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Red Sox, Nationals Bring Baseball Back to Naval Academy

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If you’re a NESN subscriber you’ll be able to enjoy 15 Red Sox Spring Training bouts starting with a weekend set against the Twins and the Rays on Saturday and Sunday, February 25-26, both at 1:00 PM Eastern Time. The full schedule has the 13 remaining games throughout March.

Boston will end the Spring slate with three games against the Washington Nationals, beginning March 30 with successive games at Fort Myers, Nationals Park, and then the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Tickets for that final game, part of the Nationals commitment to one exhibition game at the Academy per year through 2019, will be limited to midshipmen and select members of the US Navy.

It has been 30 years since a major league club played a game at the US Naval Academy. Exhibition games there trace back to 1971, when the Navy played in occasional games against the Red Sox, Astros, Orioles, Tigers, Royals, and Yankees. Eleven games into the 1972 major league campaign, the Sox thumped Navy 14-2 in a May 1 game that featured the club’s first home run of the season by Sox third baseman John Kennedy.

Here are some other news and notes for Red Sox fans:

  • Pablo Sandoval showed up at Red jetBlue Park eight days early and in high spirits, reports the Boston Herald. It wasn’t too far a trip as Sandoval moved to Fort Myers, Florida over the winter. Still, photographs show a trimmer, fitter Panda, who you will recall missed all of 2016 recovering from shoulder surgery. Jackie Bradley says Sandoval has something to prove, “I’m glad to see his smile and his energy back. You can tell he has a chip on his shoulder. I love that.”
  • When it comes to Sandoval, WEEI’s John Tomase writes, a thinner Pablo isn’t necessarily a better Pablo. A better predictor of future performance may instead be the company Panda’s keeping, and starting with Miguel Cabrera, it’s pretty good company, indeed. Sox hitting coach Victor Rodriguez has spent a lot of time with Sandoval this winter. “He’s in good shape, strong. Real strong,” Rodriguez says, “He’s got a good attitude. He’s here to show people what he can do.”
  • Is Sox backstop Sandy León the Rodney Dangerfield of baseball? Despite finishing among the MLB elite at his position last year, León still has his fair share of doubters that he can repeat in 2017, Sean Penney writes.
  • One-time Red Sox reliever Javier López announced his retirement this week. López, who spent four seasons with the Red Sox, was part of the 2007 World Championship team appearing in 61 games that season for a 3.10 ERA over 40.2 innings of work. But it was after he left Boston that he really came into his own, spending his final seven seasons with the Giants, earning three more World Series rings and putting together an impressive 2.47 ERA in 446 total appearances (251.0 IP). Last season, San Francisco honored López with the Willie Mac award, given to the club’s most inspirational player.
  • The Red Sox signed Connecticut native Mike Olt, 28, to a minor league deal. Olt, who last played in MLB in 2015 with the White Sox and has been beset with injuries, says he’s “100% healthy” and called the signing “an opportunity of a lifetime.”
  • The Sox are also taking a chance on two-time All-Star Carlos Quentin, signing him to a minor league deal this week that notably does not include an invitation to big league Spring Training. Quentin hasn’t played at the MLB level since 2014. Citing Bryce Brentz and Rusney Castillo, WEEI’s Rob Bradford explains the signing as a way to shore up for Pawtucket’s lack of outfield depth.

Pitching concerns mount

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The AL-East leading Red Sox, the winners of their first three series of the season for the first time since 1952, dropped the series finale against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, 5-10.

With all the usual caveats that it’s early in the season, pitching remains the top concern for this 2015 club.

Red Sox offense is solid, averaging 6.2 runs per game, the 2nd-most in the majors behind the Royals’ 6.6 mark. Boston’s team batting average is .253, 5th-best mark in the American League.

But unlike the Royals, who have allowed just 2.6 runs per game (2nd-best in the majors), Boston opponents are avergaging 5.6 runs per game, the 2nd-worst mark in baseball. The only MLB pitching staff that’s allowed more opponent runs per game are the moribund Minnesota Twins (5.8).

Wide Miley, in his first-ever appearance at Fenway suffered the 3rd-shortest start of his career (108 games) lasting just 2.1 innings Wednesday and giving up 7 earned runs in the process. The off day on Thursday is lucky for the Boston bullpen, which pressed Anthony Varvaro, Robbie Ross, and Craig Breslow into service.

In 3 of their last 4, Red Sox starters have not gotten to the 5th inning. Worse, starters’ ERA is a whopping 6.16, the 2nd-worst mark in baseball behind the Mariners (6.43). Boston’s bullpen ERA, meanwhile, is 2.97.

Defensively, the Red Sox have 8 errors on the season, tied for the 4th-most in baseball. Their fielding percentage is .978, below the league average of .984.

It may seem odd to complain when your club is 6-3 and in first place, but we know that it’s a long season ahead. Without improvements in pitching the Red Sox will need continued great offense, fewer errors, and what can be that most elusive of characteristics—health to stay in contention.


Game 8: Comedy of errors

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In a rollercoaster game Tuesday the Red Sox improved to 6-2, beating the Washington Nationals and sealing a win in their first three series of the season for the first time since 1952.

The Red Sox need wins in their next two games to match their club record of 8 wins in their first ten games, which also happened in 1918, 1920, and 1952.

Justin Masterson, in his first start at Fenway with the Red Sox since July 29, 2009, seemed rocky at first before settling in. Staked to a 5-1 run lead, however, Masterson went on to allow 6 more, giving the Nationals a lead and knocking Masterson from the game. In all, Masterson was charged with 7 earned runs Tuesday. He had never allowed more than 6 earned runs in his first stint with Boston (2008-9, 67 appearances).

Down 7-5 in the 7th inning Boston rallied for 3 runs without the benefit of a hit. The last time the Red Sox scored that many runs without a hit was in the 7th inning on August 25, 2001 playing against the Rangers.

Red Sox Nation held its collective breath for appearances by Alexi Ogando and Edward Mujica, though together they allowed just one hit and no runs over 2.2 innings of work. Junichi Tazawa was then followed by Koji Uehara, in his first appearance of the season. It was good to see Uehara earn the save with 2 strikeouts in a perfect 9th inning. In all Red Sox  relievers allowed 0 runs and no walks over 4.1 IP.

Boston averaging 6.4 runs per game

Dustin Pedroia, always solid in Interleague games, collected his 3rd home run of the season in Game 8. It took him until his 59th game of 2014 to reach that milestone.

Outstanding utility man Brock Holt started at shortstop for Xander Bogaerts, who had undergone an MRI on his sore knee earlier in the day. Holt went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Holt has not had an error in 13 career games at short. Later came good news as doctors found no damage to Bogaerts’ knee and cleared him to play.

The Nationals have allowed 8+ runs in two straight games for the first time since August 10-11, 2010.

With the come-from-behind win the Red Sox have improved to 143-82 (.636) in Interleague games since 2003, the best such record in baseball in that time.


Game 7: Betts day

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In a day of superlatives could anything really top the performance of Mookie Betts?

Betts electric started right from the beginning of the game with an outstanding catch robbing the Nationals’ Bryce Harper of a home run into the bullpen.

Before the 1st inning was done Betts would steal second and third base in a smart, heads up play that capitalized on a Washington shift that left third undefended. Later Betts said he and first base coach Arnie Beyeler had spoken about this possibility, but Betts’ intelligence, athleticism, and instinct continue to be impressive.

According to the Society for American Baseball Research, Betts basepad acumen marked only the 11th instance of a player stealing 2+ bases on the same play since 1915.

After scoring a run in the first Betts then clubbed his 2nd home run of the season, a three-run blast that put the Sox up early, 4-0.

Ortiz moves up

With a 6th inning, 419-foot home run David Oritz tied Chipper Jones at #32 on Baseball’s All-Time HR list. It was his 1,033rd extra-base hit tying Ortiz with Sammy Sosa at #28 on the all-time list in that category. With his next RBI Ortiz will tie Joe DiMaggio for the 46th-most in baseball history.

Tough competition

Against a tough Washington pitching staff Red Sox’ bats were solid. A seemingly more confident Xander Bogaerts went 2-for-3 while Pablo Sandoval has now scored a run in 5 straight games, tying the 2nd-long such streak in his career. His record is 6 games set April 7-13, 2012.

Catcher Sandy León, acquired for cash from the Nationals late in Spring Training after Christian Vazquez‘ season-ending injury, went 3-for-4 against his former club. The 3 hits were a career high for León who has appeared now in 37 MLB games since 2012.

Not to be overlooked, newcomer Rick Porcello picked up his first win as a Red Sox, allowing 4 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), and a walk over 8.0 innings pitched. He allowed 2 solo home runs while striking out 6. Of the 90 games in which Porcello has allowed a home run it was the 23rd where he has given up multiple roundtrippers.

Series continues

Having lost 4 of their last 5 games it’s a good time to face the Nationals, who are favored by many to be World Series contenders in 2015. The Washington club is off to its worst start since the beginning of 2009 when they went 0-7.

On what was a beautiful day in Boston the Red Sox improved to 5-2 to stay atop the American League East. Monday’s win means the Sox are now 69-46 (.600) for all-time in home openers, including 10 of their last 11 first games.


This year’s challenges

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Update: No sooner was this posted, than Manager Farrell had his first challenge of 2014 upheld. It came on Saturday, April 26 vs the Blue Jays.

The changes to the rules in Major League Baseball this season have been controversial to say the least. As you likely know by now, today MLB took action on the most egregious of the problematic rules by revising their position on the so-called transfer rule, effective immediately.

Like it or not (and I don’t), MLB’s position on manager’s challenges, however, remains as is—at least for now.

After play completed yesterday there had been 100 total manager challenges so far this season. A good time, I decided, to have an RSNStats look at how the challenges have gone.

Knowing when to challenge

It’s easy to say managers should know when to challenge. And, in fact, some of the most comical parts of the season have been watching managers kill time with the umpires while they look for the high-sign from the dugout where, behind the scenes, club staff are reviewing TV video replays. Unfortunately, having conclusive evidence that it’s time to challenge hasn’t always worked out the way you’d expect. A good reason, in my view, that the challenge, at least as it’s done today, will never be considered a legitimate part of the game. Anyhow, on to the stats…

Of the 100 manager challenges to date, 48 of them have been successful for the managers that raised them.

The Cubs’ skipper, Rick Renteria, and the Rays’ Joe Maddon have raised the most challenges so far this season (7). Renteria has been successful 4 times, Maddon 3 times. Matt Matheny of the Cardinals is only manager yet to raise a challenge so far this season.

Six managers, including Red Sox skipper John Farrell, have never been successful in a challenge. Farrell is 0-for-3 so far this season. Others unsuccessful with challenges so far this season are : Blue Jays’ John Gibbons, Dodgers Don Mattingly, Athletics Bob Melvin, White Sox Robin Ventura, and Nationals Matt Williams. Gibbons and Melvin have the most challenges without a successful outcome (4).Manager Challenges