Now it's Sale's turn: Sale has COVID, will not start Sunday (9/10 update)

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I get it... but if they knew this was coming up (and they did) wouldn't the most obvious answer (if they're actually trying to, you know... win games) be to make Seabold's scheduled start- his turn to pitch- into a one inning side session with live bats and then be ready to throw 90 pitches yesterday. I didn't mean for it to sound like the FO is conspiring to keep a good man down... just think that the obvious response to the situation was giving Seabold a start.

Knew what was coming? The scheduled bullpen game? Perhaps they felt on Saturday that a bullpen game was their best chance to win Tuesday (especially with the ability to bring up re-enforcements with the extra roster spots). Or they're simply not confident that Seabold is ready for MLB action. Either way, the biggest change in the equation was using 8 pitchers on Saturday. That's not something they plan to happen. By then it was too late to stop Seabold's start if they'd wanted to, and like I said, they had Espinal already with the team and stretched out for starters innings. Then half the bullpen gets COVID and they need arms on Monday, so Espinal is activated and used then.

I don't think it's as obvious a choice as you're making it out to be.

 

[The Gray Eagle]

On Saturday, Seabold went 4.1 IP, with 6 hits, 4 runs, all earned, with a HR allowed, 2 walks, 2 HBP and 4 Ks.
In AAA.
https://www.milb.com/gameday/red-sox-vs-bisons/2021/08/28/642939#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=642939

Why is there an assumption he would have done even that "well" if he was pitching in the majors instead? As noted, he hasn't pitched much in AAA yet and it seems like the team doesn't think he's ready to help yet.

 

[soxin6]

EXACTLY! No one felt sorry for the MFY's earlier this season when they went through something similar.

But the MFY got a postponement of the first game out of the All Star Break and the Sox ended up losing both ends of the 7 inning double header that resulted from the postponement.

 

[bosockboy]

Jesus.

View: https://twitter.com/tomcaron/status/1433887075959509002?s=21

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Duran to the COVID IL. Wong recalled.

View: https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1433921104226234369


Not seeing anything about a positive test, but given the last week, I have to assume he tested positive, or will.

 

[Rovin Romine]

I'm just gonna update this as we go:

Christian Arroyo: Last game: Aug 26. (+ test)
Enrique Hernandez: Last game: Aug. 26. (+ test)
Martin Perez: Last game: Aug. 28. (+ test)
Matt Barnes: Last game: Aug. 29. (+ test)
Josh Taylor: Last game: Aug. 29. (? on test, but 10 day IL)
Coach Raymond Vazquez: Last game: Don't really care. (+ test)
Coach Kiyoshi Momose: Last game: Don't really care. (+ test)
Hirokazu Sawamura: Aug. 31. (+ test)
Xander Boegarts: Aug. 31. (+ test)
Yario Munoz: Last game: Aug 31. (+ test)
Jarod Durran: Sept. 3. (+ test - symptoms before test)

Total 9 players.

Callups:

J. Arauz: Aug. 27
Yario Munoz: Aug. 27 (Covid on Sept.1)
Phillips Valdez: Aug. 30
Raynel Espinal: Aug. 30
Brad Peacock: Aug. 31
Stephen Gonsalves: Aug. 31
Brad Peacock: Aug. 31 (Raynel Espinal down)
(Renfroe returns from bereavement leave: 8/31)
John Schreiber: Sept. 1
Jack Lopez: Sept. 1
Danny "Power and Speed" Santanner: Roster expansion 9/1
Ryan Brasier: Roster expansion 9/1
Connor Wong: Sept. 3

 

[YTF]

I'm just gonna update this as we go:

Christian Arroyo: Last game: Aug 26. (+ test)
Enrique Hernandez: Last game: Aug. 26. (+ test)
Martin Perez: Last game: Aug. 28. (+ test)
Matt Barnes: Last game: Aug. 29. (+ test)
Josh Taylor: Last game: Aug. 29. (? on test, but 10 day IL)
Coach Raymond Vazquez: Last game: Don't really care. (+ test)
Coach Kiyoshi Momose: Last game: Don't really care. (+ test)
Hirokazu Sawamura: Aug. 31. (+ test)
Xander Boegarts: Aug. 31. (+ test)
Yario Munoz: Sept. 1. (?)
Jarod Durran: Sept. 3. (No test yet)

Total 9 players.

Callups:

J. Arauz: Aug. 27
Yario Munoz: Aug. 27 (Covid on Sept.1)
Phillips Valdez: Aug. 30
Raynel Espinal: Aug. 30
Brad Peacock: Aug. 31
Stephen Gonsalves: Aug. 31
Brad Peacock: Aug. 31 (Raynel Espinal down)
(Renfroe returns from bereavement leave: 8/31)
John Schreiber: Sept. 1
Jack Lopez: Sept. 1
Danny "Power and Speed" Santanner: Roster expansion 9/1
Ryan Brasier: Roster expansion 9/1
Connor Wong: Sept. 3

Yario Munoz last game August 31 (+ test)

 

[bosockboy]

We need to bubble the starting pitchers heavily. It’s the one strength we have left.

 

[Rovin Romine]

Yario Munoz last game August 31 (+ test)

And honestly, that's the one that worries me the most.

He was a call up from the taxi squad. He got infected from someone on the club. Clearly this thing is still being passed around.

 

[soxhop411]

And Duran is positive
View: https://twitter.com/alexspeier/status/1433982498770493443

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

We need to bubble the starting pitchers heavily. It’s the one strength we have left.

It’s the Power of Positivity

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Pivetta tested positive this morning. Crawford called up from Worcester and will start today’s game.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Well this is concerning. We really can't afford for our starters to start going down.

 

[InsideTheParker]

At this point, I don't know why everyone in the dugout isn't masked. More seemed masked than previously yesterday, but it needs to be everyone. I understand not wearing a mask out on the field. but not wearing them in the dugout and everywhere else they congregate seems like throwing the season away.

 

[Rovin Romine]

At this point, I don't know why everyone in the dugout isn't masked. More seemed masked than previously yesterday, but it needs to be everyone. I understand not wearing a mask out on the field. but not wearing them in the dugout and everywhere else they congregate seems like throwing the season away.

It's insane.

 

[Rovin Romine]

I'm just gonna update this as we go:

Christian Arroyo: Last game: Aug 26. (+ test)​

Enrique Hernandez: Last game: Aug. 26. (+ test)​

Martin Perez: Last game: Aug. 28. (+ test)​

Matt Barnes: Last game: Aug. 29. (+ test)​

Josh Taylor: Last game: Aug. 29. (? on test, but 10 day IL - 7 day minimum for a close contact.)​

Coach Raymond Vazquez: Last game: Don't really care. (+ test)​

Coach Kiyoshi Momose: Last game: Don't really care. (+ test)​

Hirokazu Sawamura: Aug. 31. (+ test)​

Xander Boegarts: Aug. 31. (+ test)​

Yario Munoz: Last game: Aug 31. (+ test)​

Jarod Durran: Sept. 3. (+ test - symptoms before test)​

Pivetta: Sept 5. (+ test)​

Total 10 players.​

Callups:

J. Arauz: Aug. 27​

Yario Munoz: Aug. 27 (Covid on Sept.1)​

Phillips Valdez: Aug. 30​

Raynel Espinal: Aug. 30​

Brad Peacock: Aug. 31​

Stephen Gonsalves: Aug. 31​

Brad Peacock: Aug. 31 (Raynel Espinal down)​

(Renfroe returns from bereavement leave: 8/31)​

Roster Expansion 9/1 to 28 players​

John Schreiber: Sept. 1​

Jack Lopez: Sept. 1​

Danny "Power and Speed" Santanner: Roster expansion 9/1​

Ryan Brasier: Roster expansion 9/1​

Connor Wong: Sept. 3 (down to Wor on Sept. 4)​

Taylor Motter: Sept 4 (claimed on waivers from Rockies)​

Kutter Crawford: Sept. 5​

 

[RedOctober3829]

View: https://twitter.com/peteabe/status/1434526160159973379?s=21

 

[benhogan]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/09/angels-release-jose-iglesias.html

Maybe EV will return if they sign Iglesias

 

[bosockboy]

At this point, I don't know why everyone in the dugout isn't masked. More seemed masked than previously yesterday, but it needs to be everyone. I understand not wearing a mask out on the field. but not wearing them in the dugout and everywhere else they congregate seems like throwing the season away.

Honestly the SP staff should be bubbled in a hotel room unless they are pitching.

 

[Rovin Romine]

Honestly the SP staff should be bubbled in a hotel room unless they are pitching.

Five separate hotel rooms.

 

[benhogan]

Seabold 6 innings, 1-hit ball yesterday... so he's burned for the next 4 days

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

View: https://twitter.com/alexspeier/status/1434523155209592837?s=21

 

[Rovin Romine]

View: https://twitter.com/alexspeier/status/1434523155209592837?s=21

That really does not matter one way or the other.

The takeaway is that after losing 2 key players (Arroyo, E.Hernandez) nine days ago, the org., collectively, is still fucking this up. Sorry for the french, but there's no way to sugar-coat this. They're completely fucking up protecting their players' health and fielding a team.

 

[bosockboy]

Five separate hotel rooms.

Yes what I meant. They all need to be quarantined outside of their day to pitch.

 

[cantor44]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/09/angels-release-jose-iglesias.html

Maybe EV will return if they sign Iglesias

Actually, unless he's a total a-hole or something - they should sign him right quick. Why not? At least he's a ML shortstop for real ...

 

[cantor44]

Well, at this point, I'm just trying to resign myself to the fact that it will keep spreading and eventually winning games won't be all that possible ...
I second the emotion that it's utterly baffling that not everyone is masked in the dugout. And that the starting pitchers should isolate themselves as much as possible ...

Of course this pandemic has been a global trauma. While I've haven't gotten it, it's hurt my own life (loss of freelance work with theaters shut down for so long) ...but what's happening with the Sox feels like a dark cosmic joke.

Has any other sports team had a breakout this bad?

 

[Rovin Romine]

Actually, unless he's a total a-hole or something - they should sign him right quick. Why not? At least he's a ML shortstop for real ...

From that link:

Iglesias is playing out this season on a $3.5MM contract. Around $600K of that salary is still owed through the end of the year. Unless another club claims Iglesias off release waivers, the Angels will remain on the hook for the rest of that sum. If he passes through waivers unclaimed, Iglesias would be free to sign with any team for the prorated portion of the league minimum, which would be subtracted from the Angels’ tab. Because he is being cut loose after September 1, Iglesias wouldn’t be eligible for a new team’s postseason roster if he were to latch on somewhere for the stretch run.

 

[geoduck no quahog]

I wonder if guys like Pivetta are asymptomatic. Are other teams getting tested at the same rate the Red Sox are, or is the testing ramped up for the team due to all the positives?

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

View: https://twitter.com/redsox/status/1434553693068795905?s=21

 

[cantor44]

I'm sorry, but maybe MLB has gotta shut this shit down ...and have all members of the Red Sox organization quarantine for a few days getting tested each day, and the folks who are negative can then resume on the field ...

 

[Rovin Romine]

I'm just gonna update this as we go:

Christian Arroyo: Last game: Aug 26. (+ test)​

Enrique Hernandez: Last game: Aug. 26. (+ test)​

Martin Perez: Last game: Aug. 28. (+ test)​

Matt Barnes: Last game: Aug. 29. (+ test)​

Josh Taylor: Last game: Aug. 29. (? on test, but 10 day IL - 7 day minimum for a close contact.)​

Coach Raymond Vazquez: Last game: Don't really care. (+ test)​

Coach Kiyoshi Momose: Last game: Don't really care. (+ test)​

Hirokazu Sawamura: Aug. 31. (+ test)​

Xander Boegarts: Aug. 31. (+ test)​

Yario Munoz: Last game: Aug 31. (+ test)​

Jarod Durran: Sept. 3. (+ test - symptoms before test)​

Pivetta: Sept 5. (+ test)​

Danny "Power and Speed" Santanner: Sept 5. (? test)​

Total 11 players.​

Callups:

J. Arauz: Aug. 27​

Yario Munoz: Aug. 27 (Covid on Sept.1)​

Phillips Valdez: Aug. 30​

Raynel Espinal: Aug. 30​

Brad Peacock: Aug. 31​

Stephen Gonsalves: Aug. 31​

Brad Peacock: Aug. 31 (Raynel Espinal down)​

(Renfroe returns from bereavement leave: 8/31)​

Roster Expansion 9/1 to 28 players​

John Schreiber: Sept. 1​

Jack Lopez: Sept. 1​

Danny "Power and Speed" Santanner: : Sept. 1 (Covid on Sept. 5)​

Ryan Brasier: Roster expansion 9/1​

Connor Wong: Sept. 3 (down to Wor on Sept. 4)​

Taylor Motter: Sept 4 (claimed on waivers from Rockies)​

Kutter Crawford: Sept. 5​

Franchy Cordero: Sept. 5​

 

[YTF]

I'm sorry, but maybe MLB has gotta shut this shit down ...and have all members of the Red Sox organization quarantine for a few days getting tested each day, and the folks who are negative can then resume on the field ...

I believe they are tested every day, that's how these cases are being discovered. I'm curious if opposing players are being allowed to fraternize before or after games as we often see them doing.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

I'm just gonna update this as we go:

Christian Arroyo: Last game: Aug 26. (+ test)​

Enrique Hernandez: Last game: Aug. 26. (+ test)​

Martin Perez: Last game: Aug. 28. (+ test)​

Matt Barnes: Last game: Aug. 29. (+ test)​

Josh Taylor: Last game: Aug. 29. (? on test, but 10 day IL - 7 day minimum for a close contact.)​

Coach Raymond Vazquez: Last game: Don't really care. (+ test)​

Coach Kiyoshi Momose: Last game: Don't really care. (+ test)​

Hirokazu Sawamura: Aug. 31. (+ test)​

Xander Boegarts: Aug. 31. (+ test)​

Yario Munoz: Last game: Aug 31. (+ test)​

Jarod Durran: Sept. 3. (+ test - symptoms before test)​

Pivetta: Sept 5. (+ test)​

Danny "Power and Speed" Santanner: Sept 5. (+ test)​

Total 11 players.​

Callups:

J. Arauz: Aug. 27​

Yario Munoz: Aug. 27 (Covid on Sept.1)​

Phillips Valdez: Aug. 30​

Raynel Espinal: Aug. 30​

Brad Peacock: Aug. 31​

Stephen Gonsalves: Aug. 31​

Brad Peacock: Aug. 31 (Raynel Espinal down)​

(Renfroe returns from bereavement leave: 8/31)​

Roster Expansion 9/1 to 28 players​

John Schreiber: Sept. 1​

Jack Lopez: Sept. 1​

Danny "Power and Speed" Santanner: : Sept. 1 (Covid on Sept. 5)​

Ryan Brasier: Roster expansion 9/1​

Connor Wong: Sept. 3 (down to Wor on Sept. 4)​

Taylor Motter: Sept 4 (claimed on waivers from Rockies)​

Kutter Crawford: Sept. 5​

Franchy Cordero: Sept. 5​

Technicality, but I'm not sure we know yet if Danny was a + test or a close contact.

 

[Rovin Romine]

Technicality, but I'm not sure we know yet if Danny was a + test or a close contact.

Adjusted. (But unless there's some sort of Pivetta/Santana tooth-brush sharing going on, I think everyone on the team is a close contact.)

 

[YTF]

Technicality, but I'm not sure we know yet if Danny was a + test or a close contact.

I might be mistaken, but I thought they mentioned on the pregame show that he tested positive.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

I might be mistaken, but I thought they mentioned on the pregame show that he tested positive.

You're probably right. I just haven't been able to find anything written confirming it.

 

[Earthbound64]

I'm sorry, but maybe MLB has gotta shut this shit down ...and have all members of the Red Sox organization quarantine for a few days getting tested each day, and the folks who are negative can then resume on the field ...

Shut the whole season down.
This whole thing is a joke.

 

[benhogan]

That really does not matter one way or the other.

The takeaway is that after losing 2 key players (Arroyo, E.Hernandez) nine days ago, the org., collectively, is still fucking this up. Sorry for the french, but there's no way to sugar-coat this. They're completely fucking up protecting their players' health and fielding a team.

Letting their best AAA pitcher go 6 innings yesterday is mind-numbingly dumb.

I mean who could have predicted they'd lose another player to COVID today?

With all the relievers going down, they should be handling the pitching at AA and AAA with kid gloves

 

[InsideTheParker]

Letting their best AAA pitcher go 6 innings yesterday is mind-numbingly dumb.

I mean who could have predicted they'd lose another player to COVID today?

With all the relievers going down, they should be handling the pitching at AA and AAA with kid gloves

Has any of the AAA players tested positive before they arrived at the big club? The "below 85% vaccination rate" applies to the entire franchise, I believe.

 

[nvalvo]

Has any of the AAA players tested positive before they arrived at the big club? The "below 85% vaccination rate" applies to the entire franchise, I believe.

The guys in AAA have already been through intake protocols, yeah. Not AA or below, but AAA.

 

[joe dokes]

Letting their best AAA pitcher go 6 innings yesterday is mind-numbingly dumb.

I mean who could have predicted they'd lose another player to COVID today?

With all the relievers going down, they should be handling the pitching at AA and AAA with kid gloves

Hindsight aside, how long should Seabold have sat idle waiting for the next positive?

 

[Diamond Don Aase]

Hindsight aside, how long should Seabold have sat idle waiting for the next positive?

Promoting Raynel Espinal because Seabold had just pitched prior to the first wave of the outbreak was understandable. Since then, though, the Red Sox have promoted Stephen Gonsalves, Brad Peacock, and John Schreiber, who was not even the more talented Duke boy. Seabold could have replaced any of them this weekend rather than wasting bullets with Worcester.

 

[benhogan]

Hindsight aside, how long should Seabold have sat idle waiting for the next positive?

why sit idle?

maybe he could have been in the bullpen for Boston doing long relief instead of some of this flotsam we've been throwing out there

OR

2-3 innings max at AAA

heck rosters had been expanded, why waste his arm at AAA?

BUT when you have so many positives over the last 10 days, the chance of the rest of the roster getting COVID increases, right? So managing AAA pitchers innings seems obvious. Seabold is done for 4-5 days now

 

[joe dokes]

why sit idle?

maybe he could have been in the bullpen for Boston doing long relief instead of some of this flotsam we've been throwing out there

OR

2-3 innings max at AAA

heck rosters had been expanded, why waste his arm at AAA?

BUT when you have so many positives over the last 10 days, the chance of the rest of the roster getting COVID increases, right? So managing AAA pitchers innings seems obvious. Seabold is done for 4-5 days now

And if he thrown any innings in Boston after Thursday, he probably wouldnt be able to pitch today either.

 

[Traut]

They will not be the only team to experience this. There’s a lot of Covid shaming going around but this is the nature of the delta variant. It’s that contagious. Ideally they deal with this now and other teams get hit in October.

 

[benhogan]

And if he thrown any innings in Boston after Thursday, he probably wouldnt be able to pitch today either.

I'm not sure we're cracking any atoms around here wanting Seabold pitching innings in Boston instead of Worcester.

What do you think the strategy is by pitching him at AAA and not in Boston?

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I'm not sure we're cracking any atoms around here wanting Seabold pitching innings in Boston instead of Worcester.

What do you think the strategy is by pitching him at AAA and not in Boston?

Seems the strategy is they don't want him throwing random relief innings and prefer him to stay on a starter schedule. Worcester is scheduled to play right through the end of the month just like MLB, and they have a spot for him in the rotation, so he's there. Until this morning, the Sox did not have a spot in the rotation, so he's not with them.

 

[benhogan]

Seems the strategy is they don't want him throwing random relief innings and prefer him to stay on a starter schedule. Worcester is scheduled to play right through the end of the month just like MLB, and they have a spot for him in the rotation, so he's there. Until this morning, the Sox did not have a spot in the rotation, so he's not with them.

I don't see high leverage innings in Boston as random relief innings

they seemed perfectly capable of getting Houck (before starting) and Whitlock consistent work out of the pen.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I'm sorry, but maybe MLB has gotta shut this shit down ...and have all members of the Red Sox organization quarantine for a few days getting tested each day, and the folks who are negative can then resume on the field ...

I believe they are tested every day, that's how these cases are being discovered. I'm curious if opposing players are being allowed to fraternize before or after games as we often see them doing.

This outbreak allegedly originated with Brock Holt. There may have been a shared dinner during the weekend (so they interacted away from the park). He tested positive on Sunday. Five days later, Kike and Arroyo test positive and the dominoes fell from there. Other than that, I've heard of nothing suggesting that the virus is transmitting between opposing players. So the only danger here is to the Red Sox themselves, which is likely why MLB isn't stepping in. As long as the Sox field a full roster each game, and so far they haven't been caught short-handed with more IL players than available taxi squad guys, there's nothing more to do.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I don't see high leverage innings in Boston as random relief innings

they seemed perfectly capable of getting Houck (before starting) and Whitlock consistent work out of the pen.

Random being the timing. They want him throwing a starter's load on a set schedule every 5-6 days. Throwing an inning here and two innings there is NOT a set schedule.

Worth noting since you bring up Houck is that he hasn't done a lot of work out of the pen at all. Once in April and one three inning save after he returned in July. Otherwise, he's been on a starter's schedule. Whitlock has exclusively been a reliever, so I'm not sure the relevance here.