Alex Cora doesn’t deserve any criticism for last night…
On Tuesday’s edition of Zolak & Bertrand, Beetle made it clear that Alex Cora didn’t deserve any criticism for Kyle Barraclough being left out their to dry last night.
This is on the front office…
Marc Bertrand: So I just think he (Alex Cora) truly did not have guys available to him, including Josh Winckowski, who would only thrown 20 pitches over the last few days. Medical staff didn’t clear him to go. They didn’t have arms. They did not have people to go. So was it a forfeit? By Alex Cora? No. No, I mean, it is a sort of moment of a realization of what this roster is. But if you think that he did that on purpose last night, I don’t think he did. I don’t think he would do that. I don’t think he was protesting Chaim Bloom. I think this is all on the front office for leaving this roster so thin. But they had no other better options in that game last night. I stand with Alex Cora on this one. He’s been put in a bad position. He doesn’t deserve the blame for not having a roster that’s capable of having a bullpen because the starters can’t go deep into games, can’t stay on the mound, can’t do the work, can’t handle the workload.
Hardy: And didn’t even have a Nick Green utility player that he could have thrown in for Barraclough at some point last night. He played who he could play.
Milliken: Pablo Reyes was that guy. He’s on the IL now. He was the one who they were throwing out in those spots before.
Marc Bertrand: They don’t even have that guy.
Hardy: Go out there and throw the 48 mile an hour heaters. You could see it just unfolding there, starting in the in the sixth.
Marc Bertrand: They needed pitching this year. As Millikan just pointed out, the guy they chose to add was a guy in his late thirties who is totally cashed. They added Corey Kluber. The Red Sox as a franchise deserve that last night. This should be a wake up call for them. This should be a wake up call to the owner that he doesn’t have the right people in charge building this roster.
Listen to the full segment!
Every Rookie of the Year in Red Sox History
3. Carlton Fisk – 1972
BOSTON, MA – MAY 26: Jarrod Saltalamacchia #39 of the Boston Red Sox shakes hands with Hall of Famer and former Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, after Fisk threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on May 26, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Gail Oskin/Getty Images)
A 21-year-old Carlton Fisk had his baseball career interrupted after joining the Army Reserve, but he came back with vengeance in 1972, winning Rookie of the Year, finishing 4th in MVP voting, and taking home a Gold Glove behind the plate. He ended up slashing .293/.370/.538/.909 with 22 homers, 28 doubles, and 9 triples. Fisk was the first unanimous AL Rookie of the Year and is still the last catcher to lead the AL in triples.
4. Fred Lynn – 1975
American baseball player Fred Lynn at bat for the Boston Red Sox, late 1970s. Lynn played for Boston from 1974 – 1980. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Fred Lynn owns the most memorable Rookie of the Year campaign in Red Sox history. On top of bringing home the Rookie of the Year award, he also won American League MVP, a Gold Glove, and helped lead the team to a World Series appearance against the Reds. It marked the start of 9 straight All-Star appearances.
5. Nomar Garciaparra – 1997
Nomar Garciaparra #5 of the Boston Red Sox looking on during the game against the Anaheim Angels at Edison Field in Anaheim, California on Aug. 5, 1999. The Angels defeated the Red Sox 8-0. (Tom Hauck/Allsport)
After a cameo in 1994, Nomar Garciaparra exploded onto the scene by winning Rookie of the Year and finishing 8th in MVP voting in 1997. He ended up socking 30 homers and batting .306/.342/.534/.875, which led to him winning the only Silver Slugger of his career. Jose Cruz and Jason Dickson finished behind him in Rookie of the Year voting, but neither received any first place votes.
6. Dustin Pedroia – 2007
BOSTON, MA – MAY 07: Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after throwing the runner out at first base in the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds during the interleague game at Fenway Park on May 7, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
Dustin Pedroia was the last Red Sox player to accomplish the feat and it’s arguably the most memorable storyline of the 2007 World Series championship. After a slow start in April that talking voices hammered constantly, he finished the season with a final line of .317/.380/.442/.823 with 8 homers and 39 doubles. Now, whenever a top prospect tends to struggle, Pedroia is the very first name that comes to mind when certain parts of the fanbase are asking for patience.
