Some news and notes out of Boston…
- Dustin Pedroia’s return from left knee surgery lasted just three games before the Red Sox second baseman returned to the disabled list with inflammation in that same knee. Speaking with reporters (including the Boston Herald’s Jason Mastrodonato) about the latest injury, Pedroia noted that he was feeling discomfort in a different part of the knee than the area that was operated on back in October. He is scheduled to meet with the doctor who performed the original surgery on Tuesday “and see what he has to say. It could be just normal or scar tissue or something, but that’s it.” Pedroia didn’t feel he came back from his first DL stint too quickly, or that he or the team did “anything wrong” during his rehab process to incur this new issue. The current absence is somewhat being viewed as part of the overall recovery from last fall’s surgery and the knee problems that had bothered Pedroia for some time. “It just might take a little time,” Pedroia said. “Last year, if I didn’t have surgery, it wasn’t going to get any better. It’s going to get better. So, just stinks going through it.”
- Blake Swihart’s first start at catcher this season is likely to come this week, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo and other media. Swihart has been behind the plate twice this season as a sub, though he has yet to actually start at catcher since April 2016 due to injuries and trials at different positions, due to concerns about Swihart’s defensive capability as a backstop. Opposing scouts are greatly interested in whether Swihart can handle catching, Cafardo writes, and showcasing Swihart behind the plate would help the Sox in their efforts to trade the former top prospect. There’s even a possibility that Swihart could stick in Boston in regular catching duty, as Christian Vazquez and Sandy Leon have provided little offense this season.
- The Red Sox have already been quite public with their reasons for releasing Hanley Ramirez, though in a video report for FOX Sports, Ken Rosenthal adds that the some with the club felt that Ramirez’s departure would allow for new voices to take a leadership role in the clubhouse. Rosenthal mentioned J.D. Martinez as a potential veteran leader, particularly as he is the most experienced member of the position player roster with Pedroia out of action.
It’s like Boston’s trying to make every excuse, but his vesting option. Do you buy “some with club felt Ramirez’s departure would allow for new voices to take a leadership role”…?
I believe there were multiple reasons as to why he was released, but undoubtedly the vesting option played a big role in it.
Vesting option was the only reason. This is just pandering to the fanbase
Not true. If he continued hitting like he did in April he would still be with the team and they would be happy to let him vest.
Ya that’s the point.
And that was not going to happen because Hanley’s problem has always been staying motivated.
100% correct, Skills have always been there, it’s the attitude that causes problems for him
And why do they not want it to vest? Because he’s not worth it. And why isn’t he worth it? Because he isn’t good enough.
They released him because he isn’t good enough. Today, tomorrow and next year.
But the point is if he was producing , he’d still be there this year
and prob vest for next year as well! They would be more than happy to pay him if he was still producing at a high level. But it’s a moot point now!
It’s not pandering to the fan base, it’s pandering to the MLBPA. Why is it so hard for people to realize they can’t just come out and say “ we released him because we didn’t want to risk paying him next year. “
Exactly, SK
The best part is that Trader Dave threw the manager under the bus with the players on the team by blaming him for requesting that they release Hanley.
You don’t think they talked about it ahead of time? Get real, he didn’t throw Cora under any bus.
Yankee troll trolling.
I believe they’re making a spin on the real reason they DFA him. My guess is he said or did something, n if that’s the reason I think they’re smart. But…..if not that they trying to cover their asses.
He didn’t do anything lol he was DFAd because of his vesting option
And who told you that? It must’ve been DD cuz YOU got inside info, lol
Of course the primary reason was to prevent next year’s option from kicking in. The team has huge increased obligations for 2019 and would have been very limited. Bad timing between Cherington’s contracts maturing, their young talent getting more expensive and need to fill other needs. Every team deals with this but the 2019 Sox projection seems more distorted/exaggerated.
His atrocious play at 1B factored in. When on the field with Devers, Boegarts, Nunez, and/or Holt, the Red Sox had what is easily the worst defensive infield in MLB. When Moreland plays he saves that infield to a degree.
A team playing in a bandbox ballpark can outhit their defensive mistakes during the season as inferior teams are putting up lousy pitchers most days. (Fenway Park made Rico Petrocelli a power hitter.) That does not hold in the post-season. Playoff opponents are not only the better teams with better pitching, but one – and oftentimes two – of their starters are moved to the bullpen. With less runs scored in most playoff games, this magnifies a teams defensive shortcomings.
In addition, JD is another defensive butcher in the OF. The Red Sox could not trot out JD and Rameriz to play postseason, especially if they got the the WS and could not use a DH.
Carrington is a Yankees fan lol
Actually, I’m a baseball fan that likes watching quality teams being built that play strong fundamental baseball. Currently I love watching the Nationals. What Rizzo has done is remarkable – this is a contending team with a number of young stars just coming on the roster, and a strong farm system to assure the team will compete in the future. And for years I thought Davy Martinez deserved a shot at managing a quality MLB team. This team can lose one of its star players to free agency – Harper – and they will still compete, no problem. (And by the way – MLBTR keeps saying the Nats need a catcher. Severino is 24 years-old and is doing an excellent job calling games, handling the staff, throwing out runners, and playing defense. He’s hitting just fine….even though I understand the clutch hits I see him getting that turn games are really no such thing).
Son, I understand that there are very few teams in MLB worth watching. But it is not Yankees vs. Red Sox 24/7/365. Fact is that DD is putting the Red Sox in a box – they’ll continue to sign high-priced free agents as they seek to get the final piece until a few crap out, then reality will strike. See the Detroit Tigers. Have watched this scenario happen to franchises since free agency began.
lol
Son….
CS! As a baseball fan, what do you think of the current St. Louis Cards team and their future outlook ?
Why the eff does it matter? It’s a business you gotta do what you gotta do who cares why? Do you guys look into why every employee in every company gets laid off? Doubtful so chill out and leave your 2 cents in your pocket where it belongs. Long as the sox are winning nothing else matters
This must be Dave Dombrowski burner account
LOL. NBA fans would get this. Colangelo ^
General sports fans really. Maybe it’s just because I live in PA.
I think that coach had like 14 accounts didn’t he? LoL
Why don’t you chill and leave your two cent in you own pocket?
Enough about Hanley already…
It’s only beginning…..
Every time a team releases a name player whose game is in decline, this site places a dozen articles as to why it happened, followed by another 2 dozen as to where is it rumored he will go. Seldom is there an impact. In the past few months, think Adrian Gonzalez and Matt Harvey. Probably others that I (and others) have since forgotten.
Dustin Pedroia may be the BoSox DH for the next 4 years. The IF is no place for someone with unstable knees.
Thank God for another Swihart update, its been at least two days since you last posted news about the guy, MLBTradeRumors.
hahahahah preach
I know right! I’ve never seen so much press devoted to a so-so fringe player in all my life! If he played for the Padres, would he even get more than one article ?
Enough about Hanley. It’s his contract and if he felt he was sitting the bench because it was the only way to prevent vesting there would be issues. of discontent.
There was no choice.
The good thing for Hanley he has $14 M. due for the balance of the season; how many of us can say that.
And he has such a cute hairdo.;)
They think having Swihart catch one game is going to convince teams that he can be a full time catcher? Good luck with that.
I wouldn’t say that both Catchers haven’t provided ny offense, Sandy has been pretty darned good lately.
They cut him because of the contract. Call it what it is, don’t lie about it. If Hanley was standing in the way of JD being a leader then they have bigger issues
Swihart and JBJ for Herrera