4 days ago
Brennan Bernardino is always on call for the Red Sox, and other thoughts
How does a pitcher do that?
'For me, it's not wasting pitches,' Bernardino said. 'I try to save my bullets, even when I'm just playing catch because those throws add up over time.'
Bernardino also has condensed his warm-up routine to six or seven pitches at times.
'I prefer to throw more than that, but I can be ready after maybe six,' he said. 'A few heaters and a breaking ball and I'm ready to go.'
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Bernardino averages a modest 91 miles per hour with his two-seam fastball, and his 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings are the lowest of his career. But opposing hitters are 8 for 58 (.138) against his curveball, changeup, and cutter.
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'Mix pitches, keep the hitter off-balance, and play the game of baseball,' Bernardino said. 'I don't try to complicate it too much.'
Bernardino has learned a few tips from watching
'One of the hardest workers I have ever seen,' he said. 'To be 37 and throwing as hard as he does and as well as he does, it's amazing. He's strong and flexible. He's very routine-oriented.'
A few other observations on the Red Sox:
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⋅ Current Red Sox ownership has yet to fire a manager during the season. Bobby Valentine all but burned the place down in 2012 and the Sox waited until the day after the season
They
⋅ Maybe the Sox should start waiting more than a few games before giving prospects long-term contracts.
Ceddanne Rafaela is an excellent defensive outfielder, but he has a .650 OPS since he agreed to
His idea of a good pitch to swing at is one that doesn't bounce.
Craig Breslow called Rafaela a 'cornerstone' at the time. He might be a bench player once Roman Anthony takes over an outfield spot.
Kristian Campbell hadn't even played his first series in the majors before the Sox gave him
Campbell had a terrific April, then was
Brayan Bello didn't get
Until proved otherwise, he's no better than a No. 4 starter on a contending team.
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⋅ Garrett Crochet has allowed two home runs on the first pitch he has thrown in a game this season. One was
Crochet starts every game with a fastball and has been ambushed twice. The Sox lost both of those games by one run.
'First pitch of the game, I'm going to throw a fastball. Everybody knows that. I'm never not going to do that,' Crochet said. 'The guy next game could clip me on another first-pitch heater, and I'd be OK with that.'
Everybody knows that and you'll keep doing it? And you're OK if you give up more leadoff home runs?
Ronald Acuña Jr., Oneil Cruz, Shohei Ohtani, and Fernando Tatis Jr. are among the leadoff hitters Crochet could face this season. The matchup with Acuña could come on Sunday.
Just a thought: Grooving hitters like that a fastball might not be the best plan.
⋅ The Red Sox were a .500 team with Alex Bregman playing at an All-Star level. It could get ugly without him for what is expected to be
It won't help this season, but perhaps there is a long-term upside.
Bregman can opt out of his contract for next season and become a free agent, or he could stay with the Red Sox for $40 million.
If Bregman only plays 100 or so games, staying might be a better play than going back into free agency coming off a major injury and entering his age-32 season.
⋅ Per Baseball Reference, Marcelo Mayer was the
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It's amazing that every big leaguer in history wouldn't come close to filling Fenway Park.
⋅ The Sox went into the weekend 381-386 in the regular season since they traded Mookie Betts and have played 11 postseason games. The Dodgers are 493-272 and have played 53.
Sometimes, you do get what you deserve.
Peter Abraham can be reached at
