Wed, 05/22/2013 - 12:30am — Anonymous

Jacoby Ellsbury

CHICAGO — It was undoubtedly a step in the right direction, and might keep Jacoby Ellsbury from moving out of the Red Sox’ lineup’s top spot for the time being.

Three of Ellsbury’s four at-bats during the Red Sox’ 3-1 loss to the White Sox Tuesday night were solid showings, with the outfielder lining sharply out to left-center, singling up the middle and drawing an eight-pitch walk. After grounding out to second four straight times the night before, surfacing even more talk of a move out of the leadoff spot, it was a welcome performance for the player and the team.

“You’ve seen. You see what happens when I get going,” Ellsbury said after the game when asked about his desire to remain in the lineup’s top spot.

Before the game, Red Sox manager John Farrell confirmed that he had thought about moving Ellsbury out of the leadoff spot, but was prioritizing giving the center fielder a vote of confidence.

“Have considered it, yes,” said Farrell, who did reveal that the health of Shane Victorino also weighed into making a move. “And we’re sticking with him to hopefully give him the opportunity to come out of the situation he’s in right now. But I can say this: whether he’s hitting first or whether he’s hitting somewhere else in the lineup, there are still things we have to address and he has to address. Those are ongoing.”

Judging by Ellsbury’s performance Tuesday, it appears the commitment to stay put might pay off.

The hit off Chicago reliever Matt Thornton marked the third straight game Ellsbury has managed to claim a hit off a lefty, and gave him four hits in 27 at-bats (with four walks) on the current road trip.

“I’ve been putting some good ABs together. So I’m just going to just stick with the plan,” he said. “I’m not worried. I just have to stick with the approach, the plan. All of that is going to fall into place.

“I’m nice and loose. You can’t press. You have to stay nice and loose, just in your plan and trust in your approach. One good game this early brings you back. … My swing is pretty simple. It’s easy to maintain. A hit here or there makes it look a lot better. I’ve had some good swings, so I just have to stick with the plan.”

Blog Author: 
Rob Bradford
Tue, 05/21/2013 - 10:58pm — Rob Bradford

CHICAGO — Jose Quintana certainly has made his mark on the Red Sox.

After shutting out Boston for eight innings last July 19 at Fenway Park, the White Sox lefty held John Farrell‘s team hitless through 6 1/3 innings Tuesday night on the way to a 3-1 win for the hosts at U.S. Cellular Field.

Tue, 05/21/2013 - 10:56pm — Anonymous

Felix Doubront allowed two runs over six innings Tuesday night. (AP)

CHICAGO — Jose Quintana has certainly made his mark on the Red Sox.

Afte shutting out the Sox for eight innings last July 19 at Fenway Park, the White Sox lefty held John Farrell’s team hitless through 6 1/3 innings Tuesday night on the way to a 3-1 win for the hosts at U.S. Cellular Field.

Quintana carried his no-hitter into the seventh inning, when, with one out, David Ortiz reached out and hit a broken bat single to left-center on the White Sox’ starter’s 95th pitch.

The Red Sox ultimately drove Quintana from the game later in the seventh after two more singles, from Mike Napoli and Daniel Nava, loaded the bases with one out. But reliever Jesse Crain came on to strikeout both Will Middlebrooks and Stephen Drew to end the visitors’ threat.

The 24-year-old Quintana is no stranger to dominance, having used 2012 to become the  first rookie to throw eight scoreless innings or more three times in a season since Justin Verlander’s 2006 campaign.

The Sox had another threat in the eighth, when they closed the gap to a run when Dustin Pedroia’s hard grounder bounced up on Alexei Ramirez just enough to skip past the shortstop, allowing Jarrod Saltalamacchia to score from third. But with runners on first and third and one out, David Ortiz grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to snuff out the opportunity.

On most other nights, the effort turned in by Red Sox’ starter Felix Doubront would have been good enough. The lefty came out after 85 pitches, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out three and walking two.

With the loss the Red Sox will have dropped a road series for just the second time in eighth chances.

Here is what went wrong (and right) in the Red Sox’ 19th loss of the season:

WHAT WENT WRONG

- Doubront had been cruising through the first 4 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit and a walk. But, with two outs in the fifth, Dayan Viciedo’s grounder narrowly found the hole between shortstop and third base, paving the way for Jeff Keppinger to deposit a first-pitch, 90 mph fastball from Doubront into the left field seats. It was just the third homer allowed by the lefty this season.

- Alex Wilson allowed a two-out double to Alex Rios, scoring Ramirez and giving the White Sox a two-run lead heading into the ninth inning. It marked the first time in his last six outings Wilson has given up a run.

- All nine of the runs the Red Sox have given up in the series have come with two outs.

WHAT WENT RIGHT

- After walking Alejandro De Aza to kick off the home half of the fourth, Doubront induced a grounder down the first base line off the bat of Alexei Ramirez. Mike Napoli made a nice play to field the ball, step on the bag and then throw a strike to shortstop Stephen Drew for the double play.

- Jacoby Ellsbury did work one of the more impressive at-bats of the night for the Red Sox, working a two-out, eight-pitch walk against Quintana. The semi-rally was quickly ended, however, with Jonny Gomes finishing off the visitors half of the sixth with a strikeout. Ellsbury also singled in the eighth, putting runners on first and second and nobody on.

- Doubront managed to escape a jam in the sixth inning after putting a pair of runners on with two outs, inducing a long fly ball off the bat of Adam Dunn. The count went to 3-and-2 on the lefty slugger, who has just three hits against lefty pitchers this season.

Blog Author: 
Rob Bradford
Tue, 05/21/2013 - 8:48pm — Rob Bradford

CHICAGO – According to a major league source, the Red Sox and Jacoby Ellsbury’s agent, Scott Boras, have not engaged in talks regarding a possible extension for the outfielder. Ellsbury will be eligible to become a free agent at the conclusion of this season.

Tue, 05/21/2013 - 8:45pm — Anonymous

Jacoby Ellsbury

CHICAGO – According to a major league source, the Red Sox and Jacoby Ellsbury’s agent, Scott Boras, have not engaged in talks regarding a possible extension for the outfielder. Ellsbury will be eligible to become a free agent at the conclusion of this season.

Prior to the Red Sox’ game with the White Sox Tuesday night, manager John Farrell didn’t suggest anxiety regarding the uncertain contract status was the cause of the outfielder’s struggles, but said it could be somewhat of a factor.

“To say that’s the sole reason, no,” said Farrell of Ellsbury, who entered Tuesday hitting .241 with one home run and a .303 on-base percentage. “I wouldn’t say that’s the issue of what he’s dealing with right now. Also, know that he’s human and he understands where he’s at in his career and what’s ahead of him.

“The point that we continually try to make is that the routine of today is the most important point, and that’s the focal point, so what’s going to take place throughout the remainder of the season and into the offseason. Time will indicate that and that will be addressed at the appropriate time. I can’t say that pending free agency has caused him to have the inconsistencies at the plate.”

Ellsbury signed a one-year, $9 million contract in the offseason in what was his last year of arbitration-eligibility. He is one of five Red Sox players — joining Joel Hanrahan, Stephen Drew, Jarrod Saltalmacchia and Mike Napoli — who will be eligible for free agency at the end of the ’13 season.

Appearing on WEEI in July, 2011, former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said the team had previously approached Boras about a possible extension.

“It is not a secret that we have sat down and tried in the past and tried to lock Jacoby up in the past, and we will sit down in the future and try and do it again at the appropriate time,” Epstein said at the time. “He is somebody that we have believed in as a core, young member in the organization that we look to keep around. We have certain organizational standards that have to be met, and we have worked hard to keep those standards with Pedroia and Youkilis and Lester … so we’d love to one day announce that Jacoby will be with this organization for a long time and this

Last season, Boras told WEEI.com that he hadn’t participated in any talks with the Red Sox regarding a long-term deal for Ellsbury.

“We’ve only had the traditional discussions of one-year contracts,” Boras during a July 20 interview. “Ben and I will certainly begin contract discussions at year’s end because we have to. We have at minimum a one-year contract to discuss. We’re going to play through the season. Ben’s operating his team and I’m signing draft picks, operating my team.”

Farrell also said prior to Tuesday night’s game that he had contemplated moving Ellsbury down in the batting order, but was choosing to offer the lefty hitter a vote of confidence for the time being.

“Have considered it, yes,” said Farrell, who did reveal that the health of Shane Victorino also weighed into making a move. “And we’re sticking with him to hopefully give him the opportunity to come out of the situation he’s in right now. But I can say this: whether he’s hitting first or whether he’s hitting somewhere else in the lineup, there are still things we have to address and he has to address. Those are ongoing.”

Blog Author: 
Rob Bradford
Tue, 05/21/2013 - 4:35pm — Rob Bradford

CHICAGO — Shane Victorino isn’t in the Red Sox lineup for the second game of their three-game series against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. The right fielder left Monday night’s game in the sixth inning after aggravating his left hamstring.

Starting in Victorino’s place in right will be Daniel Nava, with Jonny Gomes taking over at left.

Tue, 05/21/2013 - 4:34pm — Anonymous

Shane Victorino

CHICAGO — Shane Victorino isn’t in the Red Sox lineup for the second game of their three-game series against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. The right fielder left Monday night’s game in the sixth inning after aggravating his left hamstring.

Starting in Victorino’s place in right will be Daniel Nava, with Jonny Gomes taking over at left.

Here is the Red Sox’ lineup against White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana:

Jacoby Ellsbury CF

Jonny Gomes LF

Dustin Pedroia 2B

David Ortiz DH

Mike Napoli 1B

Daniel Nava RF

Will Middlebrooks 3B

Stephen Drew SS

Jarrod Saltalamacchia C

Felix Doubront P

For all the matchups, click here.

Blog Author: 
Rob Bradford
Tue, 05/21/2013 - 1:08pm — Anonymous

Jose Iglesias is making his first career appearance at third base on Tuesday. (AP)

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — It’s been well over a month since Jose Iglesias was optioned back to Triple-A Pawtucket after his tremendous start to 2013 as a fill-in for Stephen Drew. Things have not been going as well for Iglesias in Pawtucket, however, and he’s seeking ways to improve his chances of making it back to the big leagues.

Iglesias, who is renowned as a slick fielding shortstop, is getting the start at third base on Tuesday afternoon against the Indianapolis Indians, the first appearance of his professional career at a position other than shortstop.

“Iggy’s been taking ground balls down there for about two weeks, a little bit at second base, a little bit at third base, just to expose him to the positions,” PawSox manager Gary DiSarcina said before Tuesday’s game.

In doing so, the Sox hope to put him in position to find more pathways to contribute in the big leagues. DiSarcina, a former major league shortstop, has experience adjusting to both third base and second base, and has been helping Iglesias with the transition.

“Speaking personally about my own career, I played shortstop in the minor leagues and my first game in the big leagues was at third base and I felt completely out of place,” said the manager, who stressed the importance of getting Iglesias some exposure to different positions. “The last thing you want to do is to put someone in a position, number one, where they’ll be unsuccessful, and number two, get hurt.”

The shift from shortstop is not a permanent move by any means, and DiSarcina emphasized that there remains no question of his ability to be a big league shortstop. Instead, the experiment with additional positions represents an exercise to give Iglesias some additional tools, making him a more versatile player and therefore, a better candidate to be called upon if needed at the big league level.

“I think the organization is great with just exposing him to these positions, because you just never know,” said DiSarcina. “If he gets called up in September, and everyone’s healthy, and you want to give somebody a day off, and it’s not Stephen Drew, it’s comforting to know, as a manager, that somebody’s played over there.”

Iglesias seems to be eager to take on the new opportunity, which makes the adjustment that much easier.

“He’s got a great work ethic, he enjoys it,” said DiSarcina. “The days he’s been at second and third he’s been like a little kid, asking questions. It’s almost like it’s brought this enthusiasm out of him, just the experience and being exposed to these positions. It wouldn’t work unless he was fully committed to it, and excited about it, which he is.”

While Iglesias’ defensive versatility will make him a more attractive option for the Red Sox should they be in need of another infielder, he doesn’t look to be performing at a major-league level right now when it comes to his offense. Iglesias is batting an anemic .205/.262/.330 on the season in Pawtucket. This month has been particularly difficult for the infielder; he’s 8-for-50 (.160 average) in May with only one extra base hit, a home run in Monday night’s contest, his fourth of the year.

DiSarcina acknowledged that the 23-year-old has work to do with regards to his offensive approach.

“It’s been inconsistent. He’ll come out of his zone a little bit and swing at borderline pitches, secondary pitches, and he’ll put them in play softly. I don’t know if he’s seeing the ball well, if it’s just his approach,” said DiSarcina. “He’s working on it with [hitting coach] Dave [Joppie] in the cage, and he just needs to have it translate onto the field with his results. And that takes time sometimes. He’s had some good at-bats, he’s hit some balls hard to the second baseman with no results, he’s hit some hard ground balls to the shortstop with no results. He needs to get to the point where he’s putting together four good at-bats a night. When you’re inconsistent with your approach, you’re going to have one good at-bat out of four.”

While Iglesias’ offensive production is still a work in progress, DiSarcina thinks that the changes in the field will be come a little easier to the defensive wizard.

“He’ll be fine at third base,” the manager assured before Iglesias’ first start at a foreign position on Tuesday afternoon. “If you ask [Iglesias], he’s played every position but pitcher, and he’s also great at every position but pitcher.”

Blog Author: 
Katie Morrison
Tue, 05/21/2013 - 12:29pm — Anonymous

Right-hander Rubby De La Rosa was scratched from his scheduled Tuesday start. (AP)

PAWTUCKET — Red Sox right-hander Rubby De La Rosa was scratched from his scheduled start on Tuesday in Triple-A Pawtucket due to what manager Gary DiSarcina characterized as a left intercostal injury incurred while playing catch on Monday. DiSarcina suggested that the injury did not appear to be serious, but noted that the precise duration for which the hard-throwing prospect will be sidelined remains unknown. Yeah, he came up yesterday, with…he played catch and on the last throw he kind of tweaked his side muscles, so he’ll be down today, Hernandez will fill in.

“He’s feeling better today, to what level or degree, I don’t know. It just happened yesterday, I think he said it happened on his last throw. Any time a pitcher feels something in his intercostal area, you don’t want to send him out there. I think it was on his left side, actually, so his pull side,” said DiSarcina. “It’s no biggie, just sit him down for this start, reevaluate him … It won’t set back Rubby too much.”

Left-hander Chris Hernandez will make the spot start in place of De La Rosa. De La Rosa, 24, is amidst a stretch of 18 innings without permitting an earned run, a stretch during which he has 22 strikeouts and eight walks. On the year, he has a 3.65 ERA with opponents hitting just .180 against him in eight starts.

Blog Author: 
Alex Speier
Tue, 05/21/2013 - 12:07pm — Anonymous

Felix Doubront

CHICAGO – Felix Doubront has changed his ways – no more peaking at the radar gun readings.

“Before I did when I was trying to throw harder when I was throwing 91 (mph) and (velocity) wasn’t there,” said Tuesday night’s Red Sox starter. “But now I’m not worried about it. I stopped looking at it. Before I as looking a lot and I would see 90 and I would have to forget about it. But Thursday (his last start) there was just a couple of times I looked, and it was for changeups to see if I threw it too hard. Not the fastball. I’m not focused on that.”

Much has been made of Doubront’s dip in velocity. He has hit 94 mph just three times this season after reaching the number 493 times a year ago.

But the lefty has had an awakening.

Doubront is fifth among major league starters in strikeouts per nine innings (10.13). But what truly feeds the hurler’s new mindset is the fact that 30 of his 42 punch-outs have come on his fastball, even with the decreased heat.

“I was watching [Toronto starter Mark] Buehrle and I realized I don’t need 95. Nice changeup. Nice curveball. Nice cutter. Whatever. Just to get them out,” Doubront said.

“Everybody knows I’m not throwing 95, but it can seem like that because of the other stuff. Like (last) Thursday, there were a lot of guys who were looking for fastballs and they got a changeup or a breaking ball. Then the next at-bat they were looking for breaking balls and they were looking for fastballs. Pitching backwards has helped strikeout more guys.

“I started getting swing and misses and strikeouts and made me realize I can strike guys out like before. I don’t have to overthrow, but I just have to hit the spot.”

Doubront has actually been getting more swings and misses on his fastball than a year ago, with 21 percent of his whiffs coming on the heater compared to 15 percent a year ago. (His overall swing and miss rate is relatively the same this year compared to ’12.)

The understanding has allowed to Doubront to remain in elite company when it comes to striking batters out, as was evidenced when six of his seven strikeouts against Tampa Bay last week came on fastballs.

“It’s not like I’m looking to strikeout every batter,” he said. “It just happens I’m throwing the right pitch. I’m not throwing hard right now, but I still get swings and misses.I put (velocity0 out of my mind. I don’t have 95 or 96 yet. I’m just going to pitch with my stuff. “

Blog Author: 
Rob Bradford