Red Sox Rumors

 

You’ve played in Fenway before.

Yeah, we played there 2014 Opening Day.

You excited?

Yeah. The Opening Day there that I had was probably one of the best baseball experiences I’ve had. It was one of the coolest things as far as the ring ceremony, followed by just the coolest Opening Day ever.

Yeah they had the Dropkick Murphys and the chopper. So you got a pretty good idea of what Red Sox Nation’s about I guess. So what’s more exciting now, your first trip through arbitration — getting off the minimum salary — or first trade?

I’d definitely say the trade part was a little bit more exciting. Obviously it’s kinda fun and awesome going through the whole arbitration thing, making more money, all that kinda stuff. But I was thinking that would be the only stressful thing in my life this offseason.

I don’t really know how to feel about the trade just yet. Obviously I’m excited about the opportunity and really excited to see the town of Boston a little more. I enjoyed it the couple of days that I was there in ’14. But yesterday was such a whirlwind of calls and all that kind of stuff. I’m sure over the next couple days I’ll start thinking about things and truly getting actually excited about the opportunity.

So now your first trip through arbitration is right after your first trade. so now one of the first things that needs to get done as you meet your new team is the money question. Have you thought about that?

A little bit. I’d say it’s a little bit weird. Just hopefully there’s no issues there. But I don’t think that should be a huge deal at all.

So which city’s further north geographically, Milwaukee or Boston?

[Pause] That’s a very good question. [Pause]

Don’t cheat, don’t be looking through your phone right now! Off the top of your head, which one’s further north, Milwaukee or Boston?

Dang it! Milwaukee?

Correct! Milwaukee’s about one degree further north.

They’re literally like even.

Yeah they’re pretty close. But you do realize that Milwaukee plays in the friendly confines of a dome and you’ll be outside at Fenway Park.

I know, I’m gonna really miss that dome.

So it’ll be cold, but whatever man. So who do you think’s taller, Scooter Gennett or Dustin Pedroia?

Scooter.

No, I’d say Pedey’s taller.

Dang it, really?

Obviously, Craig Kimbrel is the Red Sox closer. You were closing in Milwaukee. That probably won’t be your role moving forward with Boston. Thoughts on that?

I definitely enjoyed setting up last year. With me, I don’t really care — the closing, the setting up. I’d definitely say, closing in Milwaukee and setting up in Boston, I feel like, is about the same as far as adrenaline levels and things like that. So I’m definitely excited to be doing that. Hopefully get some save opportunities here and there. Hopefully Craig ends up throwing a ton and racks up the saves.

So if you got somebody with a thick Wisconsin accent versus a thick Boston accent, who’s tougher to understand?

I’d say Boston, ’cause I’m not used to it.

Yeah. I’m gonna spell a word for you, and you tell me how you would pronounce it. W-O-R-C-E-S-T-E-R.

“Worshester”?

That is “Wooster,” Massachusetts my friend. That’s a little bit of what you’ve got in store for you. You’ll figure it out. Your thoughts on going from the NL Central, which is still a pretty tough division in recent years, to the high-profile AL East?

It’s definitely gonna be a lot different. I know over the past few years, with the rise of the Cubs, our division got pretty tough. But the AL East, historically, has just been the toughest division — pretty much year in, year out.

Who’s the Red Sox’ biggest celebrity fan?

Oh gosh … I have no idea. I got nothing. I don’t even know who their celebrity fans are.

Well, you’ll see ’em around. The top three would probably be Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and a Mark Wahlberg or maybe a Jimmy Fallon. There’s lots of ’em.

I got you.

So as you kinda made the jump last year, what made the biggest difference for you? You were a fairly high-round draft pick, big prospect, and then finally seemed like it all clicked for you last year, and that kind of led to this trade. So what was the biggest difference for you?

There was honestly a number of things. Number one is them telling me that hey, you’re gonna be a reliever, we’re not gonna move you around — starting, relieving. So you could have the same routine, you know how to prepare mentally, physically, everything like that. That helped a ton.

And then just the confidence to feel like I know what to do and not just — every fastball has to be down in the zone, every curveball has to be this. Just having the confidence that if I believe in a cetain pitch and that pitch will work, that I can actually throw that pitch rather than take the safe route.

One of the things I had seen was your velo went up a little bit you’ve always been kind of a reverse split guy. Are you aware of that reverse split and would you like to see the Red Sox maybe take advantage of that more?

I am aware of the fact that I do have reverse splits typically. And one thing that I do like about that is the fact that I feel like I’m a guy who hopefully doesn’t need a lefty to come get lefties out. Hopefully just be good against both sides.

I’d say you’re great against lefties, though. Definitely a weapon that way. It’s not like you’re okay, I’d say you’re really good.

Well, it’s weird, because I’ve always done well against lefties. And then against righties there was a time late in the year last year where I had retired like thirty-something righties in a row. So that was kinda weird and I didn’t hear about that until pretty much after it was over. But typically I always find that I give up a couple hits to righties rather than lefties.

That’s only ten innings perfect against righties, that’s not bad, right?

I mean, that’ll work.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.