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Boston Globe
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
More free passes could be headed Rafael Devers's way
'I think they made the right decisions,' Megill told reporters of the intentional walk to Devers. 'He's got 48 RBIs and 12 homers, so he's doing something right. I put the trust in what they're seeing back there in the dugout and just go and attack the next guy. It seemed to work out.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Megill instead went after who came into the game in the eighth inning as a pinch-runner for Carlos Narváez . Wong got ahead in the count, 2-0, but Megill challenged him in the zone with back-to-back 99 m.p.h. fastballs, then got a game-ending flyout to right on a 100 m.p.h. heater. Devers now has 43 walks for the year — a pace that would yield 124 over 162 games. He has the most walks for a Red Sox hitter through 56 games since Kevin Youkilis (also 43) in 2010. Advertisement Without Bregman, how difficult is it for manager Alex Cora to protect Devers in the lineup? 'Very. Very,' he said. 'But I'm going to keep saying it. We have to find a way.' Related : Narváez became the third player in four Bregman-less contests to hit behind Devers, with the team previously employing Wilyer Abreu and Rob Refsnyder . On Monday, Cora put Narváez in the third spot in the order with Kristian Campbell back at cleanup in order to try to create space between Devers and Abreu (batting fifth on Monday) in the lineup. Undecided on Tuesday starter With the Red Sox rotation jumbled by Saturday's doubleheader, the team remained undecided as of Monday afternoon about its starter for Tuesday night's game. Cora said the Sox could employ a bullpen game, but that the team might also consider having righthander Fitts, who went on the injured list on April 13 with a right pec strain, logged three scoreless innings for Double A Portland last week, sitting at 94-95 m.p.h. in the first two innings before his velocity dipped in the third. 'We feel [Fitts] is healthy, which is great,' said Cora. 'He might be a consideration [for Tuesday].' … While the Sox had yet to make a decision on Fitts, righthander Zack Kelly was sent down following the game as the Red Sox continue to scramble for bullpen innings … Advertisement PawSox reunion The series in Milwaukee offered a reminder of the remarkable broadcasting pipeline created by the PawSox and more recently WooSox. Four PawSox alums called the game, with Mike Monaco handling the radio call for the Red Sox and Jeff Levering (TV) and Josh Maurer (radio) both on the Brewers' broadcast. Maurer worked with all three as play-by-play partners during his time broadcasting PawSox and WooSox games from 2014-21. 'I thought about how incredibly special that is, that you could have the three people I worked with in Pawtucket for a lot of years all doing a Major League Baseball game together on Memorial Day,' said Maurer. 'It's kind of a pinch-yourself moment.' … Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw out the first pitch, drawing the loudest cheer of the day from the sellout crowd of 40,181. Alex Speier can be reached at
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Search ongoing for purported time capsule at McCoy Stadium
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) — As demolition of McCoy Stadium continues, crews are keeping an eye out for a time capsule that may have been buried underneath the field decades ago. It's believed the capsule contains memorabilia from the longest professional baseball game in history, which was played back in 1981. Keith MacWhorter, a pitcher for the Pawtucket Red Sox at the time, told 12 News he knows where the capsule was buried. 'They ultimately decided to put it right in front of our home plate,' MacWhorter said, pointing toward that location as crews worked to knock down the beloved ballpark. 'It would be right in between the Cat and that white truck.' RELATED: Pawtucket searching for possible time capsule underneath McCoy Stadium MacWhorter went home that night during the ninth inning since he was set to pitch the next day, not realizing his team would go on to make history. 'I think I read the newspaper the next morning and it said 22 innings because they went to press at 1 o'clock,' he recalled. 'It turned out it was 32 they played that night.' The game was still tied at two runs apiece when it was put on pause so the PawSox could play their next scheduled game hours later. MacWhorter said he found a ball in his locker with a note saying, 'You're on your own,' since no other pitchers would be available to relieve him. 70 years of WPRI 12: McCoy Stadium and the PawSox It's unclear exactly what's in the time capsule, but MacWhorter thinks there may be 'some burnt bats' since the players were burning them to keep warm. A spokesperson for Pawtucket previously told 12 News the city knows about 'the longstanding belief that a time capsule was buried at McCoy Stadium' and they are hopeful it'll be recovered. If and when the time capsule is found, those updates will be provided to the public. NEXT: New RI tax credit program aims to incentivize affordable housing development Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
McCoy Stadium demolition continues as city prepares to break ground for new school
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) — The former home of the Pawtucket Red Sox is gradually being reduced to rubble. Over the past few days, construction crews have been tearing down McCoy Stadium to make way for a new high school. Many Rhode Islanders made lasting memories at the former minor league ballpark, which has sat vacant for the past few years after the PawSox packed up and moved to Worcester. 'Just heartbreaking': Demolition of McCoy Stadium underway The focus of the demolition work so far has been on the berm and other structures along the outfield wall. A groundbreaking ceremony for the new school is scheduled for Thursday, April 10. The city said the grandstands are scheduled to start coming down the following week. Stay with 12 News and for updates on the McCoy Stadium demolition. WATCH: History of McCoy Stadium and the PawSox Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
As one stadium comes down, another prepares to open in Pawtucket, R.I.
Related : But at the same time, crews are putting the final touches on the Advertisement A Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Pawtucket 'We are trying to reinvent ourselves and develop a new identity,' Mercer said. 'This high school will be a big shot in the arm relative to people wanting to live here and not calling it 'The Bucket.' The new soccer stadium, and the development that is scheduled to come with that — if everything aligns, we are poised to reinvent ourselves in a positive way.' Advertisement Pawtucket City Council President Terrence E. Mercer stands outside McCoy Stadium, which is being demolished after 83 years. Edward Fitzpatrick But Mercer, who grew up 300 yards from McCoy's left field foul pole, is still feeling the pain of this cycle of loss and rebirth. 'I'd like to say bittersweet,' he said, 'but it's just bitter right now.' He said McCoy's demolition day has been all but inevitable since 2018 when new PawSox owners announced plans to move the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox Mercer said he plays in a high-low jack card league on Thursday nights, and most of the 25 guys grew up within a 10-block radius of McCoy. 'All the talk at the card game was, 'Did you see what's going on in McCoy? It's sad. It's too bad. Remember when? Remember when? Remember when?'' he said. Mercer remembered when he and other neighborhood kids used to collect the baseballs that players hit out of the park during batting practice. At that time, attendance at PawSox games was sparse. But 'So he put four or five 10-year-olds in the seats, they'd each buy one hot dog, and he's ahead of the game,' Mercer said. 'He was building a base. It was like Business 101.' Advertisement He has no doubt the PawSox would still be at McCoy if Mondor, who died in 2010, was still alive. 'Maybe he would've cajoled the state into another round of facelifts for the stadium,' Mercer said. 'But if he were to step foot here right now, he would have the same tears in his eyes that I have.' A torn Marty Barrett banner remains outside what is left of McCoy Stadium. Barrett played in the longest professional baseball game in history, a 33-inning contest between the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Rochester Red Wings on April 18-19 and June 23, 1981. He scored the winning run in a 3-2 victory. Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff Losing McCoy Stadium wasn't a huge economic loss for Pawtucket, he said, noting the city-owned stadium didn't generate a lot of tax revenue. 'It was more of a cultural hit — a hit to our psyche and our pride,' he said. But now, Mercer said, the city is looking for other points of pride. Case in point: He said he and his wife bought season tickets for 'I'm not a huge soccer fan yet,' he said. 'But she said to me, 'Remember how much we liked going to McCoy?' And I said, 'Let's give it a shot, let's try to support the new team.'' Rhode Island FC fans cheer on the team last year at Beirne Stadium on the campus of Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. This year, the team will play at the new Stadium at Tidewater Landing in Pawtucket. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe He said he's looking forward to the residential and commercial development, and the pedestrian bridge, that's supposed to accompany the new soccer stadium. Also, Mercer said he's looking forward to the new Pawtucket High School, which will consolidate about 2,100 students from Tolman and Shea high schools onto one campus. The city will need to invest a lot of money, even with the state covering up to 92 percent of the $314 million price tag, he said. But, Mercer said, 'This is going to be a sea change project. Those two schools are structurally in disrepair. The students in Pawtucket are going to be coming to a brand new building.' Advertisement In a statement, Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien said the new school, which is to be completed by December 2028, 'will provide transformative opportunities for generations to come.' Workers at McCoy Stadium pound away at equipment used for its demolition, which will last until July. Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff Grebien acknowledge that McCoy 'holds a special place in the hearts of so many. But he said, 'While we honor and celebrate its rich history, we also move forward and focus on what's next for our city.' One remaining question is whether the demolition crew will find the sealed box that Pawtucket Mayor Thomas P. McCoy placed in the stadium's cornerstone in November 1940. The Mercer said that if the letter does turn up, it should be included in a similar time capsule for the new high school, along with some PawSox memorabilia. According to Dan Barry's book ' While the stadium won't last for all eternity, Mercer said McCoy would be proud that it outlasted the critics who derided it. 'I think he'd feel he had the last laugh after people called it 'McCoy's Folly,'' he said. 'It endured for decades and decades.' But, Mercer said, '(McCoy) probably also would've understood that, just like Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds, everything has a shelf life, as much as it pains you to admit it sometimes. It's where we are.' Advertisement Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Just heartbreaking': Demolition of McCoy Stadium underway
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) — As heavy machinery dug into McCoy Stadium on Wednesday, onlookers stood by and watched. 'It's just heartbreaking,' Gerry DeGasparre said. The lifelong Pawtucket resident remembers the first time he went to the stadium. 'My mother took me because she was on the fireworks committee,' DeGasparre recalled with a smile. 'I'll never forget it. I was just a little kid.' McCoy's construction was completed in 1942, and the stadium brought pride to Pawtucket for generations. 'I took my daughter there when she was younger because she's a softball player,' DeGasparre said. 'It's memories I shared with my mom and my family. It's just devastating.' WATCH: Memories of McCoy The stadium put Pawtucket on the map, as many notable Red Sox players got their start at McCoy or spent time rehabbing there. 'Everybody knows McCoy Stadium. Everybody knows the PawSox,' DeGasparre added. 'It's a sad moment for Pawtucket.' Marc Berman from Warwick also took a trip to Pawtucket on Wednesday to see the stadium again before it's too late. 'Minor league ballparks like this don't exist anymore. They're all major league scale,' he said. 'Something this small and this fan-friendly and this personal just doesn't exist anymore. It's a shame.' McCoy Stadium has been a shell since 2019, when the Pawtucket Red Sox rebranded and moved to Worcester. Following McCoy's demolition, the city plans to build a new high school where the stadium once stood. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for April 10. A row of seats from McCoy was recently installed at the ballfield at East Providence High School. Berman hopes the new school in Pawtucket will also pay tribute to the stadium. 'I would like to see something that commemorates the park, either in the athletic complex for the high school or something the commemorates the longest game in baseball that happened here,' he said. 'Just something to remember it, that's all.' DeGasparre believes he's not alone in his sadness over the demolition. 'Everybody in Pawtucket feels the same way,' he said. 'If you're from Pawtucket and you've been a resident, McCoy Stadium means something to you.' Thursday on 12 News This Morning at 6 a.m. — Patrick Little looks back at the history of McCoy Stadium as part of WPRI 12's 70th anniversary celebration. Watch or with the new . Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
