RED SOX JOURNAL: Roenick’s future remains undetermined

Ron Roenicke might feel more uneasy if he was a young manager just starting out in the big leagues.

The 64-year-old has seen just about everything as a former player, third-base coach, bench coach and interim skipper. Roenicke debuted with the Dodgers in 1981, started his coaching career with Los Angeles in 1992 and served his first stint as a manager with the Brewers beginning in 2011.

The Red Sox hold a club option on Roenicke for the 2021 season. His [...]

Ron Roenicke might feel more uneasy if he was a young manager just starting out in the big leagues.

The 64-year-old has seen just about everything as a former player, third-base coach, bench coach and interim skipper. Roenicke debuted with the Dodgers in 1981, started his coaching career with Los Angeles in 1992 and served his first stint as a manager with the Brewers beginning in 2011.

The Red Sox hold a club option on Roenicke for the 2021 season. His portion of the blame pie would likely be on the smaller side when slicing up the results of this 60-game year. Roster construction, player personnel moves and injuries contributed more to what could be a fourth last-place finish in the American League East since 2012 than any series of decisions made by Roenicke.

"I realize there’s a timing difference in the way different organizations do things," Roenicke said. "I’ve been fine. Do I like to know either way? Yes, of course I would like to know either way. I think whatever happens I’m going to be fine.

"I thought this year, as difficult as it was, went well on my end. I tried to do everything I can to make things work out."

Roenicke expects to meet with Boston chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom in the coming days to recap the last seven months and set the table for next year. The Red Sox figure to make a significant number of changes to their roster and that could start in the clubhouse’s corner office. Boston entered Saturday’s matchup with the Braves sitting two games behind the Orioles with two to play.

"It really felt like six months," Roenicke said. "It was that difficult of a season for everybody — not just myself.

"The medical staff, it was a nightmare trying to do this every day. The players, the grind they had to go through with everything we were trying to tell them they needed to do with the masks and everything else. The front office, the things they had to deal with just getting us to play at Fenway and the protocols that were put into place there.

"Without a doubt, this was really a tough season."

Ending the season

Nick Pivetta will take the ball for the Red Sox against the Braves in Sunday’s season finale.

It will be his second start with the club. Pivetta covered five innings against the Orioles in his debut, striking out eight in a Tuesday victory.

"Just have a good game," Pivetta said. "Go out there and do what I do best. Go out there, compete and put our team in the best position to win."

Pivetta worked at the alternate site in Pawtucket following his August trade to Boston from the Phillies. He came to the Red Sox along with prospect right-hander Connor Seabold for relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree. The Braves will represent a familiar opponent for Pivetta with his National League East background.

"Me being so critical of myself, I think my fastball command could be a lot better," Pivetta said. "I think I could get into better pitcher’s counts a lot more and put myself in the best position to put guys away the best I can."

Roster moves

The Red Sox made a roster move prior to Saturday’s first pitch.

Right-hander Andrew Triggs (right radial nerve irritation) was activated off the 10-day injured list. Left-hander Jeffrey Springs was optioned off the 28-man.

Triggs last faced hitters in a Wednesday simulated game at Fenway Park. Springs took the loss on Friday night against the Braves, an 8-7 setback in 11 innings. He blew a save behind Matt Barnes in the 10th and allowed a walkoff two-run homer to Freddie Freeman in the 11th.

Boston activated Austin Brice (right lat strain) off the 10-day IL on Friday. Domingo Tapia (right biceps contusion) was placed on the 10-day IL after being struck with a line drive in a Thursday defeat against the Orioles.

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25