Travis Shaw
MONTREAL — Travis Shaw’s 2016 spring training numbers are excellent: 20-for-63 (.317) with two home runs, four doubles, 10 RBIs, 10 runs and a .368 OBP over 22 games of action.
However, Shaw has hit a mini-slump at the back end of the exhibition season, with just two hits in his last 25 at-bats. On Friday in Montreal against Toronto, Shaw started and went 0-for-4 with a walk, grounding out twice into the Blue Jays’ defensive shift with three infielders placed between first and second base.
So how should Shaw avoid the shift?
“Don’t hit into it,” his manager John Farrell said Saturday with a chuckle. “When Travis is swinging the bat well he’s using the whole field. I would like to think at some point he would get some of those lanes back. Now, opposing pitchers are going to pitch accordingly, so how he looks to combat that, he’s bunted a couple of times which I would anticipate he would continue to do. The shifts are part of everyday baseball now, he’s not the only one.”
As for Shaw’s recent skid, Farrell said he has seen a few trends.
“Travis is very much a rhythm hitter,” explained Farrell. “When he’s in that good spot he’s hitting all pitches in all areas of the strike zone. At times he may get a little bit pull oriented and that might make him a little bit more susceptible to some offspeed. That ebbs and flows a little bit.”
Shaw was not in the starting lineup for Saturday’s exhibition finale, with Pablo Sandoval batting sixth and playing third base.
E-ROD AND CARSON INJURY UPDATES
Farrell gave the latest injury news on pitchers Eduardo Rodriguez and Carson Smith as they return from knee and forearm injuries, respectively:
“Eddie Rodriguez threw a 40-pitch session today, 20 to get loose, 20 additional in live batting practice,” Farrell said. “He came through it as he’s been with his bullpens of late. The next step for him is to increase the number of pitches a small amount [and] that will be done on Monday.”
Farrell said Rodriguez would likely throw bullpens on Monday and Thursday of the upcoming week.
Farrell continued: “Carson Smith threw out to 90 feet today and continues to improve the overall feeling, and will be building out to long toss over the coming week.”
NO CAPTAINS, ALL CAPTAINS
Former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek was famously given the formal ‘C’ to wear after the 2004 World Series, becoming just the third Boston player to receive the honor and first since Jim Rice (1985-1989).
Despite David Ortiz embarking on his farewell season, and Dustin Pedroia starting his 11th season in Boston, Farrell said nobody would be getting the official captaincy this year.
“We’re all pretty clear and aware that both David and Dustin have the longest tenure here, both embody the characteristics of a true leader of our team,” Farrell said. “I don’t think it needs to be identified with a letter on a jersey. And that’s not to take away from ‘Tek’ or players that have had that insignia on their jersey. It is very rare in our sport. In our clubhouse, it’s important for all players regardless of status, regardless of age — to me leadership has no age limits to it — [for] our guys to each lead in their own way.”
BULLPEN NEWBIE
Reliever Matt Barnes has 37 major league appearances under his belt, but 2016 will be his first season to start in the big leagues on opening day.
“It’s going to be exciting, a lot of fun. I’ll try and do my part,” said Barnes, who pitched a scoreless ninth inning Friday night in Montreal, picking up the victory in the extra-inning affair. “I feel like I’m in midseason form right now in terms of how my body and arm feels. The ball’s coming out really well. Just stay in mechanics and not try and do too much. The lights are on, playing at night, the crowd, the games mean more, you always have the adrenaline pumping.”
Barnes said he liked the look of the Red Sox bullpen, and that they do have a captain: Koji Uehara.
“Koji is definitely at the top,” said Barnes. “Koji speaks pretty good English so we can talk to him. Other than that it just trickles down. I think the organization did a great job of bringing guys in and continuing to keep the guys we have.”
PRESSURE AND TIME
John Farrell admitted that he’s aware of public perception that the team — and the manager — has increased pressure this season to get off to a good start. However, Farrell contested the reality of that perception.
“It’s been written a lot about that, but anytime you look back [after] a good year, you’ve got off to a decent start,” said Farrell. “That’s no different for us. The urgency which has been spoken about, written about, that’s every year. That’s Boston. We know what’s transpired the last two years, but those years are behind us. We’re looking a tremendous amount of energy and optimism come Monday.”
Farrell continued: “We’re ready. We’re ready to being the season. That means that there’s a journey ahead that we’ll get thrown some things that might be unexpected, some bumps and twists along the way. How we respond to those as a team is what matters most. The way our players came and worked every day, the energy that they brought everyday, their attention to detail, that’s been outstanding. We’ve seen a group that has somewhat grown together and become a little more close as we begin on Monday. This is a special group of guys, and I’m happy and proud to be a part of it.”