File it further under: Issues that May Resolve Themselves.
But for now, it s a question without an obvious answer: If the Red Sox rotation stays healthy and effective, who gets bumped to the bullpen when ace left-hander Chris Sale returns from Tommy John surgery in the second half?
Before the season, throw a dart would ve been an acceptable response, because expectations were low. We knew the rotation would improve upon the unwatchable mess of 2020, but clearing that bar didn t exactly require a Fosbury flop.
More than two months into this season, however, there s no obvious candidate to kick to the bullpen. Based purely on results, it would be Eduardo Rodriguez. Based on stuff, it would be Martin Perez. Based on service time, it would be Nick Pivetta. Based on repertoire, it would be Garrett Richards. It s hard to envision any scenario in which it s a healthy Nathan Eovaldi.
The first two months of the 2021 MLB season have come and gone in a snap, and trade season will be upon us before we know it. Technically, it has already arrived.
Twelve months later, Dombrowski was out of Boston in a somewhat unceremonial fashion for a guy who has a deep baseball pedigree and a few rings on his fingers in favor of Chaim Bloom, the former Rays assistant GM who proceeded to tear things down – including trading perennial MVP candidate Mookie Betts and now has Boston atop the AL East race with Memorial Day looming.
Meanwhile, Dombrowski’s Phillies team could be approaching a seasonal tipping point. They are near the top of the National League East despite the fact that almost every single indicator seems to be flashing warning signs as the season’s first major milestone holiday approaches.
Feel free to duck just to be safe because they ve answered by unleashing an assault on the parts of New England that lead directly to Boston.
There are hot starts and then there s what Duran is doing at Triple-A Worcester and Casas at Double-A Portland. Duran has homered four times in his last five games, including a 440-foot bomb in Thursday s win over Syracuse. Since an 0-for-11 start, Duran is batting .458 with four home runs, raising his season average to .314 with a 1.086 OPS.
Duran hits a 95 mph fastball 440 pic.twitter.com/F7NC4NHceC Red Sox Stats (@redsoxstats) May 14, 2021