The Sashman Speaks

As I have done with the previous two series's that the Red Sox have been in,  I once again am here to offer my analysis, opinions and of course my prediction.  With the Red Sox defeating the Astros in only 5 games ( yes I predicted 6) they have had sufficient time off to get some of their injured players, Sale, Moreland, and Nunez the time to get their injuries worked on and I expect them to play big roles against the Dodgers.  First, Sale is going to be taking the hill on Tuesday night, for the first time in nine days, and I expect for him to be both amped up as well as ready to show not only the Red Sox and the fans of course, that he's healthy. But to show the Dodgers that they are not going to be getting a hurt/sick Sale but hopefully, that he is well rested as well as ready to prove that when Dombrowski traded away four prospects including Michael Kopech and Yoan Moncada, that this was the reason.  Following Sale, will be Price who in his series-cli...

Like many Red Sox fans, I woke up bleary eyed and tired, unsure if what I saw at 1:00am truly happened. Then I saw the news on multiple outlets and indeed it did happen. Craig Kimbrel once again put on his Houdini act and was able to escape albeit barely surviving and wouldn't have survived had it not been for Andrew Benintendi's DIVING effort to save the game. So now we head into Game 5 with David Price ( who was warming and would have entered the game had Kimbrel totally imploded in both the 8th and the 9th innings respectively. Yet, Price was seen celebrating after Benintendi's catch and will be taking the hill in what is probably the biggest start of his Red Sox career.  So with that being said here are my keys to tonight's game.   1.)  With a much-beleaguered bullpen which saw Ryan Braiser throw 1.1 innings, and Kimbrel throwing 32 pitches in his 2 inning stint, most likely unavailable tonight, the reliance on Price going at least 5 if not 6 innings to...

It was announced earlier today that MLB has fined Manny Machado an undisclosed amount of money for his running into and stepping on the leg of Jesus Aguilar and that he is still eligible for the rest of the NLCS. Ken Rosenthal     @Ken_Rosenthal 15m MLB has fined Manny Machado an undisclosed amount for the way he ran into Jesus Aguilar last night, sources tell The Athletic.  THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE WRONG MOVE by MLB to have made. Anyone who has watched Manny Machado over the past couple of seasons, has gotten used to seeing Machado involved in drama.  From his deliberate late slides and the resulting injury to Dustin Pedroia as well his face to face yelling match with the Oakland A's now Indians, Josh Donaldson. To now during the NLCS and his repeatedly trying to interfere with Brewers shortstop, Orlando Arcia.     The first time he attempted to interfere was on a double play attempt where on a throw from the second baseman Travis Sh...

After last night's dramatics by Steve Pearce and Jackie Bradley Jr plus the outstanding outing by Eovaldi, the Red Sox now have a 2-1 series lead with Rick Porcello on the hill tonight.  1.) Following Eovaldi's performance won't be easy as he is still the only Sox pitcher to go beyond the 5th inning in both of his playoff starts. Porcello has already staked his claim to fame as he has twice provided that stable eighth-inning bridge to Kimbrel in two outings out of the bullpen.  However, tonight he is facing a tough Astros team who were limited to just two runs last night, and are like manager AJ Hinch said about Mookie Betts a couple nights ago, are a "ticking-time-bomb"  Springer leads the Astros hitters with a .417 average, followed by Yuri Gurriel at an even .400 and Carlos Correra at .375 and Alex Bregman at .333.  SO keeping these hitters off of the bases and limiting the damage like Eovaldi was able to do will be a big key in hopefully securing a 3-1 seri...

It all started in the first inning.  Mookie's bat continues to stay hot as he led off the game with a single, followed by another single by Benintendi ( he actually was the only Red Sox hitter to have multiple hits as he went 2-5 tonight)  Then up stepped JD Martinez. As I mentioned in my keys to the game for game 3 they needed to get Martinez's bat going and that's exactly what happened. As he laced a ball down the rightfield line scoring Betts.  Then Xander drove in Benintendi on an infield groundout and even before taking the mound Eovaldi had a two-run lead. Eovaldi pitched 6 masterful innings allowing only 2 runs on 6 hits while striking out 6. Yet his first inning was a bit rocky as he gave up a run on an RBI single by Marwin Gonzalez. He was able to limit the damage to that one run until the 6th when Alex Bregman laced a ball past the dive of Rafael Devers and tying the game.  Yet, he was saved by two BIG blasts. The first coming from Steve Pearce who took ...

While the Red Sox were able to split the two games of the series in Boston, and it has perhaps led to momentum being carried as they venture to Houston where they will play the next three games starting with tonight's Game 3.  However, there are still areas where they need to clean up in order to win this series and move on to the World Series which would start next week. 1.) Getting JD Martinez going.  It was said by Astros manager, AJ Hinch that Mookie Betts was a "ticking time-bomb, just waiting to go off." Well, Mookie did go off by going 2-4 with two doubles and scoring two runs including a course in base-running in the 7th inning. However, so far Martinez is still looking for his bat to ignite like it did during the ALDS where he was a one-man- wrecking crew of the Yankee pitching staff.  Currently, in the ALCS against Houston, Martinez has been held in check with only a walk in his seven at-bats against both Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole respectively.  ...

Over the past couple of seasons, including just last night Manny Machado has found himself involved in a few instances of where his late-slides into second base have at least in my opinion, have labled him as a "Dirty" player. Example number one is very vivid to Red Sox fans, including myself.  While playing for the Orioles, Machado while sliding into second base, is seen CLEARLY, with his cleat facing up thus resulting in both injuring and then leaving a crumpled Pedroia laying near second base.   This injury not only affected Pedroia ability to stay on the field last season, but its effects lingering into this season where he only was able to be on the field for three games. Here is Machado's slide into Pedroia where you clearly again see Machado with his spike up impaling Pedroia. Machado "dirty slide into Pedroia" This led to the infamous Matt Barnes pitches over Machado's head a couple days later, and the video of Pedroia telling Machado' th...

So about 6 years ago, during the breaking down of a set from a show I was in,  I fell off of a scaffolding and dropped about 5-6ft to the ground where I, landed very hard on my back missing a set of stairs but inches.  I was lucky and was able to get up and move and while at first it I didn't think of it as being too serious, it has continued to pop up every now and then. And when it does, it does it at the worst possible time. This past week, I had to see my chiropractor and get adjustments done due to the pain I was dealing with.  Now, I am not one to let a little pain stop me, as proof of this I umpired over 20+ games with a broken hand. I did this because I wasn't going to let a broken hand stop me from doing what I love. However, when  I get this pain that shoots from my back to my knees and makes it hard to either sit or stand for even short periods of time is just frustrating. And to make things a bit more annoying is that I was asked by multiple associat...

Living in the world we do today, we aren't a trusting nation, we aren't trusting of ourselves or even each other. How did we get to this place?  All I know is that this is NOT a world that I am enjoying being a part of.  This is a world where we can't seem to trust/believe/love/one another without questioning their truthfulness, the legitimacy of what is being said.  However, we are soo quick to make a judgment/decision not based on what we think or feel, but what we see and hear. We are a country where most of us believe as I stated above that we are more trusting of what we hear or read on social media or from other online sources, rather than actually take the time to research as well as to question what it is what we are trying to figure out, prior to making a decision based on NO evidence. I am truly afraid of the where this country is headed, and this isn't about politics or about whose side someone is on or what they believe.  Yet, it goes to how we were ...

It was on April 15,1997,  fifty years after Jackie Robinson would step onto a Major League baseball field, that then, Commissioner of Baseball, Bud Selig announced at then Shea Stadium home of the New York Mets, that from that day forward the number 42 would be retired by all 30 MLB teams.  While a few players would continue to wear that number, by the time of his retirement in 2013, Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees would be the last player to wear that number. While Robinson's number being retired is much due to his impact not just on the game of baseball, but also on society as a whole is rightfully awarded, so should another players number whose impact  was similar to that of Robinson's was felt much more off the field by his philanthropic activities than on the ballfield. That player is Roberto Clemente.  Clemente who spent his entire 18-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955-1972 saw him go from a little-known player playing in fron...

So.. life has been a bit interesting of late. Umpiring has been put on a temporary hiatus until fall baseball starts up and then hopefully I'll be getting back onto a field soon. Overall my season has been quite successful, from starting way back in February and up to just recently I have been getting a lot of work and have seen steady improvement, so much so that I was able to work a couple of Varsity games this past season and was highly praised for my work by multiple partners assignors, as well as coaches.  While I may be improving on the field, my search for work has continued to come up empty. I have applied for many jobs that I believe I would be good at. However, I have only received meek interest and have only been on one interview.  But, I refuse to give up hope on finding solid work which is why I spend at least a couple hours a day on job sites and updating my resume and applying for jobs with the hope that I may be able to at least get myself an interview a...

So lately, I've been doing a lot of self-evaluation as well as trying to figure out how I can better use my gift of wanting to help people as a potential way of having a career.  I believe this started when I was very young when I asked my parents why they named me, "Sasha"  They told me that it was because they loved the name and that its translation from Russian is "Helper and Protector of mankind.     I truly loved that explanation and I believe that I am meant to help and protect those people who are part of my life, whether that's as a friend or family I've always been that person that people gravitate towards when they are in "times of trouble" to quote John Lennon. It doesn't matter what their trouble may be, I'll always try and help them to not only understand but to hopefully be able to find a solution.   For example, I can remember being in Boston Children's Hospital and in the pre-op waiting room and across from the bed I ...

Earlier this afternoon, the Red Sox officially announced the re-signing of Eduardo Nunez. photo credit: BostonGlobe When last July Dave Dombrowski swung a trade with the Giants to acquire Nunez, he was hoping for a spark to reignite a stagnant offense. Well, that's exactly what Nunez was. In 38 games following the trade to Boston, Nunez hit . 321 average / 53 hits / 12 doubles / 8 Home Runs / 27 RBI / 6 SB, while  playing second, short and third for the Red Sox. Nunez proved Dombrowski's faith rewarded by providing the much-needed spark to the lineup. However, he played in only two games after September 9th, which also included his one and only at-bat in the ALDS against the Astros.  In both of those times, he was helped off the field, due to an injury to his right knee. After the season it was announced that Nunez had strained the PCL ligament in his right knee, and while he would not require surgery, and with rest and rehab would be ready for the 2018 seas...

Why Hanley being both healthy and rejuvenated is important for Red Sox to succeed in 2018 photo credit: BostonGlobe.com Hanley is entering his final year of a four-year pact he signed back in 2015 with the Red Sox.   His three seasons with the Sox have been more frustrating than anything else, which has seen him struggle in two out of three of those seasons, with only producing one big season that was back in 2016, which saw him hit .286 with 30 home runs, drive in 111 and play in 111 games. Yet the past last season saw him struggle with shoulder issues which limited him to mainly just DH'ing and thus prevented him from playing first base albeit for 18 games last season. Offensively even with the shoulder difficulties, he did hit 23 home-runs which is pretty impressive considering what he was dealing with, yet he only hit just .242 with a .750 OPS last season, taking over as the primary DH for David Ortiz.  Yet, while stepping into the same position as the...

With all the hype surrounding whether or not the Red Sox will eventually sign JD Martinez,  Dombrowski made one smart move which was not dealing away JBJ.  photo credit: MassLive.com Throughout this winter, the Red Sox have been hooked up to an ongoing dance with agent Scott Boras regarding his client J.D. Martinez, and whether or not he will agree to the proposed contract offer of 5 years and between $100 and $125 million, Yet, it was Dombrowski's believe in the current outfield arrangement of Andrew Benintendi, JBJ, and Mookie Betts, that had Dombrowski not wanting to break that up. Dombrowski has always been a fan of one player in particular first from afar and now he gets to see this player on an everyday basis. That player is Jackie Bradley Jr. Just two season ago, Bradley Jr, had what I along with many others would consider his "coming out year" That 2016 season saw Bradley Jr, hit .267 with 26 home runs and 87 RBI.  He was rewarded for his pl...

Jeremy Barfield comes to the Sox by way of a 10-year professional journey that has taken him to the A’s, Rockies, Rangers, Diamondbacks, Mexico, independent ball, the pitcher’s mound and now to Red Sox spring training. Barfield who is entering Spring Training this year as an NRI ( Non-Roster Invite) to Red Sox camp, brings with him a very unique résumé of a player who has spent time in multiple teams organizations as well as in Mexico and Independent Baseball, yet with the Red Sox he could represent one thing that President of Baseball Operations, Dave Dombrowski has been wanting.  That is Barfield is a right-handed power hitter. Barfield began his MLB career after he signed with the A’s in 2008 after being drafted in the eighth round out of San Jacinto Junior College. He flashed power in the lower minors, but after he hit .213/.298/.407 between Double and Triple-A in 2013, Oakland expressed interest in seeing if the righthanded-hitting, lefthanded-throwing Barfield c...

Last years Red Sox team, which while on the field produced 93 wins and a second consecutive AL East Division crown, it was mired by issues that began in April and continued throughout the entire season, making last years team both unlikeable, as well as unenjoyable to watch as a fan. When the Red Sox were winning their World Series titles in 04, 07, and most recently in 2013, they had one main ingredient that forged throughout the entire clubhouse and showed on the field.  That was TEAM CHEMISTRY"  Under former Manager, Terry Francona he was able to bring together a group of veteran players, as well as rookies alike and had them focus on one goal, which was coming together as a team whose purpose was to WIN the World Series. Francona was able to do that twice first in 2004. That year's team featured a unique bunch of players known as the "Idiots" which had Manny, Ortiz, Pedro, Johnny Damon, Kevin Millar, as well as stalwart veterans like Jason Varitek, Trot Nixon, ...

Former Red Sox third-baseman turned analyst Mike Lowell, is going to be heading down to Fort Myers in the next couple of weeks as a special instructor whose goal is to work alongside new infield instructor Carlos Febles to work with Rafael Devers on his defense. Last year Rafael Devers proved that offensively he was MLB ready hitting 10 homers and knocking in 30, yet his defense proves he still is a work in progress which is why the Red Sox will be working carefully with the young third baseman on not just his footwork, but his throwing across the diamond. Devers has already reported well ahead of the mandatory reporting date of Friday, has been seen working with new infield instructor and his former Double-A manager Carlos Febles on improving his defense from a season ago.  This work on backfields with Febles, hasn't gone unnoticed by the manager, whom just last week mentioned Devers in the same breath as current Ranger Adrian Beltre with whom Cora was a former teamma...

(Photo: John Raoux, AP) Commissioner Manfred has proposed new "Pace of Play" rules for 2018. With Spring Training camps due to open in less than three weeks, there could be a new set of rules that players may be playing under.  Speaking earlier today at the Owners Meetings, he suggested a number of proposed rules that would hopefully bring the players association back to the bargaining table, as well as potentially reducing the dragging pace of games. The rule changes that Manfred is proposing are that rather than implementing a "20 second pitch" clock like he had been rumored to be doing, he is offering  a proposal  that would involve no pitch clock this year or in 2019, provided the average time of a nine-inning game does not exceed 2 hours, 55 minutes.   The other two rule changes, Manfred has proposed are putting a  limit on mound visits as well as reinforcing the rule of keeping batters within the batter's box. First, In regards to the pitch-cl...

 photo credit: The Mass Media How 14 years forging relationships in MLB should help Cora in the first year as Red Sox Manager When the Red Sox hired Alex Cora as their new manager at the end of October, there were many stand out characteristics that the new manager had including his great communication style. But it was his relationships with the players that he was able to form with them that set him apart from the other candidates for the job. Cora who spent 14 years in MLB including 4 with the Red Sox, was able to relate and form relationships with rookies including in 2007 with then-rookie Dustin Pedroia, as well as use his experience to relate to the veteran player like Manny Ramirez.   Cora said this at his introductory press conference, about how he views inter-personal relationships with his players, " But you’ve got to care about each other. That’s the most important thing. They’re human beings, man, and you’ve got to talk to them. You’ve got to see ho...

photo credit: Cincinnati Enquier^.com Kevin Youkilis over 8.5 years with the Red Sox provided grit, determination, ^ a power-bat. Yet it was his defensive versatility that let the Red Sox get better. When the Red Sox drafted Kevin Youkilis out of the University of Cincinnati where he put together a .410/.549/.714/1.263 offensive stat line. Yet it was the fact that Youkilis also led the nation with 59 walks compared to just striking out just 21 times, that attracted then-GM Theo Epstein to draft the young third baseman in the 8th round of the 2001 draft. Youkilis would spend three seasons in the minors before reaching the M ajors during the 2004 season, where he would play a minor role that season during the team's championship run, appearing in 72 games that year , hitting .260 with 7 home-^runs driving in 35. Yet between 2007 and 2011 is when Youkilis would truly prove to be one of the best players in the game.  Over that five years, Youkilis would average 1...