Recently my friend told me about a time his roommate joined him on his morning bike ride to work. My buddy, who has spent the bulk of his post-college years living in Brooklyn, is a seasoned vet when it comes to weaving through New York traffic. His roommate … not so much. After taking a spill (don’t worry, he wasn’t hurt), a disgusted onlooker remarked in a heavy New York accent, “Somebody get this guy a coffee!”
But you know who could really use a cup of joe? The Boston Red Sox. Seriously guys, what’s the deal? Do they not have Dunkin’ out in Oakland? Right now the Sox, who are coming off their most successful season in franchise history, are dragging like college students at an 8 AM Friday lecture. We’ve all had senioritis before, but it’s only April 5!
Something tells me that K-Cups and dark roast aren’t Boston’s biggest problem right now. Through one week of real baseball, the Red Sox sit at a dismal 2-6, good for last-place in the AL East, a division they won by a comfortable eight games last year. Even their two victories weren’t all that convincing—it took a heroic, ninth-inning blast from Mitch Moreland to put away the Mariners for win No. 1 last Friday and another ninth-inning rally to down the A’s Wednesday night. Thursday was more of the same with Boston squandering a burst of early offense en route to another demoralizing defeat, this one by a final count of 7-3.
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The A’s, it should be noted, are no slouches. This is the same group of overachievers that racked up 97 wins a year ago before bowing out to the Yankees in a do-or-die Wild Card game. Led by a sturdy lineup featuring, among others, reigning home run champ Khris Davis (not to be confused with the slumping Orioles slugger who goes by the same name), the high-powered, albeit low-budget Athletics are nobody’s doormat. But dropping three of four by a decisive 18-9 margin? That’s the type of clinical beat-down you’d expect from a rebuilding club like the Marlins or Orioles, not a team with a $222 million payroll that won 119 games (playoffs included) a season ago. But here we are.
The good news for the Red Sox is that it’s only April 5. Roughly 95 percent of the season has yet to unfold. Boston still has plenty of time to recalibrate. There’s an excellent chance that in a few months, after the rejuvenated Sox have re-staked their rightful claim to the AL East—a division they’ve conquered three years running—we’ll be having a good laugh about the time we overreacted to their early-season dry spell.
The bad news is that it’s April 5 and the BoSox are playing like they just hopped off the plane to Fort Myers for the start of spring training. Sure, there could be a fatigue factor—Boston wrapped up its World Series run on October 28, four weeks after Game 162 of the regular season. But even with an abbreviated offseason, nobody expected the reigning champs to fall this far this quickly.
Whether Boston’s early-season slide is a bad omen or just your run-of-the-mill cold streak that every team encounters at one point or another, there’s no denying how poorly the Red Sox have played on their current West Coast swing. For a window into the team’s struggles, look no further than Thursday’s meltdown in the Bay. Boston shot out to a 3-0 lead on the strength of a two-run, two-hit first inning and a third-inning solo bomb courtesy of J.D. Martinez (the only Sox player showing a pulse so far), only to watch the A’s bludgeon them for seven unanswered runs, six of them surrendered by Eduardo Rodriguez. E-Rod was all the rage this spring, dominating the Grapefruit League while serving as the subject of endless offseason puff pieces filed by thoroughly impressed beat writers. So naturally the soon-to-be 26-year-old (he blows out the candles Sunday) has been an unmitigated disaster, serving up 16 hits, 12 runs (11 earned), six walks and two homers over eight disastrous frames. The left-hander’s 12.36 ERA doesn’t exactly scream “breakout year,” but hey, at least he’s fared better than poor Trevor Rosenthal. I know, not a high bar to clear, but we’re glass half-full people here at Rotoworld.
Rodriguez’s Achilles’ heel Thursday was an assassin by the name of Stephen Piscotty, who annihilated the Red Sox to the tune of four hits while finishing a triple shy of the cycle. Armed with only a Louisville Slugger and his superb hand-eye coordination, Piscotty plated five of Oakland’s seven runs including three on one mighty, third-inning swing. Rodriguez gifted him a lazy 92 mph fastball right down the pipe and Piscotty knew exactly what to do with it, shipping that bad boy first-class to Souvenir City. The A’s outfielder drove in another two runs with a ground-rule double the following inning, chasing E-Rod from the game once and for all. Piscotty got plenty of help from the Red Sox outfield as Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley both froze, allowing the ball—which had a 99-percent catch probability according to our friends over at Statcast—to hop over the right-field fence. You know the Sox are spiraling when two outfielders with four Gold Gloves between them can’t even flag down a routine fly ball. Forget coffee, Mookie and JBJ need Tom Emanski’s Defensive Drills Video, pronto (and maybe a VCR to watch it on).
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Last year couldn’t have gone much better for Betts, who took home AL MVP honors, a World Series ring, his third straight Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger while also welcoming his first child into the world. I don’t know if Betts made a deal with the devil last year, but it looks like Lucifer is here to collect. On top of his defensive gaffe in right field, Mookie’s Thursday from Hell included two strikeouts and a rare base-running blunder in the ninth inning. Despite seeing cannon-armed outfielder Ramon Laureano gun down Xander Bogaerts not once but twice this week, Betts pressed his luck by trying to go first-to-third on a base knock by Andrew Benintendi, only to suffer the same exact fate as Bogaerts. While other teams would shoot themselves in the foot with mental mistakes, Boston’s attention to detail under new manager Alex Cora last year was what separated them from the other 29 clubs in MLB. But this year, they’re having brain cramps left and right.
Boston’s 2-6 start isn’t quite DEFCON 1, but it might be approaching DEFCON 2 or 3. The starting rotation (combined 9.08 ERA) is in shambles and the offense, which was held scoreless for the first two games of the series, has been just as fallible. GM Dave Dombrowski may already have buyer’s remorse after emptying the vault for Chris Sale, who will net $160 million over the next six years. Despite his past success, the left-handed ace has done little to inspire confidence with his lackluster start. First came Sale’s Opening Day debacle in Seattle (3 IP, 6 H, 7 ER), which he followed up with another defeat Tuesday in Oakland. The 30-year-old fared better in his second start but only managed a single strikeout while fueling injury whispers with his diminished velocity. The Red Sox had to know Sale and his frail, 180-pound frame would break down at some point. They just weren’t expecting it to happen literally a week after signing him to a five-year extension.
Everything came up roses for the Sox last year but that’s over. The year is 2019 and it’s time for Boston to stop hitting the snooze button and wake up. And then order a Cappuccino.
AL Quick Hits: Trevor Bauer spun seven no-hit frames Thursday in a victory over Toronto. Cleveland’s bullpen kept the no-hitter intact until the ninth, when Freddy Galvis broke it up with a leadoff single. Bauer registered eight strikeouts in the win but also issued six walks … Indians slugger Jose Ramirez exited Thursday’s game after fouling a ball off his left foot. Luckily, he escaped with just a bruise. With Francisco Lindor (ankle, calf) already on the shelf, the Indians can’t afford to lose another middle-of-the-order bat … Vladimir Guerrero Jr. began a rehab assignment with High-A Dunedin on Thursday, going 1-for-4 while drawing the start at third base. The Blue Jays’ top prospect was slowed by an oblique strain during spring training, but is on the mend and could be ready to join the big club later this month … Justin Smoak wasn’t in uniform Thursday against Cleveland. The first baseman was scratched with neck stiffness, which led to this humorous exchange … James Paxton recorded his first win as a Yankee, beating the Orioles in their home opener Thursday at Camden Yards. Gleyber Torres starred with a career-high four hits including two homers while Luke Voit snapped an 0-for-13 spell with a ninth-inning blast off Miguel Castro. Chris Davis went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in the loss, extending his hitless streak to 37 at-bats dating back to last year … The Yankees added to their walking wounded Thursday by placing Troy Tulowitzki on the injured list with a strained left calf. The Bombers are running out of healthy bodies with Tulo, Giancarlo Stanton (biceps), Didi Gregorius (elbow), Luis Severino (shoulder), Miguel Andujar (shoulder), Aaron Hicks (back) and CC Sabathia (heart, knee) all out of commission … Speaking of Hicks, the Yankees outfielder has been cleared for baseball activities. The 29-year-old has been out since suffering a back injury late in spring training … Dustin Pedroia went 2-for-3 with a single, a double and a walk Thursday in a rehab game for Low-A Greenville. The plan is for the former MVP to play again Friday, take a breather Saturday and then get one last game under his belt Sunday before joining the Red Sox for their home opener Tuesday against Toronto. Knee woes limited the star second baseman to only three games last year … Steve Pearce made his return from the disabled list Thursday against Oakland. The reigning World Series MVP had been out with a calf strain … Nomar Mazara was a spectator for Thursday’s game in Anaheim, sitting out with a sore quad. Rangers skipper Chris Woodward said the outfielder should be able to suit up Friday night … Tim Anderson will return to the fold Friday against Seattle after spending the past few days on paternity leave. Anderson’s wife gave birth to the couple’s second child earlier this week.
NL Quick Hits: Max Fried took a perfect game into the sixth inning Thursday night against Chicago but lost it on a two-out single by Mark Zagunis. Nick Markakis collected five hits including three doubles while driving in five of the Braves’ nine runs in the victory … Clayton Kershaw did his best to dust off the cobwebs in Thursday’s rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City, scattering four hits and two runs over 4 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out six over the course of 61 pitches. The left-hander is working back from a shoulder injury that cost him most of spring training … Corey Dickerson was sent to the injured list Thursday with a right posterior shoulder strain. The Bucs’ outfield is running on fumes right now with Dickerson and Gregory Polanco (shoulder) both nursing injuries … Anibal Sanchez, who was forced to leave Wednesday’s start after bruising his hip flexor on an Andrew McCutchen line drive, should start as planned Monday against the Phillies. Teammate Howie Kendrick was activated from the I.L. Thursday but didn’t appear in the Nationals’ win over the Mets. The veteran utility man had been out with a strained hamstring.
