Author: Peter Alves (Twitter: @kangminsoo52) Game 1: 6-4 Rays I was so hyped for the start of the season. I could not wait. Opening Day did not disapoint but it didn't go the way I thought. It was Sale vs Archer. It was the usual lineup: Betts, Benintendi, Ramirez, Martinez (DH), Bogaerts, Devers, Nunez, Vazquez, Bradley JR. Sale was cruising all game, pitching 6 strong, shutout innings with 9 strikeouts. Nunez hit a surprise three run inside the park homerun. It was a going to be a bloop single but Kiermair collided. Matt Barnes came into the 7th and I was SCARED. Barnes was a mess last year, but I think that was Farrell misusing him and overusing him. He got out of the inning, not giving up a baserunner. Then the 8th inning happened (4-0 at the time)... Joe Kelly came in for Barnes and proceeded to throw up on himself. He walked Robertson, stuck out Refsnyder, gave up a double to Duffy, walked Kiermaier, and Gomez, giving up one run, and leaving the bases loaded for Carson Smith. I thought Smith would lock it down, but he didn't. He walked Miller, and then gave up the 3 run triple to Span and it was over. Sale got a no decision, but should have got the loss. The bullpen gave up the game. Rays won the game 6-4. Things to note: Poyner was up during the 8th but did not come in because it was his debut and Cora did not want him to be put in that spot, Kimbrel was never up, Moreland replaced Ramirez in the 8th at 1B, Bogaerts sparked early going 3-4 with 2 doubles. Image: https://www.clnsmedia.com/opening-day-full-hope-boston-red-sox/ Game 2: 1-0 Sox. This was a nice rebound by the team. Price was an animal going 7 shutout innings with 5 strikeouts. He is my pick to win the CY Young so this is a beautiful start for that. The Rays pitcher, Snell, gave a good fight pitching 5.2 shutout innings. The lineup was the same as game one. The only run for the redsox was Devers hitting an rbi single to score in Bogaerts. The bullpen was way better. Barnes is gaining my trust back pitching a perfect 8th. Kimbrel came in the 9th for a save situation and did not miss anything from last year. He stuck out the side for his first save of the year, to give Price his first win of the year, and to give Cora his first win of his manager tenure. Things to note: Poyner was up in the 8th again but never came in, Moreland replaced Ramirez at 1B in the 9th, RIP Win, Dance, Repeat... Image:http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox/clubhouse_insider/2017/10/david_price_wont_start_a_playoff_game_but_could_close_one Game 3: 3-2 Sox. The lineup was different this time, Betts, Benintendi (CF), Ramirez (DH), Martinez (LF), Bogaerts, Moreland, Nunez (3B), Holt (2B), Leon. It was Holt's first game of the season. The pitching keeps dominating (granted its the Rays) with a 6 inning, 1 earned run gem. Bogearts has the hottest bat of them all with a HR shot in the second inning and an RBI double to score in Martinez in the 6th. Martinez got his first hit as a Redsox, also in the 6th inning, with a double. Welcome to the show, Bobby Poyner, his MLB debut in the 7th inning with two outs, replacing Hembree. He gave up a solo HR to Carlos Gomez in the 8th but no further damage. He finished the 7th and got one out in the 8th. This gave a win to Porcello, and the second save to Kimbrel, locking it down for the second night in a row. Things to note: Hembree's first relief outing of the year going 1.1 IP with 2 strikeouts, Smith settled down from Opening Day getting the last two outs of the 8th, Moreland went 0 for 3 with a walk in his first start of the season, Holt went 0 for 2 with 2 walks in his first start, and an interesting decision not to pinch hit Swihart for Leon in the 8th with bases loaded. Isn't that why he made the team, for his bat? Then could have left Swihart in the game or had Vazquez go in the 9th. (Just a thought) Image:https://sports.yahoo.com/xander-bogaerts-breaks-popular-fortnite-dance-celebrate-hot-start-234604286.html Game 4: 2-1 Sox. The lineup was really different this game: Betts, Devers, Martinez (LF), Bogaerts, Moreland, Vazquez, Bradley, Swihart (DH), Holt (2B). Starting pitching still can't be stopped, Valazquez going 5.2 IP with 1 earned runs and picking up his first win of the year. J.D got his first RBI of his Redsox career getting a single to score in Betts in the 5th. Devers also got an RBI single in the 6th to score in JBJ. Welcome to the show Marcus Walden with his MLB debut throwing 1.1 innings of shutout baseball. I was worried when Kelly got up in the 9th to get the save because they were not going to use Kimbrel for 3 days in a row to start off the year. Kelly rebounded from the dreadful appearance on Opening Day, but also got scary when he gave up back to back hits for the Rays to have second and third, with 2 outs, but he got his first save of his career. Things to note: Benitendi replaced Martinez in the 9th in LF, Swihart went 1 for 3 with a walk in his first start, Holt, in my opinion, is already getting a look at to be the one DFA when people start getting healthy, Poyner got an out in the 8th, Barnes got 2 outs in the 8th. I am liking this three game win streak, heading into a sorry excuse of an MLB team, the Marlins for two games, and then seeing this same Rays team in the home opener after that Image:http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox/clubhouse_insider/2018/04/alex_coras_faith_in_joe_kelly_paid_off_on_sunday
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By: Peter Alves
With Drew Pomerantz and Eduardo Rodriguez officially going on the DL today (3-26-18), joining Dustin Pedrioia, Tyler Thornburg, Marco Herandez, and Austin Maddox, with Steven Wright on the restricted list with his 15 day suspension/on the DL, and Brandon Workman being optioned today, the Redsox Opening Roster will look like: Starting Pitchers: Chris Sale (L), David Price (L), Rick Porcello (R), Hector Velazquez (R), Brian Johnson (L) Relief Pitchers: Craig Kimbrel (R), Carson Smith (R), Joe Kelly (R), Matt Barnes (R), Bobby Poyner (L), Heath Hembree (R), Marcus Walden (R) Catchers: Christian Vazquez (R), Sandy Leon (S) First Baseman: Hanley Ramirez (R), Mitch Moreland (L) Second Baseman: Eduardo Nunez (R) Short Stop: Xander Bogaerts (R) Third Baseman: Rafael Devers (L) Outfielders: Andrew Benintendi (R), Jackie Bradley JR (L), Mookie Betts (R), J.D Martinez (R) Utility: Brock Holt (L), Blake Swihart (S) By: Peter Alves
We all know the three locked in guys: Chris Sale, David Price, and Rick Porcello, but the other two spots are a question mark right now. It is a question mark because Drew Pomerantz got taken out of his spring training spot on March 2nd, and E-Rod and Steven Wright are both coming off of knee surgery. Drew Pomerantz pitched a 33 pitch bullpen session and E-Rod is supposed to pitch tomorrow in a simulated game. Wright pitched a three inning batting practice on March 17th and reportedly feeling great and he said, "He feels a drastic improvement and has a possibility to start in the rotation if this continues." (From Alex Speier from the Boston Globe) Cora also commented that he is comfortable Wright being in the bullpen because of his knuckleball. There are two other candidates to fill in if any or all three are not ready for Opening Day. The two are Brian Johnson and Hector Velazquez. Johnson has pitched in 11 innings so far in Spring Training with a 2.45 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP while Velazquez has pitched in 10.1 innings so far with a 6.10 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP. (Stats from baseball reference). Its Spring Training so stats do not really matter but clearly Johnson is doing better than Velazquez. They could always sign a freeagent like Alex Cobb for the rotation. Prediction: I predict that Dwew will be just fine for Opening Day and will be the 4th starter because he still has about one and half weeks, and he always has something with his elbow/forearm, but always comes and bounces back. I see E-Rod being put on the 10 day DL to start the year to give him more time so he can stay healthy for the whole year. Velazquez will be optioned down to AAA because he still has options down there for an emergency start in case Price's elbow acts up again, Pomerantz's forearm tightens up/he isn't ready to go or Sale/Porcello has a freak accident from now till Opening Day. I predict that Wright will not start the year in the rotation but if he has one more successful outing before the year and he is 100% to go, I can see Cora putting him in the bullpen for the time being, but if he is not ready to go, he will also be put on the 10 day DL. I also do not see the Redsox adding anyone from free agency because they will not be ready for Opening Day anyway because they have not thrown all Spring so the Redsox will have to wait till late April. I predict that the 2018 Redsox Opening Day starting rotation will be David Price, Chris Sale, Rick Porcello, Drew Pomerantz, and Brian Johnson. By: Peter Alves
Drew Pomerantz pitched on 3-2-18 versus the Cardinals and got taken out of the game in the 2nd inning. He left with forearm tightness and is reportedly a precautionary. (@bradfo) He always gets hurt during Spring Training and there is still a month left so I am not too worried. I am confident he will be out there in a week or so. I will start to worry if he gets shut down for 2 weeks and is not looking like he will make Opening Day. If it is a major injury and he does miss time, I expect E-Rod or Johnson to replace him. |
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