Over the Monster - All Posts

Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes hits walk-off homer, punts helmet

2013-06-19T12:00:06Z

Jonny Gomes has mostly had a rough go of things this year, his first in Boston, but he's started to come around as of late for the Red Sox. His timing could not be better, as he came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth of a tie game with Daniel Nava on first base in game two of a doubleheader against the Rays on Tuesday, and hit a walk-off homer:

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He also punted his helmet in celebration before jumping into the arms of his teammates at home plate:

Now 44-29, the Red Sox have the best record in the American League -- and the second-best record in all of Major League Baseball -- in spite of Gomes' troubles. If the lefty-mashing outfielder is rounding into form now, with this walk-off homer being the kickoff for that, that's all to the good for Boston and their chances. For now, simply putting the divisional rival Rays down in a game they had tied up half-an-inning before will suffice.

Daily Red Sox Links: Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Mike Carp, Jerry Remy

2013-06-19T11:00:10Z

During the second game of yesterday's double header we learned that David Ross would be heading back to the 7-day DL. Luckily for Boston, their starting catcher has been performing very well this season. (Tim Britton; Providence Journal)

Mike Carp has been a real pleasant surprise this season, and Chad Finn compares him to a former Red Sox player who many may have forgotten about. (Chad Finn; Boston.com)

We've had some time to digest the Red Sox draft now, and Chris Crawford reviews their class. (Chris Crawford; MLB Draft Insider)

Next year will mark the first season in what seems like forever that the Yankees will start the year without Mariano Rivera in their bullpen. Who do they have to replace him? (Josh Norris; Baseball Prospectus)

Speaking of closers, remember Joel Hanrahan? Rob Bradford checks in on the rehabbing pitcher. (Rob Bradford; WEEI.com)

Once again Alfredo Aceves was called up for a spot start and once again he performed well enough to put the Red Sox in a winning position. It's time to accept him, says Michael Silverman. (Michael Silverman; Boston Herald)

According to David Schoenfield, Jose Iglesias' hit streak is a "sham" with all of his infield singles. Because I'm sure all of Joe DiMaggio's hits were rockets. (David Schoenfield; ESPN.com)

For everyone worried about Jerry Remy's absence recently, it seems he may be giving us a statement on the matter tomorrow. Here's hoping it's good news. (Ron Chimelis; Masslive.com)

Red Sox 3, Rays 1: Jonny Gomes' walkoff homer secures doubleheader sweep for Sox

2013-06-19T03:18:20Z

The Red Sox needed two things tonight: a long outing from their starting pitcher, and just enough runs to turn that outing into a win. They got both, with Felix Doubront providing the innings and Jonny Gomes the big swing to leave the Sox 3-1 winners.

With Felix Doubront on the mound just an hour after the Red Sox ran through four of their best relievers in the first half of the doubleheader, the possibility of disaster loomed large. Here was the team's least efficient starter. Even on his best nights, Doubront needed help from a pen that just wasn't ready to provide it tonight.

Felix did not wait long to show that tonight might be a very different sort of night. While Desmond Jennings took Doubront's first pitch of the night and hit it into left for a single, Doubront fought back, requiring just 11 more pitches to escape the top of the first, striking out Evan Longoria to finish the job.

This was the trend through the first few innings. Imperfect, but strong. Another single in the second? Still just twelve pitches to get three outs. A leadoff hit in the third? How about a double play to make it a ten-pitch frame?

Meanwhile, Daniel Nava had done just enough against a surprisingly strong Jake Odorizzi. The young starter had given Nava a pitch to hit in the bottom half of the strike zone in the bottom of the second, and Nava had hammered it into the bullpen, putting the Red Sox up 1-0.

And if Doubront had been strong to start the game, he was only better with the lead. A 1-2-3 fourth, a pair of strikeouts in a similarly clean fifth. Down the Rays went in the sixth, the seventh, and even the eighth. After allowing one baserunner in each of the first three frames, Doubront retired the last seventeen batters he faced.

With 93 pitches, Doubront could have been called upon to finish the job he started, but John Farrell elected to go to the bullpen, and that brought the one moment of darkness to a very good day indeed. While the Sox had threatened in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, they never completed the job, pushing across any insurance runs. So, when Andrew Bailey entered the game having allowed two runs and a homer in two of his last three starts, the margins were razor thin.

Two pitches later and those margins were gone. One bad fastball to Kelly Johnson, one home run to right, and a game full of domination from Doubront had effectively gone to waste. It was 10:00, and a brand new ball game in Boston.

Thankfully, those dark moments would only last so long. Andrew Bailey managed to get out of the top of the ninth without further incident, giving the Sox a chance to walk off in the bottom of the inning. Daniel Nava set the stage for a longer rally by drawing a walk. One more baserunner in quick order, and they would only need small ball to make it 2-1.

Or Joel Peralta could give Jonny Gomes a first pitch fastball, and Jonny Gomes could say goodbye. It's been a tough year for Gomes so far, but when he gets ahold of one, he really gets ahold of it. A big swing sent a towering fly ball to left field. The only question was whether or not it would stay fair, and when it bounced off the AAA sign over the Monster seats, that question was answered. Gomes rounded third, punted his helmet, and was mobbed at the plate.

Red Sox place Clay Buchholz, David Ross on disabled list

2013-06-19T00:31:39Z

In a flurry of moves between the two halves of their Tuesday doubleheader, the Red Sox have placed Clay Buchholz and David Ross on the 15-day and 7-day concussion disabled lists respectively,

Buchholz threw a bullpen session shortly before first pitch of game two, and while reports from Fenway Park seemed positive at the time, apparently he wasn't quite feeling good enough to stay off the disabled list. The move is retroactive to June 9th, meaning Buchholz will be eligible for activation in less than a week. Hopefully this is the last delay--the Sox need his arm back in the rotation.

As for David Ross, he just can't stop taking foul balls off his mask. Even with a specially padded mask, it seems like he's dealing with concussion symptoms again. He was expected to start the second game of the doubleheader, but now finds himself back on the disabled list.

The Sox have called Alex Wilson and Ryan Lavarnway back up to the majors to replace the injured players. Wilson stands a good chance of staying for a while, with Alfredo Aceves and Pedro Beato likely first in line to return to the minors. Lavarnway will remain just as long as the Sox need him to provide depth behind Saltalamacchia at catcher, and likely not longer.

Red Sox 5, Rays 1: Sox wait out lengthy rain delay, down Rays

2013-06-18T23:38:46Z

It took six hours to get the job done, but the Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 in the first game of their ~~day~~ night - night doubleheader.

Making his second straight start against the Red Sox--that's two of four in his short MLB career now--Chris Archer once again proved no great mystery to Red Sox hitters. Jacoby Ellsbury got the Boston attack started with a little wall ball, doubling off the base of the Monster, and then advanced to third and home on a pair of loud fly balls from Shane Victorino and Dustin Pedroia, putting the Sox ahead 1-0 early on.

Alfredo Aceves would return the favor in the top of the second, walking Evan Longoria and James loney, then surrendering a one-out double down the right field line to Luke Scott. Shane Victorino was able to hurry over fast enough that Loney was unable to score a second run, however, and Aceves picked up a key double play after walking a third batter in Jose Molina to escape the inning.

That would be the most difficult inning of the day by far for Aceves, who continued to utilize what must be some form of eldritch magics to turn three walk, two strikeout performances into big starts for the Red Sox. They will not be complaining anytime soon.

Aceves' day would eventually be cut short after five innings thanks to the arrival of heavy rains, but not before the offense got him back on top, and with a bit of cushion to boot. Back-to-back singles from Jacoby Ellsbury and Shane Victorino started off the third, with Victorino stealing second to give the Sox two runners in scoring position. While Dustin Pedroia ran into a bit of hard luck, sending a line drive right to Ben Zobrist at second, David Ortiz suffered no such bad luck, hitting a hard ground ball right back up the middle and into center to score both baserunners.

Ortiz would drive in another run in the fifth, and the Sox would load the bases for Jarrod Saltalamacchia. With the rains coming in force while the Rays made a pitching change, however, he would have to wait three torturous hours for his at bat. With the umpires dead set on getting both games in tonight, the Sox would not resume until 5:55, with Salty quickly striking out to send the game into the sixth.

From there, it was up to the bullpen, and even with Felix Doubront on the mound for game two, John Farrell pulled few punches. Junichi Tazawa, Andrew Miller, Koji Uehara, and Craig Breslow got the job done, while back-to-back triples from Jacoby Ellsbury and Shane Victorino brought home a fifth Boston run.

It's good to get at least one win tonight. There won't be much left in the bullpen as the Sox look to make it two, however--a game which starts in, oh, about 20 minutes now.

So back to work we go.

Greenville Drive update: Pat Light, Jeffrey Wendelken, Mookie Betts

2013-06-18T14:50:29Z

Pat Light, RHP

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	ERA	GS	IP	BF	WHIP	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB
2013	22	Greenville	SALL	A	8.06	8	25.2	127	1.948	13.0	1.4	4.6	8.4	1.85
2 Seasons					4.98	20	56.0	244	1.464	10.3	0.8	2.9	8.7	3.00

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/18/2013.

Light returned to action on June 1, but, just like in his previous appearance that had him placed on the minor-league DL, he was pulled after recording just one out due to a recurrence of his hamstring injury. He threw just three pitches, and, according to Sox Prospects, he's rehabbing in in Fort Myers rather than with the Drive at the moment. There's no timetable mentioned for when he'll be back, but hopefully he is able to return soon, and is able to consistently deliver on his promise in a way that he hasn't managed just yet in 2013.

*****

Jeffrey Wendelken, RHP

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	ERA	G	IP	BF	WHIP	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB
2013	20	Greenville	SALL	A	2.94	16	49.0	208	1.306	8.3	0.7	3.5	7.2	2.05
2 Seasons					2.43	29	70.1	287	1.109	7.2	0.5	2.8	8.6	3.05

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/18/2013.

This is Wendelken's first update in 2013, as this spot was previously for Kyle Kraus. With Kraus promoted to High-A Salem, though, the 20-year-old, 12th-round pick of the Red Sox from the 2012 draft gets his time in the update spotlight. Wendelken dominated in the Gulf Coast League to close out 2012, posting a 1.27 ERA in 21-1/3 innings while striking out 28 batters against just three walks. He hasn't been quite as nasty this year in his first taste of full-season ball, but still, it's hard to find much to complain about outright.

The strikeouts are down, and his walks are up, but the end result remains productive. There are reasons to be a little concerned, though: he's very much a fly ball pitcher, and if he isn't missing bats, that is going to be problematic in the future -- especially if the walks don't come down again. The Sox liked him, though, giving him a $100,000 bonus despite where he was selected in the draft, so it's worth keeping an eye on him to see if he can keep the ball down, or at least in the yard.

*****

Mookie Betts, 2B

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	PA	2B	3B	HR	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2013	20	Greenville	SALL	A	267	20	1	8	14	1	46	29	.287	.413	.500	.913
3 Seasons					563	28	2	8	35	5	78	59	.278	.382	.397	.779

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/18/2013.

Betts has cooled off a bit from his ridiculous course correction, but that just means he's "only" hitting .306/.390/.444 over his last 10 games. In April, Betts posted a 619 OPS, but as you might have guessed from the above, May was a different story: the second baseman hit .356/.472/.663, and now his line looks as if April never happened. Expecting him to keep up May's pace would be asking a lot, but there is offensive talent here, and it wouldn't be shocking to see him continue along his overall path as the year progresses.

Remember, he's just 20 years old: even if he "only" has an OPS over 900 by year's end, that's a huge accomplishment for Low-A, especially considering he hit all of .267/.352/.307 for short-season Lowell one year ago. If he has anything resembling another May this year, we might even see him hit up High-A Salem, though, that would likely necessitate that Salem's keystoner, Sean Coyle, hits his way into his own promotion. They're both young, so there's no need to worry if there aren't any promotions to be found for either, however.

Red Sox vs. Rays Lineups: Mike Napoli Makes His Return from Illness

2013-06-18T14:45:35Z

With the Red Sox having just lost three out of four to the Orioles over the weekend, they return home to play a double-header against the Rays today.

In game one, we have Mike Napoli's return to the lineup after suffering through a mysterious illness for most of the series in Baltimore. With that and Dustin Pedroia's return from his first day off on Sunday, Boston's lineup is mostly straight-forward today. Jose Iglesias got the short end of the stick in the infield's rotation today, but one would imagine he'll be pencilled in for tonight's game.

Boston Red Sox (42-29)

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Daniel Nava, LF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Stephen Drew, SS

Starting Pitcher -- Alfredo Aceves

Tampa Bay Rays (36-33)

Starting Pitcher -- Chris Archer

Boston is sending out Aceves to start the first game today, and he's been solid in his last couple of spot-starts. The Red Sox are going to need him to continue that trend to get them back on track this afternoon. He'll be facing a solid lineup from the Rays, which most notably will include Wil Myers. The rookie outfielder and top prospect is making his MLB debut today after being traded to Tampa Bay in the offseason as the centerpiece in the package Kansas City sent over for James Shields.

Red Sox minor lines: Lowell Spinners get underway

2013-06-18T14:00:10Z

A very short schedule of games today, but it does include the first game of the season for the Lowell Spinners.

Pawtucket W 4-0

Box Score

Jackie Bradley Jr.: 0-4, BB
Bryce Brentz: 1-3, HR
Ryan Lavarnway: 1-3, 2B, BB, K
Jeremy Hazelbaker: 1-4, 2 K

Rubby De La Rosa: 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 5 K
Alex Wilson: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Brentz is on a tear, with four homers in six games, bringing his season total up to 14. Unfortunately, Rubby's good results don't have quite such a shine to them given that he seems to be locked into this whole "walk everybody" thing right about now.

Lowell W 1-0

Box Score

Tzu-Wei Lin: 0-3, BB
Manuel Margot: 0-4
Kendrick Perkins: 0-3, BB, K, SB
Williams Jerez: 0-4, 2 K

The Spinners aren't really all that far off from being the Drive. While Manuel Margot entered the season a more interesting prospect than Mookie Betts, Betts has been doing so well that it's hard to say Greenville doesn't have that one top name. Then there's a bunch of guys who maybe can do something but really haven't shown it in their careers-to-date.

The good news is that Lowell is the first stop for many a drafted player, and their pitchers haven't had a chance to disappoint like Greenville's have.

Over the Monster - All Posts

Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes hits walk-off homer, punts helmet

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Daily Red Sox Links: Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Mike Carp, Jerry Remy

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Red Sox 3, Rays 1: Jonny Gomes' walkoff homer secures doubleheader sweep for Sox

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Red Sox place Clay Buchholz, David Ross on disabled list

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Red Sox 5, Rays 1: Sox wait out lengthy rain delay, down Rays

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Greenville Drive update: Pat Light, Jeffrey Wendelken, Mookie Betts

Pat Light, RHP

Jeffrey Wendelken, RHP

Mookie Betts, 2B

Read more Red Sox:

Red Sox vs. Rays Lineups: Mike Napoli Makes His Return from Illness

Boston Red Sox (42-29)

Tampa Bay Rays (36-33)

Red Sox minor lines: Lowell Spinners get underway

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