Red Sox notes: Kevin Pillar tired of the excuses, Andrew Benintendi on the bench

Ron Roenicke isn’t the type to pick up a table and throw it across the clubhouse.

The Red Sox’ manager has a much softer approach to his job. It’s why a group of mostly veterans asked the team to promote Roenicke from bench coach after Alex Cora was let go following the sign-stealing fiasco.

Roenicke is calm, easy-going and player-friendly.

But after the Sox’ 3-8 start to the season in which they’ve scored just 3.4 runs per game since Opening Day and started to look lifeless on the field, Roenicke took a moment to let his feelings be known.

No more excuses, he told them in a team meeting this week.

“There are a lot of things going on, obviously, a lot of things that you can complain about,” Roenicke said. “I don’t have too many meetings with the guys, as you know… And I had to do that a few days ago. And we addressed kind of what’s going on and the uncertainty about this season and whether it’s going to continue for the 50 more games or what’s going to happen.”

Red Sox outfielder Kevin Pillar said the team respected the skipper’s opinion.

“I think Ron’s done a really good job in delivering that message,” Pillar said.

Pillar said the excuse-making has been too easy this season. With the coronavirus and the swirling uncertainty in the world around them, many players appear to be disinterested on the field.

“If you’re here, you might as well take advantage of it,” Pillar said. “We’re here, you might as well compete. Regardless if there’s people in the stands, regardless if there are rumors about the season getting shut down, regardless of our own individual thoughts about what should happen or what should not happen, if we’re here, we might as well go out and play as hard as we can. If we’re here, we might as well go out and try to win a game.”

Pillar said a lot of the players left families and kids at home, making it even more difficult to focus.

“We’re thinking, ‘I wish I was at home, I wish they would shut down the season, I wish we had a little bit more clarity of what was going to happen and I wish there was more transparency,’ ” he said. “These are all just excuses we allow ourselves to make for ourselves especially when things aren’t going well. You see teams that have gotten off to good starts and have been successful, and those teams don’t look like they’re making excuses. They’re not worried about if there’s a game tomorrow, if the season gets shut down. They’re just making the most of the opportunity they have every day they step onto the field.

“That’s the most important message I’ve tried to deliver. I know our staff and some players have tried to deliver. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Focus on today.”

Benintendi, JBJ on the bench

It’s got to be easier for Pillar to speak up given his excellent play on the field.

He’s been arguably the best Red Sox player this season, entering Wednesday with a .394 average and five extra-base hits in 33 at-bats. And he’s been a part-time player given he only starts against left-handed pitching.

“The Red Sox organization was very open and honest with me what my role was going to be,” he said. “I accepted that role. But it’s not going to stop me from continuing to work to fight for at-bats and fight for opportunities to play.”

Pillar got a chance to start Wednesday against a lefty as Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. took a seat on the bench. Both have struggled at the plate, with Bradley in a cold stretch since Game No. 5 and Benintendi in a cold stretch the entire season.

Roenicke said he never thought he’d bench both of them in the same game, but it makes sense to get other guys in the lineup right now. Jose Peraza got the start in left field.

Respect for JBJ’s defense

Watching Bradley play center field every day has given Pillar new respect for the Gold Glove winner.

“It’s still new to me to not be the alpha out there and have to learn to be called off and to play with one of the best defenders in the game,” said Pillar, a great defender during his time with the Blue Jays but never a Gold Glove winner. “The one thing I didn’t really know about Jackie before getting the opportunity to play with him is, because he makes so much stuff look easy, is his willingness to put his body on the line.

“Someone like me who isn’t as quick, as fast as Jackie, that’s what I needed to do to survive and make plays. Jackie a lot of times can get to balls standing on his feet. But what I’ve seen from him lately, getting back at the wall or diving, is his willingness to put his body on the line to help our pitching staff out and our team win games, has been really impressive to watch.”

Febles cleared to return

Red Sox third base coach Carlos Febles, who has been in Boston while waiting for the results of an inconclusive coronavirus test, was cleared to rejoin the team when the series with the Rays is over.

The Sox will use a rotation of Ryan Weber, Zack Godley and someone to be determined for their three-game series against the Blue Jays at Fenway Park starting on Friday.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/30wI2Mf