After an interminable offseason and winter, we made it to Daylight Savings Time. Before you understand it, Red Sox Opening Day shall be upon us.
To have a good time, listed below are seven inquiries to ponder this week, maybe whereas having fun with the extra hours of daylight!
1. What will the Red Sox beginning rotation appear like with out Lucas Giolito?
The Sox have been dealt a crushing blow final week with the information that Lucas Giolito suffered a partial UCL tear and flexor pressure. Though he’s scheduled to get a second opinion on the famend Andrews Sports Medicine early this week, Alex Cora already admitted that surgical procedure is a chance for the 29-year-old right-hander.
Giolito was Boston’s solely rotation addition this offseason, and mixed with the Chris Sale commerce, they’ve now primarily misplaced two starters.
Instead, the projected rotation will doubtless embody Nick Pivetta, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, and now that Giolito is sidelined, each Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock, who have been beforehand competing for the ultimate spot. Josh Winckowski and Cooper Criswell might be given possibilities to begin, as properly. The state of affairs is more likely to be fluid early on within the season, and whereas shedding Giolito is a big blow, it’s promising that there are a number of arms on the roster who can begin or pitch in an extended reduction position.
2. Where will Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery find yourself?
Blake Snell turned up the new range this weekend when he posted an empty black web page to his Instagram story with the eyeballs emoji, the millennial’s common indicator of intrigue.
The Los Angeles Angels are a robust contender, and have been linked to Snell since earlier than the brand new yr. The Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, and New York Yankees have been linked to him just lately as properly, however ESPN’s Buster Olney reported this weekend that Snell has a “strong preference” to play for the Angels.
At this level, Jordan Montgomery gained’t even be prepared for the beginning of the common season irrespective of the place he indicators. While a supply instructed the Herald that Montgomery remains to be holding out hope that the Texas Rangers will carry him again, their common supervisor, Chris Young, known as a reunion “less likely” throughout a latest interview on 1310 The Ticket.
With Giolito’s partially-torn UCL and flexor pressure costing him at the least a number of months of the season, the Red Sox might use Montgomery now greater than ever. They’re nonetheless in combine, however possession’s self-imposed spending limits don’t bode properly. Nor does Montgomery’s need for a seven-year deal.
Snell is reportedly open to a shorter-term deal, which might go well with Boston’s present wants with out sacrificing an excessive amount of by means of a long-term dedication. However, such a contract would inevitably carry a considerably greater common annual worth, virtually definitely a dealbreaker for the aforementioned motive.
3. Will the Red Sox return to the Dominican Republic subsequent spring coaching?
The weekend’s miniseries within the Dominican Republic was a powerful success, and several other members of the Red Sox raved concerning the expertise throughout the two video games’ broadcasts and to reporters.
The Sox bested the Rays in each contests, by margins of 4-0 and 7-6. Several of the Dominican-born gamers contributed to the victories, together with Enmanuel Valdez, who hit a solo homer in Saturday’s recreation, and Joely Rodriguez, who earned a save and cemented Sunday’s victory.
While such journeys could be a bit troublesome from a logistical standpoint, you’d be hard-pressed to discover a participant who doesn’t need to do that once more subsequent spring.
4. What will occur to Ceddanne Rafaela and Bobby Dalbec?
Ceddanne Rafaela and Bobby Dalbec are in considerably totally different positions this spring, however they’re each preventing for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Rafaela debuted late final season, and is likely one of the group’s prime prospects. Evaluators imagine he might be a perennial Gold Glove centerfielder, however the Sox need to see his offensive contributions catch as much as his already big-league caliber protection. In that regard, he had a productive weekend in Santo Domingo: his two-run double within the first inning of Saturday’s contest put the Sox on the board early, and his solo house run made the distinction in Sunday’s 7-6 win.
Dalbec, in the meantime, confessed earlier in spring coaching that he was stunned to nonetheless be with the group. He’s been with the Sox for the reason that fourth spherical of the 2016 draft, however he discovered himself blocked from his main positions, first by Rafael Devers, then Triston Casas.
Dalbec spent the vast majority of the ’23 season in Triple-A Worcester, the place he continuously confirmed off his energy potential, hitting 33 house runs in 114 video games. But his earlier struggles on the big-league stage carried over from years previous: in 21 contests, he solely managed 10 hits – together with two doubles and a homer – and a lone run batted in.
His towering grand slam on Sunday doesn’t do a lot to vary the truth that a change of surroundings would most likely do him some good. With his twenty ninth birthday on the finish of June, he ought to get an opportunity to assert an on a regular basis position within the Majors, and the Sox don’t have one for him.
5. How enjoyable will it’s to have Joey Votto within the American League East?
After over twenty years within the Cincinnati Reds group, Joey Votto, considered one of baseball’s most entertaining and distinctive gamers, is now within the American League East.
Votto, whom the Reds drafted within the second spherical of the 2002 draft (how previous do you’re feeling studying that?), signed with the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend. It’s a heartwarming conclusion to what the 40-year-old first baseman described as a nerve-racking free company; he was born and raised in Toronto. On Sunday, he shared a brand new publish on his Instagram: images of himself at roughly one yr previous, carrying a bib with, “I’m a little Blue Jay” emblazoned above the staff’s emblem.
While Votto’s deal is a minor-league contract with a non-roster invite to spring coaching, there’s a superb likelihood the Jays will need him with the big-league membership if he’s wholesome and productive. As a presumed future Hall of Famer, he’d present invaluable knowledge and steering to a membership stuffed with younger sluggers, to say nothing of how enjoyable he’s to observe.
6. Do the Red Sox have essentially the most inconvenient begin to the regular-season schedule?
Opening Day is simply over two weeks away. Or somewhat, Opening Night, as a result of the primary three Red Sox video games of the common season are scheduled for 7:10 p.m… in Seattle.
That’s proper, even the primary Saturday recreation of the season will begin at 10:10 p.m. for followers on the east coast. Instead of counting sheep, you possibly can rely balls and strikes.
7. Who would be the Red Sox Opening Day starter?
It’s right down to Nick Pivetta and Brayan Bello. Pivetta has seniority, Bello simply signed a big pre-arbitration contract extension. Who will win out? Cue the eyeball emoji.
Source: www.bostonherald.com