Orioles' Trey Mancini Discusses June Cancer Scare: 'I Was Thinking the Worst'
Oct 14, 2021
Baltimore Orioles' Trey Mancini in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Trey
Mancini said he went through a scare in June after he received
carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test results that suggested his colon
cancer may have returned.
Mancini, who sat out the 2020 season
while undergoing chemotherapy treatments before being declared cancer-free, told Dan Connolly of The
Athletic on Thursday subsequent tests showed the cancer cells hadn't
returned.
"Me, overthinking it, I just
couldn't wrap my head around the fact that my CEA was normal for
quite a few times, and now it's elevated," he said. "I was
thinking the worst. And I couldn't shake that."
The 29-year-old Florida native put
together a career year for the O's in 2019. He posted a .291 batting
average, .899 OPS and 35 home runs across 154 appearances. His
career-best 3.5 WAR ranked in a tie for 56th among all MLB hitters
that season, per FanGraphs.
After the one-year hiatus, he returned
to a full-time role for Baltimore in 2021. His numbers dipped slightly from the career-high marks in 2019, but he was still a valuable
contributor with a .758 OPS and 21 homers in 147 games.
Mancini told Connolly he struggled with
the uncertainty between the concerning June 21 results and the July 4
confirmation the cancer hadn't returned, and he wants to share his
story for other people who may be going through a similar situation.
"Maybe this can put their minds at
ease because there's a number of reasons why this marker can be
elevated. And you don't have to spend weeks and weeks with it racing
through your head," Mancini said. "Above all, listen to your
doctors and health professionals. They know what they're talking
about."
Eight days after being given the
all-clear, he was at Coors Field in Colorado to take part in the 2021
Home Run Derby as part of MLB's All-Star festivities.
Mancini defeated the Oakland Athletics'
Matt Olson and Rockies' Trevor Story to reach the finals before
coming up short against reigning champion Pete Alonso
of the New York Mets.
"I've never been on a stage like
this before," he told reporters. "And it was just an
incredible day, an incredible evening, and I was just so honored to
be a part of it and just to be asked. To make it to the finals is
something that I think we're going to look back on and really cherish
and appreciate."
Mancini saw his OPS drop 80 points from
the first half of the season (.791) to the second half (.711), but
the slugger said he was pleased to endure the physical toll of an
entire campaign.
"I hate to use the word grind, but I
had to grind it out those last couple months, and I did," he told
Connolly. "I'm happy that I made it to the end of the season, that
I didn't go on the [injured list] one time. It is a big
accomplishment."
The Orioles fell well short of the
playoffs with a 52-110 record, but Mancini figures to remain a key
building block as they continue their rebuilding efforts heading into
2022.
Yankees Rumors: Hal Steinbrenner 'Inclined to Keep Aaron Boone as Manager'
Oct 12, 2021
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Managing general partner and co-chairperson Hal Steinbrenner of the New York Yankees looks on during a news conference introducing Masahiro Tanaka (not pictured) to the media on February 11, 2014 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
New York Yankees chairman Hal
Steinbrenner reportedly "seems inclined" to retain Aaron Boone as
the club's manager despite an early playoff exit in the wild-card round.
ESPN's Buster Olney reported Tuesday
that Steinbrenner felt "underachieving player performance" was
the main reason the Yanks didn't make a deeper postseason run, and he'll likely work toward a new deal with Boone, whose contract is set to
expire after the 2021 World Series.
"He likes [Boone], and I don't
think he blames him for what happened," a source told Olney.
The Yankees were forced to fight until
the final day of the regular season just to earn a playoff berth
despite a $203.3 million payroll that ranked second in MLB to the Los
Angeles Dodgers ($267.2 million), according to Spotrac.
New York proceeded to suffer a 6-2
defeat to the rival Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Game. Ace
Gerrit Cole, in the second season of a nine-year, $324 million
contract, allowed three earned runs on four hits and two walks in
just two-plus innings of work in the loss.
"I haven't had any conversations
about [my contract] with anyone, so we'll see," Boone told
reporters afterward. "I love being here. I love going to
work with this group of players."
He added: "Whatever does happen, I'm at peace with. I know that I can hold my head high."
Boone has guided the Yanks to a strong
328-218 record during the regular season since being hired in 2018,
but he's posted a more mundane 11-11 mark in the playoffs, and the
storied organization hasn't reached the World Series during his
four-year tenure.
Placing the Yankees' lack of postseason
success on the players' shoulders might be a tough sell to the team's
fans, who've frequently questioned Boone's managerial decisions in
recent years.
Aside from Gleyber Torres, who hasn't
been the same player since hitting 38 home runs in 2019, and deadline
acquisition Joey Gallo, who hit a paltry .160 after joining the club,
it's hard to say any other members of the roster severely
underperformed in 2021.
The Yankees lost leadoff hitter DJ
LeMahieu to injury at an inopportune time before the playoffs, and Cole
couldn't deliver a shutdown performance in the wild-card game, but
for the most part the players delivered numbers at or near what could
be expected.
Olney noted Boone could receive
interest from the San Diego Padres, who fired Jayce Tingler after
their second-half collapse, if he hits the managerial free-agent
market, while Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada is an early name
to watch if the Yanks opt for a change atop their coaching staff.
Espada spent four years as a coach with
the Miami Marlins (2010-13) and three with the Yankees (2015-17)
before joining the Astros in 2018.
It sounds like Boone's fate could come down to the wire despite the indications Steinbrenner is
interested in maintaining the status quo heading into 2022.
Red Sox's World Series Aspirations Now in View After Shocking Upset of Rays
Oct 12, 2021
The Boston Red Sox celebrate after beating the Tampa Bay Rays on a sacrifice fly ball by Enrique Hernandez (5) during the ninth inning during Game 4 of a baseball American League Division Series, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Boston. The Red Sox won 6-5. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
As the 2021 Major League Baseball playoffs were getting underway last week, the general consensus on the Boston Red Sox was that they were just lucky to be there and, accordingly, that their stay would be brief.
The Red Sox themselves, however, have never been under any obligation to cooperate with outside prognostications. And so far, they aren't.
They surely didn't when they dispatched the favored New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card Game. After pulling off an even more shocking upset over the 100-win Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series, they now find themselves running hot and needing just four more wins to get to the World Series.
For Game 3 on Sunday, it was Christian Vazquez who played the hero with a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the 13th inning at Fenway Park. For Game 4 on Monday, Enrique Hernandez took his turn with a game- and series-winning sacrifice fly in the ninth:
With that, the Red Sox punched their ticket to their first American League Championship Series since 2018. They'll face either the Houston Astros or the Chicago White Sox, whose ALDS matchup could conclude as early as Tuesday.
In all likelihood, the Red Sox will once again be underdogs whether they end up facing Chicago or Houston. But they ought to be used to that now, and there's no longer any question that they're indeed comfortable in the role.
Red Sox Players of the Game
CF Enrique Hernandez: 1-for-4, 1 RBI. Duh.
RHP Garrett Whitlock: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 K. Boston manager Alex Cora dropped the righty into a hornet's nest in the top of the eighth inning, wherein the Rays had already tied the game with a pair of runs and still had a runner on second with nobody out. From there, though, he only needed 15 pitches to record six crucial outs.
3B Rafael Devers: 3-for-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 3 RBI. His three-run homer was the high point of Boston's five-run third inning, and his three hits ran his total for the series to six. Not bad for a guy who's playing with only one healthy arm.
LHP Eduardo Rodriguez: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 2 R, 6 K. Though his bullpen let his 5-1 lead get away, the lefty nonetheless redeemed himself after a flop at Tropicana Field in the first game of the series.
Rays Players of the Game
SS Wander Franco: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI. He may have temporarily put the Rays in trouble with an error in the eighth inning, but his two-run blast in the sixth was a big momentum swing. He finished the series with seven hits, including four for extra bases. The 20-year-old's future is bright.
CF Kevin Kiermaier: 2-for-3, 2 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI. The second of his two doubles made it a one-run game in the eighth, and his epic throw in the bottom half of the inning preserved what was then a 5-5 tie. Overall, the three-time Gold Glover was in vintage form in the field throughout the series.
RF Randy Arozarena: 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI. It was all for naught in the end, but "Postseason Randy" further added to his legend with a game-tying RBI single in the eighth and five hits and four walks for the series as a whole. And yeah, we're still buzzing from his steal of home in Game 1.
The Red Sox Don't Need Any More Than What They Have
After a last-place finish in the American League East in 2020, the Red Sox weren't supposed to be a player in the AL playoff picture this year. Even after they became one, there were times (especially during their COVID-19 outbreak in August and September) when they seemed on the verge of imploding.
It took a dramatic comeback against the lowly Washington Nationals on the season's final day for the Red Sox to so much as secure their 92nd win and a wild-card berth, and even then they tended to rank near or, in the case of MLB.com, even at the bottom of publications' power rankings for the 10 clubs that made the playoffs.
The Red Sox earned some hard-won respect with a dominant 6-2 win over the Yankees at Fenway Park on Oct. 5 to earn a trip to the ALDS. Yet they looked like a poor match for the Rays on paper going in, and the actual on-field matchup wasn't much different as the Rays easily won Game 1 and outscored Boston 10-2 through the first 10 frames of the series.
Four of those runs came on Jordan Luplow's grand slam in the bottom of the first in Game 2, which lowered Boston's chances of winning the series to just 20 percent:
Fast-forward to now, however, and the Rays probably aren't the only ones looking around confusedly and wondering what the hell just happened.
More than anything, the Red Sox's offense happened. After merely managing nine singles in Game 1, it responded by banging out 47 hits and 26 runs over the next three games. And all this against a Rays team whose 3.67 ERA in the regular season was the lowest in the AL.
Unexpected? Sure. But never impossible or even so much as improbable.
The Red Sox did, after all, scored more runs (104) against the Rays than any other team this season. Boston was also generally one of the best offensive teams in either league, which isn't too shabby given that its lineup was only occasionally fully operational.
This is precisely what Boston's offense was in the ALDS, and then some. Not a single one of the Red Sox's key hitters—i.e., Devers, Hernandez, Xander Bogaerts, Kyle Schwarber, Alex Verdugo, J.D. Martinez and Hunter Renfroe—had a bad series. Hence how nine different hitters had at least five hits, with seven of them hitting at least one home run.
“If you break down the talent we have, yeah, we can hit," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday night, according to NESN's George Balekji.
If Boston's offense stays on this track, the team's pitching will merely need to be good enough. That's where there's red flags aplenty, specifically with regard to the Red Sox's iffy starting pitching depth underneath ace Nathan Eovaldi and a late-inning relief corps that blew two-run eighth-inning leads in Games 3 and 4.
Then again, who needs a surplus of arms when you've got a manager as savvy as Cora?
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 11: Manager Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox reacts during the sixth inning of game four of the 2021 American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
As is the case with any manager's actions in October, there are nits to pick with how Cora handled his pitching staff in the ALDS. For instance, he might have avoided the aforementioned meltdowns in Game 3 and Game 4 if he'd gone to Whitlock sooner instead of Hansel Robles and Ryan Brasier, respectively.
But on balance, these are really the only two buttons that didn't work after Cora pushed them.
He especially made game-saving decisions when he inserted Tanner Houck and Nick Pivetta for multiple innings in Games 2 and 3, respectively, ultimately resulting in nine total frames marked by one run and two victories. Cora's pitching changes were also instrumental in holding Rays sluggers Brandon Lowe and Nelson Cruz to just four hits in 35 at-bats.
“We were all-in and they know it,” Cora told reporters after Pivetta's heroics left the door open for Vazquez to win Game 3. “We might do it differently than other teams, but when you get to that stage, you take it day by day.”
If watching Cora do his thing feels familiar, that's because it was only three years ago that he led the Red Sox to victory in the 2018 World Series. His year off in 2020 clearly did nothing to diminish his magic touch, as he's now 15-4 in the postseason for his career.
After five games this October, what the Red Sox have proved is that beating them will require out-hitting their offense and out-maneuvering their manager. No matter who they encounter from here on out, both tasks will be the opposite of easy
What's Next for the Red Sox?
Regardless of whether the Astros or the White Sox advance to the ALCS, the Red Sox will hit the road for Game 1 on Friday.
Since he'll be on regular rest, chances are Eovaldi will take the ball for Boston. The question then will be if Cora wants to go with Rodriguez in Game 2, or take his chances with Sale even though he's in a funk that dates back to early September.
Kike Hernandez's Walk-Off RBI Gives Red Sox ALDS Series Win vs. Rays
Oct 12, 2021
Boston Red Sox Rafael Devers (11) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 4 of a baseball American League Division Series, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
The Boston Red Sox clinched their spot in the American League Championship Series with a dramatic 6-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Monday's Game 4 of their AL Division Series at Fenway Park. Enrique Hernandez drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth with a sacrifice fly to clinch the series.
Rafael Devers and Eduardo Rodriguez led the way before that for the victors, who won three straight after dropping Game 1.
A comeback effort after falling behind 5-0 wasn't enough for the Rays, who were unable to defend their AL crown despite having the No. 1 seed in this year's playoffs.
All eyes were on the pitching in Monday's contest after Sunday's 13-inning marathon, especially for the Rays.
After all, they used nine pitchers in the last game and got just two innings from starter Drew Rasmussen. They also used potential Game 4 starter Luis Patino, which left Collin McHugh as the opener for a bullpen game with the season on the line.
He set the tone with two shutout innings to start, but any momentum he generated quickly faded when Boston knocked around Shane McClanahan in the third. McClanahan was one out away from escaping a jam when Devers launched a three-run homer, Xander Bogaerts singled, Alex Verdugo drove in a run with a double and J.D. Martinez added an RBI single.
It was suddenly 5-0, and the series felt like it was essentially over all thanks to one two-out rally.
To Tampa Bay's credit, the bullpen combination of JT Chargois, Andrew Kittredge, Patino and especially Pete Fairbanks kept it within striking distance after the abysmal third. That was no easy task in front of a raucous Fenway crowd, and Fairbanks impressed by entering in the seventh with runners on the corners only to induce an inning-ending double play from Bogaerts.
He also worked around an error in a scoreless eighth thanks to an incredible throw from Kevin Kiermaier to retire a tagging Verdugo at third.
However, J.P. Feyereisen was unable to replicate his team's effort in the ninth and gave up the series-winning run. Christian Vazquez started things off with a single, moved to second on a Christian Arroyo bunt, moved to third on a Travis Shaw infield single and scored on Hernandez's sacrifice fly to overcome Tampa Bay's comeback and win the series.
Rays' Comeback Falls Just Short
Boston was in better shape than Tampa Bay coming into Monday's game even after the 13-inning battle because Nathan Eovaldi went five frames and presumed Game 4 starter Nick Pivetta went four.
That left the home team with the much fresher bullpen behind starter Rodriguez, and it seemed it would be needed when it took 17 pitches to strike out Austin Meadows in an epic at-bat in the second inning.
Turns out, Rodriguez was ready to go far deeper into the game than could have been reasonably expected for someone who allowed two runs, two hits and two walks in 1.2 innings during Tampa Bay's only win of the series.
The 17-pitch battle between Eduardo Rodriguez and Austin Meadows is the longest by pitches in a #postseason PA since at least 1988 (when pitch count data started being tracked). pic.twitter.com/zjEdbzXUcf
The southpaw pitched into the sixth inning while striking out six and avoiding a single walk. Not only did he miss bats, but he also avoided consistent hard contact and limited the damage by allowing a single run in the fifth after a leadoff double from Jordan Luplow.
Rodriguez was charged with another run when he exited with a runner on and Tanner Houck allowed a two-run homer to Wander Franco, but he gave the Red Sox exactly what they needed after Sunday. The question was whether the bullpen would hold on to the lead he staked the Red Sox to, and Houck's showing wasn't a promising start.
Neither was Ryan Brasier's eighth. He gave up the lead by allowing a double to Mike Zunino, RBI double to Kiermaier and RBI single to Randy Arozarena. Things seemed dire for Boston, but Garrett Whitlock somehow escaped that jam without allowing another run and then threw a seven-pitch ninth.
It was just the performance the Red Sox needed to end Tampa Bay's momentum.
What's Next?
The Red Sox will face either the Houston Astros or the Chicago White Sox in the ALCS.
Rays' Kevin Kiermaier: Ground-Rule Double Ruling in ALDS Game 3 a 'Heartbreaker'
Oct 11, 2021
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 10: Kevin Kiermaier #39 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after his ground rule double in the 13th inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 10, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier blasted a ground-rule double in the top of the 13th during Sunday's 6-4 extra-innings loss to the Boston Red Sox, appearing for a moment to give the Rays a 5-4 lead.
But umpires ruled that Yandy Diaz, who clearly would have scored had the ball not bounced over the fence and gone out of play, had to go back to third base, taking a run off the board for the Rays.
"I'm just in awe right now," Kiermaier told reporters after the game. "That's the ruling, the umpires explained it to me. So I can't go against that. The rules are what they are. But man, that's just, that's a heartbreaker."
ESPN's Jeff Passan offered more context on the controversial ruling:
Here it is. Rule 5.05(a)(8). It explains the ruling that put Kevin Kiermaier on second and kept Yandy Diaz on third. pic.twitter.com/aBg0fImlIg
In other words, you can't just grab the ball and chuck it into the stands without there being a penalty. No, you just have to completely misfield it and only then do you get rewarded!
"I saw the replay, there was nothing intentional about it," Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters, explaining why he didn't challenge the call. "That's just the rules. It's the way it goes, it was very unfortunate for us. I thought it was pretty obvious that Yandy was going to come around to score, but it didn't go our way."
Of course, that opens up an entirely different conversation about whether that rule makes any logical sense at all:
I’m not sure whether the rules of baseball make no sense or just lack common sense.
But there’s no rational reason to deny the Rays a run when the runner was 3 feet from third base when the ball caromed off the fielder out of play.
The “rule is clear” people need to chill out. That’s the dumbest rule I’ve ever heard of and I also played baseball for 30 years and never saw it come up. Great for the Sox, a seemingly fatal wound for the Rays.
As @Ken_Rosenthal said, umpires handled it correctly. Renfroe certainly didn't field it cleanly. Ball was still live as it jumped into the bullpen. Ground-rule double every time. Just a terribly unfortunate break for the Rays and will need to be looked into in offseason.
With instant replay now available to umpires, it wouldn't be surprising to see the rule changed, given that the precise positioning of baserunners can be pinpointed at the time the ball bounces over the fence. The old rule made sense without the ability to consult video. But replays showed that Diaz was clearly past second base, nearly to third, and the two bases he should have been awarded with a more logical rule in place would have led to him scoring.
Granted, it may have been something of a moot point, given that Christian Vazquez hit a two-run dinger in the bottom of the inning to walk it off.
But who knows how the game might have changed if the Rays went into the bottom of the 13th with a one-run lead instead of the contest remaining tied?
Regardless, the Rays can't change the outcome and now face an elimination game in Boston on Monday night at 7:07 p.m. ET, down 2-1 in the series.
"We have to put on our big-boy pants," Kiermaier told reporters about the win-or-go-home game.
And maybe have baseball's most obscure rules go their way, too.
Christian Vazquez Walk-Off HR Gives Red Sox Win over Rays in Game 3, 2-1 ALDS Lead
Oct 11, 2021
Boston Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta reacts after striking out Tampa Bay Rays Jordan Luplow to end the top of the 11th inning during Game 3 of a baseball American League Division Series, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Christian Vazquez lifted the Boston Red Sox to a 2-1 lead in the American League Division Series at the end of a 13-inning marathon against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Vazquez hit a walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of the 13th to seal the dramatic 6-4 Game 3 win on Sunday in Fenway Park.
Nathan Eovaldi had a solid start for the Red Sox with just two runs allowed in five innings, but the game came down to a battle of the bullpens. A total of 16 pitchers were used between the two teams, as no one wanted to make the mistake that would end the game.
Boston eventually cashed in during extra innings to survive the highly competitive battle.
The squad now needs just one more win to clinch a spot in the AL Championship Series.
Notable Performances
Wander Franco, SS, TB: 2-for-6, HR, 2 R
Austin Meadows, LF, TB: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Drew Rasmussen, SP, TB: 2 IP, 3 ER, 6 H
Enrique Hernandez, CF, BOS: 3-for-6, HR, 2 RBI
Christian Vazquez, C, BOS: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI
Nathan Eovaldi, SP, BOS: 5 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 8 K
Nick Pivetta, RP, BOS: 4 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 7 K, Win
Nick Pivetta, Red Sox Pitching Steps Up Before Vazquez's Winner
The Red Sox offense exploded for 14 runs in Game 2, but it was the pitching that turned more heads in Game 3.
Eovaldi gave up two runs in the first three batters, though he was elite after that with eight strikeouts in five innings:
Eovaldi retired 14 of 17 after the home run in the first inning. Gave up just the one hit.
Was interesting before the Wild Card game to hear Cora say he wants people to realize how good a player — as opposed to just good clubhouse guy/leader — Kiké Hernandez is. He’s making it hard not to notice so far this postseason.
Vazquez then became the hero after coming in as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning.
The Red Sox had one of the best offenses in the majors in 2021 with the lineup depth especially difficult on opposing pitchers. This was on display once again with hits coming from all over the place.
The game still would have been over much earlier if not for the strong pitching performances when it was needed the most.
Wander Franco Shines for Rays in Loss
Though we have only seen Franco play 70 regular-season games, he is already emerging as one of the brightest young stars in the majors.
The shortstop came through with a huge home run to ignite the Rays after trailing in the eighth inning.
Wander Franco (20y, 223d) is the youngest player to hit a HR in the #postseason since Bryce Harper (19y, 362d) in NLDS Game 5 in 2012. pic.twitter.com/EoABLmLSb6
I have had Rays officials describe Wander Franco's competitiveness as being exceptional. There are a lot of people with the Rays who aren't surprised at all that he settled into the playoffs like he's a 10-year vet.
The effort came on a night where other Rays didn't have their best game.
Starter Drew Rasmussen struggled and couldn't make it out of the third inning:
Terrible night for Drew Rasmussen. Only two runs allowed but didn't have the slider tonight and the velo was dipping. Not a good outing for the two pitch pitcher.
It put a lot of pressure on the Rays bullpen, and the luck finally ran out after 10 innings of relief.
Tampa Bay had a chance to win Sunday and still has enough talent to complete a comeback. If Franco continues to play at a high level, you definitely shouldn't count this team out.
What's Next?
Boston will host Game 4 at Fenway Park on Monday at 7:07 p.m. ET. Neither team has announced a starter for the upcoming game.
Red Sox Manager Alex Cora Says Text from Bill Belichick Was 'Highlight of the Year'
Oct 10, 2021
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora watches batting practice before Game 2 of a baseball American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
The Boston Red Sox generated plenty of buzz in the New England area after the AL Wild Card win over the New York Yankees, but one moment stood out for manager Alex Cora.
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick texted Cora before Tuesday's game to wish him luck, adding a congratulatory text afterward.
"That's like the highlight of the year," Cora told reporters Sunday. "I got the text from this random area code. That's cool, to be honest with you, for somebody of his status to wish us luck."
Cora called the text "more personal" than when the two met after the Red Sox won the 2018 World Series.
“We’ve been friends for a while and really respect what he does and what he’s brought to the Sox," Belichick said during Monday's appearance on The Greg Hill Show, per Ryan Hannable of WEEI. "I’ve enjoyed our relationship, and it looks like he’s doing fine. He’s got a good team, and they’ve played well.
Though Belichick is almost always singularly focused on his own team, it appears he took a break to watch some playoff baseball last week.
MLB Playoffs 2021: Odds, Daily Fantasy Predictions for Sunday's ALDS
Oct 10, 2021
Boston Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts, right, celebrates his home run against the Tampa Bay Rays with J.D. Martinez (28) during the third inning of Game 2 of a baseball American League Division Series, Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Coming off Saturday's travel day, the two American League Division Series resume Sunday.
The Houston Astros can sweep the Chicago White Sox out of the playoffs and clinch a berth in the ALCS for the fifth consecutive year. They have outscored the AL Central champs 15-5 through the first two games of the series.
In the other series, the Boston Red Sox stormed back to life with a 14-6victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 to even things up before the first game at Fenway Park.
In anticipation of these games, here are some daily fantasy projections to keep in mind if you want to add more drama to the proceedings.
Sunday Odds
Tampa Bay Rays -104 (wager $104 to win $100) at Boston Red Sox -112
Pretty much any hitter in Houston's lineup would be worthy of starting in your DFS lineup. They led MLB in runs scored during the regular season and have carried that over to the first two games of the ALDS.
Since we have to single out one player to take, though, allow yourself to be steered in the direction of Carlos Correa. The two-time All-Star has three hits in six at-bats and two RBI in the series already.
That only adds to the legend of Correa's history as a high-level postseason performer.
Astros SS Carlos Correa has 50 career postseason RBI, which ranks 7th on MLB’s all-time list. That list that includes Hall of Fame names like David Ortiz (61), Albert Pujols (54) and Reggie Jackson (48)...Correa has 50 in just 64 games, with an .877 career postseason OPS. #khoupic.twitter.com/OaEYsNSyYi
Until the White Sox figure out a way to consistently get Correa out, he's as safe a bet as anyone to have an excellent single game.
In the other dugout, Luis Robert might be the surest thing to do something special in MLB right now.
After returning from a torn hip flexor Aug. 9, Robert hit .350/.389/.622 with 12 homers in 180 at-bats over 43 games to finish the regular season. He's carried that over to the playoffs with five hits in seven at-bats against the Astros.
Luis Robert has been more or less the best player in baseball since coming back from the hip injury.
Houston is sending Luis Garcia to the mound against the White Sox in Game 3. Robert had an .860 OPS and seven homers against right-handed pitching during the regular season.
The Red Sox-Rays series features many offensive stars. While that would seem to indicate picking two hitters as the way to go, pivot in a different direction for Boston.
Nathan Eovaldi will make his first appearance in the series after pitching 5.1 innings in the AL Wild Card Game against the New York Yankees. The All-Star right-hander had the best season his career in 2021, posting a 3.75 ERA with 195 strikeouts in 182.1 innings over 32 starts.
Since these teams play in the same division, Eovaldi has had a lot of exposure to the Rays. He had a 2.39 ERA with 31 strikeouts and 15 hits allowed in 26.1 innings across four starts against Tampa Bay.
Wander Franco, the possible AL Rookie of the Year, has been a hitting machine since the start of August. He had a .323/.383/.506 slash line over his final 41 games in the regular season.
In two playoff games, Franco is 4-for-8 with two doubles. One potential drawback for the 20-year-old is his overall performance against right-handed pitching. He had just a .696 OPS against them in 183 at-bats during the regular season.
Rather than be concerned about that, though, just think of it as a small sample put up by a rookie who is the youngest player in MLB this year.
Franco has been the Rays best hitter down the stretch and has carried that over into his first postseason.
Red Sox Offense Erupts with 5 HRs in Game 2 to Even ALDS with Rays
Oct 9, 2021
Boston Red Sox's J.D. Martinez (28) is greeted at home plate by Rafael Devers, center, after Martinez hit a three-run home run during the fifth inning, as Tampa Bay Rays catcher Mike Zunino, right, looks down during Game 2 of a baseball American League Division Series, Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
You want homers? The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox just gave you homers.
The Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Friday evening 14-6, evening the ALDS matchup at a game apiece.
It was a wild contest that featured seven homers in total and a postseason-record five dingers for the Red Sox. Five different Boston batters had at least three hits amid a 20-hit outburst.
The Red Sox have 5 players with 3+ hits, tying the record for a single postseason game
It looked like the Rays, who jumped out to an early lead in Game 1, might be off to the races yet again after Jordan Luplow's grand slam put them up 5-2 in the bottom of the first.
This was the sort of game that makes pitchers recoil in horror. Rays fans too. But for neutral observers and Red Sox supporters, Friday's parade of home runs sure was fun.
Key Stats
J.D. Martinez, BOS: 4-for-5, one homer, three RBI
Tanner Houck, BOS: Five innings, two hits, one run, five strikeouts
Enrique Hernandez, BOS: 5-for-6 with three runs, four RBI, one homer, three doubles
Jordan Luplow, TB: 1-for-1 with a grand slam
Shane Baz, TB: 2.1 innings, six hits, three runs, one walk, two strikeouts
Randy Arozarena, TB: 1-for-4, one run
Amid the Offensive Onslaught, Tanner Houck Came Up Huge
Chris Sale didn't have his best stuff Friday and was chased out of the game after a four-hit, five-run first inning.
So the Red Sox turned to Houck to steady the ship, and he did just that, providing the Red Sox with five fantastic innings that calmed some stormy waters.
Before Houck and the bullpen took over, the Rays had 10 runs through 10 innings in this series. Boston's bullpen, led by Houck, just changed the ALDS. Going to Boston in an 0-2 hole would have been less than ideal.
The Moment Was Too Big for Shane Baz. It Won't Always Be.
You could hardly blame Baz for struggling. He's only made three career starts, after all, with his first Sept. 20 of this year. But so nasty is Baz's stuff that the Rays still trusted him with a postseason start.
The #Rays (Shane McClanahan and Shane Baz) are the second @MLB team ever to have rookies start Games 1 and 2 of a postseason series (2012 Athletics: Jarrod Parker and Tommy Milone). pic.twitter.com/D62FfqkzCE
Baz sure appeared to have some jitters, letting five of the first six batters he faced to reach base. A double play to end the top of the first helped keep the damage to just two runs, but Xander Bogaerts' solo shot in the top of the third earned him the hook.
Just turning on this Rays vs. Red Sox game. Would have never guessed a high scoring game between these two starters. Sale is Sale. Baz is electric. Just shows you that sometimes in baseball…you just never know!
There's little question that the 22-year-old Baz has a bright future. He's hardly the first player in MLB history to have a rough time in his postseason debut. And in his defense, none of the pitchers who followed him had much luck with Boston's lineup either. The short-leash approach to Baz didn't work in Tampa's favor.
From a pitching perspective, not much did.
What's Next?
The series turns to Boston for Sunday's Game 3 at 4:07 p.m. ET on the MLB Network. Nathan Eovaldi is set to take the mound for the Red Sox, while the Rays have yet to name their starter.
Overmatched Red Sox Get Reality Check from Buzz-Saw Rays in ALDS Game 1
Oct 8, 2021
Boston Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta, right, stands on the mound as Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena rounds the bases after hitting a home run in Game 1 of a baseball American League Division Series, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
The Boston Red Sox lived a charmed life in the American League Wild Card Game on Tuesday, beating the New York Yankees in a 6-2 contest in which the good bounces were plentiful and scares were scarce.
The Tampa Bay Rays took all the charm for themselves in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.
The final from Tropicana Field on Thursday was 5-0 in favor of the Rays, but this is a case of a score that undersells how one-sided the game was. According to FanGraphs, the only time the win expectancy chart was in the Red Sox's favor was when Kyle Schwarber's infield single in the first inning gave them a 50.3 percent chance.
After that, the Rays took over by doing what they did during their first 100-win regular season. They didn't give the Red Sox a single inch while helping themselves to as many as they wanted, including the 1,080 that Randy Arozarena traversed on his electrifying steal of home plate in the seventh inning:
Oh, and Arozarena also homered. Because in case anyone missed what he did last year, that's yet another service he offers in October.
The Rays' reward? A 1-0 series lead that somehow feels more like a 100-0 advantage.
Rays Players of the Game
LHP Shane McClanahan: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. The hard-throwing left-hander in his first career postseason start became the youngest pitcher with at least five scoreless, walk-less innings in a debut.
LF Randy Arozarena: 1-for-2, HR, 3 R, 2 BB, SB. His home run heroics in the playoffs already had him rubbing elbows with all-time greats, so channeling Jackie Robinson was just as much him showing off as it was him padding his team's lead.
SS Wander Franco and DH Nelson Cruz: 3-for-8, HR, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R: Franco's RBI came on a first-inning double, and Cruz's RBI came on a catwalk-aided solo homer in the third.
Red Sox Players of the Game
RHP Nick Pivetta: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K. The 2-0 hole the Red Sox fell into with lefty starter Eduardo Rodriguez only got steeper on Pivetta's watch, but the innings he ate could loom large in Game 2.
DH Kyle Schwarber: 2-for-4. Between his two singles and three hard-hit balls, he was the closest thing the Red Sox had to a hitting star.
An Unstoppable Force Meets a Movable Object
Though the Red Sox lost the season series to the Rays 11-8, they were outscored by only two runs. If one was so inclined, one could look at that and conclude Boston gave the American League's winningest team a hard time.
In actuality, not really. The Red Sox didn't win another series against the Rays after sweeping a three-game set at Fenway Park in the first week of April, and the run differential was skewed by Boston's 20-8 drubbing Aug. 11.
It was therefore hard to look at this particular ALDS and see avenues through which the Red Sox could grab easy wins. Surely, their wins would have to come by way of flawless execution and maybe a few lucky bounces.
They got neither in Game 1.
Naturally, the Red Sox mostly have themselves to blame for their flawed execution. A bobble by center fielder Enrique Hernandez opened the door for Arozarena to score on Franco's first-inning double. And while Arozarena certainly showed off his speed when he stole home, even Boston manager Alex Cora had to hand it to him for catching lefty fireman Josh Taylor napping:
#RedSox Cora on #Rays Arozarena steal of home: “A great baseball play.”
On the other side of the ball, the Red Sox outhit the Rays 9-6. But all nine of those hits were mere singles, and their one and only knock in seven at-bats with a runner in scoring position came courtesy of the lone gift the Rays granted them in letting a pop-up by Xander Bogaerts drop to load the bases with one out in the eighth. A strikeout and a pop-out quickly ended that rally.
Equally frustrating, however, was how many of Boston's hardest-hit balls went for naught. The team had nine batted balls of at least 95 mph go for naught, which is territory that few other teams have been unlucky enough to find in October during the seven-year Statcast era.
Mind you, it wasn't all bad luck that turned those rockets into outs. It's a wonder the Red Sox hit anything through the Rays defense, as Tampa Bay's shifts seemed guided not so much by projections as crystal-ball predictions.
Of course, that's the Rays for ya. Defense was one of their calling cards during the regular season, wherein they placed third in the AL in defensive runs saved and trailed only the Houston Astros in allowing a .281 average on balls in play.
Game 1 was likewise a showcase for Tampa Bay's arms. McClanahan and the three relievers who followed him didn't throw a single fastball slower than 91 mph, thereby keeping the Rays on the velocity-paved path that guided them to a stellar 47-25 sprint to the finish in the second half.
And the Rays had an elite offense in place even before they took off after the break, as they outscored everyone from Franco's debut June 22 through the end of the season. Perhaps they were never feared like the Toronto Blue Jays, but they're probably your favorite pitcher's least favorite offense to face.
Or definitely, if your favorite pitcher is Marcus Stroman:
The Rays have always been one of my least favorite teams to face. Scrappy and relentless at the plate. They grind out at-bats all game until pitchers give in to their plan of attack. Every hitter is capable of going deep but can also beat the shift. Tough lineup to navigate! @MLB
So in case their romp through the regular season didn't do the trick, Game 1 of the ALDS was perhaps the best argument the Rays have made that the team they have in 2021 is even better than the one they had in 2020.
Considering that the latter won two-thirds of its regular-season games and went to the World Series, that's saying something.
What's Next for Red Sox-Rays?
Tampa Bay will look to stretch its advantage to 2-0 on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:02 p.m. ET on FS1.
The pitching matchup will be seven-time All-Star lefty Chris Sale for the Red Sox and rookie right-hander Shane Baz for the Rays. That's a mismatch on paper but maybe not so much in practice.
Sale's initially triumphant return from Tommy John surgery hit a snag in the final weeks of the regular season, when he was hit at a .292 clip over his last five starts. Though inexperienced, Baz is an elite prospect with stuff that's perfectly worthy of the Rays.
The Red Sox could get a big boost if slugger J.D. Martinez's sprained left ankle allows him to play. Cora reportedly said there's a strong possibility of that happening, which will do for a much-needed silver lining for Boston while it licks its wounds after Game 1.
