Second thoughts on Mookie move
Betts an infielder ‘very slim’
Mookie Betts at second base was a fun idea while it lasted.
Alex Cora nearly killed it yesterday before Game 1 of the World Series, when he said the chances of playing Betts at second when the Red Sox get to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Friday are “very slim.”
The Sox had been considering the option, which would allow them to keep
Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. in the lineup while
J.D. Martinez moves from designated hitter to the outfield, and Betts has been taking reps at second during team workouts.
“He’s prepared,” Cora said. “But he’s the best defensive right fielder in the big leagues. He’s not going to be the best defensive second baseman in the big leagues.”
Betts made a few key plays in right field during the American League Championship Series, including the highly debated fan interference call on a potential home run by Jose Altuve. He also stole another potential hit from Alex Bregman on a leaping catch in Game 5 and threw out Tony Kemp at second base in Game 4.
Betts might be on the move anyway, since he’ll play center field if Cora chooses to go with Benintendi over Bradley.
“Is it worth it putting him at second?” Cora said. “Kind of like Chris Taylor with them and Kike Hernandez, kind of like the same thing. They move him. There might be one inning when we feel like, OK, go to second because we’re going to hit and then we hit and then he’ll go back to the outfield. But we have to be prepared.
“We don’t throw too many groundballs, they don’t hit too many groundballs, I’m not worried about him making the plays but in the outfield he’s that good. It’s the World Series. I’m not going to complain about it.”
If Bradley plays over Benintendi, Betts will stay in right and Martinez will play in left.
“I mean, most likely it’s going to be like we did in the second part of the season,” Cora said. “Benny will play left, Mookie plays center, J.D. plays right. And then, J.D. plays left, Jackie plays center, and Mookie plays right.”
Devers not left out
Rafael Devers made a rare start against a left-handed pitcher when Cora gave him the nod over Eduardo Nunez against Clayton Kershaw last night.
Devers is 7-for-20 with one homer and seven RBI this postseason while Nunez is 3-for-16 with one RBI.
Kershaw had reverse splits on the year, allowing lefties to hit .243 with a .679 OPS compared to a .223 average and .615 OPS vs. righties.
“He’s one of the best pitchers in the big leagues, but throughout the years, it’s not that he’s a reverse split guy, because he’s still good, but there’s some trends,” Cora said. “And I think as far as the way he attacks hitters and where he attacks hitters, it’s a good matchup for us with Devers.”
Mulligan for Yaz
Carl Yastrzemski threw out a memorable first pitch last night. He’s thrown out the first pitch in Game 1 of the 2004, 2007 and 2013 World Series, and the Red Sox won all three games.
His first pitch last night was bounced in the dirt to
Dustin Pedroia, and Yaz asked for the ball back, got it and threw another one on the fly.
Tonight, members of the 2004 Red Sox will throw out the first pitch. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he declined an invitation to participate.
“I got wind of it today,” he said. “And I don’t plan on partaking. But I’ll be there to watch and see those guys throw out the first pitch.”
“I mean, I’m going to be getting ready for a game. So I’ll have fun with those guys but, yeah, I won’t be a part of it.” . . .
The Sox paid a moment of silence to former NESN cameraman John Martin, who recently lost his battle with ALS. His family was on the field for the “play ball” moment before the game.