After 16 consecutive days of play, the Red Sox lastly caught a break on Thursday.
Unfortunately, the much-needed time without work seemingly got here too late for Boston’s beleaguered staff, which went 1-6 throughout their homestand towards the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros, to wrap up August with a 13-15 report.
Every recreation of the common season counts, however this was the 10-game stretch when Red Sox wanted to be, as Mary Poppins would say, “practically perfect in every way.”
Instead, they fell aside in virtually each means. Starting pitchers averaged 4.6 innings per begin in August. The Astros pummeled the Boston bullpen inside an inch of its life throughout this week’s sweep, and apart from Adam Duvall, the staff ought to have an all-points bulletin out for the Boston bats. After Triston Casas gave the Red Sox a 2-0 lead within the first inning of Monday’s collection opener, Houston outscored Boston 26-9 the remainder of the week.
A time without work, or reasonably a journey day earlier than their weekend collection in Kansas City, can’t repair any of that.
With 28 video games left within the common season, the Red Sox’s probabilities of sneaking into the postseason are thinner than paper. Wednesday’s loss pushed them to 7 1/2 video games behind the Astros within the Wild Card race.
At this level, ending the season with a profitable report and holding the Yankees in final place might be one of the best this staff can do.
Roster strikes
The Red Sox reinstated Wilyer Abreu from the Paternity List on Thursday afternoon. His Major League debut got here final week in Houston.
Over 5 video games for the big-league membership, the 24-year-old outfielder is 6-for-17 (.353) with a pair of doubles, one house run and 5 RBI.
As the corresponding transfer, the Red Sox optioned infielder David Hamilton again to Triple-A Worcester.
It was a little bit of a shock to see Hamilton despatched down, however Ceddanne Rafaela, who was known as up for Abreu, presents extra versatility; he performs shortstop and centerfield. Even earlier than the season started he was thought-about a Major League-caliber defender by many evaluators throughout the group and across the league.
Rafaela received into his first-ever Major League recreation on Monday night time, enjoying the final two innings in heart. The 22-year-old prime prospect — ranked No. 3 within the group — made his first profession begin on Wednesday, and spent all 9 innings at brief.
Enmanuel Valdez was additionally pulled from Worcester’s Wednesday night time recreation, and might be becoming a member of the massive league staff on the street.
Waive goodbye
The Los Angeles Angels despatched shockwaves by means of the league this week once they positioned six gamers — beginning pitcher Lucas Giolito, relievers Reynaldo López, Dominic Leone, and Matt Moore, outfielder Randal Grichuk, and and former Red Sox slugger Hunter Renfroe — on waivers.
Has there ever been a much bigger white flag second within the league’s waiver historical past?
These excessive measures cap off a shocking month for the Angels. Five weeks in the past, they had been shopping for huge earlier than the commerce deadline, hoping to finish a nine-year playoff drought earlier than Shohei Ohtani reached free company this fall. Anaheim gave up left-hander Ky Bush and their prime catching prospect, Edgar Quero,to accumulate Giolito and López from the Chicago White Sox. That similar week, they traded for Grichuk, C.J. Cron, and Leone.
After all that, the Angels went 8-19 in August, positioned Mike Trout again on the injured listing after one recreation, and discovered Ohtani had a tear in his UCL and wouldn’t have the ability to pitch for the remainder of the 12 months. (He’s continued hitting, although; he’s collected eight hits, together with three doubles and a triple in six video games since discovering out in regards to the tear.)
Thus, they threw within the towel, providing up prized gamers for pennies. All they get in return is the $50,000 waiver payment per participant. This gambit additionally places them below the luxurious tax threshold.
The Angels are paying a steep value in additional methods than one, and it received’t finish with the season. They mortgaged their farm system to assist them make a playoff run, and can really feel that ripple impact down the street. Furthermore, in going to those extremes, they painted an unflattering self-portrait: Now, gamers across the league know that ought to they signal on with Arte Moreno’s membership, they are often forged off at any time if it means saving a couple of dollars.
Other groups utilized the identical rule, although none to the extent that the Angels did. The Mets positioned starter Carlos Carrasco on waivers. The White Sox did the identical for Mike Clevinger, and he cleared waivers on Thursday, that means he’ll trip out the rest of the season with them.
The Yankees positioned outfielder Harrison Bader on waivers; he discovered as a result of ESPN was on within the clubhouse. Hopefully, the Reds, who claimed him together with Renfroe, are higher at speaking.
Source: www.bostonherald.com