Latest news with #WillClark
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rafael Devers no-showed 3 times when Giants icon came early to mentor him at 1B
The San Francisco Giants offered to have team icon Will Clark mentor Rafael Devers at first base immediately after being traded by the Boston Red Sox. Clark himself says Devers didn't show up – three days in a row. It's a story that first gained traction when Red Sox play-by-play man Will Flemming mentioned it on WEEI. Apparently, Clark himself had told the story a week earlier during an appearance on the No Filter Network. Clark, a six-time All-Star who played eight seasons with the Giants, has worked as a special assistant in San Francisco's front office since 2009. He said that, after Devers came over, he was in town and open to mentoring Devers at first base. Clark, labeled a 'longtime Giants icon' on the team website, didn't have 'anything physical' in mind. He just wanted to go over some pointers. 'Friday, Saturday, Sunday, he did not come out early, at all. Period, not all. In fact, he didn't even hit on the field,' Clark said. 'Everybody's like, 'Oh my God, I'm so sorry, Will. I'm so sorry.'' Clark said that his response was to tell the team not to worry about it. He actually understood why Devers didn't want to come out early to work at first base. That's because the sessions would have come the weekend the Red Sox were in town. That would have created a scenario where Devers was taking coaching at first base right in front of his old team, who he told to go kick rocks when asked to play first. 'I know what the (expletive) happened,' Clark said. 'I said, he didn't want to go out and be at first base and be 20 feet in front of their freaking dugout with what went on in Boston, and now he's working with me at first base. He didn't want to have to go through all that (expletive) through the press in the media. So, I completely understand.' Clark was understanding the first time. However, it sounds like Devers won't have any excuses moving forward. 'But Rafael Devers, the next time I'm in San Francisco, your ass will be on the field at first base, just letting you know that,' Clark said. 'Even if I gotta go grab you by the (expletive) back of the neck and drag your ass out there, you will be at first base.' More Red Sox coverage Red Sox' reliever transferred to 60-day IL after experiencing injury setback Roman Anthony's recent hot stretch put him among Red Sox legends Red Sox roster moves: Starter sent down after first MLB win, fresh arm called up to bullpen As one (hot-hitting) outfielder moves up in Red Sox lineup, another sits again vs. lefty Giants GM had trade talks with Red Sox while at his grandmother's funeral (report) Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Giants Legend Rips Red Sox Announcer After Rafael Devers Story
Giants Legend Rips Red Sox Announcer After Rafael Devers Story originally appeared on Athlon Sports. San Francisco Giants legend Will Clark stands with Rafael Devers, despite what Boston Red Sox announcer Will Flemming may have implied earlier this week. Advertisement Flemming turned heads when he told Boston's WEEI that Devers, whom the Giants acquired in mid-June, skipped a workout session at first base. Interestingly, that practice would have come during a Red Sox-Giants series at Oracle Park. However, Clark—who initially shared the story on his podcast—had already explained why Devers no-showed. Clark believes Devers didn't want to work out at first base in front of Boston's dugout. Clark subsequently blasted Flemming, criticizing the veteran announcer's reporting and attitude. 'Flemming, you can go [expletive] off, [expletive],' Clark said. 'Alright? Advertisement 'You want to [expletive] take a conversation that we're having and then blow it out of proportion because you're a ... East Coast, piece of [expletive] reporter?' Clark added. "[expletive] off.' San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers | Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images Neither the Giants nor Flemming had addressed Clark's comments at publication. Interestingly, Flemming's brother, Dave, is Boston's TV announcer on NESN. For his part, Flemming clarified his initial words on Twitter/X, noting that the story originated with Clark. 'I'm not trying to push a narrative or opine about the trade,' Flemming explained. 'No one has any ill-will toward Rafi, it was just time for a change here.' Advertisement Devers has exclusively DH'd since joining the Giants last month. The three-time All-Star is batting .225 with two home runs, nine RBIs, and a .706 OPS in 96 plate appearances with the Giants. San Francisco entered Friday at 51-43, holding the NL's third and final Wild Card spot. The Giants only trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by five games in the NL West. Former Red Sox Standout Crushes ESPN Over Bobby Jenks Death Post: 'Do Some Research' Alex Cora Makes Major Announcement About Red Sox Future This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox broadcaster clarifies comments after saying Rafael Devers skipped first-base workouts with Giants great Will Clark
It might be a while before the Boston Red Sox organization stops talking about Rafael Devers. Five months after the drama began around the Red Sox and nearly a month after it culminated in a trade with the San Francisco Giants, Red Sox play-by-play broadcaster Will Flemming dredged up some history by recalling a time his team's first baseman allegedly no-showed to a first base tutoring session with Giants great Will Clark. Advertisement Here's what he had to say during an appearance on WEEI on Monday: "They think he's going to win them divisions and hit a bunch of — he's going to hit home runs, of course he is. They don't yet know what is going to happen with the player. I was there the second day. Will Clark was there to work on ground balls with him at first base and Rafi didn't show up, so that's the person that these guys have been dealing with for a long time." That's not exactly stuff you say about someone when you respect their work ethic. Flemming indicated he was going off a story he heard second-hand from Clark himself on his "Deuces Wild" show last week. And it's true, if Clark is to be believed. The former Gold Glove first baseman said Devers no-showed on him not once but three days in a row during a series early in the 28-year-old's San Francisco career: "I came out early three days in a row — Friday, Saturday, Sunday — to work with [Devers] around first base ... So Matt Williams and Bob Melvin want me to go out there and work with him around first base. No problem. And we weren't going to do anything physical ... And Friday, Saturday, Sunday, he did not come out early at all. Period. Not at all." However, what Flemming appears to have left out is Clark saying that he believed Devers skipped those sessions because they would have been spitting distance from the Red Sox dugout during their series at Oracle Park that weekend: "Everybody's like, 'Oh my God, Will, I'm so sorry.' I'm like 'Don't worry about. I know what the f*** happened.' I said he didn't want to go out and be 20 feet in front of their freaking dugout with, you know, what went on in Boston, and now he's working with me at first base. He didn't want to go through all that bulls*** in the press and the media. So I completely understand. But Rafael Devers, the next time I'm in San Francisco, your ass will be on the field at first base." It was a tense environment at that Red Sox-Giants series, which days after Devers left Boston for good. The big development after that trade was Devers immediately saying he was happy to move to first base, which is the same position change he publicly rejected when asked in Boston. The trade was always about more than just a position, and Devers happily ceding the hot corner to Gold Glover Matt Chapman in San Francisco all but confirmed it. Advertisement Flemming struck a very different tone a day later about Devers, placing the onus of his story on Clark and claiming he wasn't trying to push a narrative or opinion. Rafael Devers remains a topic of conversation for the Red Sox media. (Photo by) (Lachlan Cunningham via Getty Images) It is worth noting that while Devers supposedly didn't want to work with Clark because of the proximity to the Red Sox, he definitely took grounders there the day of the series opener, as he had been doing all week. Clearly, Devers' reputation in Boston is sealed. Flemming might say he had no ill will toward Devers, but there was a reason he had that story ready off the top of his head a week after Clark shared it and a month after it happened. It is a story his audience would be very ready to hear, because it would be vindicating for them if Devers faces similar drama in San Francisco, as a story like the above would imply. Advertisement You can judge for yourself if Clark's stated explanation for Devers no-showing holds water considering he was still taking grounders around that time. The mechanics of the break-up have been discussed at length and both sides said stuff you can't take back, so there's really not much else to do. Devers' priority now is the Giants, for whom he is so far slashing .240/.348/.387 in 20 games.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rafael Devers blew off first base meetings with Giants legend
The San Francisco Giants shocked the world when they traded for Boston Red Sox disgruntled star third baseman Rafael Devers on Father's Day. Devers was asked to move from third base to designated hitter in the offseason, and though he was upset about it, he made the transition. Advertisement Fast forward to May, Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas went down with a ruptured left patellar tendon and the team asked Devers to play first base. Devers refused and was eventually traded to the Giants. After the trade, Devers said he would do anything to help the team according to president of baseball operations Buster Posey. San Francisco decided to bring in legendary six-time All-Star first baseman Will Clark to mentor Devers and discuss playing the position. Well, Devers didn't show up. According to Clark on No Filter Network, Devers didn't show up early for three straight days for these meetings. Advertisement Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp 'Friday, Saturday, Sunday, he did not come out early, at all. Period, not all. In fact, he didn't even hit on the field,' Clark said. 'Everybody's like, 'Oh my God, I'm so sorry, Will. I'm so sorry.'' These meetings were supposed to take place when Boston visited San Francisco, so Clark says he understands why he didn't want to arrive early. However, Clark had some choice words for Devers if he no-shows on him again. 'But Rafael Devers, the next time I'm in San Francisco, your ass will be on the field at first base, just letting you know that,' said Clark. 'Even if I gotta go grab you by the back of the neck and drag your ass out there, you will be at first base.' Advertisement Devers has continued to DH even when third baseman Matt Chapman was hurt. He has since returned, so it will be interesting to see where Devers ends up playing by the end of the year. More MLB: Brewers-Braves blockbuster trade proposal sends 2023 NL MVP to Milwaukee
