Here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on throughout the day today:
1. Red Sox, Brewers face off amid tense series:
The Red Sox and Brewers played last night, and right-hander Brandon Woodruff hit veteran first baseman Willson Contreras with a pitch. Contreras, who had spent the entirety of his career prior to this season in the NL Central, has been plunked by the Brewers 24 times in his career, including six by Woodruff specifically. That was enough to raise tensions on the field, and after the game both Contreras and a handful Brewers players commented on the situation (as relayed by Tim Healey of The Boston Globe).
“The 24th time, it’s not [a] coincidence,” Contreras said, as relayed by Healey. “They’re going there with a purpose. And that’s fine, that’s pitching. But next time you hit me, the message is clear: I’m going to take one of them out.”
Brewers veteran Christian Yelich was nonplussed by Contreras’s comments. “We’ve seen that skit for the last 10 years. It’s nothing new. Not surprising. You just keep it rolling. You got a game to win and lock the boys in, rally the troops.”
All of this sets up an interesting game between the clubs later today. At 6:45pm local time in Boston this evening, Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet will take the mound opposite hard-throwing righty Jacob Misiorowski. Crochet fell just shy of the AL Cy Young award last year and has a 3.27 ERA through two starts. Misiorowski, for his part, received an All-Star nod in his rookie season last year and has now posted a 2.45 ERA in his own first two starts of the year.
2. A’s 40-man roster move incoming:
The A’s are expected to select the contract of right-hander Joel Kuhnel later today. Before they can do that, however, they’ll need to create a spot on the 40-man roster for him. Right-hander Gunnar Hoglund is the only player on the club’s injured list at the moment. It’s unclear when exactly the right-hander will return from his current back injury, but he isn’t a known candidate for the 60-day injured list at this point. Barring a surprise transfer for Hoglund or a surprise trade that clears 40-man roster space, the A’s will have to designate a player for assignment today. That move can be expected sometime this afternoon, given that the club is slated to play their next game at 7:05pm local time in New York against the Yankees.
3. MLBTR Chat Today:
The regular season is in full swing at this point, with some clubs (like the 6-5 Angels) exceeding expectations in the early going while others (like the 2-8 Red Sox) have struggled unexpectedly out of the gate. Whether you’re wondering what to expect from your team this year or just trying to separate the contenders from the pretenders, MLBTR’s Anthony Franco has you covered with a live chat at 11:00am CT this morning. You can click here to leave a question in advance. That same link will also allow you to follow along with the chat live when things get underway and view a transcript of the chat after it concludes.
Contreras is leaning over the plate and then complains that he gets hit, it’s crazy. I’m a Red Sox fan, but can’t condone that slide or chirping at Murphy for an hour after the fact. He hasn’t done anything yet in Boston, I don’t feel like rooting for a diva.
He should focus on winning games, not taking out a Brewer. And come on man, you can’t say that. Because now if something happens, your butt is in the jackpot.
“leaning over the plate”
He wasnt leaning over the plate yesterday. When a player gets hit SIX TIMES by the same pitcher and the pitcher only has 33 hbp in the pitchers career, thats guy is holding a grudge (maybe its justified, maybe not). As a “Red Sox fan”, how are you so in tune with this Cards/Brewers rivalry. Better to ask their fans, they would be far more informed.
“he should focus on winning games”
Why would this be a diva thing? He’s trying to fire up his team. And they scored 8 runs. I dont see your correlation.
They scored 8 runs? If they scored 8 runs, the game goes to extras because the breers scored 8 runs. The Red Sox scored 6.
And my friend, go and watch the AB from yesterday. His hands are over the plate. Pitchers need to be able to throw inside. Now I’m not saying that he needs to back for the plate, because he can stand wherever he wants as long as the ump doesn’t dare, but if you crowd the plate don’t be shocked if you get it.
Good pitcher, which MIL is known for, work in and out, up and down. ESPN shows you the location of the pitch that he was hit with. You can go to the ESPN app, find the game go.to play by play and then find that AB. The little blue dot is covering the top right corner of the strike zone. It wasn’t some egregious miss on Woodruffs part. It was a little high and tight but it’s not like he whipped a FB at Contreras back. Woodruff is pitching to win the game, why on God’s green earth would be want to put another runner on?
He’s acting like a diva because he’s too busy trying to show everyone up instead of getting results. The ABs challenge that was actually a ball by like 0.5 inches, and before the ruling comes down he has a monster bat flip and takes off all his gear and goes to first. Wait for the ruling or else you’re going to look real dumb. And his chirping at Murphy was just dumb. Let it go dude. Then he goes and tries to take out Hamilton. Come on man, Sox fans are all too familiar with a dirty slide ending someone’s career – Machado into Pedroia. No need to end Hamilton’s career because you were leaning over the plate and got hit.
His hand are NOT over the plate during that AB. Its YOU need to take another look.
Diva, lol. I would much rather a player gets fired up in a situation like this than not. I guess you must have hated Varitek v Arod, Martinez v Zimmer.
Also, how to do you get “done nothing for the team”. Contreras has a 150+ OPS and is playing spectacular defense. Are you watching the same games?
The guy stands on top of the plate. He’s been hit six times because he’s played a million divisional games against the Brewers for the Cubs and Cards… And stands on top of the plate. It’s not that deep.
cwizzy6
Kitchen sink all you want. Contreras was NOT standing on top of the plate last night. That pitch was high and inside. “Its not that deep”.
I tried to look for other hbp’s all I found was another HBP by a Brewer pitcher and it was square in the numbers.
google.com/search?q=willson+contreras+hbp+brewers&…
Can you backup this hbp by hanging over the plate?
Wilson, wears more body armor than most players.
He is a hot head that’s with his 3rd team.
Teams get sick of his antics.
Someone should really hit the idiot over the head and knock some sense into that head of his.
LOL,you must be a red Sox fan.
As a Brewers fan I thank God that we got his brother and not this hot head.William is everything Wison isn’t. Hardnose player that goes about his job.
Did the pitch that hit Contreras even cross over the batter’s box?
He crowds the plate, so he can’t hit inside pitches, so pitchers throw inside, so he gets hit because he’s crowding the plate. Then he complains about it, and is so unhinged that he’s still mindlessly ranting and making threats about it 3 hours later.
Too bad he sucks at catching or Milwaukee could swing at his forearm.
sea – He did NOT get hit by the pitch last night. It was very, very close but without question he faked getting hit to get on base and fire up the Sox. Even the NESN guys made it clear he didn’t get hit.
One thing worth noting, Willson Contreras is 2nd in HBP among all active MLB players. It’s not like the Brewers are the only team that’s hit him.
And the article doesn’t mention this, but Willson’s brother is the catcher for the Brewers.
I just looked at the actual pitch location on ESPN, and the pitch looks like it’s right in the top right corner of the strike zone. So… Yeah. I want to like this energy and fire he’s bringing but it seems misguided right now.
The Brewers/Sox series isn’t “tense”. It’s one hot headed jackass that is well known for his antics and crying. He should be benched or suspended for his threats and his dirty slide at second as proof he will act out.
Hes also known as a 3x allstar, WS winner, an ambassador for Special Olympic, a humanitarian for Venezuela and someone who started a charity for stuttering children. Everyone that has ever been on his team, credits him for their success.
Didn’t say he’s not good. Every team he’s been on couldn’t wait for that contract to end.
He was beefing all night over the fantom pitch that never hit him, replay clearly showed it.
The umpires should get some balls and throw this puke out of games for his nonsense. An all-star that’s with his 3rd team because a toxic attidtude.
I’d be bitter too if I’ve lived in Milwaukee. Thanks for your stupid input though.
Willson pours his heart and soul into his team. A true leader. Clearly a move to fire up his teammates and get them out of the awful funk they are in. Baseball needs more players like him. Hes managerial material when he walks away from the game or if the Red Sox were smart, they’d fire Cora and let WC do both.
Slider – It’s guys like Willson that get their teammates injured.
It’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance.
John Lackey disagrees. Ha. I get your point though.
A true leader is a guy like Woodruff that just looked the other way when this laughing stock started his temper tantrum. Managers need a clear head like Pat Murphy that’s managed for 2 years and has been named manager of the year both of those years. He is truly a joy to have as a manager vs the sour puss Councell.
On a side note the Sox fans want the owner to sell, that’s funny.
Contreras has given no particular reason to cheer him thus far, and Anthony IS NOT the second coming of Ted Williams, contrary to media speculation. I don’t see how things could have been worse in the RedSox first 10 games, but also see no reason to expect much more than modest improvement. I’m going to save money and get considerably more sleep this summer! Somebody wake me when Cora and Breslow are gone or if we get really lucky and Henry sells!
Wait, the season started already?
swan – Cora says the season doesn’t start until Memorial Day weekend.
He says it’s a marathon, not a sprint. And he’s Rosie Ruiz.
Cora should be the first manager fired this season and Kotsay probably shouldn’t be A’s manager much longer but I think they want him to be there when they move to Las Vegas.
The Contreras vs. Brewers thing could’ve been a fun rallying point but unfortunately this team is far too feckless so it’s just another embarrassing loss.
Yea willson coming across like a psycho right now. But hey maybe that’s what we need 🤷🏻♂️
Not really as big of a Red Sox fan anymore, but I already think they should’ve gone after the other Contreras this off-season when making trades with the Brewers.