Monday, October 26

BOSTON -- For Garrett Crochet the spectator, watching what he termed “the craziest run I’ve ever [expletive] heard of” is rather exciting. 

But for Crochet the competitor, it pains him not to be a part of a surreal surge that has swelled to a 25-3 mark since July 3 and a 30-5 roar since June 25. 

And that’s what is driving Crochet, who hasn’t pitched since April 25 due to a left shoulder injury that wound up being more severe than anyone expected.

He very much wants to be a part of it, and that’s why it was significant that the ace was able to at last re-initiate a throwing program at the beginning of this week.

A few weeks back, Crochet mentioned that he felt like he was in a race against time. Now, he feels like he might win that race and contribute at some point before the regular season ends, and, ideally, into the playoffs.

“I do feel good about it,” said Crochet. “I don’t have one specific day in mind, but I generally feel good about it.”

What if pitching out of the bullpen, something he did in college and early in his Major League career, could expedite his return?

“That ultimately comes from [chief baseball officer Craig Breslow] and the rest of the front office. When it comes to throwing programs and buildup, I don’t know how many innings I’m going to be able to build up to,” Crochet said. “I haven’t taken a true formal look at the throwing program. Honestly, that’s still up in the air. That’s not really in my court.”

While Crochet figures to lead Boston’s rotation for years to come, he knows that this isn’t the time to be picky about his role. He just wants to get healthy enough to have one.

“There’s no ego about it. It’s something I’ve done before,” Crochet said. “If there’s any way possible I can help this team achieve the goal we set out in Spring Training, the goal that every team sets out to achieve, if I could help us achieve it, I don’t really care what the role is."

“I’ve been on the sidelines for three months, and they’ve been killing it, and it just makes me hungrier and hungrier to want to join and just contribute because these guys have stepped up and posted all year. It’d be nice to help.”

Crochet has several steps to clear before he can start a Minor League rehab assignment. 

His throwing program is in the infancy stages, starting with the 30 pitches he threw at a distance of roughly 60 feet on Monday.

“Super moderate, just being smooth,” said Crochet. “I hadn’t picked up a ball in -- what was it -- a month?  I actually felt really good. I feel strong. I felt like this past month, we really cleaned up a lot of things through specific muscle patterning and strength in general, so it feels very comfortable.”

Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story, who hasn’t played since May 14 due to a sports hernia injury that required surgery, is also looking to join in the fun down the stretch.

Story could start a Minor League rehab assignment within the next week or two, which could position him for a September return.

Amid an eventful Trade Deadline for the Red Sox that landed a three-time All-Star catcher in Adley Rutschman while also adding a power lefty reliever (Erik Miller) and an athletic backup outfielder (Eli White), Breslow wound up not finding a match for a shortstop. 

It did not go unnoticed by Story. 

“There was a lot of speculation for sure, and I saw it. But that's the business side of ball, and I can't really control that, especially when I'm not playing,” Story said. “And it unfolded how it did, and obviously I'm happy about that, and excited to get back in there and be a part of this and contribute how I know I can to this incredible turnaround.” 

Was Story irritated about seeing all the rumors about the Red Sox looking for a shortstop?

“I mean, I see them,” said Story. “Yeah, I wouldn't say irritated, but I kept note.”

Story acknowledges he probably played through the injury for too long earlier in the season, and it diminished his performance. When he gets back, he hopes to be the player who belted 25 homers for the Red Sox last season while stealing 31 bases in 32 attempts. 

While it wasn’t as splashy as the blockbuster trade that brought Rutschman to Boston on Trade Deadline Monday, the acquisition of lefty reliever Miller from the Giants could make a significant impact for a bullpen that now has several strong options in front of closer Aroldis Chapman.

Miller, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 269 pounds, gives the Red Sox the one thing they lacked in the late innings -- a power lefty.

It was a whirlwind couple of days for Miller, who was getting ready to play catch before the Giants' road game against the Rangers when he found out via the clubhouse television that he had been traded.

He landed in Boston at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, then pitched that night, striking out the only batter he faced.

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