger! Danger!
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 11, 2022 23:48:15 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 3h No player should get screwed like that on a call. But bases loaded, two outs, 3-3 game and the backup catcher works a tough at-bat and wins it only to get hosed.
Brutal.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 11, 2022 23:50:13 GMT -5
Red Sox 3, Braves 5: Another walk-off loss
“This is getting old.” - Dennis Eckersley (and everyone else) By Bob Osgood May 11, 2022, 11:15pm EDT 2 Comments
We could have gone back into the archives and copied and pasted much of this recap but, at the end of the day, chose to write it up from scratch. The starting pitcher kept the team in the game, the bats went cold in the late innings, the opponent walked it off, and, for the eighth consecutive time, the Red Sox did not win a series. Nathan Eovaldi had to battle through one tough inning but had his good stuff overall and found his way to a quality start against the defending champions. The Sox got some key hits early, including the first home run of Trevor Story’s Boston career, and built up a 3-0 lead. Ultimately, after a lot of punchless and scoreless innings, a horrendous call from the home plate umpire which may have sent the game an entirely different direction, and one bad pitch from Ryan Brasier, our final score was Braves 5, Red Sox 3.
Both teams went 1-2-3 in the first inning. After a quick top of the inning from Braves starter Ian Anderson, the bottom half opened with an outstanding catch by Alex Verdugo on a line drive off the bat of Dansby Swanson. Verdugo broke in on the ball and made a diving catch. Eovaldi’s splitter was filthy in the early going, getting a few swings and misses on the pitch leading to strikeouts of Matt Olson and Travis d’Arnaud. In fact, the Braves swung at 12 splitters over the course of the game, missing seven of them, a 58 percent whiff rate.
The action started in the second when Alex Verdugo roped a one-out double down the right field line. He was followed by Trevor Story who hit his first home run in a Red Sox uniform, and it was a no doubter. A 408-foot shot to dead center field with a 105.8 mph exit velocity to give the Sox a 2-0 lead. Eovaldi once again rolled through the bottom of the inning, inducing a couple of weak outs followed by a line out by Ozzie Albies.
The Red Sox extended the lead in the third inning, despite having the potential for more. Jackie Bradley Jr. ripped a curve ball into right field but was then caught stealing easily for the first out. With two outs, Rafael Devers doubled to deep right field before being knocked in by a lined single to center field by J.D. Martinez who continues to contribute on a nightly basis. The throw home was close, but Devers slid in safely. Taking a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the inning, a string of seven straight batters retired to start the game for Eovaldi went south fast. After an Orlando Arcia single (remember that name), nine-hitter Travis Demeritte crushed a 415-foot bomb to quickly cut the lead to 3-2. After a Dansby Swanson walk and stolen base, Matt Olson tied the game with an RBI double that nearly left the yard, as well, knotting the game at 3-3. To his credit, Eovaldi limited the damage in the inning, and for the remainder of the night, by retiring the next two batters and stranding Olson.
Things calmed down at that point for the foreseeable future. Each team mustered only a baserunner in the fourth and fifth innings combined, an Adam Duvall infield single in the fourth for Atlanta, and a Kevin Plawecki leadoff double in the fifth for Boston. Three straight non-productive outs stranded Plawecki at second.
The fireworks returned in the top of the sixth, leaving the Red Sox with a lighter roster than they arrived to the game with. Martinez’s second single of the game led off the inning and, after a Bogaerts pop out, Verdugo walked to knock Anderson out of the game. Collin McHugh entered the game in relief and got the second out on a Story fielder’s choice before walking Franchy Cordero on four pitches to load the bases for Kevin Plawecki.
Plawecki worked the count full, continuing to lay off tough pitches from McHugh before taking what looked like ball four to presumably walk in the go-ahead run. Home plate umpire Adam Beck rung up Plawecki, who slammed his helmet, added a few words, and was quickly ejected from the game. Alex Cora had no choice but to get run from the game over such a game-changing call, and he certainly got his money’s worth.
Eovaldi battled through the bottom of the sixth, allowing only a one-out double to Austin Riley. A Marcell Ozuna fly to right appeared to have a chance but was caught at the track by Bradley. He had reached Quality Start status when all was said and done, a designation that seemed unlikely during a lengthy third inning.
The Braves brought on lefty A.J. Minter in the seventh who nailed down a quick 1-2-3 inning. A strike two call on Devers before an eventual strikeout was noticeably outside and Adam Beck had gotten under the skin of another Sox player before Devers wisely walked away. Eovaldi came out for the bottom of the seventh, still throwing 98 mph and struck out Duvall before an Arcia single ended his night after 98 pitches. Eovaldi topped out at 99.1 mph on the outing and averaged 97.1 on the fastball. Acting manager Will Venable called on Matt Strahm who many have called in to be the closer by default, in a bullpen of disarray. Strahm continued his dominance, retiring all three batters he faced, including the final two batters of the seventh on strikeouts swinging. The score stayed at 3-3, entering the 8th.
The Braves brought on another lefthander Will Smith who came out swinging like it was the Oscars, striking out two, and only allowing a walk to Bogaerts. In the bottom of the 8th, after Strahm quickly retired Olson on a fly out, righthander John Schreiber was brought on. Having pitched two full innings last night, and earning his first career save, Schreiber got the final two outs with a hit batter sandwiched in between to send the game to the 9th.
In the top of the ninth, former Dodger great Kenley Jansen was brought on for his first Braves appearance against the Red Sox. He did walk Christian Vazquez in his lone plate appearance, after the Plawecki ejection, but struck out two and allowed an inning-ending flyout to Enrique Hernandez who just got under it.
Ryan Brasier opened the ninth, also pitching for the second consecutive night, and this one did not go as smoothly. After Ozzie Albies flicked a tough fastball away into left field, Brasier threw numerous pickoff attempts over to first, concerned about the speedy Albies. Perhaps too concerned, the count was worked to 2-0 and Brasier threw a fastball “middle-middle” to Arcia. His third hit of the game was a 105.2 MPH line shot that landed just over the wall, a 382-foot home run to walk it off for the Braves. The final score: 5-3.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2022 1:54:03 GMT -5
Yes, the Red Sox got hosed by the umps that call strike on Plawecki was just horse shit but it does not change the fact that the gas can gang bullpen is a bigger pile of horse shit and the construction of the roster the biggest pile of horse shit
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2022 1:59:32 GMT -5
It's Story time: Trevor goes deep for 1st time with Sox 2:06 AM ADT Ethan Sands
Ethan Sands @ejelite1
ATLANTA -- The cheers heard from Boston to Atlanta as Trevor Story hit his first homer in a Red Sox uniform signaled the hope that the offense was starting its engines in the two-game series at Truist Park.
As Story rounded the bases, the screams were of hope that the two-time 30-homer hitter could return to his former glory. That vision, mixed with the red-hot top of the lineup led by J.D. Martinez's 13-game hitting streak, is the expectation fans had when the Red Sox signed the former Rockies star to a six-year, $140 million free-agent contract.
"[Story’s] putting [together] good swings," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said after a 5-3 walk-off loss to the Braves that turned on a controversial strike three call. "To see him hitting the ball straight center, that's a good approach, good swing. At that point, up 2-0 and us rolling, it felt like it was gonna be a good offensive night."
Story went into the series batting .194 with an on-base percentage of .276 and a slugging percentage of .269. The most alarming sign for the newly acquired second baseman was that he hadn’t hit a big fly since last year. But Story went 2-for-5 with two RBIs in Tuesday’s 9-4 win. And on Wednesday, he hit a two-run shot a projected 422 feet in the second inning.
Red Sox fans were elated at Truist Park and on social media when Story’s first long ball in 125 plate appearances landed in the trees in dead center field. That snapped the longest home run drought of Story’s career. His previous long was 116 plate appearances from September 2020 to April 2021.
But it'll take the whole lineup getting into a groove to get the bats to take off.
"Everybody's important," Cora said. "We've been talking about the struggles, these team struggles, and when we're going good it's everybody doing their job."
Boston’s two through four hitters Wednesday -- Rafael Devers, Martinez and Xander Bogaerts -- are all batting .295 or better. Bogaerts and Devers are tied for second in the American League in hits (40, one behind Seattle's Ty France), and Martinez, who tied for the Major League lead with 42 doubles last year, is tied for third this year with 10.
In other words, the potentially powerful Boston lineup is beginning to wake up as Story adjusts to his new home.
The Red Sox went into the Atlanta series on a five-game losing streak and with little offensive production. They head to Arlington to begin a series against the Rangers on Friday with signs of improvement and of getting into a rhythm.
"I do believe that the last few days offensively, as far as like swinging and being patient and working counts, all that, has been a lot better compared to before,” Cora said. “So hopefully, we can take that to Texas and do the same thing. And if we do that the offense is gonna wake up." Get the latest from the Red Sox
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The Red Sox’s five through nine batters had hit .192 (102-for-532) this season entering Wednesday's game. The bottom of the order showed promise in the sixth inning when it loaded the bases. But a controversial third strike call on Kevin Plawecki ended the threat and spoiled a potentially big inning.
"That's what we're trying to accomplish,” Cora said. “The bottom part of the lineup set up the table for the big boys, and they do what they do."
The game's momentum was further turned when Cora and Plawecki were ejected for arguing the strike call. Ball four would have given the Red Sox a 4-3 lead, and Boston was hopeful that if the lineup had turned over, they could bust the game open.
"We've talked about as a group grinding out [at-bats], and we did another good job with that tonight," Plawecki said. "Ball out of the hand ended up a ball called a strike [which] cost us a run, and [it] changed the trajectory of the game and the way it goes moving forward."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2022 2:04:25 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 4h
Red Sox are 11-20. Bullpen falters yet again in the late innings.
Boston will be left wondering about that 6th inning. Kevin Plawecki and Alex Cora ejected, a chance to snap a 3-3 tie taken away. But also, nothing offensively with the last nine outs.
Two ways to see this. Sure, the Red Sox could have signed a solid bullpen arm. Don't disagree.
But they also could be using Garrett Whitlock/Tanner Houck in leverage roles had they added a real starter. Bringing in James Paxton -- who they knew wouldn't be available -- was weak.
This was shoddy roster construction from the start. Everyone could see it. Add a handful of injuries and it's even more exposed.
The Red Sox have 131 games left. They need to post a 79-52 record to reach 90 wins. That's .603 baseball from here.
Huge challenge.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2022 2:07:08 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h Don't hold your breath on any public accountability for Adam Beck. MLB really doesn't care if its umpires miss pitches by that much (7). Kevin Plawecki and Alex Cora were just ejected because Beck was wrong. What a farce.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2022 2:12:36 GMT -5
Ryan Brasier gives up ninth-inning walkoff home run, and other observations from Red Sox’ loss to Braves By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated May 11, 2022, 10:48 p.m.
ATLANTA — Neither team had scored since the third inning Wednesday night at Truist Park. Christian Vázquez negotiated a one-out walk in the top of the ninth against Braves closer Kenley Jansen, but that amounted to nothing after a Jackie Bradley Jr. strikeout and a Kiké Hernández fly out.
So Ryan Brasier came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth for the Red Sox with the game tied, 3-3. Ozzie Albies led off with a single to left. And then with one out in the frame, Orlando Arcia belted a two-run walkoff homer to left field. The Sox lost, 5-3, splitting the two-game set with the Braves. The Sox haven’t still haven’t won a series since taking two of three from the Tigers (April 11-13).
If there’s an inning that likely stings the most from Wednesday’s defeat, it’s one that was out of their control: the top of the sixth.
The Red Sox had some momentum in the top of the frame, only to have it snatched away by home plate umpire Adam Beck. With the bases loaded and the count three and two, Kevin Plawecki took what he thought should have been ball four low. Instead, Beck called it a strike to end the inning and keep the game tied at 3. The pitch was well below the zone. Both Plawecki and manager Alex Cora were ejected for arguing.
“It at least cost us one run,” Plawecki said afterward. “If not more. It stinks. Terrible.”
Observations from the game:
▪ Plawecki felt Beck had a consistent zone all evening. But he knew Beck missed that call even without seeing the replay (though Plawecki did watch it following his ejection).
“I know he’s human,” Plawecki said. “But in that situation, in that spot, let’s be better than that.”
▪ Ultimately, though, the Sox know that’s not the only moment that cost them the game.
“We have to complete games,” Cora said. “We’ve been very close to completing games but we are where we are because we haven’t done it.”
Beck made the bad call in the sixth. That left the Sox with three chances to make something happen and they failed. The Red Sox were 2 for 8 with runners in scoring position, leaving seven runners on base. Not the worst evening, but the Sox should have figured out a way to push a runner across.
▪ Trevor Story scoured video while seated at his locker Tuesday afternoon, studying the Braves pitching staff. He flipped from clip to clip, dissecting his opponent carefully. He leaned back in his chair before closing his laptop and leaving the clubhouse.
Story went 2 for 5 that night, driving in two in a 9-4 victory.
On Wednesday, Story hit his first homer with the Red Sox, a two-run shot in the top of the second inning off Ian Anderson. The ball traveled 422 feet to dead center field, landing in the bushes behind the 400-foot mark. It took Story 26 games, the longest he had gone without a homer in his career.
This is the Story the Red Sox will need if they are going to change the course of their season. The rest of the lineup needs to hit, but Story’s struggles offensively have played a role in the Sox’ funk.
His productive presence can only help.
▪ J.D. Martinez extended his hit streak to 13 games with an RBI single in the top of the third.
▪ Nate Eovaldi was really good. The Red Sox starter went 6⅓ innings, striking out six. But homers continue to haunt Eovaldi. He relinquished his ninth of the season — which leads the majors — when Travis Demeritte blistered a two-run shot to left in the bottom of the third.
“It’s definitely frustrating giving up home runs,” said Eovaldi, who didn’t allow a homer until his 10th start last year. “We said it would come when you’re attacking the zone and things like that, but I don’t really have an answer.
Yet Eovaldi believes it wasn’t so much the homer that hurt him that inning, but the walk to Dansby Swanson and Swanson stealing second. Matt Olson then drilled an RBI double off the base of the left-center field wall.
▪ The Sox have lost five games in walkoff fashion, which leads the majors. Yet despite another crushing defeat, the team feels as though the offense is beginning to click heading into their series with the Rangers which begins Friday.
“We’re swinging at more balls in the zone, keeping the line moving,” Plawecki said. “The at-bats are getting better. Hopefully we continue to keep getting better.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2022 2:15:38 GMT -5
John Schreiber quickly gets up to speed, makes a big impact in Red Sox bullpen By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated May 11, 2022, 8:39 p.m. 4
ATLANTA — John Schreiber played at the University of Northwestern Ohio, an NAIA school that also had a stock car racing team.
A baseball hotbed it was not. But the Racers — they really do like their cars at UNOH — were the first program to offer him a scholarship and that was all Schreiber needed to hear after a year of playing at Henry Ford Junior College.
“I jumped on it right away,” he said.
That was six years ago and Schreiber remains the only player in school history to make it to the major leagues. He may be there for a while, too.
It’s not a particularly high bar to clear, but Schreiber has been one of the most effective pitchers in the Red Sox bullpen this season.
The 28-year-old righthander has appeared in six games and worked seven scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and striking out six without a walk.
Schreiber was perfect for two innings in Tuesday night’s 9-4 victory against the Braves, earning his first career save. The team presented him with an authenticated game ball afterward.
“That’s going to be on display in my house,” Schreiber said Wednesday. “It took a long time to get that ball.”
The Red Sox claimed Schreiber off waivers from the Tigers during spring training in 2021, believing his sidearm delivery offered a useful variation from their other righthanded relievers.
Simply put, many pitchers work up and down to combat launch-angled swings. They throw fastballs up in the strike zone and breaking balls down.
Schreiber works side to side with a slider, a four-seam fastball, and a sinker.
“A sidearm sinker like he has is nasty,” catcher Christian Vázquez said. “He’s been good for us.”
Schreiber’s also aggressive, throwing 69 percent of his pitches for strikes.
“He attacks hitters,” manager Alex Cora said.
Schreiber pitched well in Triple A last season but appeared in only one major league game. He opened this season in Worcester and was added to the roster on April 25 when the Sox placed unvaccinated Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck on the restricted list before a series in Toronto.
Schreiber was returned to Worcester on April 29 and was back with the Sox on May 6 when Rich Hill was placed on the COVID injured list.
Hill is expected back soon. But somebody else should be going back to Worcester this time.
“He’s given us a big lift,” Cora said of Schreiber.
A native of Wyandotte, Mich., Schreiber grew up a Tigers fan and was rooting like crazy for Detroit against the Sox in the 2013 American League Championship Series.
So much so that he woke up his parents yelling at the television when David Ortiz hit his famed grand slam in the eighth inning of Game 2.
“I was such a Tigers fan,” Schreiber said. “That was hard to watch.”
Schreiber appeared in 28 games for the Tigers from 2019-20 and had a 6.28 earned run average. When he was designated for assignment, the Red Sox had him on their radar.
Triple A pitching coach Paul Abbott cleaned up Schreiber’s mechanics and improved his fastball velocity from 90-91 miles per hour to 92-93. That’s not a huge jump but enough of one to make a difference. Schreiber also embraced working harder in the weight room according to the strength and conditioning staff.
“These [new] guys, we don’t know much about them, about work habits,” Cora said. “It’s night and day compared to last year.”
Said Schreiber: “It didn’t take too long to adjust to a new team. All the guys were awesome. They work hard on helping you improve. It’s been good for me.”
If baseball didn’t work out, Schreiber’s backup plan was to be an accountant and he’s still planning to go back and finish his degree.
That will have to wait. The Red Sox need bullpen help and Schreiber has been reliable. He entered Wednesday night’s game in the eighth inning and got two big outs.
“All you want is opportunity,” Schreiber said. “They’ve given me one and I’m trying to make the most of it.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2022 2:18:09 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Red Sox hoping Rich Hill will be cleared to pitch this weekend against Rangers By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated May 11, 2022, 8:34 p.m.
ATLANTA — The Red Sox are waiting on Rich Hill to produce two negative COVID tests before activating him. Manager Alex Cora said prior to Wednesday night’s 5-3 loss to the Braves that the team is hopeful Hill can pitch Saturday at Texas, then have a bullpen game Sunday. If Hill can’t go Saturday, the Sox would have a bullpen game that night and hope Hill will be ready for a Sunday start.
The Red Sox had Garrett Whitlock slated to start Sunday, but considering he threw 82 pitches in Tuesday night’s start, the Sox felt it prudent to push Whitlock back a day. Tanner Houck won’t start this weekend but will be available out of the bullpen.
Whitlock struggled Tuesday against the Braves, lasting three innings while walking a career-high four. Whitlock also yielded three runs, including a two-run blast by Travis d’Arnaud in the third.
Cora had some thoughts Wednesday after having more time to digest what he saw from Whitlock.
“One thing we always talk about is that we want him to attack,” Cora said. “Regardless if it’s pitching late in the games, or starting the game, and I do believe yesterday we were shy of the strike zone.”
Whitlock tossed 44 sinkers, his go-to pitch, but 18 were balls.
“He’ll be the first one to tell you that he wasn’t aggressive in the strike zone,” Cora said. Martinez on a hot streak
Despite the lackluster offense by the Sox, J.D. Martinez continues to be a consistent force in the lineup. Martinez owns the longest active on-base streak (29 games) and the longest hitting streak, which he extended to 13 games with an RBI single in the top of the third Wednesday. It’s worth noting that Martinez has done this despite battling adductor tightness.
“He recognizes where he’s at right now,” Cora said before the game. “Probably he’ll be the first one to tell you that he’s not locked in. He’s been missing some pitches that he usually drives but he goes to grind and that’s something we’ve been talking about as a group.”
Before Martinez, the most recent Red Sox to reach base safely in the first 23 games of his season was Manny Ramirez in 2001. Martinez entered Wednesday hitting .289/.330/.500 with three homers. Cora said Martinez’s ability to adjust despite not feeling like himself at the plate is the sign of a true pro.
“That’s something we were looking for as a group,” Cora said. “We know where we are, we know we’re going to swing, we’re going to be okay. But at the same time, when you’re going through stuff like this, it’s kind of like, hey, we got to compete with whatever we have.” Bradley feels right at home
Right field is working out for Jackie Bradley Jr. He’s tied for first in outfield defensive runs saves with Padres’ Jurickson Profar (six) and tied for third among outfielders with three assists. Bradley, known for his arm and defense, said he’s learned when to use it and when not to. Related: Red Sox prospect Jarren Duran had a very different major league experience this time
“There’s times where we’re maybe going left to right where you probably want to get it out quick,” Bradley said. “It’s just better to be quicker than harder. Just kind of getting rid of it and letting the infielder handle it. Eighty-five percent of my throws are good enough as long as they’re on target.”
Bradley, normally a center fielder, said there is a difference between throwing from right versus center.
“I don’t have to throw over a mound,” Bradley said. “I’m throwing home. Everything is different. Closer.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2022 2:21:49 GMT -5
Latest blown umpire’s call against Kevin Plawecki, Red Sox was in a terrible spot By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated May 12, 2022, 2 hours ago
ATLANTA — There will likely come a time in the next few years when Major League Baseball announces it is ready to use a tracking device to call balls and strikes instead of an umpire.
There are sure to be loud howls of protest from traditionalists. The human element is part of the game and has been for more than 100 years, they’ll say. Commissioner Rob Manfred is going too far.
Some of those complaints will come from inside the game because not everybody is in favor of robot umps.
That includes Red Sox catcher Kevin Plawecki, even after a terrible call went against him at Truist Park on Wednesday night.
The Red Sox and Braves were tied 3-3 in the sixth inning. The Sox loaded the bases with two outs and had Plawecki at the plate against righthander Collin McHugh.
McHugh had pitched around lefthanded-hitting Franchy Cordero to get to Plawecki, a righthanded hitter.
McHugh got ahead 0-and-2 but Plawecki stayed disciplined and worked the count full. McHugh cracked, throwing a cutter several inches below the strike zone. The Sox had the lead.
Except umpire Adam Beck called the pitch a strike, ending the inning. The software used by MLB.com showed the pitch was two baseballs below the strike zone.
Not one baseball, two. It wasn’t anywhere close to a strike. Tom Glavine, Chipper Jones, or Dale Murphy wouldn’t have called it a strike.
Plawecki looked up in disbelief, then fired his helmet into the dirt. He was immediately ejected by Beck. So was Alex Cora a few seconds after he ran over from the dugout.
Beck actually argued with Cora instead of just listening. He defended his terrible call.
Cora got his money’s worth, staying on the field and repeatedly gesturing to his shins to show Beck where the pitch was.
It didn’t matter. Balls and strikes can’t be challenged.
“That’s a tough job. We know that. We understand that,” Cora said. “Sometimes we agree with them, sometimes we don’t.”
Plawecki wasn’t quite as diplomatic as his manager.
“It’s a terrible call,” he said.
Beck had actually called a good game to that point, Plawecki said.
“I know he’s human just like us. But in that situation, that spot, be better than that,” he said. “Nobody thought it was a strike, even the other side.”
Let’s pause here and acknowledge the bad call occurred in the sixth inning. The Red Sox came to the plate three more times and didn’t have a hit.
Beck’s impersonation of Stevie Wonder cost them a run but didn’t necessarily cost them the game. A good team finds a way to win and the 11-20 Sox aren’t a good team right now.
“We had chances to add on and we had chances to make pitches and we didn’t do it,” Cora said.
As angry as Plawecki was after the game, he still prefers that people call balls and strikes, not a robot.
“I don’t want an electronic strike zone,” he said. “There’s an art to it. Am I mad about the call tonight? Sure. But that doesn’t change my mind.”
Baseball has gone through a period of change the last few years. The designated hitter is universal now and extra innings start with a runner on second base. Pitchers must face three batters unless they end an inning first.
That the ball isn’t juiced any more is something you can’t help but notice.
Improving the pace of the game and getting more balls in play is a worthy goal. The rise of analytics turned baseball into an endless stream of walks, strikeouts, and home runs. Change was necessary.
But how much is too much? Plawecki is right, there is an art to umpiring. If it’s 8-0 in the second inning, a larger strike zone to speed things up is something both teams readily accept.
Umpires shouldn’t have wildly different interpretations of the strike zone. But as long as they’re consistent with their calls, it’s fine. That’s baseball.
But what we saw Wednesday was baseball, too, and it happens far too often. The robots are coming and glaringly bad calls like that invite them.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2022 2:26:56 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 4h 5 walkoff losses for the Red Sox this year. No other team has more than 3.
Just as the Sox have 6 saves - each recorded by a different pitcher - a different pitcher has been on the mound for each of their 5 walkoff losses: Brasier, Sawamura, Strahm, Robles, Crawford. This is a team without any end-of-game consistency.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2022 2:31:36 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox notebook: Alex Cora ejected for second time in four games; ‘Obviously we didn’t agree with it’ Published: May. 12, 2022, 12:28 a.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
ATLANTA — Manager Alex Cora received his second ejection in four games Wednesday.
He rushed out of the dugout after Kevin Plawecki fired down his helmet following a called third strike.
Braves reliever Collin McHugh’s 89 mph cutter landed well below the strike zone. It should have been ball four to force in a run with the bases loaded.
Instead of Boston taking a 4-3 lead, the game remained tied. The Red Sox lost 5-3 on Orlando Arcia’s two-run walkoff homer against Ryan Brasier here at Truist Park.
“Obviously we didn’t agree with it,” Cora said. “At the end of the day, we had chances to add on, we had chances to make pitches and we didn’t do it.”
Home plate umpire Adam Beck ejected Plawecki before Cora made it out there.
“That one, right away we didn’t agree,” Cora said about the missed call. “I tried to get there as soon as possible (to keep Plawecki in the game). But I was a slow player. I’m a slower manager. Plaw, he slammed the helmet and then he let him know and he got thrown out. It’s not frustration at that point. Frustration was probably three days ago in Boston. That one, yeah. But this one it’s just protecting the player and not agreeing with the call.”
Related: Boston Red Sox’s Kevin Plawecki on missed call: ‘It at least cost us one (run). It stinks. Terrible’
Why no Houck?
Houck did not pitch in relief Wednesday. Was he available?
“It all depends,” Cora said. “I don’t want to say in an emergency. But it’s just one of those, you’ve got to be smart about it when to use him and when not to use him. At that point, tie game, Brasier, he’s been doing the job. And just left a fastball 2-0 to Arcia and he hit it out of the ballpark.”
Pivetta to start Friday, Hill possibly Saturday
The Red Sox open a three-game series against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Friday.
Nick Pivetta will start Friday.
The Red Sox hope Rich Hill, who is on COVID list, will be ready to pitch Saturday. Hill no longer is experiencing any symptoms.
If Hill starts Saturday, the Red Sox will go with a bullpen game Sunday. If Hill can’t start until Sunday, the Red Sox will use their bullpen day Saturday.
The Red Sox aren’t committed to Houck starting the bullpen game.
“He’ll be in the bullpen Friday and see how the usage goes, then we’ll decide what we do,” Cora said.
Whitlock to pitch Monday
The Red Sox will give Garrett Whitlock an extra day of rest. He won’t start until the Red Sox return home to Fenway Park on Monday.
“It’s something we were talking about before (his start Tuesday),” Cora said. “And it makes sense. First time he’s started four games in a row. So probably smart to do that.”
When will Sale resume throwing?
Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said Saturday it likely would be a matter of days, not weeks, before Chris Sale resumed throwing.
He has not yet started. And the Red Sox don’t yet have a scheduled date for when he’ll resume his throwing program.
He recently experienced a non-baseball medical issue that caused his throwing program to be paused.
Hernández struggling offensively
Kiké Hernández went 0-for-5 from the leadoff spot Wednesday. He is batting .161 with a .232 on-base percentage, .259 slugging percentage and .491 OPS.
“There’s a few things that are going on right now,” Cora said. “I think the most important thing is he’s getting pitches to hit and he’s not doing damage with it. There’s a lot of balls in the air, empty fly balls. This is a guy that in the zone, he was doing damage last year. Mechanically, he doesn’t feel right. But it’s one of those that especially with the fastball, there’s a lot of mis-hit balls with the fastball.”
Martinez extends his hitting streak to 13 games
J.D. Martinez extended his hitting streak to 13 games with an RBI single in the top of the third inning.
“He recognizes where he’s at right now,” Cora said before the game. “Probably he’ll be the first one to tell you that he’s not locked in. He’s been missing some pitches he usually drives. But goes to grind. And that’s something we’ve been talking about as a group.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2022 2:38:15 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 5h God this team sucks
Jake Diekman and Ryan Brasier are tied for the MLB lead in meltdowns with 5 each.
Sox are probably easily over .500 if they just left Whitlock in the role he was in before going to Toronto
One thing I can't stand is hanging on to mediocre veteran relievers in the name of depth. They are absolutely fungible until you find guys that click.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2022 14:52:50 GMT -5
Red Sox roster moves: Josh Taylor (back) moved to 60-day injured list; Jonathan Araúz sent to WooSox Updated: May. 12, 2022, 2:55 p.m. | Published: May. 12, 2022, 2:51 p.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
The Red Sox aren’t playing Thursday, but they still took some time to make one minor adjustment to their roster.
Boston placed lefty reliever Josh Taylor (mid back strain) on the 60-day injured list and activated infielder Jonathan Araúz from the COVID-19 injured list, the team announced. Araúz was then optioned to Triple-A Worcester, where he has been rehabbing anyway. Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday.
While on the COVID list, Araúz did not take up a 40-man roster. So the move is intended to put him back on the 40-man roster and take the spot of Taylor, who will not count against the 40-player max while on the 60-day IL. Taylor recently experienced a setback while rehabbing with the WooSox and has been shut down from throwing. The lefty isn’t expected back anytime soon and now can’t be activated until the first week of June. The expectation is that he probably won’t be ready to be activated when he’s eligible.
Boston now has 39 players on its 40-man roster because Rich Hill is still on the COVID list. Righty John Schreiber, who has been impressive so far in the majors, is on the active roster but does not count against the 40-man roster because he’s a COVID-related fill-in. When Hill returns (which will likely be sometime this weekend), the Sox will have to return Schreiber to the minors, but it seems likely they’ll call him back up on a more permanent basis. To do so, they’ll have to add him to the 40-man roster and cut another player, likely by designating one for assignment.
Araúz has not played in the big leagues since April 17. He has been rehabbing in Worcester since May 1. Taylor hasn’t pitched in the majors this year after re-aggravating an injury he suffered at the end of last season.
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