More time off for Vazquez
Catcher needs surgery on finger, now out 6-8 weeks
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
Three weeks before the trade deadline, the Red Sox could have another area to address. Christian Vazquez’ injury is worse than the team originally hoped.
The catcher will miss 6-8 weeks with a broken right pinky finger after he was hurt sliding into second base on Saturday night. The Sox remain confused as to how he hurt his finger while wearing a protective mitt, but Vazquez said the mitt caused the injury when his finger got caught on something inside.
He will have the surgery today. “They’re going to insert a pin,” manager Alex Cora said.
Cora is confident Sandy Leon can pick up the slack, while Blake Swihart chips in with the occasional start behind the plate.
Still, it’s an alarming injury, given the Red Sox are already one of the worst-hitting catcher units in the majors, ranking 25th with negative-0.2 WAR, according to Fan Graphs. Sox catchers have hit just .225 with a .600 OPS.
On defense, though, they’ve been exceptional. They’ve caught a pitching staff that ranks seventh in the majors with a 3.58 ERA, and opposing base stealers have looked terrified to run in making just 42 attempts (30-for-42), third-fewest in the majors.
“When people get hurt, it’s always a big blow for the team,” Cora said. “But we have to move on.”
Swihart has caught just 14 innings this year and made only seven big league starts behind the plate since 2015.
“There’s a reason Blake was on the roster throughout the season,” Cora said. “And we tried to use him early in the season and it didn’t work out as far as game time. Then when we released Hanley (Ramirez), we gave him a shot, and then we got (Steve) Pearce and he didn’t play. But now he’s here and we’re going to use him.
“We have to make sure we keep Sandy fresh, too. We’re not going to run him out there six or seven days in a row. He’ll play.”
Swihart hasn’t started a game since June 22.
“He’ll be fine,” Cora said. “We trust the guy. He’s OK. He’s been working hard blocking and throwing. He prepares like Christian and Sandy. We’re not going to hesitate. He’s going to play. We’re in a good spot.”
The Sox lead the majors in scoring 5.37 runs per game, so they can afford to have below-average offensive contributors behind the plate. If they explore other options, defensive-first catchers aren’t terribly hard to come by via trade. The Sox acquired Leon for cash in spring training of 2015. The Sox will tread water until Vazquez returns.
New plan for Pedroia
Expect some news regarding Dustin Pedroia later today.
Cora said the team is preparing a new plan for the injured second baseman and will share it today.
“I think it’s more about what we have to avoid doing, to avoid that,” Cora said. “It’s not only the knee, it’s the other areas that we have to make adjustments as far as training or strengthening those areas so we can avoid situations like this.”
Price fixing, yet again
The Sox think they’ve found something with David Price that should help him turn things around. Price allowed 12 runs in eight innings in his past two starts.
“Yeah, actually I talked to David yesterday and for all the hit-bypitches and how bad it looked, one thing that was a positive was him pitching up in the zone,” Cora said. “That’s a step in the right direction. That’s making an adjustment. The other one, going out of the wind up early in the game, though after that he went to the stretch.
“Like he said, he’s searching. We’ll keep working, but that’s going to help him out, pitching up in the zone. Velocity was there. So now if he goes up and we start using the change up a little bit more, there’s going to be a balance there. You can’t not only look at one side of the plate, waist high and put a good swing on it.” . . .
Hector Velazquez will make a spot start tonight. He hasn’t started since April, when he started twice and allowed three runs in 102⁄3 innings . . . .
Injured lefty Drew Pomeranz makes rehab start on Friday . ...
Joe Kelly was cleared for duty after exiting Sunday’s game with lightheadedness. He threw a scoreless eighth inning last night, striking out two, in the 5-0 win over the Rangers.