2022 COVID Impacts on the Team.

Sandy Leon Trotsky

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Mar 11, 2007
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So yeah…. Gotta look to deal Houck and Duran. What happened last night could be in the cards both at the end of the season 3 possible times and then I’ll to 4 times in playoffs. Address this issue now.
 

BornToRun

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Jun 4, 2011
17,340
So yeah…. Gotta look to deal Houck and Duran. What happened last night could be in the cards both at the end of the season 3 possible times and then I’ll to 4 times in playoffs. Address this issue now.
They’re at the front of my list of guys to deal. Idiots that have value could maybe interest another team.
 

Rovin Romine

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JFC. I can’t take a vacation without this thread going to shit. Shaughnessy is not a Covid impact on this team. This is not the place to debate that behind-a-paywall hack, any more than I need to share with you my crazy uncle Kevin’s take on this, whether I agree with him or not. Because you don’t know and quite rightly don’t fucking care about that rando.

Get your own informed opinions and share them or not.

But first actually update the thread to document and track the actual Covid impact across time. It’s not so hard.
 

pokey_reese

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Jun 25, 2008
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Maybe Fangraphs can manually go in and subtract 1.0 WAR from Houck, because it is hard not to feel like last night's loss is on him. To be fair, saves aren't a sure thing, so maybe only take half a win from him personally, but still. Obviously, that's a joke, but it really puts Cora in a tough position moving forward. On one hand, the team has had success with Houck as a closer, but on the other hand, it feels like there should be some consequence from this decision not to participate, like a demotion from the role. Houck's not a star whose body of work protects him, but they don't have an obvious candidate to close if he isn't the guy.
 

BravesField

New Member
Oct 27, 2021
252
So yeah…. Gotta look to deal Houck and Duran. What happened last night could be in the cards both at the end of the season 3 possible times and then I’ll to 4 times in playoffs. Address this issue now.
Would you feel differently had the Sox won the 2 games in Toronto?

I realize that there's a lot of frustration about those 2 games, and I don't like it either. But if the assumption is that the Sox lost because of the absence of Duran and Houck, then how is dealing them going to help us get to the playoffs?
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

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Mar 11, 2007
6,348
Would you feel differently had the Sox won the 2 games in Toronto?

I realize that there's a lot of frustration about those 2 games, and I don't like it either. But if the assumption is that the Sox lost because of the absence of Duran and Houck, then how is dealing them going to help us get to the playoffs?
Yes, I still would be frustrated because if I'm thinking ahead... I'd be real concerned about needing those two guys in possible playoff games (or final season series) up there and it turning out like it did last night.
Those two players are incredibly valuable.... yes to the Sox- but to other teams, and even more so. IMO the Sox could find replacements for them. Refsnyder is making his case that he could at least replace Duran for this season so I don't see those two as being unreplaceable for this season.
 

amfox1

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Alex Speier
@alexspeier

1m

Cora says when the Sox return to Toronto in September, “I’ll bet you $1 it will be different” with vaccination status of roster.

Alex Speier
@alexspeier

23s

Replying to @alexspeier
Cora says the conversations with the roster have remained ongoing this year and strongly, strongly implied that some of the players not available this time around will be able to play in September (and, if needed, the playoffs) in Canada.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Alex Speier
@alexspeier

1m

Cora says when the Sox return to Toronto in September, “I’ll bet you $1 it will be different” with vaccination status of roster.

Alex Speier
@alexspeier

23s

Replying to @alexspeier
Cora says the conversations with the roster have remained ongoing this year and strongly, strongly implied that some of the players not available this time around will be able to play in September (and, if needed, the playoffs) in Canada.
I'd love to know what leads Cora to think this. Like what is it that he thinks has or will push particular players into getting the shot(s), and why wasn't it effective sooner?
 

jon abbey

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Jul 15, 2005
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I'd love to know what leads Cora to think this. Like what is it that he thinks has or will push particular players into getting the shot(s), and why wasn't it effective sooner?
You need more than one shot with time in between them, so maybe players agreed to start the process but there wasn’t time enough before this trip for them to be cleared. Just a guess…
 

SoxFanInPdx

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Jul 15, 2005
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I'm assuming that there are no revised clause's in players contracts since the onset of the pandemic and the eventual roll out of vaccines, or I could be wrong. I figure that would be something that MLB and MLBPA wouldn't see eye to eye on. Begs the question, what are these other teams doing in order to have a high rate of a vaccinated players - which I'm sure is an in-house situation altogether.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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You need more than one shot with time in between them, so maybe players agreed to start the process but there wasn’t time enough before this trip for them to be cleared. Just a guess…
I think they can still do the J&J one-shot deal if it comes to that. I do see where it's possible they started the process too late for this trip, and that could explain Cora's optimism. Still would want to know what inspired the change of heart and why it didn't happen sooner though.
 

Looch

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Jul 15, 2021
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You need more than one shot with time in between them, so maybe players agreed to start the process but there wasn’t time enough before this trip for them to be cleared. Just a guess…
That’s interesting. If so, why not go public saying that from a public relations standpoint for both the team and the players just to soften the outrage? I really hope that’s right but I’m pretty skeptical because dudes like this are hard to persuade.
 

jon abbey

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Jul 15, 2005
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I think they can still do the J&J one-shot deal if it comes to that. I do see where it's possible they started the process too late for this trip, and that could explain Cora's optimism. Still would want to know what inspired the change of heart and why it didn't happen sooner though.
There are blood clotting issues with the J&J one, so the CDC has recommended that everyone take the Pfizer or Moderna ones if possible. If the goal is just to be eligible immediately, it makes some sense, but if people are already hesitant to get the shot, that extra info we now have about the J&J one isn't going to help.
 

NDame616

will bailey
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Jul 31, 2006
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I'd love to know what leads Cora to think this. Like what is it that he thinks has or will push particular players into getting the shot(s), and why wasn't it effective sooner?
How closely did you follow the Celtics this year?
 

joe dokes

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Jul 18, 2005
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I'd love to know what leads Cora to think this. Like what is it that he thinks has or will push particular players into getting the shot(s), and why wasn't it effective sooner?
Maybe he got texts from sorrowful Hauck and Duran expressing horror that they fucked the team over. Or maybe Verdugo called them and said he was going to beat their heads in. Anything is really possible at this point.
 

BornToRun

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Jun 4, 2011
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Maybe he got texts from sorrowful Hauck and Duran expressing horror that they fucked the team over. Or maybe Verdugo called them and said he was going to beat their heads in. Anything is really possible at this point.
I’m at the point where I don’t really care why someone changed their mind so long as they did. For all we know they were visited in their sleep by the ghosts of pandemics past, present, and future.
 

joe dokes

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Jul 18, 2005
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I’m at the point where I don’t really care why someone changed their mind so long as they did. For all we know they were visited in their sleep by the ghosts of pandemics past, present, and future.
Yes. I should have added, "and I don't care why" to "anything is possible."
Maybe John Henry sent them each a copy of shaughnessys column with a note. "He's an asshole, but he's right."
 

RobertS975

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Jul 28, 2005
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I have also thought that there should be a WAR penalty applied to these players for games missed due to technical ineligibility, be it vax status, suspensions etc.
Let's figure that Houck had at least a 80% chance of preserving that save for the win, and an even higher chance of NOT losing in a walk off.

Physician here... while the J&J shot is the least effective and harder to find these days, it would be the quickest approach to legally entering Canada. But there is plenty of time for Moderna/Pfizer to be given. Moderna takes 6 weeks, Pfizer 5 weeks to reach the 14 days after last shot milestone. No games in Toronto for almost 12 weeks.

I agree that if Cora knows something, it should be publicized by the players involved! It might, just might, forestall a storm of boos that I think could be awaiting them at their next Fenway games.
 

NDame616

will bailey
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Jul 31, 2006
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so the Celtics this year were looking at a series against the Raptors to start the playoffs. We played them like a month before the season ended and Brown and Horford didn't even travel up there. There was speculation that they weren't vaccinated at that time and therefore couldn't go, but when the playoffs were looming a few weeks later both insisted they can play anywhere, are ready to go vs. anyone etc

Maybe that's what Hauck and Duran are doing. They've pledged to Cora that if it looks like the last series will matter and/or we will play Toronto in the playoffs, they will get the shot.
 

RobertS975

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Jul 28, 2005
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The last series in Toronto will almost certainly matter to the Sox, be it for seeding, home field advantage etc. So the only reason it wouldn't "matter" to Houck or Duran is if they were no longer on the team!
 

Van Everyman

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Pete Abraham with a nice little nugget/dig in his Sunday Baseball Notes column:

So Jarren Duran caved in and will get vaccinated after three days of blowback from fans and media. Houck wouldn’t comment but Alex Cora said he’s confident other players will, too.

So medical experts and team officials weren’t able to persuade them, but bad publicity did?

In their end, “doing more research” was looking at Twitter.
 

joe dokes

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Jul 18, 2005
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I think Sale will give in. To me, while he's a bit of a try-hard as a "leader." I think his disappointment at getting paid for doing nothing is real, and I dont think he wants to sit at home watching a series at Toronto, either regular or post-season. Maybe I'm wishcasting.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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I think Sale will give in. To me, while he's a bit of a try-hard as a "leader." I think his disappointment at getting paid for doing nothing is real, and I dont think he wants to sit at home watching a series at Toronto, either regular or post-season. Maybe I'm wishcasting.
I think you are. He's already sat home for two such series (granted, he missed them for another reason) and it hasn't motivated him. Not sure what will change for him now that there's just one series left to play up there. He could argue that the rotation could be lined up so he'd not be scheduled for the Toronto series anyway, and similarly could be scheduled for Fenway starts if there was a post-season series. I don't have much hope that he won't continue to be a hard-headed doofus about this.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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That puts the whole trade return for Betts together on the big league roster for the first time. Not really a big deal, but interesting trivia.
 

Rovin Romine

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Made some formatting changes and isolated the Toronto series.

Gone to the COVID-IL and Back:

April:
Kevin Plawecki: April 18. (+ test) (vaccinated)​
returned April 25.​
Christian Vazquez: April 19. (+ test) (vaccinated)​
returned April 20. (2 games missed)​
Jonathan Arauz: April 19. (+ test) (vaccinated)​
rehab assignment on May 2.​
taken off rehab (and assigned to Worcester) on May 12.​
Alex Cora: April 21. (+ test) (vaccinated)​
returned April 27.​
April 25-28 @ Toronto: L 2-6, L 2-6, L 5-6, W 7-1.
Tanner "Personal Choice" Houck: (unvaccinated - cannot play in Canada, placed on restricted list April 25.)​
Reinstated April 29.​
Cutter Crawford: (unvaccinated - cannot play in Canada, placed on restricted list April 25.)​
Reinstated April 29.​

May:
Enrique Hernandez: May 6. (Flu-like symptoms - can use COVID-IL for this or close contact without a positive test.)​
returned May 7.​
Rich Hill: May 6. (+ test.)​
returned May 14.​
Jason Varitek: May 6​
returned ?​
___________________notable gap____________________​
Matt Strahm: May 31​
returned June 1​

June:
Christian Arroyo: June 14: COVID protocols​
returned June 24.​
June 27-29 @ Toronto: L 2-7, L 5-6, W 6-5.
Tanner "Personal Choice" Houck: (unvaccinated - cannot play in Canada, placed on restricted list June 27.)​
Reinstated June 30.​
Jarren "Research Assistant" Duran: (unvaccinated - cannot play in Canada, placed on restricted list June 27.)​
Reinstated June 30.​

July:
Kevin Plawecki (Second Time): July 11.​
returned July 13.​
Josh Winckowski: July 14.​
Active Callups (and Returns) due to the COVID-IL:
*Note: a player might be called up and another returned depending on other roster moves. This is just to indicate the replacement assignment, and when there is an outbreak, track who is currently called up on COVID replacement duty.

April:
Connor Wong: April 18 (for Plawecki.)​
optioned April 25 to Worcester - as Plawecki returned.​
Tyler Danish: April 19.​
optioned April 24 to Worcester - Rich Hill returns from bereavement list.​
(see below - immediately called up for Toronto 1 series.)​
Rob Refsnyder: April 19.​
optioned April 29 to Worcester.​
Ronaldo Hernandez: April 19. (Rich Hill on bereavement list 4/19, this makes RH the second catcher)​
optioned April 20 to Worcester, when Christian Vazquez returned.​
April 25-28 @ Toronto: L 2-6, L 2-6, L 5-6, W 7-1.
John Schreiber: April 25 (and)​
optioned April 29 to Worcester.​
Tyler Danish: April 25 (for Tanner "Personal Choice" Houck, and Kutter Crawford.)​
optioned April 29 to Worcester.​

May:
Jarren Duran: May 6 (for Enrique Hernandez.)​
optioned May 7 to Worcester.​
John Schreiber: May 6 (for Rich Hill.)​
(May 14: Jaylin Davis DFA (outrighted to Wor on 5/18), Schreiber added to the 40 man, Cutter Crawford sent to Worcester.​
___________________notable gap____________________​
Hirokazu Sawamura: May 31 (for Matt Strahm)​
stayed up when Strahm returned and Barnes went on the IL on June 1.​

June:
Jarren Duran: June 15 (for Christian Arroyo.)​
stayed up when Arroyo returned on June 24 - Crawford to Worcester previously, Downs up then back to Worcester.)​
June 27-29 @ Toronto: L 2-7, L 5-6, W 6-5.
Yolmer Sanchez: June 27 (and)​
optioned June 30 to Worcester​
Connor Seabold: June 27 (for Tanner "Personal Choice" Houck, and Jarren "Research Assistant" Duran.)​
optioned June 28 (following start) to Worcester.​
Silvino Brancho: June 28, called up from Worcester to replace Seabold.​
DFA, June 30.​
July:
Connor Wong: July 11 (for Kevin Plawecki).​
optioned July 13 to Worcester at Plawecki's return.​
Darwinzon Hernandez: July 14 (for Josh Winckowski.)​
 
Last edited:

Rovin Romine

Johnny Rico
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
23,721
Miami (oh, Miami!)
Made some formatting changes and isolated the Toronto series.

Gone to the COVID-IL and Back:

April:
Kevin Plawecki: April 18. (+ test) (vaccinated)​
returned April 25.​
Christian Vazquez: April 19. (+ test) (vaccinated)​
returned April 20. (2 games missed)​
Jonathan Arauz: April 19. (+ test) (vaccinated)​
rehab assignment on May 2.​
taken off rehab (and assigned to Worcester) on May 12.​
Alex Cora: April 21. (+ test) (vaccinated)​
returned April 27.​
April 25-28 @ Toronto: L 2-6, L 2-6, L 5-6, W 7-1.
Tanner "Personal Choice" Houck: (unvaccinated - cannot play in Canada, placed on restricted list April 25.)​
Reinstated April 29.​
Cutter Crawford: (unvaccinated - cannot play in Canada, placed on restricted list April 25.)​
Reinstated April 29.​

May:
Enrique Hernandez: May 6. (Flu-like symptoms - can use COVID-IL for this or close contact without a positive test.)​
returned May 7.​
Rich Hill: May 6. (+ test.)​
returned May 14.​
Jason Varitek: May 6​
returned ?​
___________________notable gap____________________​
Matt Strahm: May 31​
returned June 1​

June:
Christian Arroyo: June 14: COVID protocols​
returned June 24.​
June 27-29 @ Toronto: L 2-7, L 5-6, W 6-5.
Tanner "Personal Choice" Houck: (unvaccinated - cannot play in Canada, placed on restricted list June 27.)​
Reinstated June 30.​
Jarren "Research Assistant" Duran: (unvaccinated - cannot play in Canada, placed on restricted list June 27.)​
Reinstated June 30.​

July:
Kevin Plawecki (Second Time): July 11.​
returned July 13.​
Josh Winckowski: July 14.​
returned July 26.​
Active Callups (and Returns) due to the COVID-IL:
*Note: a player might be called up and another returned depending on other roster moves. This is just to indicate the replacement assignment, and when there is an outbreak, track who is currently called up on COVID replacement duty.

April:
Connor Wong: April 18 (for Plawecki.)​
optioned April 25 to Worcester - as Plawecki returned.​
Tyler Danish: April 19.​
optioned April 24 to Worcester - Rich Hill returns from bereavement list.​
(see below - immediately called up for Toronto 1 series.)​
Rob Refsnyder: April 19.​
optioned April 29 to Worcester.​
Ronaldo Hernandez: April 19. (Rich Hill on bereavement list 4/19, this makes RH the second catcher)​
optioned April 20 to Worcester, when Christian Vazquez returned.​
April 25-28 @ Toronto: L 2-6, L 2-6, L 5-6, W 7-1.
John Schreiber: April 25 (and)​
optioned April 29 to Worcester.​
Tyler Danish: April 25 (for Tanner "Personal Choice" Houck, and Kutter Crawford.)​
optioned April 29 to Worcester.​

May:
Jarren Duran: May 6 (for Enrique Hernandez.)​
optioned May 7 to Worcester.​
John Schreiber: May 6 (for Rich Hill.)​
(May 14: Jaylin Davis DFA (outrighted to Wor on 5/18), Schreiber added to the 40 man, Cutter Crawford sent to Worcester.​
___________________notable gap____________________​
Hirokazu Sawamura: May 31 (for Matt Strahm)​
stayed up when Strahm returned and Barnes went on the IL on June 1.​

June:
Jarren Duran: June 15 (for Christian Arroyo.)​
stayed up when Arroyo returned on June 24 - Crawford to Worcester previously, Downs up then back to Worcester.)​
June 27-29 @ Toronto: L 2-7, L 5-6, W 6-5.
Yolmer Sanchez: June 27 (and)​
optioned June 30 to Worcester​
Connor Seabold: June 27 (for Tanner "Personal Choice" Houck, and Jarren "Research Assistant" Duran.)​
optioned June 28 (following start) to Worcester.​
Silvino Brancho: June 28, called up from Worcester to replace Seabold.​
DFA, June 30.​
July:
Connor Wong: July 11 (for Kevin Plawecki).​
optioned July 13 to Worcester at Plawecki's return.​
Darwinzon Hernandez: July 14 (for Josh Winckowski.)​
optioned July 26 to Worcester at Winckowski's return.​