It seems Rafael Devers is happy as a clam, after all…
At least, that’s what the Red Sox’s definite third baseman — you’ve got that? Third baseman. Not DH… — expressed on Tuesday down at spring training in Fort Myers.
“I’m not frustrated. I don’t have the need to be frustrated about anything with anybody,” Devers said through a team interpreter via MassLive.com. “My family is good. My kids are good. I have no reason to be frustrated about anything.”
Now, does Devers actually feel any differently than when he so blatantly staked his claim to third base — the same position one notable newcomer Alex Bregman happens to play better than most in the league — at the outset of the spring?
“I feel like I said everything I needed to say that day,” he said. “I still feel the same way.”
Devers quipped, “I really don’t know why this is becoming such a big story.”
Gee, Raffy, I don’t know… perhaps it’s because you went out of your way to create a controversy when there didn’t need to be one? You could have just, I don’t know, said you were happy to have the new talent in — talent you demanded of your employers one offseason ago — and leave it at that.
Devers’ likability has definitely taken a hit through all of this unnecessary drama. It’s not that he’s now “unlikable,” per se, but some of his true colors have shown through in his words: he’s a little more me than we.
And that’s fine. Players who were more selfish than team players have still performed well, helped their teams, won the World Series. This story doesn’t need to be the defining point of Devers’ upcoming ninth season in the big leagues.
Devers is likely to start the year at third, which is what he wants — and since he’s gone out of his way to put his foot down on the topic, then he better turn in one heck of a performance at the hot corner this season. Enough of those consistent league-leading errors…
Bregman has been a good sport through all of this, because what else can he do? He’s not going to pick a fight with the incumbent face of the franchise in what effectively could be another contract year for him. He’ll smile, probably play a pretty good second base and collect his $40 million.
But if Devers struggles at third, which is certainly a possibility, the murmurs will only get louder for Bregman to replace him. Maybe that’s enough to push him over the edge from officially “not frustrated” into firmly frustrated territory.
It will make for some interesting theater, that’s for sure…
Bregman’s, Crochet’s hot starts
The two biggest offseason additions wasted little time in making their marks in their first appearances in a Sox uniform.
Bregman came on strong with three hits and a two-run homer (sprinkling in a double off the fence for good measure) in his Sox debut on Sunday. Garrett Crochet followed suit by striking out three in the first inning and four batters total in 1 2/3 frames.
What does it mean? Crown ‘em World Series champs, of course. Or not…
But what is good about the fast starts for Boston’s two most important roster adds is that it shows they are eager to hit the ground running with their new teams. And why not? As mentioned above, Bregman can opt out after each year of his deal. Crochet is yet to sign his first big contract in the majors, which figures to be a big one.
They’re both playing for contracts, and that can be beneficial to all involved.
Neither is likely to light up the league all year long — although Crochet enters the year with the second-best American League Cy Young Award odds behind last year’s winner Tarik Skubal of the Tigers, per several betting outlets — because they started well in the spring.
We also saw some of the issues that are Crochet’s Achilles’ heel — his wildness — in the outing. Crochet allowed three hits and a walk. But that’s going to be part of the package with Crochet, at least for now. He is still 25, and it’s his Chris Sale-like flamethrower nature that takes the top billing.
But it’s encouraging on the whole, and after all the disappointment we’ve put up with ever since the last Sox team to accomplish something big in 2018, it’s something worth talking about…
Newcomb-er
Count Sean Newcomb as another player who impressed in his first spring start with the Sox.
The 31-year-old left-hander and Massachusetts native tossed a pair of scoreless innings with only one hit allowed and six strikeouts on Tuesday against his former Braves team.
“It was a good start. I was able to continue with a lot of the stuff I’ve been working on,” Newcomb told the Boston Globe.
Newcomb’s is a likable redemption story, as I’ve written in this space before. Who doesn’t want to see the hometown kid revive his career and become a valuable contributor?
“It was cool. It’s been a long time coming. Something I’ve dreamt about,” Newcomb added.
There’s still a long ways to go, and his role would almost certainly be out of the ‘pen as a long reliever or opener-type. His days of starter potential are likely behind us, but that might benefit him given the log jam in the Sox’s rotation.
I definitely see Newcomb as a guy who could grab an Opening Day roster spot out of the ‘pen if he turns in a decent spring. The Sox still feel like they are a significant reliever short out there, and maybe he can fill that role.