The Baseball Reporters Show Recap 6/25
Chris Haft of MLB.com joined Tony Massarotti and Dan Roche on today's Baseball Reporters Show to preview the upcoming series with the San Francisco Giants. According to Tony Mazz, there is no pitching staff in baseball deeper or better than what the Giants have. Also, Tony and Roche talk about Papelbon's struggles.
Jonathan Papelbon blew the save opportunity in last night's game vs. the Rockies. It was the first time in 2 years that Papelbon has blown consecutive saves, and the 3rd time he's blown consecutive saves in his career. Also, since the postseason series with the Angels last year, Papelbon has given up 3 or more ER in a game 3 times. Prior to last October, it happened only once in his entire career.
Tony refuses to give up on Papelbon, saying that Papelbon and a lot of the guys on the team, have the ability to persevere because of their mental toughness.
Tony on mental toughness, "You hear managers say it a lot. You hear players say it a lot. The cliche that 'The guy is a competitor'. These are guys who take it to the absolute end. When a game is in the balance, they will fight. The Sox got guys like like that".
Tony doesn't worry about the heart or resiliency with this team because every time there's been a blown save this year, the Sox came right back the next day and won it.
Also, Chris Haft of MLB.com called into the show to preview the series with the Giants. If you want pitching this weekend, the Giants and Red Sox will give it to you. The Giants have the 3rd best team ERA in the MLB and Tony doesn't think there is a staff out there that is deeper or better than what the Giants have.
When asked about Jonathan Sanchez, tonight's started for the Giants, Chris Haft said that he has a sneaky delivery, and his fastball gets in on the batter real quick. Haft compared Sanchez to an Oliver Perez 3 years ago.
The Red Sox will start a 3 game series vs. the San Francisco Giants tonight in San Fran. Tim Wakefield will start opposite Jonathan Sanchez and the game will begin at 10:15 p.m. ET.
