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Boston Globe
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
As Garrett Crochet piles up the innings, Red Sox will allow ace extra rest in second half
And while the Sox are not looking to limit Crochet's workload, manager Alex Cora said Saturday they did give him the few extra days from his last start of the first half July 12, when he threw a complete-game three-hitter in a 1-0 win over Tampa Bay, and will again before he pitches Saturday at home against the Dodgers. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'It is a good time for him to reset, you know, and go from there,' Cora said. 'But there's no limitations. We're going to keep going and keep pushing and use the schedule to our advantage and the rest of the guys, and there's a reason he's here. And just like everybody else, at one point, you have to throw 30 starts, and he's on his way to doing that.' Advertisement Crochet has more than proved himself worth the price Boston paid in top prospects when they acquired him last December in a trade with the White Sox, standing among top Cy Young candidates at the break. Pomeranz reminisces The easy way for Red Sox fans to remember pitcher Drew Pomeranz is for his stellar 2017 season (17-6, 3.32 ERA), but those really paying attention also recall Pomeranz for a unique 2018 moment. Injuries derailed him that season but ultimately didn't keep him off the 2018 World Series roster. It was there, in the epic 18-inning loss to the Dodgers in Game 3, that Pomeranz was the only last available pitcher in the Sox bullpen by the time it was over. 'He was our last man standing,' manager Alex Cora said, smiling. Now in the Cubs' bullpen, the 36-year-old lefty shared fond memories of his time in Boston — 'I had the best years of my career and the worst of times with injuries in Boston,' he said — but admitted he barely recognizes his old team, with his last remaining ex-Sox teammate, Rafael Devers , having been traded to the Giants in June. But Pomeranz did make sure to connect with Cora and some other staff members still here. 'They've got some good young players that have been playing well of late, and it's good to see the exciting players, but there's so much turnover,' Pomeranz said. On Friday night, he came out of the bullpen to get a key out against one of those rising stars, retiring Roman Anthony with two on in the seventh inning of a 4-1 Cubs win. Advertisement Said Cora: 'Seems like Drew's been on the verge of retiring like 10 times since 2018, and he's still doing a good job. We've stayed in touch throughout the years … He was a guy we liked, we really enjoyed, and I'm glad he's still doing it.' Injury updates Cora finally had an answer — well, sort of — about righthander Tanner Houck . Houck has been returned from his rehab assignment but will stay on the injured list as he continues to work his way back from the right flexor issue that had kept him from the roster for two months. Cora said Houck is in Boston with trainers and the team has 10 days before he can start a new rehab assignment. … Cora said reliever Justin Slaten (right shoulder) has started playing catch, which he described as 'a big step.' Liam Hendricks (hip) is throwing up to 120 feet, and reliever Luis Guerrero 'is about to start throwing bullpens in Fort Myers,' Cora said. Tara Sullivan is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at
New York Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Red Sox manager Alex Cora attended viral Coldplay concert with kiss cam scandal
One MLB skipper had an eventful outing during the All-Star break. Red Sox manager Alex Cora decided to attend a concert during his time off at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday night with some of his friends. Yes, it was that Coldplay concert. It turns out that Cora was at the concert when Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and human resources chief Kristin Cabot were busted for an alleged affair on the Patriots stadium's jumbotron. Cora, while speaking with reporters Friday at Wrigley Field, said the concert was a good time. 3 Manager Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox argues with umpire Will Little against the Chicago Cubs during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field on July 18, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images 'I was actually [at] the Wednesday [Coldplay] concert,' Cora said. 'It was fun.' This event was planned for a while, with Cora saying he had hashed it out in December. Cora told WEEI that he and his friends had previously watched a Coldplay concert on video, and they wished they could attend. He did some research and found out that the band was near Boston during the Red Sox's, so he made plans to go. And it turns out they got more than advertised, as Cora and his friends witnessed firsthand one of the most viral moments of the year. 3 Astronomer CEO Andy Byron cuddled up with the company's head of human resources at a Coldplay concert. TikTok/@instaagraace Byron and Cabot were caught hugging each other on the jumbotron, and both Astronomer employees tried to get out of the frame. Astronomer officially opened an investigation into the matter and released a statement Friday. 'Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability,' the company said. 'The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter, and we will have additional details to share very shortly. 3 Alex Cora at Friday's game at Wrigley Field. Getty Images After the fun week off, Cora and the Red Sox had a Friday afternoon matchup against the Cubs, and while they tried their best, they did not succeed, losing 4-1 to snap what had been a 10-game winning streak.
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Young Red Sox star Roman Anthony enjoying being a ‘first-timer' at historic Wrigley Field
Anthony batted third and was the designated hitter Friday as the Red Sox looked to restart their engines after the All-Star break and to recapture the momentum of their 10-game winning streak heading into it. Seeing so many players at the workout told veteran shortstop Trevor Story the team was raring to go. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'The boys are ready to just be together again,' Story said. 'I think we miss each other. Believe it or not, we're with each other every single day, but when you go three or four days without it, it's like, 'Man, where the boys at?' You know? I think it's just a sign that the boys love being together. We love the vibe that we have, and obviously shows the focus that we want to start the second half.' Advertisement For manager Alex Cora , the high attendance reflected a team 'finding our identity. Obviously, throughout the season, we were learning who we are. And there was a lot of stuff that happened, injury-wise, and the [ Rafael Devers ] trade, and all that. And little by little, we found our place.' Advertisement Decision soon on Houck With one simple word — 'yes' — Cora threw some doubt on to what comes next for pitcher Tanner Houck , whose rehab assignment expired Friday, leaving the team with a decision to face in the next day or so. The 29-year-old righthander spent the past two months on the injured list with a right flexor pronator strain, but now the Sox need to decide where he best fits: in the rotation, in the bullpen, back to a new rehab clock, or, as Cora wouldn't rule out, optioned to Triple A Worcester. Asked directly before the game if optioning Houck was on the table, Cora said, 'Yes,' before adding, 'Bres [chief baseball officer Craig Breslow ] is not here, so you know, they'll make a decision and we'll inform you guys.' Houck, an All-Star last season, struggled in nine starts this year, posting an 8.04 ERA before the injury. 'I believe I'm a starter. I've always felt that way. I'll continue to feel that way for the rest of my career,' Houck said before the break. 'I've proven that I can start in this league, even at the highest level. I know that my first nine starts don't define me and what my talent is and what my ability is.' Advertisement Bregman easing back in Alex Bregman was in the lineup Friday, batting second, and Cora said the 31-year-old third baseman rebounded well physically from his return last Friday but that he will ease his way back into playing every day. The plan, Cora said, is for Bregman to play the first two games of this series and again in the next series at Philadelphia, then have two consecutive games off before the Sox return home to face the Dodgers. 'Hopefully by [that] Friday, he gets a full go,' Cora said. Center of the action Ceddanne Rafaela was in his customary center field spot, but don't be surprised to see another appearance at second base in the series finale in Philly … Cora said he enjoyed a quiet break, 'stayed in the area with the family and just hung out and then came here to this beautiful place, you know, to start the second part of the season.' … The Sox have quite the test coming up with the Cubs, Phillies, and Dodgers, three straight division leaders. 'We'll see how we stack up,' veteran Rob Refsnyder said. 'Three great teams now.' Tara Sullivan is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
After 10-game streak, pressure's on Red Sox, Alex Cora to reverse recent history
BOSTON — This is Alex Cora's seventh season managing the Red Sox. It's also his seventh time going into the All-Star break with a team that's at least three games over .500. The story of Cora's tenure in Boston since the 2018 title has been good first-half teams that, for various reasons, collapse down the stretch. In 2019, a 49-41 club at the All-Star break got hurt late and missed the playoffs with a 35-37 second-half record. In 2022, the Red Sox were 48-45 at the break, then nine games under .500 after. The 2023 season — and inactive trade deadline — saw a team go 30-41 in the second half after being 48-43 in mid-July. Last year's bunch soared in the second week of July to 10 games above .500 at 53-43... then cratered with a 28-38 record, missing the playoffs for the third straight season. Even the 2021 Red Sox, which won 92 games and reached the ALCS, were a much worse team in the second half (37-34) than the first (55-36), though that was in part because COVID had ravaged the roster. In short, we've seen at least the first half of this movie before. It's now on Cora and the Red Sox to write a much different ending after rocketing into the All-Star break with a 10-game winning streak. When Cora and the Red Sox arrived in Washington, D.C. for a morning game on the Fourth of July, the manager, somewhat whimsically, offered a reminder that the 2018 version of the Red Sox 'really took off' by playing well on Fourth of July weekend at Nationals Park and then winning 10 in a row en route to an 108-win season. He was hopeful the same thing would happen. He was rather prescient, as his team bludgeoned the lowly Nationals and Rockies before peaking in a four-game home series against the Rays, in which they won four low-scoring games. After doing so, the Red Sox find themselves in a good spot. At 53-45, they're in sole possession of the second wild card spot in the American League, just three games behind the Blue Jays in the AL East and have seen their playoff odds (per FanGraphs) rise from 16.7% after their last loss (on July 3) to 55.1% now. 'It's just the conviction in who we are as a team,' said shortstop Trevor Story. 'I think we have more of an identity now. We're starting to believe in that. We can win in different ways, I think we've shown over this 10-gamer. We can slug or we can win one-run games. We can steal bases. We're embracing all of that. Playing good defense is always a key part of that. But it all starts with the pitching. We've been lights-out.' It's easy to forget that a year ago, the Red Sox won 10 out of 13 heading into the break, and at 53-43, were similarly positioned as they are now in what was a better league overall. Then came a brutal trip west in which the Sox lost five of six to the Dodgers and Rockies followed by a 13-15 August. Things faded fast, as they often have in the second half of recent seasons. There haven't been many examples of Cora-led teams peaking late since 2018, when the club was an absolute bulldozer from late March through October. There have been relevant reasons in individual years — see poor deadlines, confusing trades and injuries — but the result has always been the same. The 2024 team was reinforced in a way the 2022 and 2023 teams were not. Still, things fell apart. With heightened expectations this year after the winter additions of Garrett Crochet and Alex Bregman, there simply can't be another second-half collapse. If Breslow does what he intends and makes significant additions before July 31, a poor roster won't be to blame. The Red Sox have weathered an early-season storm of injuries (Triston Casas and others), drama (the Rafael Devers saga) and inconsistency to get to this point. Now, they must ensure they don't run out of gas. 'We were so streaky early on, too,' said Cora. 'You win four, you lose four and sometimes it's tough to come to the ballpark. But I think there's two things: We're young and we're athletic and that doesn't slump, to be honest with you. 'We're pitching. It's a lot different than last year.' Cora also pointed to improved pitching depth, as well as speed and athleticism in an offense catalyzed by Jarren Duran, as reasons why the Red Sox wouldn't fade a year ago. Then, faced with a big post-break test at Dodger Stadium, the Sox folded, losing three in a row. They'll be similarly challenged this weekend against the Cubs, who at 57-39 are very nearly the best team in the National League. Two really good teams — the Phillies and Dodgers — will follow. Working in the Red Sox' favor is that many of the players they'll rely on to keep the momentum going — including rookies Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Carlos Narváez, who Cora has challenged to 'bring energy' on a daily basis — simply don't know better. Also working for them is that their unquestioned leader, Bregman, has seen it all and is a two-time champion. Fading late is a disturbing recent pattern, sure. But the group on the field has changed a lot, too. 'That's just in the past,' said Story. 'That's a big part of why we've been successful: We're in the moment, we're very present, not worried about what we did yesterday. We've got to show up today and win a game. I think with that mindset, it's hard to live in the past or in the future. That's a big part of our team and our identity.' The Red Sox have looked like a perfect team since the Fourth of July, but they are not. Hunter Dobbins' season-ending injury further depleted their already diminishing rotation depth and increased the need for Breslow to add an impact arm to pair with Garrett Crochet, Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello. There are still question marks in the bullpen with Justin Slaten nowhere close to returning and Aroldis Chapman facing an inevitable period of struggle after a lights-out first half. The offense, while just fine in the post-Devers era, needs to slug more, even with Bregman back in the mix. Little things, like the pitching staff's defense and some questionable baserunning decisions, still threaten to turn wins into losses. The onus is on Breslow to buy big in the next couple weeks. But it's also on Cora, a year after signing a contract that made him the second-highest paid manager in baseball history, to get the most out of his players at the most important time of year. Everyone in the Red Sox' clubhouse agreed that there's no such thing as a bad time for the All-Star break to come and that the four-day respite is much-needed after 98 games. It was harder to verbalize the key to making sure those 96 hours away from the field didn't cost any momentum. It's somewhat fitting, with the Red Sox playing as well as they are, that they're first-up on the schedule when play resumes around the big leagues Friday. The traditional Friday matinee start works for this group. Why wait any longer? 'We've still got a long ways to go,' Cora said. 'We're happy with the stretch. We're happy with the way we've been playing. I think we've only had one bad stretch or one bad series, the last few weeks and it was the Anaheim one. We were up in two games late in the game. 'We're playing good defense, pitching well. We have a good baseball team.' More Red Sox coverage A sweet ambush: Fred Lynn and Jim Rice's bond still gold 50 years after 1975 Red Sox pennant Red Sox draft College World Series champion pitcher with their fourth pick of night Red Sox draft UVA infielder with third pick at No. 75 overall Who's Kyson Witherspoon, Red Sox first round pick? 'I don't like being second' Red Sox double down on college pitching, draft another SEC arm with second pick (No. 33) Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox righty (who reached 102 mph at 20) regained ‘confidence' after trade
BOSTON — Jorge Alcala's ERA has improved by more than two runs since the Red Sox acquired him in a trade with the Twins on June 11. 'I think I just lost a little bit of confidence before,' Alcala said through translator Daveson Perez. 'Now my confidence is definitely higher than it was working with the pitching coaches here. And their philosophy of attacking the strike zone has helped me a lot, too.' Alcala has allowed just one earned run in 10 ⅓ innings (0.87 ERA) in 11 outings for Boston. That's vast improvement from the 24 earned runs in 24 ⅓ innings (8.88 ERA) he gave up in 22 outings with Minnesota to begin the season. The Red Sox saw his potential, evidenced by his 3.24 ERA in 58 ⅓ innings last year. The 29-year-old righty's success starts with velocity. Alcala has reached 100.3 mph with his fastball as a member of the Red Sox. The Dominican Republic native hit triple-digits for the first time during his age 19-20 season in 2015. He then was pitching for the Dominican Summer League and hit 102 mph, he said. 'I didn't notice at the time when I did it,' he said. 'But they told me after and even the newspapers in the Dominican wrote about it. I was like, 'Oh, wow.'' However, it's not the elite velocity that has led to his turnaround with Boston. It's his breaking ball, which manager Alex Cora keeps mentioning. 'Good fastball. The breaking ball is real,' Cora said after Alcala's first outing June 17 in Seattle. 'Obviously the velocity catches your attention but the breaking ball is good,' Cora said after one of Alcala's most recent outings. 'It's really good.' But which breaking ball is Cora talking about? Alcala throws both a slider and curveball. 'I think the curveball right now is the best one for me,' Alcala said. 'Just continuing to work on it. Obviously I have the fastball there. But you have to mix it up sometimes.' It's clear the Red Sox really liked Alcala's curveball when they traded for him and knew he would have success if he threw it more often. His slider was his second most used pitch behind his four-seam fastball with Minnesota but it got hit hard. Opponents batted .389 against it. His curveball was his third-most used pitch and hitters were batting just .143 against it. The Red Sox have dramatically shifted his pitch selection, reducing slider usage from 21.8% to 8.2% while more than doubling his curveball usage from 15.1% to 32.7%." Control was also an issue. His 6.8% walk percentage with Boston is down from 13.2% with Minnesota. 'I heard Bails (pitching coach Andrew Bailey) and Tek (game-planning and run prevention coach Jason Varitek) the other day talking about catcher's setups with him,' Cora said. 'Kind of start right in the middle and then go to the edges. That probably is helping him right now. I'm not 100% sure what they were doing in Minnesota. Obviously they have a great pitching program over there and they're really good at what they do. But that's something from the get-go we told our catchers - do this and hopefully we can get ahead and then we go to the edges.' Cora said he wants to put Alcala in more higher-leverage situations. 'That makes me really happy that they have that trust,' Alcala said. 'Just waiting for my moment to go out there and pitch and do what I can for this team.' BETTING: Red Sox moneyline is +110 on Caesars for Thursday's game versus the Cubs. Our comprehensive list of the best Massachusetts sportsbook promos will help you find a sportsbook to use. More Red Sox coverage With two weeks before trade deadline, here's what we're hearing on Red Sox MLB commissioner lays out Boston's chances of hosting another All-Star game (report) Players had 'no clue' about crazy All-Star Game tiebreaker, then ex-Red Sox slugger won it Ex-Red Sox players: Traded starter has 3.55 ERA, Rafael Devers batting .202 Red Sox rival agrees to sell team after pressure from MLB commissioner (report) Read the original article on MassLive.
