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Archives for March 21, 2021

Red Sox: Spring Training Update (Mar 21)

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FORT MYERS, FLORIDA – The Boston Red Sox had their 3-game win streak snapped on Saturday with an 8-2 loss at Atlanta. The Red Sox are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and 10-5-1 since beginning Spring Training 0-2. Boston has 10 games remaining in spring training before opening the regular season at home on Thursday, 4/1, against the Orioles.

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The Red Sox lead the majors in OPS (.854) and lead the Florida Grapefruit League in runs (107), AVG (.272), HR (29), doubles (35), OBP (.354), and SLG (.501).

The Red Sox have 35 active players remaining in Major League Spring Training camp, including 29 members of the 40-man roster and six non-roster invitees. In addition, LHP Chris Sale (60-day IL) and OF Franchy Cordero (COVID-19 Related IL) are on the injured list. Opening Day rosters must consist of 26 active players and must be submitted to MLB by noon (EDT) on Thursday, April 1.

Eleven members of the Red Sox’ 40-man roster/IL were not in the organization during the 2020 season and an additional five players on the 40-man were acquired in August 2020 including, Christian Arroyo, Nick Pivetta, Hudson Potts, Jeisson Rosario, and Connor Seabold.

Sox Manager Alex Cora announced that Eduardo Rodriguez will make his 1st career Opening Day start this season (4/1 vs. BAL). After missing the entire 2020 season with myocarditis, Rodriguez is 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA, .195 opponent AVG, and 0.69 WHIP in three starts this spring.

TL’s Sunday Notebook – March 21

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BOSTON – The Road to the Final Four isn’t going through Lexington, Kentucky. Nor is it going through Durham, North Carolina. The Road isn’t North Broad Street in Philadelphia where Temple University holds the fifth best college basketball winning percentage of all-time and it’s not taking a turn on the corners of Grand Central Parkway, Union Turnpike and Utopia Boulevard in Jamaica Estates, Queens where St. John’s boasts the ninth winningest basketball program in the history of the sport.

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Those traveling to Indianapolis for the Final Four won’t see the Golden Dome of Notre Dame in South Bend, and the Indiana Hoosiers won’t be playing although they’re using their gym. No Arizona, nor U of Vermont, and no Dayton Flyers – all NCAA regulars.

Gonzaga, a college basketball program established in 1908 and the 32nd winningest team in history holds the overall No. 1 seeding in place of longtime college blue bloods like the Kentucky Wildcats or Duke University Blue Demons.

The times have changed as Antoine Walker wasn’t coming through the door for Kentucky fans, and Christian Laettner wasn’t coming through the doors of Cameron for the Crazies.

The question (and possible answer) for this column is WHY?

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