The latest on the American League champions:
- When the Red Sox go on the road to face the Dodgers in the World Series, they could feature an interesting defensive alignment. Speaking with reporters (including Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald) on Saturday, Cora revealed that the Red Sox are considering deploying right fielder Mookie Betts at second base in Los Angeles, where they won’t have the luxury of using a designated hitter. In doing so, the Red Sox would keep DH/outfielder J.D. Martinez’s elite bat in the lineup. No matter what, Martinez is going to play, though the team’s not giving any thought to putting him at first base, Mastrodonato reports. Martinez has next to no experience at first, whereas Betts played plenty of second base as a prospect and most recently lined up at the keystone 14 times as a major league rookie in 2014.
- Left knee issues have shelved Red Sox right-hander Steven Wright since Sept. 29, but the knuckleballer hasn’t ruled out a World Series return, per Mastrodonato. Although the Red Sox had to remove him from their ALDS roster when the playoffs began two weeks ago, Wright has been throwing since then, and he issued a fairly encouraging update Saturday. “My arm and body feels really good, just a matter of can my knee withstand the pressure of throwing off a mound consistently?” Wright said. He’ll “go through a few tests” before the Red Sox decide whether to include him on their World Series roster, according to Cora. Wright threw a short simulated game Sunday to help determine the status of his knee, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe tweets. The 34-year-old was an asset out of the Red Sox’s bullpen during the regular season, when he notched a 1.52 ERA and held opposing hitters to a .191/.303/.314 line.
- It hasn’t been a banner postseason for all-world Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel, who has allowed at least one earned run in four of five appearances. However, Kimbrel may have begun a turnaround in his most recent outing Thursday, when he threw a scoreless, hitless frame with two strikeouts and a walk to close out the Astros in the ALCS. Kimbrel revealed afterward that he had been tipping his pitches – something former closer Eric Gagne first noticed while watching from home, Ben Harris of The Athletic writes (subscription required). “There’s quite a few people, but actually Eric Gagne texted me last night,” Kimbrel said. “He’s good friends with AC (Alex Cora), and he texted me and gave me some advice.” As part of an interesting piece that’s worth checking out, Harris goes on to break down what Kimbrel was doing wrong and how he fixed it.
Mookie is a freak athlete and I think he could play a passable 2B, but I absolutely don’t want to see him playing there if Macahdo gets on 1st
Since Mookie Betts was drafted as a highly regarded second baseman and played there in the minors, I think he’ll play a passable 2B.
Cereal, I think Mookie could play an adequate 2nd but in Dodgers Stadium a team needs an OF that can cover alot of ground., Sox have that. One position will downgrade with JD, Downgrading two positions in the OF and another in the infield is not something the Sox should do.
I know, Machado may lightly touch his leg. Have to protect him from that at all costs
Just like Macahdo ‘lightly touched’ Pedroia’a knee, essentially ending his career.
Not really. The source of his knee problems was a game in Toronto in September 2016. He required an arthroscopic procedure in the offseason to repair a partially torn meniscus and remove damaged cartilage. Mannys slide exacerbated an existing problem. Maybe made it worse but his knee was a time bomb waiting to go off
That slide was a complete accident. Look at the route and his reaction.
Watched it over and over. If you call it an accident you’re lying or blind.
Na you just have Machado Derangement Syndrome. Look at his reaction. Look at how straight the slide is. Look at how after the impact he immediately pulls it down. It was clearly not on purpose.
Really? Machado ruined Pedroia’s knee? Even Pedroia hated the “retaliation” for that. It was caught on camera.
The slide changed direction and the foot came up and aimed at the back of Pedroia’s leg. No derangement here he’s already done the same thing on the big stage twice this postseason. Not to mention The Kick. Dirty, dirty player who proudly refuses to hustle yet still expects to be paid like a long the off season. Only derangement is in any defense of this man.
*king
Oh man your case of Machado derangement is bad. He lightly touched Arcia on the leg and you think thats dirty? It was a rule violation but not dirty in any way.
Not biased on your part either I’m sure. Open your eyes man.
Why did Pedroia come out and say it wasn’t dirty? In what world is touching someone on the leg dirty? You have a hard time adressing these questions and the more you ramble on and call me biased the clearer it becomes you just look to hate on Machado any chance you get. He has been dirty but you named the times he wasnt…. slapped him on the leg and your really using that against him.
Pedroia and many players won’t make a media deal out of it. You argue that he’s not dirty then admit he is…You don’t care to defend the Arod-esque slap at the throw to first or the dirty ankle kick at first. The mans dirty you said it yourself.
Pedroia hated the retaliation but has never to my knowledge commented on the slide. Remember it came after the rules around 2B changed. Biggest problem is the “false” sense of security a 2Bman has when a slide like that occurs.
If he said it wasn’t dirty, I stand corrected regardless of the reason. I don’t recall him defending Machado but rather him being against retaliation.
This comment isn’t biased at all.
It would be pretty easy to spike Manny in the face if he was trying to break up a double play.
I would imagine that every base runner is gonna slide hard into second, in the World Series. Surely, we have not become soft enough to hold that against them.
Really sure Kimbrel tipping his pitches had to do with him walk everyone.
You beat me to it!
youtu.be/kg8x2q2nsyg
Look at all the down votes!
Hi Eileen!
Come on Eileen, oh I swear (what he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
What do down votes have to do with anything.
Annoying song for an annoying person. Right up there with everyone’s “favorite” Starland Vocal Band song.
It did have to do with the walks. When batters know a breaking ball is coming and starts on the outside of the plate, they can lay off it and take it for a ball instead of swinging and missing for a strike.
Yankees said the same thing about Luis Severino.
Don’t be a hypocrite. Starting to take “Tipping pitches” excuse like “My Twitter was hacked!” excuse.
I think he was being facetious.
Obviously Kimbrel losing his edge.
Witnessing the greatest Boston team ever, they say……….. The greatest Boston payroll ever
They did have the greatest Red Sox season in many factors of all time.
Need to win WS to consider greatest Boston team
I think the 2007 Patriots were better than this Red Sox team
Price pitched good because he used deflated balls
Props, this is good
How sour are those grapes you’re eating?
I was complimenting the Sox.
….Look again. My reply wasn’t to you.
As a Yankee fan it’s funny that you’re talking about payroll…
Bottom line is this Sox team is the real deal. Start to finish(minus those few weeks in June when they were tied with New York) they were the team to beat in the AL.
You should be more like GCF and accept that it wasn’t your year.
The Yanks need to make some improvements but the AL East is going to be a dog fights for years to come.
X cmon your better then that no Yankees fan can talk payroll and really be taken seriously.
Xab, no need for your jealousy to show.
XAB you could argue all day about the GTE., Who cares? Even if they win the WS, which probably starts an endless debate among millions of opinions, in the end it matters little. WS Champs or GTE? I’ll take WS champs, GTE is a distant 2nd
There is no argument its the highest paid team ever.
Sox stayed under the threshold last year, Yankees and Dodgers this season. Yankees cumulative payroll the last 10 years more than Boston even including Castillo and Craig which was a loophole that needs to be closed. I’m not crying for Castillo given his earnings but he deserves another MLB shot which he can’t get with Boston as his salary would then become part of the payroll.
Someone needs to drill Machado
Come on dude end your sentences with a period, or the jelly-man is gonna get you.
Haven’t seen much of him since Price broke his own curse…………
He’s kinda like those nosy neighbors who monitor your yard….
He probably kicked and broke the family TV and got grounded.
I mean Matt Barnes IS on the roster
Too bad Pedroia’s hurt….I’d love to see what would happen to Manny if he slid into Petie like that…….if he got off the field alive, he’d never get out of town alive….
As for drilling him, it’s gonna happen; the opportunity never really presented itself. But at least one of these games figures to be a blow-out, one way or the other….2 outs, nobody on, 10-1 the score….Manny’s goin’ down….
Don’t think you’ll see Betts @2B….Cora talks sh**t sometimes….and JD isn’t THAT bad in RF….not that good either, but he’s far from a butcher….
I think next year is Pedies swan song final tour year. Him and David Wright very similar except for David’s power.
I’d honestly hate to see him plunked. I’m mystified why he’s unabashed about his lack of hustle. I wouldn’t want him on ANY MLB team with his attitude.
JDs bat is needed in the line up. Kinsler isn’t doing much.
I’m never good at guessing. I was hoping for Milwaukee. Red Sox in 6 at home.
Pedie and Wright similar? Nah. Better comparison in my view is Mattingly and Wright. Both corner infielders who had power and good average bats. Also, the back cut each’s career short and neither won a WS.
MYRS, looks like Pedey is done. If Wright can’t come back from the same surgery, how can Pedey play 9 innings in the field with that knee plus run the bases? Doesn’t seem possible.
Hope I’m wrong.
Microfracture surgery is relatively new especially in baseball and each person is different. Their age is not in their favor. I heard a few months ago Amari Stodemeyer (sorry for the spelling) was going to try to return to the NBA but I don’t think he did.
Opportunity didn’t present itself? You guys threw at him twice the game after, right?
Going to be fun and interesting watching Manny Machado against Red Sox pitching since there is a not too good history between him and Boston. I’m thinking Manny puts on a show but these Red Sox are too deep all around and I can’t see them losing to Dodgers. I hope I’m wrong. Two teams with the highest payrolls in baseball! When was the last time that happened?
I didn’t know the Giants were the NL team. How did they pull that one off?
Hope dodgers pull the upset on red sox.
Seems to be a lot less of the “DD needs to be fired for gutting the farm!!!” posts than there used to be…
Look, the Sox have more talent, but they’re less flexible. It’ll probably be a good series. Sox are gonna do what the Sox are very good at doing, and the Dodgers are gonna flex with the situation. They have, like, a dozen utility players. They could load up right handed power vs Sale or Price, then when he comes out they can focus on defense or match-ups and not really hurt at the plate or in the field because of the changes. Dave Roberts is kind of an idiot though, I bet the Dodgers lose because of questionable management decisions, since their strength is depth and flexibility and Roberts isn’t all that great at utilizing in big spots.