Apr. 20: Vazquez has been reinstated with Hernandez optioned backed to Triple-A Worcester, per a team announcement.
Apr. 19: The Red Sox have selected the contract of veteran infielder/outfielder Rob Refsnyder and recalled right-hander Tyler Danish from Triple-A Worcester, per a club announcement. Catcher Christian Vazquez and infielder Jonathan Arauz were placed on the Covid-19-related injured list.
The series of moves leaves Connor Wong as the only catcher on Boston’s active roster, as backup Kevin Plawecki was also placed on the Covid list yesterday. It would appear that additional moves could be forthcoming, as MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo reported last night that minor league catcher Ronaldo Hernandez was expected to be promoted to the big league roster. Hernandez has since shared news of a big league call-up on his Instagram story. The Sox have not yet formally announced that move, however.
Refsnyder, 31, spent the 2021 season with the Twins and logged 157 Major League plate appearances, batting at a .245/.325/.338 pace while spending time at all three outfield positions. Refsnyder also has ample experience at second base and third base, though Minnesota used him exclusively in the outfield. In 614 career plate appearances between the Yankees, Blue Jays, Rays, Rangers and Twins, Refsnyder is a .224/.310/.308 hitter.
Both Vazquez and Arauz will be away from the Sox for a yet-to-be-determined period of time. Boston has not yet announced whether either Vazquez or Arauz has tested positive or whether they’re showing symptoms and thus undergoing further testing. The jointly agreed-upon health and safety protocols for the 2022 season stipulate a 10-day absence following a positive test, though that absence can be shortened if the player records a pair of negative PCR tests and is approved by a team medical official and a joint committee of one MLB-appointed and one MLBPA-appointed doctor.
REFSNYDERR IS BACK!!!!
And on Sunday we thought the Resurrection 2000 years ago was news.
Not big losses but man I cannot believe the Red Sox are STILL being idiotic with such a careless approach to Covid. The only difference with last year is in 2021 they had already positioned themselves for a playoff spot when they started dropping like flies.
Now, if they go into another tailspin because of Covid it could very well lead to a disappointing first half and a trade deadline fire sale.
Plawecki (is vaccinated), Vazquez, and Arauz are unavailable due to Covid.
WOW, COVID IS SMART. IT KNOWS HOW TO INFECT THE THREE WORST OFFENSIVE PLAYERS ON THE RED SOX
I do not think that is a coincidence.
I have to disagree on Plawecki, dude has a .305/.364/.414 in his two years with the Sox. Sure he’s been bad this year in just 10 AB’s but chances are he was battling Covid during most of those AB’s.
Fever, it is what it is While vaccinated individuals can still get it, the vax does seem to reduce the odds and severity. As long as they are within the league rules, just deal with it. What’s bizarre is the impact of having different rules in CA. The pennant and/or wild card could be influenced by teams being short handed going to play Toronto.
dewey – I know and agree with what you’re saying. From what I’m hearing, this variant of Covid is the least dangerous. But even if players have very mild symptoms, or no symptoms at all, they will still be forced to miss games if they test positive. That is what’s frustrating to me, they didn’t take it seriously last year at all (ie: no distancing) and didn’t avoid places and activities in their personal lives that would have helped them keep from testing positive.
As for Toronto, it’s the same thing with the Raptors home games in the playoffs. Most definitely Toronto teams have a greater home advantage.
Ah, you forgot about that bag of balls we got to replace Renfroe. He can’t hit his weight
Ah, you forgot about that bag of balls we got to replace Renfroe. He can’t hit his weight
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.693 OPS for JBJ and .581 for Renfroe. Renfroe should improve, but the .693 for JBJ will still make him a valuable player.
Another fine job by Vazquez today, this time on an infield popup that allowed a run to score in a 3-2 loss. But he’ll keep playing nearly every game, as long as Cora is manager.
Speaking of Cora, no mention here of him getting Covid?
What’s specifically wrong with our approach? There are guys down throughout the league.
Joe – They don’t take adequate precautions. Putting their arms around each other, talking face-to-face just inches apart, sitting right next to each other in the dugout when there’s room to distance. It’s great they like each other so much, but at least make an effort to keep the virus from potentially spreading.
FPG – 2021 ALCS
Just for fun, I peeked at a couple of other games. All the players were talking to each other. No separation. And that appears to be the same everywhere I’ve been to. The local diner, the local pub, the company cafeteria. It’s kind of unusual to see someone wearing a mask.
As long as people aren’t really close to each other, breathing in other people’s droplets, masks aren’t necessary. But let’s please not start the whole mask debate again.
I’m just saying that the RS are doing the same thing every other team is doing. It feels like you are blaming the RS for doing the same thing every other team is doing.
We need Refsnyder to take the field for the Rays this season
Better hope The Ref gets sent down before they play the Yankees. Robby produces more than 50% of the Yankees line up.
Refsnyder going for his own Kelly Johnson-esque tour of the AL East, although Kelly appeared with all 5 teams consecutively.
The Ref, and a side of Danish.
Somebody find Blake Swihart.
Swihart was spotted hanging around Cooperstown waiting to be inducted with Refsnyder.
The only bright spot is Wong and Hernandez will get playing time instead of Glitter Belt Vazquez.
Maybe this will be a repeat of Brady taking Bledsoe’s job, ya never know.
FPG – agree. Hope the similarities extend to Wong getting 7 champion rings. Does Brady have 7 or is it more than that? I lost count.
JC – You nailed it, Brady has 7 rings.
FPG – First, YES WE KNOW it’s not going to happen.
Wong is a journeyman back-up catcher and Hernandez has some promise so throw out Wong as anything other than a Plawecki clone at best. They should bring Hernandez up to see how good he is against real competition because we already know how good Wong is not.
KD – Well that was a short-lived promotion for Hernandez.
Along with Jesus Montero
Yeah, Yanks gotta pick him up for balance… and then the Yankees and Sox should trade Swihart for Ref = )
I was looking to scope out those stats. Oh well. Guy is still in the mlb mostly as an outfielder. Pretty impressive my guy!
Are they actually under contact tracing or is this a cover for being unvaccinated heading up to Toronto?
The Toronto series this week is in Boston
He’s probably talking about the 4-game series that begins Monday in Toronto.
But I really don’t get the “cover” part anyway. Miss 6 games in the US just to keep their vaccine status a secret? Yeah I don’t think so.
Rob Refsnyder for AL East Hall of Fame!
Ref definitely gets into the MLBTR HoF. He’s in more internet chats than Donald Trump…. No easy feat !
But does he get the same rave reviews as Peter O’Brien?
Well.. At least he’ll make JBJ look decent
JBJ is outhitting Renfroe so far in this very, very young season
Bradley still looks lost at the plate, same as he did 1st time around with Boston. Amazing many sox fans were wanting their brass to resign him back then.
Arauz team is better off without, or sending back to AAA when he recovers since has 2 more options if they prefer and want to waste the 40 man spot. team has better utility options with Fitzgerald already at AAA, even Aroyo on MLB roster already than can’t hit at all Arauz.
John – agreed. Arauz should have been a DFA, but there was no Rule 5 draft, so keeping him did not hurt in that regard. He is still clogging the 40-man roster though. I would not be surprised if he is removed from the 40-man in favor of a non-rostered player whether it is Fitzgerald, a pitcher, or even Franchy (more doubtful as the Red Sox are looking for a right handed hitting outfielder, but he could replace Shaw as a LHH 1B to pair with Dalbec).
Bradley still looks lost at the plate,
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100% wrong. His approach right now is what made him an AS. My fear is that he will revert back to his bad habits of trying to pull everything.
But right now, I’m real pleased with JBJ.
100 percent agree with JoeBrady. I have long said it, but it still holds true: give me a defensive outfield powerhouse of the magnitude of JBJ, and his current offensive numbers play more than well over a full season; an overall 3.2 WAR season or above. And that is minimal, “baseline as we know it now” projections on my part.
I could have sworn that he had been with at least half a dozen more organizations than the 10 he has been……….
I wonder who would be the Emergency Catcher if Wong goes down tonight?
Ronaldo Hernandez
Baseball is healing
Rob Refsnyder. Classic. Good on him for sticking it out.
FPG – So after 11 games Boston is tied for first with TOR and NYY, Should I call Ripley’s?
Think about this. They are doing it with a manager who is totally clueless!! That’s impressive. for the players!!
Cora is leading off with a .174 hitting 2B playing center field whose career average is .241. Normally that might not be unusual on a bad team but they are in first!! Just think where they might be if he did his job better?
Bloom has acquired about 50 guys in the last year and Boston’s best right fielder is a 2B who used to be a 3B and can’t hit!!! Just think if they had Renfroe!! Wait just think if they had Mookie!! Even a slow starting Mookie is better than an always bad Arroyo.
They have 3 regulars hitting over .300 but only two bat early in the order. Again, when folks ask why I think Cora is terrible at his job, it’s all these daily problems he creates and has since 2018!! With talent down like it is, you would think Cora might consider not making so many other obstacles for the team to overcome!!
Now Covid is entering the picture again? The good news is we don’t have to worry about E-Rod and his heart condition but we still have people not following protocol to stay healthy. Ironic that I haven’t heard anything about Sale or Houck getting it!
Depth will be key to all teams this year due to the lack of Spring Training and the presence of COVID so I think you’ll have many Brady opportunities this season!! I just hope we don’t lose our big three SPs because I wouldn’t put it past Bloom to trade for E-Rod and pay him big bucks like he did with JBJ!! I’m sure Detroit could throw in a couple of 16 year prospects to make it worthwhile!!! hahaha
Still can’t believe you used a Brady comparison for the catchers!!
KD – If I’m gonna dream, I’m gonna dream big! LOL
Sure Brady is a far-fetched comparison, considering he’s arguably the greatest NFL player of all time. But the concept itself of injuries leading to opportunities for little known players is one that is quite common in sports.
BTW – Nice comeback by the Celts!!!
FPG – So after 11 games Boston is tied for first with TOR and NYY, Should I call Ripley’s?
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Sure, what are the chances that a team that played .568 last year could play .545 this year. Or taking all three teams together, what are the chances that three teams that were separated by 1 game over a 162-game period, would be tied over an 11-game period this year?
Joe you need to ignore FPG & KD they both are trolls.
Could have used him tonight. Connor Wong really messed up that throw to try and get Gurriel Jr.