In the lengthy historical past of elite Red Sox pitching, just one ever introduced house the gold:
Mike Boddicker, who earned the franchise’s first and solely Gold Glove up to now, in 1990.
But when the Red Sox have been in Houston this previous week, Garrett Whitlock had his personal Gold Glove second when Alex Bregman popped up on the primary pitch of the at-bat, sending the spheroid sky-high into foul territory on the primary base facet. When Bregman blocked catcher Connor Wong as he tried to trace the ball, Whitlock sprang into motion. He raced off the mound and slid, feet-first, to catch the ball by the on-deck circle.
Though Bregman ended up being known as out on account of batter interference, Whitlock’s tenacity offered viewers with an epic and spectacular second.
But when Whitlock posted the clip to his personal Instagram hours later, it was the cheeky caption that caught consideration:
“I don’t want to hear any more of this talk about how @tanner_houck11 is more athletic than me.”
Shots fired.
“It’s fine, he can say what he wants,” a smiling Tanner Houck instructed the Herald. “My response to him immediately after was, ‘I would’ve caught it standing up, I wouldn’t have had to slide,’ but I’ll let him have his little spotlight.”
“It was a great play. Super fun for him, definitely,” he mentioned. “When I saw him in the dugout after, he was waiting for props, and that’s when I gave him that line, and he just looked at me and chuckled a little bit.”
“I mean, I could’ve slid, but wouldn’t have had to. I would’ve gotten there standing up and caught it like a normal person,” Houck added.
For some athletes, these can be combating phrases, even a suggestion of strife within the clubhouse, however not these two.
Houck and Whitlock have change into very shut associates for the reason that latter got here to Boston in the course of the 2020-21 offseason. The homegrown Houck debuted the earlier fall, however entered 2021 along with his rookie eligibility intact. Whitlock made his debut that April 4, so the 2 have run the Red Sox gauntlet collectively virtually since Day 1.
“Our lockers were together in ‘21, both of us rookies at that time, trying to navigate our first true big-league season,” Houck mentioned. “We were two young guys, so on the road, we’d go to breakfast together and just navigate being big-leaguers up here together, and we’ve stuck with the friendship ever since.”
The two 27-year-old right-handers have each labored in each doable pitching position over the past three years. They even share a start month, born 18 days aside in June 1996. Houck can also be the one who bought his teammate hooked on “Ted Lasso,” the uplifting soccer present Whitlock raved about to the Herald earlier this season.
“It’s a great friendship, always fun,” Houck mentioned. “I imply, everybody in right here, I contemplate a brother. We wish to all have enjoyable collectively. It makes coming to work loads simpler.
“Having close friendships like that, they also push you. They’re not afraid to get on you whenever they need to, but they’re also there to pick you up when you need it.”
The two younger pitchers have, sadly, had further alternatives to choose each other up these final two seasons. Each had their 2022 campaigns minimize quick by season-ending accidents, for which they underwent again and hip surgical procedure, respectively. Both have just lately returned from stints on the injured record; Houck suffered a fracture when a line drive smashed into his face throughout a begin in opposition to the Yankees in mid-June, Whitlock went on the IL two weeks later with elbow irritation. The latter bought again within the sport on Aug. 13, and Houck joined him on the twenty second.
“It’s just good to be like, actually back, part of the team,” Houck mentioned. “Being across the clubhouse and being with all the blokes is nice, and you are feeling undoubtedly nonetheless part of the staff, however realizing you get to go on the market and probably assist the staff win and preserve pushing in the direction of the top of the season, it’s a very good feeling.
“I use the phrase ‘a spare part,’ I just feel like an extra bolt, but I knew that the time was coming, that I’d come back, and I would have my shot.”
Houck has labored his method again fastidiously, decided to have this season finish in a different way than final.
“I needed to do it the fitting method, come again one hundred pc, and never come again at 80 or 90 p.c and have one thing else go unsuitable. I’d somewhat know that each time I’m again on the market, I can provide every little thing I’ve.
“To come back this season, I never even thought about not finishing it out. I wanted to see the end of the season, end it on a high note, and help the team. It’s really good to be back.”
Jansen throws stay bullpen
Kenley Jansen hasn’t pitched since leaving Wednesday’s sport after solely three pitches with proper hamstring tightness, however the nearer seems to have averted critical damage and is trending in the direction of an imminent return. Jansen threw a stay bullpen session on Saturday and barring any sudden setbacks the hope is he may pitch in Sunday’s finale.
“We wanted to increase the intensity. He’s thrown a bullpen and we feel like it’s not enough,” Cora mentioned. “We’ll see how he feels and if everything goes well he’ll be available tomorrow.”
Cora additionally mentioned outfielder Jarren Duran (left nice toe sprain) is scheduled to see a health care provider on Monday, so they need to have a greater concept of his standing after that.
Upcoming starters introduced
Tanner Houck (3-7, 5.08 ERA) will begin Sunday’s finale in opposition to the Dodgers, and after that the Red Sox will follow the identical rotation they’ve used over the previous week.
Cora introduced that Chris Sale (5-3, 4.68) will begin Monday’s opener in opposition to the Houston Astros, Brayan Bello (10-7, 3.56) will comply with him on Tuesday and Kutter Crawford (6-6, 3.65) will pitch Wednesday.
Sox to honor The Base, Ok-Men
Prior to Sunday’s sport the Red Sox will honor The Base and the Boston Ok Men throughout pregame ceremonies. The two organizations are celebrating their tenth and twenty fifth anniversaries respectively and members will throw out the primary pitch earlier than the collection finale in opposition to the Dodgers.
The Ok Men have been based in 1998 when a bunch of native youngsters began a convention of posting “K” indicators after every of Pedro Martinez’s strikeouts. The group steadily grew in measurement and stays an lively presence at Fenway Park, and in recent times the Ok Men have partnered with The Base, a Roxbury-based city academy that gives sports activities coaching and different applications geared in the direction of faculty entry and profession improvement.
The Base now serves roughly 1,200 native youth yearly, and Red Sox president Sam Kennedy additionally serves as a member of The Base’s Advisory Committee.
Source: www.bostonherald.com