MINNEAPOLIS -- Aside from consistent play, the one thing that has been lacking early in the season for the Red Sox is familiar opponents. The Twins and the Astros are the only American League squads Boston faced in the first six series. In the season’s first homestand, Boston faced the Padres and Brewers. With all due respect to both of those teams, there isn’t enough history to elicit the usual reaction from the Fenway Park crowd. Fortunately, this won’t be an issue for what should be an electric Fenway crowd when the Tigers come in Friday night for the opener of a seven-game homestand. Not only does the wraparound series conclude on the same day as the Boston Marathon on Monday, which always boosts civic pride, but it is a prelude to the Yankees coming in for a three-game set that starts Tuesday. That’s right. The Yankees are coming. That always gets the masses fired up in Boston. |
But before getting to that, there will be plenty of juice with the Tigers in town. Detroit is expected to have their two lefty studs on the mound on Saturday and Sunday in Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez. Meanwhile, Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet, coming off the worst start of his career, should be pumped up for his chance at redemption when he pitches on Sunday. Also, the series features two of the most highly-touted young players in the game in Boston’s Roman Anthony and Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle. Though Anthony didn’t get his call to the Majors until June last season, he made such an impression that he agreed on an eight-year, $130 million extension by August. So impressive was McGonigle this spring that the Tigers took him on the Opening Day roster. On Wednesday, McGonigle, a shortstop, signed an eight-year, $150 million extension. Talented young players like Anthony and McGonigle are creating excitement throughout the game, and Fenway should feel like a happening place all weekend. Besides, the Red Sox (7-11) and Tigers (9-9) both haven’t gotten off to the starts they envisioned, which is likely to create more intensity from both squads. |
“It's going to be important. I think these two series are going to be important for all of us,” said Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras. “I think we have to play with a lot of energy in front of our crowd and we have to feel the support of the Boston Red Sox fans and we have to come out of the gate playing well.” If they can have a strong showing against the Tigers, Fenway could be even more revved up than usual for the first visit of the season from the Yankees, who are 10-8 and still trying to find their footing as well. The last time the Sox and Yankees met up, it was in last October’s Wild Card Series in the Bronx, which went the distance with the Yankees taking Games 2 and 3 following Crochet’s gem in Game 1. Veteran shortstop Trevor Story looks at the next seven games as a potential springboard for his Red Sox. "We're [almost three] weeks into the season, and we feel like we haven't played anywhere close to our best baseball,” said Story. “We’re 7-11 and it could be way worse. I feel like once we get rolling and once we get to doing the things that we know we can do on a consistent basis, we'll be excited about that.” |
MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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CORA’S APPRECIATION FOR JRD |
As a player who was drafted by the Dodgers in 1996 and played for Los Angeles from 1998-04, Red Sox manager Alex Cora has a big appreciation for Jackie Robinson Day, which was again commemorated on Wednesday with all uniformed players and coaches in MLB wearing No. 42. “It means a lot, and growing up in that organization, it’s amazing,” said Cora. “And with Rachel and Sharon, we were a big part of it with the Dodgers and obviously, it opened doors for all of us. The world and the game is in a better place because of Jackie Robinson. As a whole, we’ve got to keep working together the way he wanted everyone to. And today is a good day for that -- everybody's wearing 42. It's a great sign that we are united in a lot of causes, and we’ve just got to keep trying to get better.” |
The 1986 season was one of the most memorable in Red Sox history. With it being the 40th anniversary, we will recall some top '86 moments in the coming months. This week, we look back at a big effort from The Rocket and a big, late-game blow from the DH. Things didn’t start off that great for the '86 Sox. After losing their first two home games to the defending World Series champion Royals, Boston was off to a 3-5 start. Fortunately, Roger Clemens was on tap for the series finale on April 17. In the early stages of his breakout season, Clemens went the distance, holding the Royals to one earned run while striking out seven. But with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, the game was tied at 2. Enter Don Baylor, the highly-respected DH who had been acquired in a late Spring Training trade for Mike Easler. Baylor mashed a grand slam over the Green Monster off Steve Farr, lifting Clemens and the Sox to a 6-2 victory. |
One of the the best days on the sports/music calendar in Boston continues to be the Hot Stove Cool Music event, which took place at the Paradise Rock Club on Saturday, and raised more than $425,000 for the Foundation to be Named Later. The Foundation to be Named Later was formed by former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein and his twin brother, Paul. Though Theo hasn’t worked full-time in Boston since 2011, the event continues to be a staple in Boston and Chicago. Hot Stove Cool Music was a creation of legendary baseball journalist Peter Gammons. The Peter Gammons Scholarship program uses funds raised from HCSM to provide educational opportunities and resources for students in need. Fountains of Wayne was the headliner of this year’s event, along with the Hot Stove All-Stars. David Ortiz’s daughter Alexandra also performed. |
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