David Price pitches for the Sox against Tampa Bay at Fenway park
BOSTON — His last start at Fenway Park came on a summer Sunday against the franchise’s most storied rival.
David Price took the ball July 16, 2017, in the second half of a day-night doubleheader against the Yankees and spun a beauty, taming the baby Bronx Bombers over eight scoreless innings. Aaron Judge – barely, thanks to a highlight-reel catch in center field by Jackie Bradley Jr. – and Gary Sanchez were held in check, and Red Sox fans roared like they rarely have with this particular left-hander on the mound. The last of Price’s eight strikeouts came against Matt Holliday to end the eighth inning, and the 36,719 on hand loosed a full-throated endorsement of his performance in a 3-0 shutout.
Fairly or unfairly, Price came to be seen as one of the poster boys for John Farrell’s increasingly uneasy tenure as Boston’s manager. Consecutive postseason eliminations in the American League Division Series ultimately cost Farrell his job and left Price and his teammates as the underachieving villains in the realm of public perception. A clean slate was desperately needed in 2018, one that seems to have been provided throughout spring training and in a six-game road trip that stopped in Tampa Bay and Miami.
“Like I’ve been saying – I said it at the press conference – whatever happened here in the past, I can’t talk about it,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora, speaking specifically about Price, but relaying a sentiment that could be applied to the entirety of his roster. “It’s not fair for John and for the people that were here. We just have to concentrate on the future, and the future started in Fort Myers at that meeting.”
It’s no surprise Cora would reference some sort of team gathering while making his point. Communication with his players and their comfort level have been constant topics of conversation each time he’s met with the media since last week’s season opener against the Rays. Xander Bogaerts is the lone regular position player yet to enjoy a day off, and no member of the starting rotation has exceeded 100 pitches in an outing.
“It’s my coaching staff, man,” said Hanley Ramirez, celebrating his first home run of the season in Monday’s 7-3 win over the Marlins. “They’re keeping me relaxed and joking the whole game. Don’t try to think too much. Go out there, do your job and have fun.”
Whereas some of Farrell’s decisions – and sometimes awkward defense of them – created a bit of tension, Cora acknowledged some early Red Sox flaws following Tuesday’s 4-2, 13-inning victory against Miami. Boston has made six outs on the bases in as many games, a hangover effect from last year’s most wasteful collection of runners in the big leagues. Rafael Devers was one of the casualties, negating his leadoff double in the top of the fifth by getting himself thrown out at third base on a chopper back to the mound by Christian Vazquez.
“There were a few good things,” Cora said. “We stole a few bases and there were some decisions that were good – scoring from first a few times. But we’ve got to get better. We know that.”
Just the simple acknowledgement of the issue from Cora – with eventual evidence of a correction, of course – should go a long way toward preventing it from festering above or below the surface. He took the same steady approach with the bullpen following a meltdown on Opening Day in a 6-4 loss to Tampa Bay, noting the failure to hold the lead by Joe Kelly and Carson Smith, but backing both relievers without hesitation. Kelly earned his first career save in Sunday’s series finale with the Rays and pitched two strong innings on Tuesday.
“We played the Astros the other day in spring training, and players are telling you he’s a smart guy,” said Bogaerts, who solicited first-hand information from the club where Cora served as bench coach for A.J. Hinch and won the World Series last season. “He’s probably one of the smartest guys in baseball, and we’re thankful enough to have him on our team and help guide us and be there when we want to learn some stuff from him. He’s been around the game for a long time.”
Cora’s last home opener with the Red Sox came a decade ago, another occasion where he walked away with a championship ring. Boston turned out to celebrate its 2007 title winners, part of Cora’s four-year run with the club as a utility infielder. His mother, Iris, is expected to be among those in the ballpark Thursday when the Red Sox and Tampa Bay square off yet again at 2:05 p.m. (NESN).
“It’s going to be a special one,” Cora said Tuesday. “I was actually thinking about it in the 10th inning. And the way they’ve played – I think it’s going to be great for the fans to see them finally after a great road trip.”