Red Sox not hitting homers
The Red Sox are on a pace to hit 152 home runs. That would be their fewest in a full season since 2014, when they had 123. They hit 219 last year.
The 30 percent decrease isn’t hard to explain. A big chunk of that was trading Hunter Renfroe, who hit 31 homers last season, for Jackie Bradley Jr. and two prospects.
Bradley hit three homers before he was released. Renfroe has 21 for Milwaukee.
Add in J.D. Martinez’s loss of power, Trevor Story’s injury, and Xander Bogaerts’s slugging percentage dropping for a third straight season and the Sox often go days at a time without a homer.
They’ve compensated somewhat by leading the majors in doubles. But getting some fence-clearing power back in the lineup has to be an offseason priority.
A few other observations on the Red Sox:
• Rosters expand on Sept 1. All teams will be required to carry 28 players (up from 26) with a maximum of 14 pitchers. Teams can carry fewer than 14 pitchers if they want.
It’s too early to say what the Sox will do. Carrying a third catcher and another reliever seems like the most likely route if they still believe they are contending for a playoff spot.
First baseman Triston Casas would be an interesting addition. But Chaim Bloom has said many times he believes in a prospect getting a full dose of Triple A. Casas has played only 69 games at that level.
• Tuesday was a bit of ignominy for the Sox. In a 5-3 victory at Pittsburgh, they did not have a hit against the Pirates bullpen over seven innings.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time since 1893 the Pirates had a game where the bullpen didn’t allow a hit while pitching seven or more innings.
• Albert Pujols has been a topic of conversation in the Sox clubhouse during the current road trip. The 42-yearold has hit 11 home runs this season and has 690 home runs. Will he really retire so close to 700?
“How can you?” said Michael Wacha, a former Cardinal who never played with Pujols but has deep respect for him. “What if he’s only five away?”
Only Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron ,and Babe Ruth reached 700. Alex Rodriguez was at 696 when he was released by the Yankees in 2016.
“That’s a hard one,” said Rich Hill, another 42-year-old. “I hope he gets there.”
Pujols had five home runs and 15 RBIs in his first 41 at-bats after the AllStar break.
R When Hirokazu Sawamura enters the game, translator Yutaro Yamaguchi
jogs in from the bullpen with him, even though Alex Cora’s conversation with the righthander is never more than a few seconds.
Turns out no Japanese is spoken. Cora and Sawamura have a routine. Cora says, “Attack!” in English and Sawamura responds in Spanish, “Listo para matar!”
That means, “Ready to kill!” Sawamura has been a great value for two years and $3 million, giving the Sox 100‚ innings over two seasons with a 3.05 ERA. Opponents have hit .219 against him.