Tag Archives: Red Sox

Alex Cora Assessment (So Far)

Firing John Farrell was obviously a change in direction for the Red Sox. Of course Farrell won a World Series and back to back division titles in his five-year tenure as the Sox manager, but he made questionable decisions and was a very dull personality in the clubhouse.

When the Red Sox hired Cora, I, like many others, was extremely excited to see what changes he’d bring. I was really looking forward to seeing how the 2018 season would start and the decisions Cora would make.

2018 has obviously gotten off to a great start, but let’s examine how Cora has done in managing all aspects of the game:

STARTING PITCHING

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There’s not much that Cora can do in terms of situational starting pitching. He basically constructs the rotation, and it’s up to the rotation to how they pitch. This is the harder phase of the game to determine how well a manager is doing.

One thing that Cora has done very well with his starting pitching is workload. We saw in the playoffs last year how gassed Chris Sale was by the time the season ended. Even Sale himself admitted that he burnt out by time the playoffs rolled around.

In 2018 Cora has done a great job of lowering the total amount of pitches that the starters throw during their outing. An extra 10-15 pitches doesn’t seem like much now, but it will pay dividends later in the season.

THE LINEUP

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The lineup is definitely an area that I think Cora could improve upon. I think the 1-2 punch of Betts and Benintendi is a perfect fit. I’m glad that he stuck with the idea of Betts in the lead-off role.

As far as other parts of the lineup, I think there are some improvements to be made. The DFA of Hanley Ramirez came as a surprise to many, including myself. That being said, I am not going to be talking about the first base situation, because Mitch Moreland is without a doubt our everyday first basemen going forward.

One thing that I want Cora to shy away from is using Eduardo Nunez often. I understand that we signed him to a contract this off-season, but I really don’t like watching him play. In his time with the Red Sox last year, he was absolutely fantastic. But he just doesn’t seem to have it this year. This will be easier because Pedroia is back in the lineup, which is another point. If Cora does have to rest Pedroia, I would prefer to see Brock Holt over Nunez, as Holt has had a terrific start to the season.

The catching situation is another interesting story for the Red Sox this summer. So far Cora has used a platoon of Christian Vasquez and Sandy Leon. It makes sense because certain pitchers in the rotation like throwing to certain catchers. I’d rather see a platoon of Leon and Swihart. Vazquez is sometimes good, but I have not been impressed by him on either side of the ball. If I was Cora, I would use Leon as the everyday catcher, with some Blake Swihart starts two or three times a week.

Overall, Cora has done a decent job with the lineup, all things considered.

BULLPEN

One of the most challenging parts of being a manager is dealing with the bullpen. This is an area that Cora has been very good with, but also questionable at times.

Something to consider when assessing how Alex Cora has managed this injured bullpen. Tyler Thornburg, Austin Maddox, and Brandon Workman have yet to throw a pitch in 2018 for the Red Sox.

One thing that Cora has done poorly with is giving certain guys the ball when he shouldn’t. He has repeatedly given the ball to someone like Heath Hembree or Brian Johnson when a starter comes out and men on base. Then things get ugly quickly.

Another mismanagement by Cora is not utilizing the long relievers like Hector Velazquez. There were two straight games in Toronto when there was a perfect opportunity for Velazquez to come in, but Cora gave the ball to Brian Johnson instead.

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One thing Cora has done very well with the bullpen is not being afraid to use Craig Kimbrel when he needs to. He has put Kimbrel in the eighth inning a few times to face the heart of the order, which is a great move.

Another favorable move by Cora is to put faith in Joe Kelly in high leverage situations. Joe Kelly has posted an 0.37 ERA since Opening Day, and I love the fact that Cora has been riding him into the ninth night in and night out.

Overall, considering the injuries the Red Sox have faced, I think Alex Cora has done a tremendous job. He has some areas to improve upon, but you can’t be mad at someone who is managing the best team in baseball.

Previewing the Sox: 5/28-6/3

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The previous week (5/20-5/27) for the Red Sox has been an encouraging one to say the least. They took two out of three from the Tampa Bay Rays and the first place (at the time) Atlanta Braves. The offensive player of the week is Andrew Benintendi (.353/.455/.824, 1.278 OPS, 223 wRC+). The pitcher of the week is Eduardo Rodriguez, who got two wins while posting up a 1.59 ERA with 14 strikeouts, three walks and two earned runs. This is evidence of two players who needed to have a great week like this. Will these performances kick-start the players into performing at a better rate? Only time will tell.

Glancing Ahead

Looking ahead to this week, the Sox play the Toronto Blue Jays at home for three games, and then travel to Houston for a four game showdown with the Astros. The Astros split their four game series with the Cleveland Indians, and will also be playing the Yankees for the first three game series of this week. Focusing on the Astros series, the probable pitchers look to be Pomeranz, Sale, Price, and Porcello. For the Astros, it looks to be McCullers Jr., Cole, Verlander, and Morton. The Sox seem to be facing the best of the best as both Verlander and Cole are ranked first and second in ERA in the American League (1.08 and 1.86 respectively). Also, George Springer and Alex Bregman are doing quite well in the month of May. Springer posting a .341/.383/.557 slash with a .940 OPS and Bregman with a .282/.396/.529/.940 line.

The Sox offense really needs to step up more than ever against Houston. The Astros, as a team, throw 43.9% of their pitches in the strike zone, and have the highest swinging strike percentage in the majors (12.6%). The Houston bullpen should not be undermined, as they have one of the lowest contact percentages in the majors (73.6%). They also have a 2.63 ERA, which is ranked third in baseball. All in all, this Astros pitching staff is no joke since they have the highest strikeout rates, along with a top 5 walk rate and a miniscule 0.86 HR/9 figure. The Sox need to be aggressive in the zone and attack early, because there is not a whole lot of relief once the opposing starters exit. Of course, there is the obvious payback feeling for being booted in the ALDS against this same Astros team. But here’s a catch: Alex Cora is leading the charge. He was on A.J. Hinch’s World Series winning coaching staff last year, which will prove to be an advantage. This series will be epic.

Notes for the week:

David Price has a career 1.088 WHIP with a 2.92 ERA while playing indoors (like Minute Maid Park).
The Astros lead the league in overall run differential, however Houston has a pedestrian +34 differential at home for the season.
The Sox will need Mookie Betts back in order to contend with the Astros this weekend. Don’t be shocked if Mookie misses the next few days.
The Red Sox have a 3.04 ERA as a team when playing away and the Astros have a 2.63 ERA when playing at home.
The Astros have a .235 batting average as a team when playing at Minute Maid park this season. The Sox have a .248 average when on the road.

This upcoming series with the defending champions is going to be a crazy experience. Don’t miss it.

@ELJGON

Down on the Farm 5/19-5/25

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*Every weekend, I will be updating you on weekly results from the Boston’s farm teams, which include Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA), the Portland Sea Dogs (AA), the Greenville Drive (A), and Salem Red Sox (High A). After every team is recapped, individual stats are posted. Also, I will have a prospect of the week section at the end.

Down on the Farm- Pawtucket Red Sox

The Paw Sox 2-6 over the week, bringing their record to 19-25. The Sox started off the week with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Rochester. Justin Haley was brilliant once again, allowing two runs in six innings, lowering his ERA to 3.63. However, the Paw Sox only recorded five hits, which lead to the defeat. They followed up that loss with another loss by the score of 3-0. They rebounded from those two tough losses with an impressive 5-4 win over rival Scranton Wilkes-Barre.

Jalen Beeks gave up three runs in the first, but the Sox crawled back thanks to two RBIs from Cole Sturgeon. They had another impressive 7-6 win the next day. Aneury Tavarez and Ramon Flores hit in all seven runs. Scranton rebounded the next day and dominated the Sox by the score of 7-1. Chandler Shepherd struggled, giving up four runs in 3.1 innings. Their bats were shut down again as they were defeated by the Rail Riders 3-1. They closed out the week with another loss against Lehigh by the score of 6-4. Marcus Walden struggled in his start, but Robby Scott did have two innings of no-hit baseball in relief. It would not surprise me if he was back in the majors soon.

Down on the Farm- Portland Sea Dogs

The Sea Dogs went 1-5 over the week, bringing their record to 16-29. Despite six innings of one-run ball from Mike Shawaryn, the Sea Dogs started off the week with a 6-3 loss. The bullpen was awful, and the bats could not produce enough runs for the win. The next game was not any better as they were killed, 12-3. Dedgar Jimenez and Jake Cosart were awful on the mound, and the bats were mediocre once again.

They had an off day on the 21st and lost again on the 22nd. The game was tied at three because Kyle Hart gave up one earned run over seven innings, but then Josh Taylor gave up two runs in the eighth. The bats rebounded as they defeated Hartford 12-3. Teddy Stankiewicz was great in his seven-inning start and seven of the hitters in the lineup knocked in at least one run. The next game was the opposite as they lost 12-5. Jake Cosart gave up five runs in 1.2 innings to put the game away.

Down on the Farm- Greenville Drive

The Drive went 1-5 on the week, bringing their record to 11-35. They started off the week with a 5-2 loss at the hands of Augusta. Jhonathan Diaz had a decent start, but the offense only recorded six hits. The game on the 20th was suspended in the second inning. They had a tough 11-10 loss in extras against Asheville. Juan Florentino gave up the game-winning base hit in the tenth. The Drive lost again the next day by the score of 5-3. Denyi Reyes only gave up one run over five innings but the offense struggled.

They rebounded from the losses with a 4-3 win over the tourists. Kutter Crawford gave up no runs in six innings and Marino Campana’s two RBI’s led the offense. Greenville could not build off the momentum from the win and lost 4-2. Like last time, Jhonathan Diaz had a decent start, but the offense only recorded six hits. The Drive closed out the week with a 3-1 loss against Colorado. They only recorded three hits in the defeat.

Down on the Farm- Salem Red Sox

The Red Sox went 5-3 on the week, bringing their to 22-23. record to They opened up the week with a 6-5 win over the Blue Rocks. Matt Chatham knocked in three runs and Jake Thompson gave up two runs over six innings. Salem had a doubleheader the next day, winning both games 7-3. Bobby Dalbec had three RBIs in the night game. The Sox continued their momentum with a 5-1 win over the Frederick Keys. Tanner Houck was impressive, giving up just one run in six innings.

The bats exploded in the next game, as they won 13-11. Jordan Procyshen knocked in three RBIs, Brett Netzer knocked in two and Matt Chatham knocked in two as well. On Wednesday, their momentum was thwarted as they lost 15-6. Enmanuel De Jesus gave up 12 hits and eight runs over 4.1 innings. Salem lost again the next day, this time by the score of 5-1. The Sox only landed four hits and Jake Thompson struggled in the start. They closed out the week with a 4-3 loss against the Blue Rocks. Darwinian Hernandez gave up four runs in six innings and the bats only produced four hits.

Prospect of the Week- Bryan Mata

Age: 19
Position: RHP
Team: Salem Red Sox
Stats this year: 2-2 W-L, 3.51 ERA in seven starts, 25.2 IP, 19 strikeouts
Pitches: fastball, curveball, changeup

Red Sox Old-Timers Game

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Finally! The Red Sox are hosting their first old-timers game in 25 years on Sunday, May 27th. The game will be played in the morning before the Red Sox match-up with the Atlanta Braves that afternoon. I have never understood why the Red Sox don’t have these games once a year, or at least more frequently than they do. What Red Sox fan wouldn’t love to see some of the guys they used to cheer for don the uniform again? Let’s hope NESN broadcasts this game.

The Managers

Two Red Sox legends will manage the clubs for the old-timers game; Luis Tiant and Dwight Evans. Both of these guys would likely make a 25 man roster of the greatest Red Sox ever.

“El Tiante” I believe is a top five right-handed pitcher in Red Sox history, winning 20 games three times while also pitching great in the 1975 World Series. He is still a fan favorite to this day, as is “Dewey.” Evans is the greatest right fielder in Red Sox history. He played parts of 19 seasons with the club, winning eight Gold Gloves and placing in the top five for the MVP vote twice. His 379 home runs place fifth in team history. Evans is also fourth all-time in base hits and third in walks. He has a strong argument for his number to be retired by the club.

Dewey and Tiant walk onto the field.

The Old-Timers Pitching Staff

Pedro Martinez is the headliner of the staff. The greatest pitcher in team history and the greatest pitcher I have seen. Pedro’s peak was arguably the most dominant stretch of pitching the game has ever seen. Going to games at Fenway where Pedro pitched was like nothing else experienced. If there is one guy I miss watching pitch more than anyone else, it is Pedro, and no one else even comes close.

Derek Lowe holds an incredibly important spot in Red Sox history. Lowe won the clinching game of all three postseason series in 2004 when the Red Sox won the World Series. He allowed just four runs over 19.1 innings that postseason and won game seven against the Yankees pitching on just two days rest. Derek Lowe also threw a no-hitter in 2002, the first thrown by a Red Sox pitcher at Fenway Park in 37 years.

Oil Can Boyd sure is a character. Known more for his personality than his pitching, Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd had a couple of fine seasons in Boston. He won 31 games between 1985 and 1986 with a 3.74 ERA.

Bill Lee is of course another character. Nicknamed “Spaceman”, Lee is also known more for his personality. Lee was a good pitcher though, winning 119 games and making an All-Star team. From 1973-75, Lee won 17 games each season for the Red Sox. In 2010 he became the oldest to ever play in and win a professional baseball game, picking up the win in a game for the Brockton Rox.

Rich Garces is everyone’s lovable, overweight pitcher. Affectionately referred to as “El Guapo” during his time in Boston, Garces pitched parts of seven seasons with the Red Sox. He was stellar between 1998 and 2001, going 20-4 with a 3.15 ERA out of the bullpen over those four seasons.

Jim Corsi pitched on some of the same teams as El Guapo. In 1997 and 1998 Corsi was 8-5 with a 2.98 ERA for the Sox. He declined in 1999, but the Red Sox got two excellent seasons from him. He later spent some time on NESN doing studio work.

Alan Embree was on the curse breaking team of 2004, and spent part of four seasons with the Red Sox. Despite mediocre results, Embree was excellent in postseason play for the Sox. In 2003 he didn’t allow a run in eight appearances. He was good again in 2004, and didn’t allow a run in three World Series games. In total, Embree was 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA during the postseason while with the Red Sox.

Lenny Dinardo currently works for NESN as a studio analyst. During his career he spent three seasons with the Boston Red Sox. Dinardo held his own in limited action his first two seasons before being rocked in 2006. In all, he was 1-3 with a 5.53 ERA for the team.

Mike Myers was a lefty specialist for the Red Sox in 2004 and 2005. He was plenty effective in that role for them, going 3-1 in 2005 with a 3.13 ERA.

Chris Howard was a lefty reliever for the Sox in 1994. He didn’t get much of a chance in the big leagues despite pitching relatively well. That season for the Sox, Howard was 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA over 37 appearances. He only pitched seven other games in the Majors, three in 1993 and four in 1995. He never allowed a run in either season.

Keith MacWhorter is a local guy, born in Worcester in 1955. He then attended Bryant College in Rhode Island. MacWhorter made the Majors for one season, 1980. Unfortunately he never won a game, going 0-3 with a 5.53 ERA. Hey, he got to play for his hometown team, not many can say that.

The Infielders

Wade Boggs headlines the lineup of hitters appearing in the game. His .338 batting average as a member of the Red Sox is second only to Ted Williams in franchise history. He is unquestionably the greatest third baseman in team history, and was so good he had his number 26 retired. In the 1980’s, Boggs set a Major League record by collecting 200 hits in seven straight seasons.

Scott Cooper is the man who replaced Wade Boggs at the hot corner. Cooper made back-to-back All-Star Games with the Red Sox in 1993 and 1994. Cooper also hit for the cycle in 1994, becoming the first Red Sox player to accomplish this feat since Mike Greenwell. Speaking of which…

Mike Lowell was a fan favorite for the club and helped the Red Sox win the 2007 World Series. In fact, Lowell was the MVP of that World Series after placing 5th in the regular season MVP vote. He batted .290 with 80 home runs during his time in Boston. He now has a role with the team in a coaching capacity and worked with Rafael Devers on his defense this spring.

Orlando Cabrera was a spark plug to the team in 2004. After the trade to acquire him, the Red Sox went on a run with Cabrera providing some heroics. He batted .294 down the stretch for the team while stabilizing the defense at shortstop. Cabrera then batted .379 during the ALCS versus the Yankees. It is still a mystery to me as to why the Red Sox did not retain him following the season.

Sam Horn exploded onto the scene in 1987, homering in five of his first eight Major League games. He hit 14 home runs in only 158 at-bats that season, posting a .589 slugging percentage. He sputtered out in Boston after that, but he returned to the area to play for the Nashua Pride in 2000 and 2001. Horn then spent time as a studio analyst for NESN. He would always yell “kapow!” whenever someone hit a home run.

Lou Merloni of course remains a large figure in the Boston sports world. Working on TV and radio, Lou is widely heard in the area covering all sports. A local guy, “Framingham Lou” homered in his first Fenway at-bat in 1998. He batted .269 in parts of six seasons with the Red Sox while playing all over the infield. Before Kevin Youkilis, the crowd would yell “Looouuuu” whenever Merloni made a nice play.

Julio Lugo is an interesting choice for this game, as he was one of the bigger busts in recent memory. After signing a big contract to play shortstop, Lugo batted .251 as a member of the Red Sox and made a lot of errors at a vital defensive position.

Steve Lomasney is the only catcher on this squad. Will he remain behind the plate no matter who is up or does he get a turn at-bat? Lomasney, a Massachusetts native, was drafted by the Red Sox out of Peabody High School in the fifth round of the 1995 draft. He got two at-bats in his Major League career, coming in 1999; he struck out in both of them.

The Outfielders

Mike Greenwell will also play in this game. “The Gator” patrolled left field in front of the Monster after Jim Rice, following in a very successful line of left fielders in franchise history. He didn’t back down from it either, becoming one of the five greatest left fielders in team history in my opinion. Greenwell was a career .303 hitter and was one of the brightest young stars in the game in the late 80’s. Injuries slowed him down in the 90’s, but it isn’t easy to bat .300. He finished second in the MVP vote for 1988 to a roided up Jose Canseco.

Troy O’leary was another excellent left fielder for the Red Sox. Signed off the scrap heap in 1995, O’leary batted .300 that season for the Red Sox. He would bat .300 again in 1997, then posted back-to-back 20 home run season in 1998 and 1999. His total of 28 homers in 1999 was a career high, and he hit two more in the ALDS against the Indians, driving in seven runs in the deciding game of the series.

Jonny Gomes was a fun guy, and his personality helped revamp a clubhouse in 2013 that needed a big makeover from the previous couple seasons. He hit 19 home runs in 521 at-bats with the Red Sox and hit a big three-run homer in game four of the World Series. He currently announces from time to time for the club.

Darren Lewis was a great fielding center fielder in his day. Lewis once held the record for most consecutive errorless games. Lewis played four seasons with the Red Sox, from 1998-2001. He hit a career high eight home runs and stole 29 bases that first season with the team. His final season with the team he hit a career high .280.

Steve Lyons is currently seen on NESN in the studio for pregame and postgame work. He spent three different stints with the Red Sox during his playing days, playing all over the field. In fact, Lyons played everywhere at least once as a member of the Red Sox.

Rick Miller will play in this game at the age of 70. Miller broke in with the Red Sox back in 1971. He spent his first seven seasons in Boston, then returned to the club in 1981 and spent the final five seasons of his career here. He played in 1101 games as a Red Sox, batting .265.

Carson Smith’s Self-inflicted Injury

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Carson Smith Regrets Decision To Throw Glove

Via NESN

You thought the Red Sox were going up after starting the season 17-2. Alex Cora had connected with the players, getting through to them, then reality reared its ugly head. First, whiny David Price can’t pitch because he doesn’t know how to take Zyrtec or Claritin for his allergies. Now Carson Smith injures himself because he threw his glove in frustration last night in the loss to the Oakland Athletics.

The Red Sox Will Not Discipline him

Both Dave Dombrowski and Alex Cora spoke about the injury today saying that it could be significant. All over throwing a glove in anger. Dombrowski said “I’m sure at some point we’ll get a second opinion. But I don’t know the severity of it. But I’m not expecting him back in 10 days by any means at this point. We’ll see how severe it ends up being. But it’s got the potential to be a major injury.” Smith seemed apologetic and the team isn’t expected to discipline the reliever.

Avoidable Injury

The last thing this team needs is an injury to a reliever struggling in the late innings of games recently. Carson Smith spoke about the injury today and appearing emotional, according to Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston. ” I think fatigue played a factor in my shoulder and my shoulder just couldn’t handle it.” “I think my shoulder’s tired in general, it’s just from pitching. I’ve thrown a lot lately and I think my arm was just tired” Said Smith. Smith also said it’s never happened to him before but he does throw his glove every day while warming up.

To face potential surgery because Carson Smith decided to throw his glove is unreal. For a major league pitcher to end a season because of a self-inflicted wound defies logic. In the video below, you can hear Carson Smith sound like David Price saying that the 14 innings he’s pitched so far made his arm tired. He’s pitched only 23 innings over the last three seasons, and it’s only May. All I can say is thank God he and Price don’t play football. They’d last maybe a couple of hours playing for Belichick.

The Hunt for a Better Bullpen

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If you watched Red Sox baseball this past week, you should have seen a trend forming. All week great starting pitching was followed by the bullpen crapping themselves. The stats in the last seven days can support this claim, as Sox starters have had a 3.11 ERA with a 1.06 WHIP. Sox relievers have had a 6.06 ERA with a 1.59 WHIP. This has been frustrating to watch and almost makes us forget about Jackie Bradley Jr.’s woes at the plate.

Better Numbers are Ahead

The full season’s numbers don’t paint the same story, however. Sox relievers in the entire season have posted a 3.76 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. Starters also going on to average 3.49 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. Clearly, we can justify this by saying the obvious: The Red Sox bullpen had a bad week. They were not clutch and they did not throw quality strikes. More was expected from this quality pitching staff.

The only way from here is up and the quality is ahead of us, folks. We have seen this bullpen do tremendous things when they try. Carson Smith is finally turning the corner, posting a 1.04 ERA in the last 28 days (11 games) with 12 strikeouts and one earned run. In the same sample size, Joe Kelly has posted a 0.77 ERA with 16 strikeouts and one earned run.

Reinforcements are Incoming

Don’t forget, more help is on the way. Tyler Thornburg is set to begin his rehab assignment in Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday 5/14. Steven Wright is also slated to join the Sox on the same day. A much needed depth will be added to this bullpen, but what can we expect from the two? Thornburg hasn’t pitched in a major league baseball game since 2016. Even then, I’m sure Cora will be using him sparingly since he’s apparently made of glass. Even Wright, who has recovered fully from his left knee injury and served his 15 game suspension for domestic violence, will be a mixed bag of results.

Also, at some point, Bobby Poyner should be getting called back up as well. Poyner posted a 2.25 ERA in seven regular season games with the Sox, and even has a 1.42 ERA in six games with the PawSox. If anybody outside of Brian Johnson slips up, expect to see Poyner in the big league bullpen for the majority of the season.

Dealin’ Dave at it Again?

What if this all doesn’t pan out the way we expect? There will be trade activity around the time of the deadline (or even sooner) and the Red Sox will be involved one way or another. Kelvin Herrera and Jeurys Familia are two names that will probably finish the 2018 season with a different team and are two pieces that can really bring a bullpen to the next level. Yes, both are closers and both are eligible for free agency in 2019, so they would be rentals. However, the Sox obviously wouldn’t dare move Craig Kimbrel from his job in the pen.

The Mets and the Royals both seem to be trending downward quickly and I would be shocked if they were playoff contenders this season. Also, both teams could use an outfielder which could potentially prompt a JBJ trade. Familia is known for his sinker which averages at 97 mph and Herrera for his 89 mph changeup. Also, they have been in the spotlight before as they actually faced each other in the 2015 World Series. That last part is something the Sox bullpen lacks: clutch factor.

Overall, these two players will find another home this season acting as rentals. The New York Yankees are also in the same boat as the Red Sox for the fact that their bullpen hasn’t been the best either. Also, going off of last year, the Astros bullpen may not be the best as well. All in all, the Sox won’t be alone when it comes to bolstering their relief pitchers, but hopefully this bad week has been a wake up call to the front office.

@ELJGON

David Price Acts Like A Little Kid

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David Price Is A Full-Time Complainer

Via CBS Sports

I swear there is always something with this $31 million dollar pitcher. All David Price does is complain about everything like a little kid. These are David Price weaknesses. Fresh cut grass and dogs, however, he has two of them. Cats, cold weather, Video Games, pitching in Texas against the Rangers, Pitching against the Yankees, and he can’t pitch in the postseason. I’m sorry but that does not sound like a guy who is ready to pitch on a big league team. Price couldn’t pitch a bullpen in Texas on Sunday because of allergies. Like seriously take a Claritin or Zyrtec and just pitch. Price sounds like a little kid who wants attention negative or positive.

David Price Is A Joke

Via GIPHY

Price spoke to the media today and it was classic Price. He won’t play Fortnite in the clubhouse anymore because of the talk it has made these last few days. Price also said playing Fornite isn’t the cause of his Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. If that wasn’t true he’d still be playing it in the clubhouse. Also, him complaining about the laundry detergent the Tampa Bay Rays used when he was playing for them. The Rays had to wash Price’s clothes separately. What a disaster! Price is nothing but a baby and a complete waste of money like Pablo Sandoval, Carl Crawford, and Adrian Gonzalez. I want to know what’s going to happen in October when the weather is cold, the allergies start kicking in and Price can’t pitch. That would put a dagger in the starting rotation.

Boy, does Alex Cora have his hands full with David Price. You would think with a new manager Price would want to turn things around. Nope, he wants to act like a teenage girl and be a complete drama queen. I, personally, am done to hear his constant complaining about the weather, and his dogs, cats and not liking it here. All I want, along with the rest of Red Sox Nation, is for him to shut up, pitch and win games.

The Red Sox Head to New York

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Red Sox Yankee Rivalry Heads to New York

Via FOX 61

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees begin another three-game series today. The New York Yankees are 18-4 since the bench-clearing brawl that transpired the last time these two teams faced each other. The Yankees are a game behind in the AL East, which means that series in April is why the Red Sox are currently in first place in the division. The Yankees are 14-5 at home and with the weather a lot warmer the Yankee bats might be waking up. The Red Sox are 16- 8 since the bench-clearing brawl.

The Red Sox and Yankees Head to Head

According to Boston Sports Info on Twitter, the Red Sox have 46 home runs and the Yankees have 48. In 2017, the Red Sox had 30 and the Yankees had 55 homers in the first 34 games. A big difference from last season. Mookie Betts has really been hitting the ball a lot better. It is not certain if he’ll be playing in this game because he’s dealing with a right shoulder bruise. He probably will be fine and play because this is a big series.

Mookie Betts is on Fire

Mookie Betts has 13 home runs and a batting average of .355. According to Boston Sports Info, J.D. Martinez at Yankee Stadium Martinez has 39 at-bats, three home runs, nine RBI’s, and 11 strikeouts. Stanton has had 82 at-bats, four home runs, nine RBI’s, and 11 strikeouts. For the rivalry between these two teams, it’s safe to say it’s back on.

There shouldn’t be any sleeping at these Yankee Red Sox games. The question remains: will the Red Sox and Yankee brawl continue at Yankee Stadium this week? Not according to Tyler Austin, who told ESPN, “We’re just coming out here to try to win ballgames”. Cold hands David Price will no longer pitch on Wednesday. Pomeranz is taking the mound tonight, and Porcello is being moved up to pitch Wednesday. The Red Sox should take two out of three of these games.

The Red Sox Travel to Texas to Take on the Rangers

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The Red Sox Are on to Texas

Via Gambling SitesThe 20-8 Boston Red Sox will be in Texas to take on the Rangers this weekend. The Rangers record is 20-8, and hopefully the Red Sox bats keep coming alive. Mookie Betts has been on fire lately and had himself a three home run game against Kansas City. Last night, David Price took the mound against Mike Minor. It was nice and warm in Texas, but David Price wasn’t able to get the job done. Besides that weird outing against the Yankees, Price has pitched pretty well. However, the bats seem to be quiet when Price and even Chris Sale pitch.

The Pitching Matchups

Today, Rick Porcello gets the start against Bartolo Colon. Porcello is off to a better start than last year. Rick Porcello currently is 4-0 with a 2.23 ERA. He has only given up one home run in his four starts. The former Cy Young winner looks to have another great season like he did two years ago. It seems like Bartolo Colon has pitched since the beginning of baseball. Colon is almost 45 years old, and he’s still pitching. He has a 3.00 ERA in 31 innings so far this season. We’ll see how much longer this guy pitches, but it doesn’t look like he’s retiring anytime soon.

Saturday Eduardo Rodriguez is going against Cole Hamels. Rodriguez was on family leave and missed three games. If Rodriguez can’t make the start, the Red Sox have Brian Johnson or Hector Velazquez. Lastly, Chris Sale will play on Sunday against Doug Fister in an afternoon game. Chris Sale hasn’t gotten the run support lately when he pitches.

The New York Yankees Are Creeping Up

This series is important, as the Yankees are creeping up right behind the Red Sox for first place. The Red Sox lead the division with a game and a half lead over the New York Yankees. This four-game series could be a difference maker in the division come Monday.

Why Can’t the Red Sox Hit When Chris Sale Pitches?

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Chris Sale Having a Rough Start with Run Support

Chris Sale had a great season during his first year in a Red Sox uniform. This season, though, Sale has a record of 2-1 after seven games. For some reason, the Red Sox can’t hit the baseball when Chris Sale pitches. So far he’s pitched 42 innings, allowed 31 hits, 11 runs, 51 strikeouts, and four walks according to baseball reference. He’s giving up four home runs too. His ERA currently is 2.14. He pitches well, but the Red Sox can’t seem to find the hitting they need to win games when he’s on the mound.

The Seven Starts Chris Sale Has Pitched

Through the seven starts Chris Sale has started, the batting average as a team is .159. The Red Sox have scored 36 runs in the seven starts that Chris Sale pitches. When Chris hasn’t pitched, the Red Sox have scored 118 runs. On April 22nd, the Red Sox were 11-0 when anyone other than Chris Sale or David Price pitches. The Red Sox are 7-5 when Chris Sale or David Price pitch.

Since the beginning of the season, the Red Sox are 17-0 when Chris Sale doesn’t pitch. When he does pitch the Red Sox are 4-3. That is a jaw-dropping stat for a guy that is supposed to be the ace on the team. Chris Sale needs the bats to perform when he pitches too, especially in October. Chris Sale and David Price need the run support if they really want to get past the first round in October. Last night the Red Sox made four errors when Chris Sale was pitching against the 8-22 Kansas City Royals.