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Post by drewski6 on May 5, 2023 11:23:19 GMT -5
Just trying to get this sox board rolling.
1. Impressed w Duran. I had a feeling that many Sox fans were too quick to write him off. Disaster in the OF last year, couldnt track a fly ball to save his life. But I had this feeling, theres no way you get all the way to AAA as an OF prospect while being so horrendous defensively. It seemed more likely to me that it was a case of rookie yips then actual inability to play OF. His batting stats, even last year, werent great but were better when you looked under the hood at more advanced stats then just batting avg. I also know in baseball, so many top prospects fizzle, then get forgotten, then break out after they were already declared a bust. May have one here.
2. Verdugo - wasnt a fan and talked a lot of smack. But he does have great contact. Id still like him better at LF, and maybe once Duval comes back, Duval will slide into RF pushing Dugo to LF. Id like to keep Duran at CF (even though his attitude / abrasiveness rubbed me wrong way last year, Im willing to move on and forget about that).
3. Connor Wong - was on a lot of Sox fans sleeper lists going into this year. He with Jeter Downs (no longer with the team) and Verdugo came for Betts. Like to recoup some value from that deal aside from just Verdugo. The starter job should be his for the taking, as McGuire is prob best served as a quality backup C then as a starter - and Wong looks to be seizing his opportunity to cement himself as an MLB mainstay.
Would be nice to get a starting pitcher emerge from the farm. I had hopes for Bello, but he's not been good this season. Did better his last start, but still 5 hits on 5 IP (only 1 ER and 1 BB). Hoping he can build on that
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Post by Admin on May 5, 2023 12:13:51 GMT -5
Faith in young players finally paying off (Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald) By Mac Cerullo | mcerullo@bostonherald.com | Catcher Connor Wong has been on a tear at the plate. (Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Last year when injuries ravaged the Red Sox midseason, the young up-and-comers entrusted to pick up the slack weren’t ready for prime time.
This year the club’s so-called sophomores aren’t just keeping the Red Sox afloat, they’re powering the team to unexpected early success.
Despite playing the toughest schedule in baseball through April while suffering several significant injuries, the Red Sox came into Wednesday in playoff position thanks in large part to their cohort of second and third-year players. Outfielder Jarren Duran, catcher Connor Wong and right-hander Josh Winckowski all rank top five on the team in wins above replacement, and righty Kutter Crawford isn’t far behind either.
Wong, who made a brief cameo in 2021 before earning his first extended MLB opportunity last September, is enjoying the best week of his baseball life. Over his last three games entering Wednesday, the 26-year-old catcher was nine for his last 12 (.750) with three home runs, a double, four runs scored, four RBI, a stolen base and a preposterous 2.333 OPS.
He’s also been excellent defensively behind the plate, helping push his WAR to an impressive 1.3 mark. That’s good for second on the team and second in MLB among all catchers behind only Atlanta’s Sean Murphy.
Wong has been so good that Red Sox manager Alex Cora decided to keep him in the lineup on Wednesday against Toronto ace righty Alek Manoah, a matchup that ordinarily would have made lefty Reese McGuire the obvious choice.
Like Wong, Duran also made his MLB debut in 2021 and initially arrived to great fanfare. Unlike Wong, Duran was considered one of the club’s top prospects at the time, but after two failed big league stints his stock fell significantly.
Talent was never the issue for the speedy outfielder, however, and now he’s finally living up to his immense promise.
Duran came into Wednesday batting .396 and has been ripping doubles all over the field ever since he was called up a little over two weeks ago. So far 11 of his 21 total hits have gone for extra bases and he’s also been markedly better defensively, an area of his game he famously and publicly struggled with a year ago.
 Jarren Duran, right, celebrates with Enrique Hernandez after scoring on a single by Triston Casas over the Blue Jays (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
The result? Duran now ranks ninth in the AL with 1.0 WAR, ahead of superstars like Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez and Houston’s Yordan Alvarez.
On the pitching side, Winckowski has taken significant strides after a so-so rookie year and lately has emerged as one of Boston’s best late-inning relievers.
With Kenley Jansen battling a sore back this past week, Winckowski is the one Cora has entrusted to get the biggest outs, earning his first career save on Tuesday night after pitching two innings to close out Monday’s win as well.
As for Crawford, he’s been one of Boston’s best all-around arms. Since a rough first outing in which he allowed seven runs over four innings to Pittsburgh, Crawford has been almost unhittable, posting a 1.33 ERA with 18 strikeouts and no walks over his last 20.1 innings.
Given the struggles of some of Boston’s regular starters, a case could be made that Crawford deserves a spot in the rotation.
What’s notable is that outside of Duran these guys weren’t necessarily ever Boston’s biggest blue chip prospects, and Triston Casas and Brayan Bello, the two players expected to emerge as franchise cornerstones, so far haven’t made an impact this season.
But as we’ve seen from this latest group, if you’re willing to be patient and put young players in position to succeed, sooner or later your patience could be rewarded.
Whitlock cleared
The Red Sox got good news on Garrett Whitlock’s elbow Tuesday and now the right-hander has been cleared to resume throwing, Cora said prior to Wednesday’s game.
Whitlock, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow ulnar neuritis last week, is eligible to be activated as soon as May 10. While the club is optimistic about his situation, Cora declined to set a timetable on his return, saying they’ll see how he progresses in the coming days.
Jansen, who has been dealing with back soreness the past couple of days, is also feeling better and threw a bullpen on Wednesday. Cora said he’ll be available to pitch Thursday’s series finale against Toronto.
Here and there
Cora said Joely Rodriguez’s outing in Fort Myers went well and he’ll begin a rehab assignment in either Worcester or Portland “in the upcoming days.” … Righty Zack Kelly underwent successful elbow surgery and may be able to return by September. He’ll report to Fort Myers at some point soon to begin his rehab work. … Shortstop Adalberto Mondesi is scheduled to fly to Boston in the next couple of days to get his knee evaluated. … Righty Tanner Houck will start Sunday’s game in Philadelphia. Cora declined to comment on his whether he’ll remain in the starting rotation or move to the bullpen beyonhttps://wd that.
www.bostonherald.com/2023/05/03/red-sox-notebook-faith-in-young-players-finally-paying-off/
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Post by hedleylamarr on May 31, 2023 11:47:00 GMT -5
First post here. Don't really know where to start.
As a Bloom basher, I wanted some decent intel before I posted.
So, according to my research, of the Benintendi, Renfroe, Betts and Vasquez trades, the only players we have lost have been Cordero and Bradley Jr?
Winckowski, DeLa Rosa, Gambrell, Binelas, Hamilton and Abreu are all in the minors, with Verdugo, Wong and Valdez currently on the team. Is that accurate?
Seems to me that's okay, although I hated losing Bogey with a passion.
Does Bloom have a reputation as a good evaluator of talent? Seems to me he's doing okay in this area. Mayer just got promoted, and some of the other draft picks are doing well also. Maybe he keeps his job?
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Post by hedleylamarr on May 31, 2023 11:57:39 GMT -5
Just trying to get this sox board rolling. 1. Impressed w Duran. I had a feeling that many Sox fans were too quick to write him off. Disaster in the OF last year, couldnt track a fly ball to save his life. But I had this feeling, theres no way you get all the way to AAA as an OF prospect while being so horrendous defensively. It seemed more likely to me that it was a case of rookie yips then actual inability to play OF. His batting stats, even last year, werent great but were better when you looked under the hood at more advanced stats then just batting avg. I also know in baseball, so many top prospects fizzle, then get forgotten, then break out after they were already declared a bust. May have one here. 2. Verdugo - wasnt a fan and talked a lot of smack. But he does have great contact. Id still like him better at LF, and maybe once Duval comes back, Duval will slide into RF pushing Dugo to LF. Id like to keep Duran at CF (even though his attitude / abrasiveness rubbed me wrong way last year, Im willing to move on and forget about that). 3. Connor Wong - was on a lot of Sox fans sleeper lists going into this year. He with Jeter Downs (no longer with the team) and Verdugo came for Betts. Like to recoup some value from that deal aside from just Verdugo. The starter job should be his for the taking, as McGuire is prob best served as a quality backup C then as a starter - and Wong looks to be seizing his opportunity to cement himself as an MLB mainstay. Would be nice to get a starting pitcher emerge from the farm. I had hopes for Bello, but he's not been good this season. Did better his last start, but still 5 hits on 5 IP (only 1 ER and 1 BB). Hoping he can build on that I love Duren, and I like your options for him. I also love Verdugo, and I've liked him all along. We need more ex-Dodgers....lol Wong has been a nice surprise this year so far. And, I agree, we need some quality young pitching. |
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2023 23:01:35 GMT -5
The latest addition, Luis Urias, first Red Sox player to have B2B Grand Slams on consecutive pitches. He joins Bill Mueller (2003) as only Sox players to ever hit Grand Slams on consecutive plate appearances.
Luis Urias has been with the Boston Red Sox for less than a month. But on Saturday, he accomplished something that hadn't been done before in the franchise's 122-year history. With his second-inning grand slam against New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, Urias became the first Red Sox player ever to notch a grand slam on consecutive pitches faced, according to J.P. Long (@soxnotes on X). The 2023 trade deadline addition also hit a grand slam in his final at-bat of Thursday's loss to the Washington Nationals. Urias also joined former Red Sox third baseman Bill Mueller (2003 vs. Texas Rangers) as the only Red Sox player ever to hit a grand slam in consecutive plate appearances. Urias was the catalyst in Boston's 8-1 win over New York. Connor Wong and Rafael Devers also homered in the series opener. The Red Sox acquired Urias from the Milwaukee Brewers for minor-league right-hander Bradley Blalock. Although the move was met with little fanfare, it would be a major development if Urias rediscovered his power.
The 26-year-old has struggled at the plate this season but was a key contributor in Milwaukee's lineup during the 2021 and '22 seasons. In 2021, he notched 23 homers with 75 RBIs and a .789 OPS. Last year, he recorded 16 homers and 47 RBIs in 119 games.
Urias will look to stay hot in Sunday's game in the Bronx. Josh Winckowski will get the start for the Red Sox while Clarke Schmidt takes the mound for the Yankees.
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