Although the Red Sox got some very good news today, in the form of Chris Sale’s imminent return, there’s also some not-so-great news. Kyle Schwarber’s rehab has hit a snag, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. According to McCaffrey’s sources, “Schwarber has suffered a minor setback with left groin tightness in the midst of his rehab from a right hamstring strain.” Before the injury, Schwarber having his best offensive season to date, putting up a wRC+ of 137. The Red Sox acquired him at the trade deadline with the idea to transition him to playing first base. Any increase to his time on the shelf will put a squeeze on the amount of time he has to get acquainted with his new position as the end of the season creeps closer.
Elsewhere in the AL East…
- Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette is out of today’s lineup because of shin contusions, reports Scott Mitchell of TSN. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet connects the injury to Bichette fouling balls off himself yesterday. Bichette is in the midst of an excellent season at the plate, slashing .293/.342/.478, for a wRC+ of 123 over 473 plate appearances. At the start of today’s games, the Jays were three games back of Oakland for the AL’s final wildcard playoff spot and will surely be hoping for Bichette to return in short order, as he’s been one of their most valuable contributors this year.
- Randy Arozarena could be activated on Tuesday, per Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times. The outfielder was placed on the COVID-IL on Friday because of a close contact. If he is expected back so quickly, it can be assumed that he has not tested positive himself. After a huge breakout in 2020, Arozarena is having another excellent season, with a wRC+ of 125 over 427 plate appearances.
- Kevin Kiermaier left last night’s game with knee soreness but appears to have avoided serious injury, per Topkin. The outfielder is having a fourth-consecutive subpar season at the plate, slashing .232/.297/.324, producing a wRC+ of 77. Though on account of his excellent defensive work, he’s still been worth 1.1 fWAR this season.
- DJ Johnson left today’s game with right shoulder discomfort, per Topkin. The 31-year-old was just acquired from Cleveland before the trade deadline and has had seen very limited MLB action this year. In Triple-A, he has a 3.32 ERA over 21 2/3 innings, with an excellent strikeout rate of 34% but an elevated walk rate of 10.7%.
Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
BoSox ship is about to Sale …
Okay I’ll share my updated SOS analysis:
Easiest remaining schedule: Jays (20G, 7M, 25B)
Hardest remaining schedule: Yankees (23G, 12M, 16B)
Most balanced remaining schedule: Red Sox (19G, 11M, 18B)
Most unbalanced schedule: Rays (27G, 0M, 23B)
Based on the above and the current standings, here’s my projected order of finish:
Rays
Jays
Red Sox
Yankees
I would swap NY and Boston, bc their luck has ended.
With Sale, Arroyo and hopefully Schwarber joining the team I can’t see them finishing 4th. They won’t need luck when they play 18 games against the Nats, O’s, Twins and Rangers.
yup agree with this. I know the jays can technically catch tampa but i just dont see it happening. hopefully can get home field advantage for the wild card game that would be insane
I’ve never seen a more potent lineup (the Jays) look like fools vs the soft-tossing lefties of Tampa.
FP Guy – I like it! I think the Yankees finishing behind Boston is unlikely but it could happen!! The reason I believe they will finish ahead is because their ownership isn’t afraid to spend money to significantly improve the team. If a player comes available that might help them they will outbid others. Bloom and ownership won’t make that move as they showed at the deadline.
On a positive note, the 2022 draft position looks to get a lot better over the next 7 weeks!!! Also, this year’s pick could be ready in 5 years to start so bright days are just around the corner and maybe down a few blocks or maybe in the next state or possibly in the closest country!!!! hahaha Clearly things are closer than the horizon, I think.
The Yankees have a much more difficult schedule than the Sox, and for whatever reason the Sox have the Yanks number this year. Probably won’t matter either way as Oakland will likely take the second wildcard.
Granted. Boston’s schedule is easier on paper, but every season the teams out of contention still play for something: spoiler. You can’t rule that out.
At this point I won’t rule anything out. Sox started the season getting swept at home by the O’s, then they won 9 in a row. Should be a fun final 8 weeks of the season.
You really like your own comments, huh?
Honestly, if the Sox get in, they’re a first round exit in the playoffs, so it’s hard to imagine them going far. Anything can happen but our rotation isn’t built to win big games. I don’t think the Yankees are either.
Rays or Jays would go farther in the playoffs.
I disagree. A semi-normal and very well-rested Sale + Big Game Evo + Pivetta is all they need in the postseason. The game has changed, in the postseason strong bullpens can make up for below average starting rotations. Look at the Sox rotation in the 2018 postseason, it wasn’t very good but they still managed to win.
Eovaldi is mediocre, though, and Pivetta is bad.
I don’t think your analysis is correct for Boston. They have series remaining with the Nats, Rangers and Twins. All teams that gutted themselves at the deadline. The Nats and Rangers don’t have much pitching left and have at best AAAA rotations. Throw in the Orioles and you have 4 series Boston has an excellent chance at sweeping. They should run away with the East. Especially given the fact Sale will return shortly. He’ll be rusty for sure but it’s Sale. Remember he’s the guy that went to the Royals clubhouse looking for a fight after getting ejected a few years ago. He is one of the most fiery competitors in MLB. I would rather have a rusty Sale on the mound in a playoff chase than a healthy Garrett Cole. The Yankees will also be getting Kluber and Severino back soon. One of them should give them several quality starts. If the Yankees ever manage to get everyone healthy they can easily go on a run. Something is keeping that team from gelling. I have a feeling it’s Boone. He seems to be managements guy instead of a players manager like Alex Cora. He was a good idea when the Yankees were bringing up so many young guys. Now that they are a veteran team they need a manager like Girardi again. A players manager who brings discipline to the clubhouse. There should be several good candidates available this off-season. Bob Melvin would be my pick if he wants out of Oakland and the constant rotation of players. Paul Molitor and Raul Ibanez would also be good choices. Possibly even Beltran if the stink of the Astros scandal is off of him. Cora is back after his mess. Why shouldn’t Beltran get another shot? No matter what it’s time for Boone to go.
The Twins sure rolled over against the Astros… take nothing for granted!
Like I said in my original post, the Sox have 18 games against really bad teams … but the Rays have 23 against the bad teams and the Jays have 25 against bad teams.
Sox also have 19 against Tampa, Yankees and White Sox. So they’ve got more games against really good teams than they do against really bad teams.
Nah. The Jays have 4 good starters and a dangerous lineup. You seemed to have forgotten them.
kevins – Many are overlooking not forgetting the Blue Jays. I like their batting order better than any team in baseball except the White Sox. It’s their pitching that will need to hold up for them to catch TB or finish as the first wildcard. If Vlad Jr. heats up again with Springer hot and Semien, wow they will be deadly. Their only weak spot is catcher from a hitting standpoint. Very impressive.
For the Jays to catch TB they would have to play at a ridiculous pace, something at like (.800). Also, you would need us to choke on a scale of epic proportions, as did the 2011 Sux. Ain’t happening! Burying ny amd bos will be fantastic, though.
Please continue to underrate the lowly Rays. It’s where we thrive.
StPete – You should thrive there because I have the same number of rings as your organization has!! TB is the little engine that couldn’t!!
I see reading comprehension is also underrated. Good luck with that!
Rays are winning more as the injuries pile up. 16 pitchers on the IL?! And the most recent game aside, playing fantastic.
If they slump to .500 down the stretch, Jays would need to go .633,
In reality, Rays likely approach 100 wins. Jays would need to win around .750 to catch them.
Not impossible but there are 5 teams in between so one step at a time Jays fans. Catch 2 of NYY, Bos, Oak is going to be tough enough!
I bet Schwabers injury happened working out for first base!
He’s such a klutz, he probably sprained the groin on the toilet.
Lol, commenters on a db criticizing a successful athlete as a “klutz” and out of shape.
Bob – I tried to give you two thumbs up but it wouldn’t let me!!! LMAO
Are these guys in shape….. I can’t believe the injuries out there…..I hope he isn’t a bust….
I’m sorry folks, this is more like Stale Botox. One of the best pitchers in baseball who just keeps sinking. Not having pitched since 2019 I’d like to think the best, but not pitching in 2 years will take some time to come back. A huge hill to climb.
It’s only 10 inches high
Are you bragging?
LOL! Curly, you treated us to some locker room humor but I don’t think the joke landed. =)))
I agree with you Curly, but a rusty Sale is still better than the rotation alternatives.
It’s only 10 inches high, not that big of a hill
Great job by Bloom at the Trade Deadline! Trading for an injured player and then trying to put him at a posits that he has not played. Then not picking up a starting pitcher or decent relief help was crazy. Team was in first at Trade Deadline and Bloom does nothing and the team is dropping like a rock thrown into a lake.
I’d like to see Schwarber at DH with JD in LF, Verdugo in CF and the player whose name always gets censored at 2B. And Plawecki needs to catch more, he’s a fantastic hitter.
FP Guy – You want Cora at 2B? hahaha Oops you said censored not crapped on! My bad.
Schwarber is not a terrible LF. Has a good accurate arm and usually catches everything he gets to.
KD – I bet your great, great grand kids love what a nice guy you are
NAMELESS – Yes, and so do my great, great grand kids!!
He’s been pitching like his normal self in AAA. Can’t see why Sale won’t at least be a #2 pitcher.
He’s a #1 simply because we don’t have one.
That Schwarber acquisition looks more confusing by the day. Wouldn’t be surprised if he never plays a game in a Sox uniform.
This trade could cost Bloom his job. Trading for an injured player is always risky but giving up anymore than a player to be named later was insane.
The two relievers Bloom picked up at the deadline aren’t looking too great either. Chavis was a big price to pay for Davis.
The trade could cost Bloom his job??? I guess the fact the Sox have outperformed expectations should be ignored.
I wish I knew you so I could bet you on this “prediction”…
Yeah I wish I knew you too. He did nothing at the trade deadline but trade fir an injured player and is trying to put him at a position that he never played. He did not pick up a starter or a dependable reliever. This is like 2019 when we were behind by a half a game and management snipped Dave Dombroski’s wings. We dropped like a rock after that like we are now. He sent a message to the players that he does not believe in them. He let Rizzo go to the Yankees when he should have traded for him.
Sideline – I would bet with you because giving away Mookie didn’t cost him his job, a million utility players and no talent didn’t cost him his job, hiring Cora didn’t cost him his job so the Schwarber deal probably won’t cost him his job. If it did, we could all celebrate but I’m with you they are committed to cheapness and Bloom is the K-Mart GM.
Every GM gets at least 3 years before their job might be in jeopardy. Even if the collapse continues for the rest of the season, Bloom will be back next year.
FP Guy – I know you are right and it sure is depressing!!
I don’t know… if we miss the postseason this year, I ythink Bloom has a good chance of being fired.
@Kd, there’s a difference….
1)ownership wanted mookie traded to get below cbt.
2) ownership wanted bloom to find those low cost hidden gem type players
3) ownership wanted Cora back.
Since then?
– ownership wanted bloom to go get scherzer.
– ownership probably didn’t want real talent given up for a guy who may never suit up for the big league club
– ownership probably didn’t like a decent every day potential player to be given up for garbage
– ownership saw a 1st place club drop 9 of 11 to fall into a hole while bloom stood pat and allowed 3 division competitors get better.
Bloom is hitting ownership where it hurts. Their pocketbooks. Henry saw what happens when fans get disillusioned with the product both in ticket sales and nesn.
Add to that in going on 2.5 years bloom has yet to unlock all that extra hidden value in his activity the way TB does… well. Again, pocketbook.
Bloom may not get axed, but that seat is starting to get hot.
Aldo Ramirez was the player to be named “earlier”.. A 20 y/o in Single-A Salem. Years from even a non-roster invite to Spring Training. A mere pawn.
GASoxFan – Clearly, ownership has made many, many terrible mistakes since they fired DD. I believe as you do that they wanted Mookie gone but the CBT was an excuse used to cover up their racism.
Your #2 gives ownership too much credit. They hired Bloom to boss him around because they couldn’t do that with DD. They needed a patsy and he fit the profile perfectly. I bet they didn’t even research whether any of the smart moves by TB were from him. They just wanted a K-Mart GM. Somebody accustomed to not spending money. I don’t think finding gems was on their radar. I think Bloom sold them TB’s reputation of finding gems so they assumed he knew how. Obviously, he doesn’t.
Your #3 is true and they probably forced Bloom to do it. They wanted a yes man and got him in Bloom. I think ownership OWED Cora for not telling the commissioner what really happened in Boston. I knew something was up when he was fired. I looked for possible motivations for ownership to crap on DD and apologize to Cora for having to fire him. It really wasn’t clear until the Mookie deal. Roberts and Cora are close, Cora was holding a very explosive secret about ownership, Cora shared his secret with Roberts who shared it with Friedman who contacted Bloom and Mookie was on his way to LAD for next to nothing. It all makes perfect sense. In fact, it’s the ONLY story line that provides logic for what the Red Sox ownership did with respect to Mookie and Cora. It sucks because the fans get screwed but it kept the owners from being humiliated and the organization from being fined and losing draft picks. So maybe it was the best thing to do for them but not for the fans.
As far as your “since then?” goes – IT WAS OUTSTANDING!!
I hope he gets fired but they will give him another year.
I see the AL East ending like this,
Rays
Jays
Yankees
Red Sox
Orioles-participation award
Excited about Sale! Hoping Schwarber is able to get a few games in at AAA to learn 1B.
I want to see Sale and Houck and Eovaldi pitching back to back to back so we can get a look at the future. The others are all expendable but I’m sure Bloom will keep guys he brought here in hopes it’s not completely obvious what a bust he has been.
Two years and not one acquisition to replace Price’s 2019 and earlier skill level. Two years and no viable #4 SP. Two years and the outfield is completely downgraded except Renfroe is out-performing JBJ. Two years and the Butcher of Boston is still at 3B. Two years and the STAR prospect from LA is floundering in the minors so the top K-Mart 2B is acquired rather than Semien. Mistake after mistake.
At least the Sale, Houck, Eovaldi trio is a real positive. So is seeing Devers hit, Bogey hit and JD hit. I think Duran should keep starting since the team is out of it already and he’s the future like Dalbec. The distant future is still bright and could get brighter if Bloom ever figures out how to do his job. Performance is the measurement of success and Bloom has not performed well. He needs to be fired sooner rather than later. So does Cora so Red Sox fans can feel a stronger sense of integrity within the organization.
You jumped the shark by saying the Sox are out of it already. LOL
Dalbec has looked atrocious at the plate, he’s the modern day Sam Horn.
This winter it’s time to move Devers across the diamond.
Devers, who doesn’t have a great glove, is supposed to be stretching and picking throws at 1st to save runs and extra bases?
Not likely.
Devers is a DH. A very good DH, but a DH.
Glove-wise how is Devers any different than Vladdy? He’s too young to DH, don’t be surprised if he starts working out at 1B next ST.
FP Guy – Biggest flaw in your argument is the Red Sox have a potential stud in Dalbec and another in Casas. They both play corner infield and can actually catch and accurately throw the ball unlike Devers.
I think DD planned to move JD before his time was complete and get an elite SP. That way his much maligned farm system that keeps producing new talent would fill the 3B and 1B spots, the CF spot, one SP spot with Houck and another with Mata eventually. I think his payroll vision was:
C – relatively cheap Vazquez
1B – cheap controllable guy (Dalbec or Casas)
2B – cheap speedster with a good glove (to be named later)
SS – Bogey – Expensive
3B = cheap controllable guy (Dalbec or Casas)
LF – moderately priced Benny
CF – cheap Duran
RF – expensive Mookie
DH – moderate Devers moving to expensive
SP1 – Sale expensive
SP2 = Price’s replacement expensive
SP3 – Inexpensive Houck
SP4 – Inexpensivie Mata eventually and a filler until then
SP5 – FA SP moderately expensive
CL – Expensive
Set-up relievers – cheap
Long relief – cheap
Bench Hitters – two medium priced bench hitters the rest cheap
Can this team fit under the cap? Yep. Does it far exceed the current team in talent? Yep Are smart Red Sox fans missing DD terribly? Yep.
You say Devers is too young to DH and normally that might be true but the worst 3B in the history of the Red Sox is too bad no matter what age to wear a glove ANYWHERE on the field!!
It’s not just his glove, it’s the hands that go into the glove that are made of stone, it’s the ego and lack of baseball acumen that keeps him cutting off Bogey the better fielder on balls he has no business fielding based on his probability of being successful. Its the strong arm that can hit the broad side of a barn By every definition of the words Designated Hitter, he qualifies for that position and that position only!! His 89 errors in 478 games at 3B is roughly one every 5 games. In 150 games that’s 30 errors!!! Thank goodness he sits more than he should, it helps the pitching staff when he does!! At DH, he could play nearly 160 games a year. He’s only played close to that number of games in 2019 his career year!!
Sometimes baseball goes by the theory there are additions through subtractions. Subtracting Devers glove is a HUGE addition to the Red Sox chances of winning, the ERAs of the pitching staff and the stress on the fans when a ball is hit to 3B!!
FP Guy – It was over on April 1 but the fog is finally lifting for most fans to see their real team. This team is short on talent and even Sale can’t fix that. I’ll send him a cape with an S on it if he pulls this team out of it’s tailspin.
Dalbec is in the same adjustment period Devers was in during 2018. Devers hit .240 and looked foolish a lot that summer and I’m talking at the plate not just in the field. I think Dalbec has the potential to be a McGwire type hitter. He’ll be feared but his average won’t be .300. He just needs time to keep adjusting to MLB pitching. He has 114 games under his belt and has had two or three hot streaks followed by cold streaks. I think that’s pretty good for a monster power hitter. When he was appropriately slotted at a level in the minors he hit a homer roughly every third game. If he ends up getting comfortable in the majors and it’s only once every four games that’s 40 home runs a year!! He’s got excellent upside.
The winter of 2012 was the right time to move Devers to DH!!! Possibly earlier!!
why am I so obsessed with Bobby D
Glad Kevin Kiermaier is not seriously hurt, but that guy is always banged up. He’s getting too old to keep up his aggressive style of play. Love KK, but the Rays should trade him after this year. He’s too much money for that bad of a bat. His excellent defense can’t last with age. Hopefully they get a ring with him this year!
raysdude7676 – I agree with your assessment of KK. I think TB is built to compete but not to win. It makes them an annual Cinderella at the ball each year. Houston and NYY have been the big bad opponents in recent years but NYY will be lucky to make the playoffs and HOU without Verlander is still good but not great. The team that will present lots of problems for everyone is the Chicago White Sox. Their deadline moves beefed up potential playoff problem areas. I love it when a GM does his job!!
Watching Jimenez and Robert return and seeing Hendriks and Kimbrel as dueling closers is very intimidating. Abreu, C Hernandez, Anderson and Moncada with Grandal catching is a formidable infield. Jimenez, Robert and Vaughn in the outfield might be better than their infield! Goodwin and Engel giving them DH coverage and a fourth and fifth outfielder is outstanding.
It will be fun to see TB and CWS go head to head for the AL championship! TB really needs to win this year because CWS will be even better with another year of experience under their belt next year!!
The Red Sox are dropping like a stone thrown in a pond. Than you Bloom for getting the ream help at the deadline and picking up an injured player who is of no help right now and two scrub relievers. This is like 2019 all over again at the trade deadline!