One by one, the Boston Red Sox have arrived at spring training with the same stubborn message.
From Eduardo Rodriguez – “Don’t sleep on us” – to Chris Sale’s – “We plan to make some noise” – there is optimism about the team complex despite the 24-36 record in the pandemic-shortened season that lasted them. left in the AL East.
“2020 didn’t go the way anyone wanted,” said chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, who traded AL MVP Mookie Betts in his freshman year in 2018, hired and fired a manager, and handled the COVID-19 outbreak.
“I don’t want last year’s stain causing people to look beyond the talent we have,” Bloom said in a video interview with reporters on Sunday. “This is a time of hope, for renewal. … I know we’ve just had a long, cold winter. But it’s important for us to take the time to catch our breath, be happy that we be allowed to do this and view all possibilities.
Three days of pitcher and catcher training cannot erase everything that went wrong in 2020. But Bloom said that – so far – everything has gone well this year, especially compared to last spring.
“The duller the better,” he said.
After only playing 60 games last year, preparation for a full season has again introduced uncertainty into spring practice. Among the questions, how best to prepare pitchers for a full charge a year after making no more than a dozen starts and throwing less than 65 innings.
“Anyone who thinks they can tell you what last year means … I’m not buying it. We are all using the best information we have, and using whatever information we have,” Bloom said. “This involves some art, it’s not just science.”
Rodriguez, who missed all of 2020 due to a heart problem stemming from his coronavirus infection, has already thrown a bullpen session and is a “full go” to move on.
“We have to make sure we take care of him,” said Bloom. “It’s from something that no one has actually experienced, so we have to be aware of that.”
Sale’s recovery after Tommy John’s surgery is also on track, presumably for a mid-season return.
“One of the biggest sights of spring practice so far was watching Chris Sale throw a baseball. We’ve been waiting a long time for that,” said Bloom, adding that the team will be careful. “We have to do it right with him.”
The Red Sox are also optimistic that a more normal season will allow third baseman Rafael Devers to emerge from the defensive battle that led him to the majors with 14 errors in 57 games. And manager Alex Cora is betting – $ 5, in fact – that three-time All-Star JD Martinez will recover from the worst season of his career, hitting just .213.
“JD got mad at me for betting just $ 1 a few months ago that he will have a better season,” Cora told reporters. “I’m raising the bet to $ 5 that he will have a better season.”
The team has also not ruled out that centerfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. re-contracts, which remains a free agent. Bradley batted .239 in eight seasons – though it was to .283 in 2020 – but put in a spectacular defense in the midfield.
“We love Jackie and we kept in touch with him all winter,” said Bloom. “We will continue to do that until it is resolved.”
After finishing 16 games behind Tampa Bay in the 60-game season – and nine behind the wild-card Yankees – the Red Sox would need everything to go well to score a point in the playoffs. Bloom said a World Series title remains the goal, but admitted that the season could be a success if he sees progress in building a long-term contender.
“I would really like to get to the end of this year and be able to see and see that next core that will become the center of a lasting champion in the championship, and see that core take shape,” he said .
The Associated Press contributed to this report.