BOSTON -- Before his fifth start of the season Tuesday night, Felix Doubront received high praise from his manager, who remarked that he has admired the way the young left-hander has gone about his business.
All too often, however, that business involves a short shift. Doubront is eight starts into his major-league career and he continues to be plagued by one significant issue: He cannot get deep into games.
Bobby Valentine, so filled with praise in the hours before the game, recognized the flaw in the minutes after it.
“A little different Felix,” Valentine said. “He never really had his two-seamer tonight, it seemed to me. He’s been the master of the one-ball, two-strike count and tonight he was behind virtually every hitter. He tried to battle through it without his bread and butter.”
Doubront walked two batters in four innings, but had a boatload of three-ball counts. Although he struck out a career-high eight and showcased a formidable changeup, a pair of 30-pitch innings helped end his night after just four frames.
The lefty gave up five runs on six hits in the abbreviated start. He has completed six innings just twice in his eight career starts. He has never seen the seventh.
One factor Tuesday may have been the conditions. Doubront’s first pitch was delivered in a mild drizzle and with the mercury sitting at a nippy 46 degrees. It was a miserable night for a lot of things, including getting a grip on the two-seamer.
“Just a little bit I couldn’t feel my grip,” Doubront said. “Sometimes I left a couple of balls, missed the strike zone. But just a couple of pitches I felt that the ball slipped out of my hands.”
Doubront was quick to make sure he was not making an excuse. He admitted he needed to do a better job of attacking the zone and to “let the hitter hit.”
Doubront had been doing a better job of that in his past two starts. He had thrown six innings in each of them, allowing just nine total hits and looking like one of the better starters on a staff that has been extremely up and down. After the punchless Athletics wore him out, Doubront’s ERA sat at 5.19 and his WHIP had risen to 1.54. Those are not the kind of numbers that suggest an imminent move to the top of the food chain.
But wait, there’s more. Entering the night, Doubront had held opponents to a .205 average in the first three innings, but had been touched to the tune of a .310 mark thereafter. Those numbers will only continue to head down opposite paths after an outing in which half of the six hits he gave up came during Oakland’s four-run fourth. Also, consider some other split statistics that tell the story: In Doubront’s first four starts, opponents hit .133 in his first 25 pitches of a game, .217 in the next 25, .273 in the 25 after that and .364 in pitches 75-100.
Nearly every pitcher outside of Justin Verlander will show a progression like that over the course of time, but not to such extremes.
Just like Clay Buchholz one night earlier, Doubront was able to focus on a few positives. And just like Buchholz, the first item on that list involved his changeup, the pitch that Buchholz threw with effectiveness in an uneven outing and that Doubront had working from the start.
Of Doubront's eight strikeouts, five came on the changeup.
Asked if it was his best changeup of the season, Doubront said, “Oh, yes. That worked, my changeup. I got the feeling.”
In a way, this start represented a departure from what Doubront has exhibited. While high pitch counts have been an issue, it developed in a different way against the A’s.
“This was not what we have seen the entire time with his pitch count,” Valentine said. “His pitch count was up today because he was behind in the count and normally we’ve seen him get ahead in the count and not put the guy away. Today it was just, the strike zone was a little elusive.”
Perhaps the weather had something to do with it. Maybe Oakland had a good game plan. Or it could be that this was another reminder that Doubront remains a work in progress, and until he can showcase a lengthy start, he will remain a question mark when the middle innings roll around.
All too often, however, that business involves a short shift. Doubront is eight starts into his major-league career and he continues to be plagued by one significant issue: He cannot get deep into games.
Bobby Valentine, so filled with praise in the hours before the game, recognized the flaw in the minutes after it.
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Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesAlthough he had a career-high eight strikeouts, Felix Doubront was done after four innings.
Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesAlthough he had a career-high eight strikeouts, Felix Doubront was done after four innings.Doubront walked two batters in four innings, but had a boatload of three-ball counts. Although he struck out a career-high eight and showcased a formidable changeup, a pair of 30-pitch innings helped end his night after just four frames.
The lefty gave up five runs on six hits in the abbreviated start. He has completed six innings just twice in his eight career starts. He has never seen the seventh.
One factor Tuesday may have been the conditions. Doubront’s first pitch was delivered in a mild drizzle and with the mercury sitting at a nippy 46 degrees. It was a miserable night for a lot of things, including getting a grip on the two-seamer.
“Just a little bit I couldn’t feel my grip,” Doubront said. “Sometimes I left a couple of balls, missed the strike zone. But just a couple of pitches I felt that the ball slipped out of my hands.”
Doubront was quick to make sure he was not making an excuse. He admitted he needed to do a better job of attacking the zone and to “let the hitter hit.”
Doubront had been doing a better job of that in his past two starts. He had thrown six innings in each of them, allowing just nine total hits and looking like one of the better starters on a staff that has been extremely up and down. After the punchless Athletics wore him out, Doubront’s ERA sat at 5.19 and his WHIP had risen to 1.54. Those are not the kind of numbers that suggest an imminent move to the top of the food chain.
But wait, there’s more. Entering the night, Doubront had held opponents to a .205 average in the first three innings, but had been touched to the tune of a .310 mark thereafter. Those numbers will only continue to head down opposite paths after an outing in which half of the six hits he gave up came during Oakland’s four-run fourth. Also, consider some other split statistics that tell the story: In Doubront’s first four starts, opponents hit .133 in his first 25 pitches of a game, .217 in the next 25, .273 in the 25 after that and .364 in pitches 75-100.
Nearly every pitcher outside of Justin Verlander will show a progression like that over the course of time, but not to such extremes.
Just like Clay Buchholz one night earlier, Doubront was able to focus on a few positives. And just like Buchholz, the first item on that list involved his changeup, the pitch that Buchholz threw with effectiveness in an uneven outing and that Doubront had working from the start.
Of Doubront's eight strikeouts, five came on the changeup.
Asked if it was his best changeup of the season, Doubront said, “Oh, yes. That worked, my changeup. I got the feeling.”
In a way, this start represented a departure from what Doubront has exhibited. While high pitch counts have been an issue, it developed in a different way against the A’s.
“This was not what we have seen the entire time with his pitch count,” Valentine said. “His pitch count was up today because he was behind in the count and normally we’ve seen him get ahead in the count and not put the guy away. Today it was just, the strike zone was a little elusive.”
Perhaps the weather had something to do with it. Maybe Oakland had a good game plan. Or it could be that this was another reminder that Doubront remains a work in progress, and until he can showcase a lengthy start, he will remain a question mark when the middle innings roll around.
BOSTON -- Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington walked through his team’s clubhouse late Tuesday night, only briefly indicating to waiting reporters that he did not have any news on Aaron Cook, who had the right to opt out of his contract if he wasn't on the big-league roster as of May 1, which he wasn't.
However, Cherington did confirm that he had created an opening for Cook.
Outfielder/first baseman Lars Anderson was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket following Boston’s 5-3 loss to Oakland. The move will be made official Wednesday, when a corresponding move will be made, most likely involving Cook.
Anderson struck out in the midst of a two-run rally in the ninth inning Tuesday. He went 1-for-7 since being recalled last week.
Before Anderson emerged for that at-bat, the injured Kevin Youkilis was seen on the dugout steps with a batting helmet and a bat. Manager Bobby Valentine admitted he had no intention of using Youkilis, but rather was hoping to force A’s manager Bob Melvin to bring in a right-hander.
“No, he wasn’t available,” Valentine said of Youkilis, who has missed three straight games with a sore back. “I was just using everything I had. It was just sort of a decoy. Didn’t work very well did it?”
Moments later, Anderson went down swinging and the rally fizzled when Dustin Pedroia grounded to second with the tying runs on base.
Prior to the game, the Red Sox recalled shortstop Jose Iglesias and optioned reliever Junichi Tazawa. That left them with just 11 pitchers, two fewer than the total they carried to begin the season.
However, Cherington did confirm that he had created an opening for Cook.
Outfielder/first baseman Lars Anderson was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket following Boston’s 5-3 loss to Oakland. The move will be made official Wednesday, when a corresponding move will be made, most likely involving Cook.
Anderson struck out in the midst of a two-run rally in the ninth inning Tuesday. He went 1-for-7 since being recalled last week.
Before Anderson emerged for that at-bat, the injured Kevin Youkilis was seen on the dugout steps with a batting helmet and a bat. Manager Bobby Valentine admitted he had no intention of using Youkilis, but rather was hoping to force A’s manager Bob Melvin to bring in a right-hander.
“No, he wasn’t available,” Valentine said of Youkilis, who has missed three straight games with a sore back. “I was just using everything I had. It was just sort of a decoy. Didn’t work very well did it?”
Moments later, Anderson went down swinging and the rally fizzled when Dustin Pedroia grounded to second with the tying runs on base.
Prior to the game, the Red Sox recalled shortstop Jose Iglesias and optioned reliever Junichi Tazawa. That left them with just 11 pitchers, two fewer than the total they carried to begin the season.
BOSTON -- Although they made a lot of noise in the ninth inning, the 2012 Red Sox remain in search of a winning record. Including the season-opener, they are now 0-3 in games in which they had a chance to push their record above .500. And since scoring 11 straight runs in a span of three innings in the opener of the series with Oakland, Boston has been outscored 10-3 over a 13-inning span by the Athletics.
Two of those runs came in the too-little, too-late showing in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s 5-3 loss.
On a chilly night at Fenway Park (it was 46 and drizzling when the game began), the winning formula for the A’s was simple: Jarrod Parker completely outclassed Felix Doubront in a matchup of promising young pitchers.
Felix fizzles: A night after Clay Buchholz produced an uneven start, Doubront did the same. Doubront recorded six of his first eight outs via a strikeout and had a career-high eight Ks through four innings. Unfortunately, that was as long as he would last. Doubront’s pitch count was high from the start (in addition to two walks he had six other three-ball counts) and he fell apart in a four-run Oakland fourth.
Doubront shows flashes of brilliance, but he has yet to show an ability to go deep into games. In eight career starts, he has lasted six innings just twice. Those relatively lengthy outings came in his last two starts, but the progress made there was somewhat nullified when the A’s -- who entered the night ranked last in the majors with a .280 team on-base percentage -- methodically worked him over.
Punt it away: The impatient portion of Red Sox Nation has been screaming for Triple-A standout Will Middlebrooks to get the call to spell an injured Kevin Youkilis. The Red Sox still are assessing Youkilis' situation and hope to have him back soon enough. Hence the less splashy move to bring up Jose Iglesias as an extra body on the left side of the infield; if Middlebrooks is brought up it will be to start.
That leaves Nick Punto to fight the wars of the hot corner. He’s been pretty good there, aside from a dropped popup Monday night, but has offered little resistance at the plate. Punto is hitless in his last 13 at-bats while striking out seven times.
Punto does have six walks in that stretch, including one in the ninth-inning rally, but that won’t quiet the masses itching for a glimpse of the hot-hitting Middlebrooks.
Was it a decoy? Youkilis emerged on the top steps of the dugout in the ninth inning with a helmet and a bat, seemingly in preparation for a pinch-hit appearance. However, Lars Anderson was left in to face a lefty and Youkilis was not seen again. Perhaps it was a bluff by manager Bobby Valentine. Or, perhaps Youkilis could not get loose. He’s missed three straight games with a sore back.
Rich returns: The last time we saw Rich Hill on the mound at Fenway Park we were reminded of what can happen when you throw a baseball hard over and over again. Sometimes your arm disagrees with that awkward action, as was the case when Hill writhed in pain after delivering a pitch against Chicago on June 1.
Hill underwent Tommy John surgery soon thereafter and completed an impressive rehabilitation by making his return on Sunday. Hill made his first appearance at home since that painful pitch last year and struck out three in 1 2/3 innings Tuesday. He has now allowed just one run in 14 1/3 innings as a member of the Red Sox.
Like night and day: There was a time not long ago when the sight of the Boston bullpen door opening prompted a gag reflex in living rooms around New England. Very quietly, the Red Sox relievers have settled into a dominant stretch.
Since April 23, two days after the bullpen blew a 9-1 lead over the Yankees, it has allowed two earned runs in 24 1/3 innings pitched.
Turn back the clock: To 1936. That’s what the Sox and A’s will do Wednesday night when the teams wear throwback uniforms to mark the year that the Athletics, then in Philadelphia, sold Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx to Boston.
Wearing special uniforms to honor a 76-year-old transaction -- such is this year of celebration at Fenway Park.
BOSTON -- Red Sox right-hander Clay Buchholz pitched through a blister problem Monday night at Fenway Park, manager Bobby Valentine said Tuesday.
Valentine called the condition a chronic one that occurs when Buchholz is getting good snap on his curveball. Therefore it pops up when the right-hander is throwing well, which Valentine insisted he is, despite his less-than-stellar numbers.
After allowing six runs in 6 2/3 innings against Oakland, Buchholz’s ERA sat at 8.69 through five starts. He has struck out 16 and walked 15 in 29 innings.
“I know everyone wants to look at the numbers and the numbers really aren’t pretty except for the 3-1 [record], and a lot of innings haven’t been pretty, but the idea that he can improve is absolutely paramount in all of our minds,” Valentine said. “He just left my office where we talked about that. There’s no doubt that he has plenty of room for improvement.”
News of the blister led to speculation that the condition could give the team an opening to place Buchholz on the disabled list and allow him to work back into form on the sidelines while creating a spot in the rotation for Aaron Cook, who has an opt-out clause in his contract if he's not on the major-league roster by today.
Valentine said the blister was not an issue Monday night and that Buchholz simply needs to get back to being the pitcher he has been in the past.
“I’m not sure that he’s totally comfortable with all of his pitches yet,” Valentine said. “I think he’s had games where he really liked his two-seamer, really liked his curveball, really liked his changeup at different times, but they haven’t been in total the entire time. Last night he did pitch through a blister situation most of the night, which might have contributed a little bit to his command. He does it often.”
Valentine added that Buchholz “doctors” the blister and pitches through it. Buchholz is scheduled to start against Baltimore on Sunday at Fenway.
Valentine called the condition a chronic one that occurs when Buchholz is getting good snap on his curveball. Therefore it pops up when the right-hander is throwing well, which Valentine insisted he is, despite his less-than-stellar numbers.
After allowing six runs in 6 2/3 innings against Oakland, Buchholz’s ERA sat at 8.69 through five starts. He has struck out 16 and walked 15 in 29 innings.
“I know everyone wants to look at the numbers and the numbers really aren’t pretty except for the 3-1 [record], and a lot of innings haven’t been pretty, but the idea that he can improve is absolutely paramount in all of our minds,” Valentine said. “He just left my office where we talked about that. There’s no doubt that he has plenty of room for improvement.”
News of the blister led to speculation that the condition could give the team an opening to place Buchholz on the disabled list and allow him to work back into form on the sidelines while creating a spot in the rotation for Aaron Cook, who has an opt-out clause in his contract if he's not on the major-league roster by today.
Valentine said the blister was not an issue Monday night and that Buchholz simply needs to get back to being the pitcher he has been in the past.
“I’m not sure that he’s totally comfortable with all of his pitches yet,” Valentine said. “I think he’s had games where he really liked his two-seamer, really liked his curveball, really liked his changeup at different times, but they haven’t been in total the entire time. Last night he did pitch through a blister situation most of the night, which might have contributed a little bit to his command. He does it often.”
Valentine added that Buchholz “doctors” the blister and pitches through it. Buchholz is scheduled to start against Baltimore on Sunday at Fenway.
BOSTON -- With Kevin Youkilis out of the starting lineup for the third straight game with a sore back, the Red Sox have brought in reinforcements. What happens next remains to be seen.
Shortstop Jose Iglesias was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket prior to Tuesday night’s game against Oakland.
Manager Bobby Valentine said that he does not know if Youkilis will need to be placed on the disabled list. But in the short term, Valentine did not want to be left out in the cold if he needed some help on the left side of the infield.
“With the playing conditions and with the roster situation, I didn’t think it was fair to the team to play so short in the infield, so we have a backup in case we need it,” Valentine said.
Reliever Junichi Tazawa was optioned to Pawtucket to make room for Iglesias on the roster. However, intrigue will surround the situation as the statuses of Youkilis and of right-hander Aaron Cook hang in the balance.
Cook has an opt-out clause in his contract if he is not added to the major-league roster by Tuesday. With Tazawa back in Pawtucket, a spot would seem to be available for Cook as the club is carrying just 11 pitchers. A Cook-for-Iglesias swap would make sense. Of course, that is all predicated on the recovery of Youkilis, a timeline that remains fuzzy at best.
“I was with him today in the training room and there’s times where it’s pretty sore, different movements,” Valentine said of Youkilis. “He’s doing everything he can in that training room. Yesterday it was during infield practice, the day before it was during batting practice. He’s doing everything he can. Other [medical] opinions or any of that stuff, I’m not sure where we are on any of it.
“It seems like he has a situation we just have to get over.”
When asked if the DL is a possibility for Youkilis, Valentine said, “I can’t tell.”
In his afternoon session with the media, Valentine added that “there is no news” on Cook. Yet.
Igelsias hit .200 (17-for-85) with just one extra-base hit, a double, in 22 games for the PawSox. He could be a defensive replacement during his time in Boston, or perhaps start at shortstop with regular shortstop Mike Aviles moving to third base.
Veteran Nick Punto was at third for the third straight time Tuesday. He was 0-for-6 with four strikeouts in his first two starts in place of Youkilis.
Tazawa has thrown 6 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for the Red Sox, allowing five hits and striking out four. Valentine insisted that Tazawa’s option was purely a product of the roster situation and not based on the righty’s performance.
Here's the Red Sox lineup for tonight's game:
1. Mike Aviles, SS
2. Ryan Sweeney, RF
3. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
4. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Cody Ross, LF
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
8. Marlon Byrd, CF
9. Nick Punto, 3B
Felix Doubront, LHP
Shortstop Jose Iglesias was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket prior to Tuesday night’s game against Oakland.
Manager Bobby Valentine said that he does not know if Youkilis will need to be placed on the disabled list. But in the short term, Valentine did not want to be left out in the cold if he needed some help on the left side of the infield.
“With the playing conditions and with the roster situation, I didn’t think it was fair to the team to play so short in the infield, so we have a backup in case we need it,” Valentine said.
Reliever Junichi Tazawa was optioned to Pawtucket to make room for Iglesias on the roster. However, intrigue will surround the situation as the statuses of Youkilis and of right-hander Aaron Cook hang in the balance.
Cook has an opt-out clause in his contract if he is not added to the major-league roster by Tuesday. With Tazawa back in Pawtucket, a spot would seem to be available for Cook as the club is carrying just 11 pitchers. A Cook-for-Iglesias swap would make sense. Of course, that is all predicated on the recovery of Youkilis, a timeline that remains fuzzy at best.
“I was with him today in the training room and there’s times where it’s pretty sore, different movements,” Valentine said of Youkilis. “He’s doing everything he can in that training room. Yesterday it was during infield practice, the day before it was during batting practice. He’s doing everything he can. Other [medical] opinions or any of that stuff, I’m not sure where we are on any of it.
“It seems like he has a situation we just have to get over.”
When asked if the DL is a possibility for Youkilis, Valentine said, “I can’t tell.”
In his afternoon session with the media, Valentine added that “there is no news” on Cook. Yet.
Igelsias hit .200 (17-for-85) with just one extra-base hit, a double, in 22 games for the PawSox. He could be a defensive replacement during his time in Boston, or perhaps start at shortstop with regular shortstop Mike Aviles moving to third base.
Veteran Nick Punto was at third for the third straight time Tuesday. He was 0-for-6 with four strikeouts in his first two starts in place of Youkilis.
Tazawa has thrown 6 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for the Red Sox, allowing five hits and striking out four. Valentine insisted that Tazawa’s option was purely a product of the roster situation and not based on the righty’s performance.
Here's the Red Sox lineup for tonight's game:
1. Mike Aviles, SS
2. Ryan Sweeney, RF
3. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
4. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Cody Ross, LF
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
8. Marlon Byrd, CF
9. Nick Punto, 3B
Felix Doubront, LHP
The Red Sox have announced a makeup date for that April 22 game against the Yankees that was (mercifully) washed out.
The teams will play that game as the opener of a split day-night doubleheader on Saturday, July 7, at 12:35 p.m.
The game will be televised on NESN with the 7:15 p.m. contest airing nationally on FOX.
The next day, the teams will finish the series -- and close out the first half of the season -- on Sunday Night baseball.
The teams will play that game as the opener of a split day-night doubleheader on Saturday, July 7, at 12:35 p.m.
The game will be televised on NESN with the 7:15 p.m. contest airing nationally on FOX.
The next day, the teams will finish the series -- and close out the first half of the season -- on Sunday Night baseball.
BOSTON -- Four takeaways from the first month of the season:
And yet, by the end of the month, which team led the majors in runs scored? The same team that led the majors in runs scored in 2011. The Sox did it by scoring nine or more runs eight times in April. David Ortiz had the best April of his career, batting .405 with an OPS of 1.184, driven in part by fury that the Sox gave him just a one-year deal. Mike Aviles gave the Sox five home runs and six doubles out of the leadoff spot vacated by Ellsbury, and he played much better defense than the Iglesias-lovers gave him credit for. Cody Ross (5 homers) and Ryan Sweeney (.373, 11 doubles) gave the Sox far more playing every day than they were expected to contribute while sharing time, and Darnell McDonald heated up in the last week. Even the new guy, Marlon Byrd, got in the act with 10 hits in his first 8 games with the Sox, after going 3 for 43 with the Cubs. And Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez haven’t even gotten hot yet.
A lot of it wasn’t pretty. Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz each had starts in which they gave up five home runs. Buchholz has taken the hill four times, and has allowed five or more runs each time, which is why he’s carrying an 8-plus ERA into May. The good news is that Buchholz looks like he’s gaining confidence in his changeup again -- he threw 13 of them Monday night, got A’s hitters to chase 4 of them out of the zone, and gave up just one hit off the pitch. It’s premature to talk about pulling him out of the rotation, for Aaron Cook or anybody else. He had good life on his fastball, he’s finishing his pitches better each time out, and looks like a great candidate to put it all together in his next start or two.
Bobby Valentine told Jon Lester to pitch “like an ace” before he won his 1-0 duel over Jake Peavy in Chicago Saturday, and that’s what he’s done in three of his first five starts this season. Beckett looked more like the Beckett of old in his last start against the White Sox -- relying more on his fastball, two-seamer, change and curve -- than the cutter-happy pitcher of his first few starts. His velocity has improved with added arm strength, but the mysterious thumb injury of the spring, while appearing to be a nonfactor, still adds a seed of doubt when trying to gauge what to expect.
Daniel Bard’s determination to be a starter could not have been better illustrated last week, when he had dominant stuff against the White Sox after going 10 days between starts, and after making a game-saving relief appearance that only buttressed the argument of those who believe the Sox will be better served with Bard in the pen. That debate is back in idle mode now, with Bobby Valentine declaring that Aaron Cook will pitch out of the pen and with Daisuke Matsuzaka still three weeks away from returning. Felix Doubront, meanwhile, is putting the lie to those who said the Sox system had gone belly up in producing home-grown starters. The Venezuelan lefty has shown great promise early.
Just for the record, Jonathan Papelbon had 8 saves for the Phillies in April. That’s not really relevant to this discussion; Papelbon had priced himself out of returning here. But it does underscore how the Sox will be living with a lot less certainty than when Cinco Ocho was bumping fists with the cop on his way out of the bullpen. If the early returns are any indication, Alfredo Aceves will be this summer’s top thrill ride, at least until Valentine decides that he’s had his fill of will-he or won’t-he finishes.
Valentine had to put together this bullpen on the fly after Andrew Bailey had thumb surgery and Mark Melancon booked an early trip to Pawtucket. The pen actually has performed impressively since the epic Yankee beatdown in which a 9-0 lead disappeared in the face of 15 unanswered runs. In eight games since, the pen has an 0.94 ERA (2 ER in 19 1/3 innings). Aceves has five saves, Franklin Morales is a power lefty with setup makeup, Rich Hill gives Valentine a situational lefty and the recycled veterans, Cook and Vicente Padilla, are capable of providing some quality innings with Matt Albers and Scott Atchison in supporting roles. The Sox like to call Aceves “Ace” but in actuality he’s the real wild card. No one feels secure about this bullpen yet, and they shouldn’t.
He endured what he told one interviewer was the worst week of his professional life, one that began with a brush fire over comments he made about Kevin Youkilis and ended with boos dogging his every step during the collapse against the Yankees. And then he did what Bobby Valentine tends to do best -- dust himself off, flash his best smile (even if he is seething underneath) and put his team back on a winning track. Boston has never seen a manager quite like him -- admitting to making mistakes (whether he believes that or not), and declaring that, hey, even a manager can have a slump. He even screwed up his lineup card when he thought the team was facing a lefty when it wasn’t, a mistake that doesn’t cost anything but embarrassment when there’s plenty of time to correct it, as was the case last week in Minnesota.
He does a radio show in New York, asks his closer, “Are you trying to kill me?’’ as a way to bring levity to a tight spot, and says, hey, he would have booed himself, too. When the team was 4-10, who was catching all the heat? That’s right, Bobby V. You think that might have been the way he designed it?
1. Hitting their stride
Jacoby Ellsbury played all of seven games before dislocating his shoulder. Carl Crawford not only didn’t make it to Opening Day, he may not be back before the All-Star break. Kevin Youkilis was hitting .174 just a week ago. The team scored three runs or fewer in 8 of its first 13 games.2. Rotation roulette
A lot of it wasn’t pretty. Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz each had starts in which they gave up five home runs. Buchholz has taken the hill four times, and has allowed five or more runs each time, which is why he’s carrying an 8-plus ERA into May. The good news is that Buchholz looks like he’s gaining confidence in his changeup again -- he threw 13 of them Monday night, got A’s hitters to chase 4 of them out of the zone, and gave up just one hit off the pitch. It’s premature to talk about pulling him out of the rotation, for Aaron Cook or anybody else. He had good life on his fastball, he’s finishing his pitches better each time out, and looks like a great candidate to put it all together in his next start or two.
Bobby Valentine told Jon Lester to pitch “like an ace” before he won his 1-0 duel over Jake Peavy in Chicago Saturday, and that’s what he’s done in three of his first five starts this season. Beckett looked more like the Beckett of old in his last start against the White Sox -- relying more on his fastball, two-seamer, change and curve -- than the cutter-happy pitcher of his first few starts. His velocity has improved with added arm strength, but the mysterious thumb injury of the spring, while appearing to be a nonfactor, still adds a seed of doubt when trying to gauge what to expect.
Daniel Bard’s determination to be a starter could not have been better illustrated last week, when he had dominant stuff against the White Sox after going 10 days between starts, and after making a game-saving relief appearance that only buttressed the argument of those who believe the Sox will be better served with Bard in the pen. That debate is back in idle mode now, with Bobby Valentine declaring that Aaron Cook will pitch out of the pen and with Daisuke Matsuzaka still three weeks away from returning. Felix Doubront, meanwhile, is putting the lie to those who said the Sox system had gone belly up in producing home-grown starters. The Venezuelan lefty has shown great promise early.
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Bill Greene/Getty Images The Sox have been a juggernaut since Bobby Valentine said he was slumping as a manager. Could it be he was just diverting attention -- and pressure -- from his players?
Bill Greene/Getty Images The Sox have been a juggernaut since Bobby Valentine said he was slumping as a manager. Could it be he was just diverting attention -- and pressure -- from his players?3. Patching and filling
Just for the record, Jonathan Papelbon had 8 saves for the Phillies in April. That’s not really relevant to this discussion; Papelbon had priced himself out of returning here. But it does underscore how the Sox will be living with a lot less certainty than when Cinco Ocho was bumping fists with the cop on his way out of the bullpen. If the early returns are any indication, Alfredo Aceves will be this summer’s top thrill ride, at least until Valentine decides that he’s had his fill of will-he or won’t-he finishes.
Valentine had to put together this bullpen on the fly after Andrew Bailey had thumb surgery and Mark Melancon booked an early trip to Pawtucket. The pen actually has performed impressively since the epic Yankee beatdown in which a 9-0 lead disappeared in the face of 15 unanswered runs. In eight games since, the pen has an 0.94 ERA (2 ER in 19 1/3 innings). Aceves has five saves, Franklin Morales is a power lefty with setup makeup, Rich Hill gives Valentine a situational lefty and the recycled veterans, Cook and Vicente Padilla, are capable of providing some quality innings with Matt Albers and Scott Atchison in supporting roles. The Sox like to call Aceves “Ace” but in actuality he’s the real wild card. No one feels secure about this bullpen yet, and they shouldn’t.
4. Being Bobby V.
He endured what he told one interviewer was the worst week of his professional life, one that began with a brush fire over comments he made about Kevin Youkilis and ended with boos dogging his every step during the collapse against the Yankees. And then he did what Bobby Valentine tends to do best -- dust himself off, flash his best smile (even if he is seething underneath) and put his team back on a winning track. Boston has never seen a manager quite like him -- admitting to making mistakes (whether he believes that or not), and declaring that, hey, even a manager can have a slump. He even screwed up his lineup card when he thought the team was facing a lefty when it wasn’t, a mistake that doesn’t cost anything but embarrassment when there’s plenty of time to correct it, as was the case last week in Minnesota.
He does a radio show in New York, asks his closer, “Are you trying to kill me?’’ as a way to bring levity to a tight spot, and says, hey, he would have booed himself, too. When the team was 4-10, who was catching all the heat? That’s right, Bobby V. You think that might have been the way he designed it?
BOSTON -- The Red Sox offense has been incredibly inconsistent on the young season. It has been held to three runs or fewer 10 times already. It also has scored in double figures seven times.
When it’s on, as was the case Monday against Oakland, it’s a pretty impressive attack. And perhaps nobody in all of the American League is as impressive at the plate right now as David Ortiz.
Boston’s designated hitter once again was the catalyst in an 11-6 victory over the A’s. He homered twice, both of them solo shots off left-handed starter Tommy Milone, marking the first time in his career he's gone deep twice against a lefty in a game. Ortiz finished April, a month that has given him fits in recent years, with a robust .405 (34-for-84) average, 6 homers and 20 RBIs. He leads the Red Sox in nearly every offensive category and is hitting .448 (13-for-29) against lefties.
“David’s a star of stars right now. It’s hard to throw a strike by him,” manager Bobby Valentine said. “He’s using all fields. He’s seeing the ball awfully well. I know that’s an old cliché but he gets two balls, no strikes it doesn’t even bother him to take because he’s very confident.
“His swing is as good as it can get.”
It seems Ortiz is climbing Red Sox leaderboards on a nightly basis. Ortiz' first home run Monday gave him 383 for his career, snapping a tie with Hall of Famer Jim Rice and Frank Howard on the all-time list. His second blast broke a tie with Larry Walker. With 384 homers, Ortiz is tied with Harold Baines for 57th on the all-time list.
The next bomb will tie former Red Sox great Dwight Evans.
In addition, Ortiz has 36 multi-homer games with Boston, just one behind Ted Williams for first in Red Sox history. Ortiz also moved into the top 10 in hits in a Red Sox uniform on Monday, surpassing Mike Greenwell.
In typical fashion, Ortiz was succinct in his assessment, saying “I feel good, I feel good,” when asked about his hot start.
He was even more matter-of-fact when asked about Monday's second homer, which saw right fielder Josh Reddick fall into the Boston bullpen in an effort to make the catch.
“That guy, he didn’t catch the ball,” Ortiz plainly noted of his former teammate’s failed attempt at stopping one guy who cannot be stopped right now.
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AP Photo/Charles KrupaDavid Ortiz had his 36th mulit-homer game with the Red Sox, one short of Ted Williams' club record.
AP Photo/Charles KrupaDavid Ortiz had his 36th mulit-homer game with the Red Sox, one short of Ted Williams' club record.Boston’s designated hitter once again was the catalyst in an 11-6 victory over the A’s. He homered twice, both of them solo shots off left-handed starter Tommy Milone, marking the first time in his career he's gone deep twice against a lefty in a game. Ortiz finished April, a month that has given him fits in recent years, with a robust .405 (34-for-84) average, 6 homers and 20 RBIs. He leads the Red Sox in nearly every offensive category and is hitting .448 (13-for-29) against lefties.
“David’s a star of stars right now. It’s hard to throw a strike by him,” manager Bobby Valentine said. “He’s using all fields. He’s seeing the ball awfully well. I know that’s an old cliché but he gets two balls, no strikes it doesn’t even bother him to take because he’s very confident.
“His swing is as good as it can get.”
It seems Ortiz is climbing Red Sox leaderboards on a nightly basis. Ortiz' first home run Monday gave him 383 for his career, snapping a tie with Hall of Famer Jim Rice and Frank Howard on the all-time list. His second blast broke a tie with Larry Walker. With 384 homers, Ortiz is tied with Harold Baines for 57th on the all-time list.
The next bomb will tie former Red Sox great Dwight Evans.
In addition, Ortiz has 36 multi-homer games with Boston, just one behind Ted Williams for first in Red Sox history. Ortiz also moved into the top 10 in hits in a Red Sox uniform on Monday, surpassing Mike Greenwell.
In typical fashion, Ortiz was succinct in his assessment, saying “I feel good, I feel good,” when asked about his hot start.
He was even more matter-of-fact when asked about Monday's second homer, which saw right fielder Josh Reddick fall into the Boston bullpen in an effort to make the catch.
“That guy, he didn’t catch the ball,” Ortiz plainly noted of his former teammate’s failed attempt at stopping one guy who cannot be stopped right now.
BOSTON -- Kevin Youkilis is considered day to day after missing his second straight game due to back tightness.
Youkilis was removed from the lineup about one hour before the Red Sox opened a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics on Monday night. Following the game, an 11-6 Boston win, manager Bobby Valentine said that Youkilis felt pain after taking grounders earlier in the day.
Valentine scratched Youkilis off the lineup card Sunday in Chicago after his third baseman felt the pain following a session in the batting cage. The hope is that it is nothing more than a muscular issue that can fixed with simple treatment.
“I just talked to Rick Jameyson, our trainer, after the game here and he seemed to think he could be OK,” Valentine said. “He’s got a little twinge here and there. He’d play if he could, I can guarantee you that. He was trying to. He just took too many ground balls.”
Nick Punto, who played third base in place of Youkilis, was 0-for-3 with a walk and dropped a popup for an error.
Youkilis was removed from the lineup about one hour before the Red Sox opened a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics on Monday night. Following the game, an 11-6 Boston win, manager Bobby Valentine said that Youkilis felt pain after taking grounders earlier in the day.
Valentine scratched Youkilis off the lineup card Sunday in Chicago after his third baseman felt the pain following a session in the batting cage. The hope is that it is nothing more than a muscular issue that can fixed with simple treatment.
“I just talked to Rick Jameyson, our trainer, after the game here and he seemed to think he could be OK,” Valentine said. “He’s got a little twinge here and there. He’d play if he could, I can guarantee you that. He was trying to. He just took too many ground balls.”
Nick Punto, who played third base in place of Youkilis, was 0-for-3 with a walk and dropped a popup for an error.
BOSTON -- The general consensus was that if the Red Sox bring up Aaron Cook on Tuesday before he has a chance to opt out of his deal and place him into the bullpen, it would cement Daniel Bard’s hold on a rotation spot. Cook would provide relief, Bard would remain a starter and the sun would rise the next day.
There was a wild card. What if Clay Buchholz continued to struggle to the point where he, not Bard, was the one who needed to be moved somewhere, likely down the road to Pawtucket to get straightened out. After all, Bard to the bullpen was more of a fix for the once-struggling relief corps. He has performed just fine as a starter.
On the other hand, Buchholz still may have something to prove. As inconceivable as it would have sounded before the season, a Cook-for-Buchholz maneuver has been discussed in and around Fenway Park.
When you lower your ERA from 8.87 to 8.69, as Buchholz did in Monday’s 11-6 win over the Oakland Athletics, it would seem as if your soft grip on a starting role remained just that. Then again, Buchholz and those who are tasked with helping him return to form felt that this was a step in the right direction.
“I felt like it was my most positive outing aside from the line,” said Buchholz, who gave up six runs on seven hits with five walks and five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings against a team that entered the night ranked dead last in the American League in most significant offensive categories.
Buchholz allowed just one run on four hits through the first six innings. He had thrown only 72 pitches to that point. But two singles, two walks and a three-run homer by ex-teammate Josh Reddick led to a five-run seventh. When manager Bobby Valentine emerged from the dugout following the Reddick blast, Buchholz kicked at the mound and shouted in disgust, clearly peeved over the way his night ended.
The man who brought the hook thought the reaction was appropriate, not because Buchholz had a bad start but because he was so close to having a special one.
“He was probably frustrated that he had a complete game or something in his sights and he let it get away,” Valentine said.
Therein lies the danger in assessing Buchholz’s latest outing. The line is not pretty. The overall numbers are very poor, aside from the team-leading three wins. However, six of Monday night's innings were extremely efficient, to the point where Buchholz could legitimately think of a complete game, or at least something close to it. And Buchholz’s final pitch of the night, a curve headed for the dirt that Reddick golfed into the Oakland bullpen, was one he would throw over and over again.
“I went down to block the pitch. Good pitch,” catcher Kelly Shoppach said. “Guy just made a better swing.”
Still, Buchholz has allowed at least five earned runs in each of his five starts, the first Red Sox pitcher to do that at any point in a season since 1940. He has just one more strikeout (16) than he does walks. The home run by Reddick is the seventh Buchholz has allowed in 29 innings.
So where is he? Is Buchholz a scuffling pitcher who could prove to be a detriment to the rotation until he figures some things out? Or is he still the guy who was a legit Cy Young Award candidate through much of the 2010 season and simply needs a little more time?
Buchholz thinks it is the latter, for one specific reason. He said that his changeup, an absolute weapon in that outstanding ’10 season but a mystery early in 2012, is beginning to reemerge. Credit time in the tape room for that development.
“I looked at a lot of video from 2010 because that’s when the changeup was at its best,” he said. “Saw a lot of things in that video. Today was the best changeup I’ve thrown all year. I wasn’t second-guessing anything.”
Chances are that Buchholz showed enough Monday to prevent any second-guessing on the part of the organization. They have a lot invested in the lanky right-hander and one bad month doesn’t undo the past.
At some point Buchholz will have to put it all together. There may be another option waiting in the wings.
There was a wild card. What if Clay Buchholz continued to struggle to the point where he, not Bard, was the one who needed to be moved somewhere, likely down the road to Pawtucket to get straightened out. After all, Bard to the bullpen was more of a fix for the once-struggling relief corps. He has performed just fine as a starter.
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AP Photo/Charles KrupaAlthough he pitched six efficient innings, Clay Buchholz' night ended poorly in the seventh.
AP Photo/Charles KrupaAlthough he pitched six efficient innings, Clay Buchholz' night ended poorly in the seventh.When you lower your ERA from 8.87 to 8.69, as Buchholz did in Monday’s 11-6 win over the Oakland Athletics, it would seem as if your soft grip on a starting role remained just that. Then again, Buchholz and those who are tasked with helping him return to form felt that this was a step in the right direction.
“I felt like it was my most positive outing aside from the line,” said Buchholz, who gave up six runs on seven hits with five walks and five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings against a team that entered the night ranked dead last in the American League in most significant offensive categories.
Buchholz allowed just one run on four hits through the first six innings. He had thrown only 72 pitches to that point. But two singles, two walks and a three-run homer by ex-teammate Josh Reddick led to a five-run seventh. When manager Bobby Valentine emerged from the dugout following the Reddick blast, Buchholz kicked at the mound and shouted in disgust, clearly peeved over the way his night ended.
The man who brought the hook thought the reaction was appropriate, not because Buchholz had a bad start but because he was so close to having a special one.
“He was probably frustrated that he had a complete game or something in his sights and he let it get away,” Valentine said.
Therein lies the danger in assessing Buchholz’s latest outing. The line is not pretty. The overall numbers are very poor, aside from the team-leading three wins. However, six of Monday night's innings were extremely efficient, to the point where Buchholz could legitimately think of a complete game, or at least something close to it. And Buchholz’s final pitch of the night, a curve headed for the dirt that Reddick golfed into the Oakland bullpen, was one he would throw over and over again.
“I went down to block the pitch. Good pitch,” catcher Kelly Shoppach said. “Guy just made a better swing.”
Still, Buchholz has allowed at least five earned runs in each of his five starts, the first Red Sox pitcher to do that at any point in a season since 1940. He has just one more strikeout (16) than he does walks. The home run by Reddick is the seventh Buchholz has allowed in 29 innings.
So where is he? Is Buchholz a scuffling pitcher who could prove to be a detriment to the rotation until he figures some things out? Or is he still the guy who was a legit Cy Young Award candidate through much of the 2010 season and simply needs a little more time?
Buchholz thinks it is the latter, for one specific reason. He said that his changeup, an absolute weapon in that outstanding ’10 season but a mystery early in 2012, is beginning to reemerge. Credit time in the tape room for that development.
“I looked at a lot of video from 2010 because that’s when the changeup was at its best,” he said. “Saw a lot of things in that video. Today was the best changeup I’ve thrown all year. I wasn’t second-guessing anything.”
Chances are that Buchholz showed enough Monday to prevent any second-guessing on the part of the organization. They have a lot invested in the lanky right-hander and one bad month doesn’t undo the past.
At some point Buchholz will have to put it all together. There may be another option waiting in the wings.
BOSTON -- Do we need to remind you how the first homestand of the season ended for the Red Sox? Well, yes, we do. We’re trying to make a point here.
The Sox dropped the last five games of that first Fenway Park stay by a combined score of 46-17. The finale was that ugly 15-9 loss to the Yankees in which the Boston bullpen blew an eight-run lead. You might remember.
Things seemed to have calmed down a bit since those stormy days at the Fens. A 6-1 road trip can have that effect. For good measure, the Red Sox attempted to remind their fans just how painful those games can be, flirting with another late-game meltdown before securing an 11-6 win over the Oakland Athletics on Monday.
In the end, the punchless A’s didn’t have enough. Not when compared to the power of David Ortiz and the glove of Dustin Pedroia, who turned a difficult double play to end a bases-loaded threat in the eighth. If that play didn’t get made, the powerful Yoenis Cespedes loomed as a potential tying run in a game the Red Sox once led by 10 runs.
Boston has won seven of eight and is back at .500. It wasn’t a work of art, unless you compare it to the last time the Red Sox played at Fenway Park. In that case it was akin to a priceless Monet.
Can’t buck the trend: There has been one clear positive for Clay Buchholz this season: He always picks the right day to pitch. Buchholz entered the night leading the majors with an average of 9.67 runs of support. It’s the primary reason that the Red Sox had been able to split his first four starts, despite his ugly 8.87 ERA.
On Monday night at a chilly Fenway Park, Buchholz continued to get the support. For awhile it looked as if he wouldn’t need it, but a promising line became an unsightly one after he surrendered five runs in the seventh inning and stormed off the mound when manager Bobby Valentine yanked him with two outs.
Buchholz looked OK at times, but he was far from perfect. He gave up seven hits, walked five, hit the No. 9 batter in Oakland’s rather weak lineup and gave up a few loud outs to center. Former teammate Josh Reddick took him deep in the seventh.
With the Aaron Cook decision looming and Daniel Bard coming off a very solid outing, some felt that Buchholz’s hold on a rotation spot was somewhat flimsy. Although he had his moments, Buchholz did not do enough to completely quiet those itching for improvement. Or for a change.
Now, about that run support: Ortiz continues to treat left-handers like they're pitching batting practice. He had a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the second inning against southpaw Tommy Milone and took Milone deep again in the fifth to make it 7-1. The Red Sox slugger is now 13-for-29 (.448) with three home runs against lefties.
Inspired by their large designated hitter, a lot of the little guys got into the act for Boston. Darnell McDonald and Mike Aviles also homered and Marlon Byrd added an RBI double and RBI single.
No Youkilis, no problem: For the second straight day, Valentine was forced to scramble when Kevin Youkilis had to be removed from the lineup roughly one hour before first pitch. Although the offense struggled Sunday in Chicago without Youkilis, who was beginning to show signs of a breakout, it didn’t need him Monday.
The Sox batted around in the second and scored in double figures for the fourth time in seven games, doing so by the fifth inning.
Five does not equal six: In the case of Ortiz and Kelly Shoppach, the fifth and sixth hitters in the lineup, that was rather clear. While Ortiz was busy recording his 38th career multi-homer game and reaching base three times, Shoppach was extending a difficult stretch.
Shoppach has three hits in his last 18 at-bats, striking out 11 times in that span. He fanned three times Monday. The discrepancy between the power of one and the nothingness of the other was alarming. Don’t bank on seeing that pairing back to back all that often going forward.
The old 7-2-4-5-6 putout: When there are 17 runs scored, few remember the first. But this one came in rather odd fashion.
With runners on first and second and one out in the second, Oakland shortstop Cliff Pennington dunked a single into left field. The throw from McDonald went home, but Kurt Suzuki had held up rounding third. In fact, he wasn’t even close to heading home, but Daric Barton rounded second way too far, as if he had an open base in front of him.
Barton was quickly caught in a rundown. With two outs, that would kill the A’s first rally of the game. However, Suzuki timed his takeoff for home perfectly and Barton stayed alive just long enough to allow the run to score before Aviles put the tag on Barton.
Something about April 30: A nice tidbit in the game notes reminded us that the Red Sox defeated Philadelphia by a 19-0 score on this date in 1950. Like Ortiz, a Boston lefty went deep twice. Some guy named Ted Williams.
Speaking of Williams, Ortiz needs one more multi-homer game in a Red Sox uniform to match the Splendid Splinter’s team record of 37.
The Red Sox have announced plans to continue their celebration of Fenway Park's 100th season with special events to honor Tim Wakefield, Tom Brunansky and Trot Nixon before home games in May.
The team announced that May will be "Memorable Moments Month" as the Sox will commemorate some of Fenway's memorable moments and the players that made them happen during the 18 home games in May.
Brunansky will be honored on May 10 for his division-clinching catch in 1990 and Nixon will be recognized on May 28 for his walk-off home run against Oakland in the 2003 playoffs.
Additionally, the Sox will celebrate Wakefield's Red Sox career on May 15 with "Thanks, Wake Day."
Players including Fred Lynn, Jim Rice, Dennis Eckersley, Carlton Fisk, Dwight Evans and Luis Tiant will be saluted on dates to be announced.
The Sox also will host a throwback day this Wednesday, featuring the Red Sox and Oakland Athletics in their uniforms of 1936. That was the year that the A’s, then in Philadelphia, sold Jimmie Foxx to the Sox. Foxx won the Most Valuable Player award in 1938 and established the club’s single-season home run record that stood until David Ortiz surpassed it in 2006. Foxx’ daughter, Nanci Foxx Canaday, will attend the game.
For a look at ESPNBoston.com's top Fenway moments, click here, and to rank your favorite moments, click here.
The team announced that May will be "Memorable Moments Month" as the Sox will commemorate some of Fenway's memorable moments and the players that made them happen during the 18 home games in May.
Brunansky will be honored on May 10 for his division-clinching catch in 1990 and Nixon will be recognized on May 28 for his walk-off home run against Oakland in the 2003 playoffs.
Additionally, the Sox will celebrate Wakefield's Red Sox career on May 15 with "Thanks, Wake Day."
Players including Fred Lynn, Jim Rice, Dennis Eckersley, Carlton Fisk, Dwight Evans and Luis Tiant will be saluted on dates to be announced.
The Sox also will host a throwback day this Wednesday, featuring the Red Sox and Oakland Athletics in their uniforms of 1936. That was the year that the A’s, then in Philadelphia, sold Jimmie Foxx to the Sox. Foxx won the Most Valuable Player award in 1938 and established the club’s single-season home run record that stood until David Ortiz surpassed it in 2006. Foxx’ daughter, Nanci Foxx Canaday, will attend the game.
For a look at ESPNBoston.com's top Fenway moments, click here, and to rank your favorite moments, click here.
BOSTON -- We are 21 games into the Bobby Valentine era as Red Sox manager and it has been a topsy-turvy ride. There have been some notable peaks but some definitive valleys, for which Valentine seems to be shouldering the blame in the court of public opinion.
The Boston skipper was forthcoming Monday at Fenway Park when discussing the issues the club went through in the wake of injuries to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and closer Andrew Bailey. For days, the outfield was shaky and the bullpen was an absolute abomination.
Now that the waters have been calmed, Valentine expressed remorse.
“You try to have what-ifs. To tell you the truth, I didn’t have a what-if to begin the season and I’m kicking myself for it,” Valentine said.
Bailey was lost just before the regular season began to thumb surgery. Even after a quality road trip, the bullpen ERA is 6.34, still last in the majors. Ellsbury suffered a right shoulder injury in the home opener. The outfield as a whole has six home runs, more than just two American League teams, and possesses only one stolen base.
To be fair, Valentine was dealt a difficult hand with the injuries. He acknowledged as much, but kept coming up with the conclusion that he should have done more.
“I didn’t have a major plan for not having Ellsbury. My fault. I should have,” he said. “In the bullpen, two guys we traded for in the wintertime, you figured one of them would be pitching in the ninth inning come April 13," referring to Bailey and Mark Melancon, who was so ineffective in the first week and a half of the season he was sent to Triple-A Pawtucket. "And I think you have to have plans. I’m kicking myself a little. I didn’t have a great plan. It’s coming to fruition now. On the fly, the plan is working.”
It seems to be. The Sox are coming off a 6-1 road trip during which the bullpen had a 1.06 ERA. The Ellsbury-less offense has led the AL in total bases (121) since the excursion began April 23.
The Boston skipper was forthcoming Monday at Fenway Park when discussing the issues the club went through in the wake of injuries to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and closer Andrew Bailey. For days, the outfield was shaky and the bullpen was an absolute abomination.
Now that the waters have been calmed, Valentine expressed remorse.
“You try to have what-ifs. To tell you the truth, I didn’t have a what-if to begin the season and I’m kicking myself for it,” Valentine said.
Bailey was lost just before the regular season began to thumb surgery. Even after a quality road trip, the bullpen ERA is 6.34, still last in the majors. Ellsbury suffered a right shoulder injury in the home opener. The outfield as a whole has six home runs, more than just two American League teams, and possesses only one stolen base.
To be fair, Valentine was dealt a difficult hand with the injuries. He acknowledged as much, but kept coming up with the conclusion that he should have done more.
“I didn’t have a major plan for not having Ellsbury. My fault. I should have,” he said. “In the bullpen, two guys we traded for in the wintertime, you figured one of them would be pitching in the ninth inning come April 13," referring to Bailey and Mark Melancon, who was so ineffective in the first week and a half of the season he was sent to Triple-A Pawtucket. "And I think you have to have plans. I’m kicking myself a little. I didn’t have a great plan. It’s coming to fruition now. On the fly, the plan is working.”
It seems to be. The Sox are coming off a 6-1 road trip during which the bullpen had a 1.06 ERA. The Ellsbury-less offense has led the AL in total bases (121) since the excursion began April 23.
Youk scratched again; Ross hitting cleanup
April, 30, 2012
Apr 30
6:12
PM ET
By Tony Lee | ESPNBoston.com
BOSTON -- Third baseman Kevin Youkilis was scratched from the Red Sox lineup roughly one hour before the opener of a three-game series against Oakland on Monday.
It marks the second straight game that Youkilis has been removed from the lineup shortly before gametime. He was scratched Sunday in Chicago with back tightness. There was no reason given for the latest removal with the announcement of the change.
Manager Bobby Valentine said in his daily media session at 4:30 p.m. that Youkilis was OK and that he said he would be fine after a rubdown. Valentine said the two had met earlier in the day to discuss his availability.
But about 90 minutes after Valentine met with reporters, the team announced that Nick Punto would start in place of Youkilis and bat ninth. Right fielder Cody Ross was moved from sixth in the lineup to the cleanup spot. This is the second time Ross has hit fourth this season.
Youkilis has had a trying first month in 2012, struggling at the plate and fighting through a handful of ailments. He has shown signs of a turnaround, going 6-for-12 with a home run in one three-game stretch on the team’s 6-1 road trip. Overall, Youkilis is batting .219 (14-for-64) with two homers and nine RBIs.
Here's the revised lineup for tonight's game:
Mike Aviles, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Cody Ross, RF
David Ortiz, DH
Kelly Shoppach, C
Darnell McDonald, LF
Marlon Byrd, CF
Nick Punto, 3B
Clay Buchholz, RHP
It marks the second straight game that Youkilis has been removed from the lineup shortly before gametime. He was scratched Sunday in Chicago with back tightness. There was no reason given for the latest removal with the announcement of the change.
Manager Bobby Valentine said in his daily media session at 4:30 p.m. that Youkilis was OK and that he said he would be fine after a rubdown. Valentine said the two had met earlier in the day to discuss his availability.
But about 90 minutes after Valentine met with reporters, the team announced that Nick Punto would start in place of Youkilis and bat ninth. Right fielder Cody Ross was moved from sixth in the lineup to the cleanup spot. This is the second time Ross has hit fourth this season.
Youkilis has had a trying first month in 2012, struggling at the plate and fighting through a handful of ailments. He has shown signs of a turnaround, going 6-for-12 with a home run in one three-game stretch on the team’s 6-1 road trip. Overall, Youkilis is batting .219 (14-for-64) with two homers and nine RBIs.
Here's the revised lineup for tonight's game:
Mike Aviles, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Cody Ross, RF
David Ortiz, DH
Kelly Shoppach, C
Darnell McDonald, LF
Marlon Byrd, CF
Nick Punto, 3B
Clay Buchholz, RHP
Valentine: Cook could be used as reliever
April, 30, 2012
Apr 30
6:05
PM ET
By Tony Lee | ESPNBoston.com
BOSTON -- The clock is ticking on Aaron Cook. The right-hander, who has been pitching well for Triple-A Pawtucket, has an opt-out clause in his contract for May 1, which for those without a calendar handy is Tuesday.
As the Red Sox opened a homestand against Oakland, manager Bobby Valentine said no moves had been made related to Cook. However, he did acknowledge a plan to use Cook out of the bullpen.
“If he came here, yes,” Valentine said when asked if Cook would be used as a reliever.
That would seem to strengthen Daniel Bard’s hold on a starting spot. Bard is coming off his best outing as a starter; he allowed two earned runs in seven innings at Chicago on Friday.
Cook is 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in five starts for the PawSox, including two complete games. He has pitched just once out of the bullpen in the majors since 2003 and was not initially considered a candidate for such a role when he signed with Boston in January.
As Valentine is quick to point out, a baseball season is an evolutionary process. The desire not only to add a veteran arm to the major league staff but to keep Cook in the fold for security purposes has led an alteration to the initial plan.
That doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.
“It’d be challenging,” Valentine said of using Cook in such a role. “You don’t know what’s going to happen. Right now I couldn’t say that it could be anything other than [pitching in relief].”
Valentine admitted that an upcoming stretch of 20 games in 20 days could alter the plans once again. The manager said using Cook as a sixth starter is “a consideration.”
In other clubhouse news:
* Marlon Byrd will be playing his first game as a member of the Red Sox at Fenway Park. It also marks his first game here since being hit in the face by an Alfredo Aceves offering last May when he was with the Chicago Cubs.
Byrd is 8-for-26 (.308) with an RBI and a walk in seven games with the Sox.
“I’m glad that he’s a Red Sox,” Valentine said. “[Hitting coach] Dave Magadan has worked with him so that I think he’s more comfortable at the plate than when he got here and I think that will continue. He’s had some pretty good at-bats. Played some pretty good center field.”
* Daisuke Matsuzaka is on track to make his third rehab start Friday for Pawtucket. Valentine said the weather could alter that plan. Matsuzaka allowed one run and struck out seven in 4 2/3 innings for Double-A Portland in his prior rehab outing.
* The game marks a reunion of sorts for several players, including Boston outfielder Ryan Sweeney and Oakland outfielder Josh Reddick. They were both part of the Andrew Bailey trade this winter.
Sweeney offered a light moment when a reporter asked him how the markets compare. He laughed out loud and asked back, “Trick question?”
Then Sweeney got a bit more serious in assessing the discrepancy.
“Obviously we’re a little bit of a bigger market, but it’s just baseball,” he said. “Here more you’re probably expected to win a little more. There you want to win but I would say that there isn’t as much pressure.”
As the Red Sox opened a homestand against Oakland, manager Bobby Valentine said no moves had been made related to Cook. However, he did acknowledge a plan to use Cook out of the bullpen.
“If he came here, yes,” Valentine said when asked if Cook would be used as a reliever.
That would seem to strengthen Daniel Bard’s hold on a starting spot. Bard is coming off his best outing as a starter; he allowed two earned runs in seven innings at Chicago on Friday.
Cook is 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in five starts for the PawSox, including two complete games. He has pitched just once out of the bullpen in the majors since 2003 and was not initially considered a candidate for such a role when he signed with Boston in January.
As Valentine is quick to point out, a baseball season is an evolutionary process. The desire not only to add a veteran arm to the major league staff but to keep Cook in the fold for security purposes has led an alteration to the initial plan.
That doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.
“It’d be challenging,” Valentine said of using Cook in such a role. “You don’t know what’s going to happen. Right now I couldn’t say that it could be anything other than [pitching in relief].”
Valentine admitted that an upcoming stretch of 20 games in 20 days could alter the plans once again. The manager said using Cook as a sixth starter is “a consideration.”
In other clubhouse news:
* Marlon Byrd will be playing his first game as a member of the Red Sox at Fenway Park. It also marks his first game here since being hit in the face by an Alfredo Aceves offering last May when he was with the Chicago Cubs.
Byrd is 8-for-26 (.308) with an RBI and a walk in seven games with the Sox.
“I’m glad that he’s a Red Sox,” Valentine said. “[Hitting coach] Dave Magadan has worked with him so that I think he’s more comfortable at the plate than when he got here and I think that will continue. He’s had some pretty good at-bats. Played some pretty good center field.”
* Daisuke Matsuzaka is on track to make his third rehab start Friday for Pawtucket. Valentine said the weather could alter that plan. Matsuzaka allowed one run and struck out seven in 4 2/3 innings for Double-A Portland in his prior rehab outing.
* The game marks a reunion of sorts for several players, including Boston outfielder Ryan Sweeney and Oakland outfielder Josh Reddick. They were both part of the Andrew Bailey trade this winter.
Sweeney offered a light moment when a reporter asked him how the markets compare. He laughed out loud and asked back, “Trick question?”
Then Sweeney got a bit more serious in assessing the discrepancy.
“Obviously we’re a little bit of a bigger market, but it’s just baseball,” he said. “Here more you’re probably expected to win a little more. There you want to win but I would say that there isn’t as much pressure.”
ESPN BOSTON'S RED SOX REPORTERS
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Gordon Edes
Gordon Edes, who joined ESPNBoston.com in Nov. 2009, has covered MLB for more than 25 years. He spent 12 years covering the Sox for the Globe. Ask a question for his next mailbag. Follow him on Twitter here.
Joe McDonald
Joe McDonald, a native Rhode Islander, joined ESPNBoston.com as a Bruins and Red Sox reporter in February 2010. He has worked at the Providence Journal since 1992, covering the Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots, PawSox and Providence Bruins over the past nine years. Follow him on Twitter here.
Jeremy Lundblad
Jeremy Lundblad is a senior researcher with ESPN Stats & Information. He provides statistical analysis for ESPNBoston.com and will post here frequently during the season. Follow him on Twitter here.
Steven Krasner
Steven Krasner, a Rhode Island native, has been a Red Sox contributor for ESPNBoston.com since June, 2010. He also covered the Red Sox for 22 years at the Providence Journal. He conducts interactive classroom and Skype writing workshops and has authored several children's baseball books.
Mike Andrews
Mike Andrews is designer and developer of SoxProspects.com and a special contributor to ESPNBoston.com. He writes a weekly column on Red Sox prospects.
UPCOMING GAMES
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAM | 27-18 | 17-7 | 10-11 | W2 | |
| BOS | 22-22 | 9-11 | 13-11 | W1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAM | 27-18 | 17-7 | 10-11 | W2 | |
| BOS | 22-22 | 9-11 | 13-11 | W1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAM | 27-18 | 17-7 | 10-11 | W2 | |
| BOS | 22-22 | 9-11 | 13-11 | W1 |