As the Boston Red Sox aim to match a franchise record Wednesday afternoon when they go for their 15th straight win, there has obviously been a lot of focus on the players who have stepped up to make this possible. But there has also been plenty of discussion about a couple notable young players who haven't been around for this winning streak: Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer.
Both are currently out injured, and Anthony isn't even in Boston anymore, having shifted his rehab for a hand injury to Fort Myers, Florida. Some have wondered if the Red Sox have been better off with Anthony and Mayer, who both struggled earlier this season, out of the picture. Rumors about their off-field, night-life endeavors have only added to that line of speculation, including questions about whether that was a factor in sending Anthony down to Florida in the first place.
On The Greg Hill Show Wednesday morning, Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy was asked if he had any concerns about Anthony and Mayer's conduct away from Fenway Park, and answered with an emphatic no. Listen to the full interview above.
"Zero," Tracy said when asked what his concern level was. "Not even remotely on my radar. Not something we've even talked about in here. I've tried to say here publicly the last couple days – I know that gets a lot of attention. Roman in particular is like, I've said it publicly: I want Roman healthy and I want Roman back. Roman's a great baseball player. He's a hell of a hitter. And he can help us. But, a hell of a hitter with two hands. Not with one. So like, we have to get him healthy.
"But I have no concerns with where his intentions lie. I've been in touch with Roman every two or three days. He's down in Florida, he's hanging out in the Homewood Suites, he's trying to get himself healthy. That's literally it. And being in Florida allows him to focus on that and do that and not feel like he's here at Fenway, where he's the center of attention, everybody's going to him, asking all these questions. He's very focused on what he's trying to do right now, but I have no concern over Roman and Marcelo or where they're going."
Asked if he still believes Anthony will be able to return this season and help this team, Tracy said he remains optimistic that the answer is yes.
"I do believe that," Tracy said. "I'm not saying that's going to happen, but I do believe that. Mainly because what's happened to his hand and what's limiting him still is not limiting him from doing all the other things. He's been running. He's been able to throw. He's been able to get out and get defense. So like, if we get this thing to where it needs to be, it literally is just a matter of, we need a hitting progression, we gotta get him out on a rehab assignment. It's not like he's been sitting there completely inactive for two and a half months. That's not the case. So, there's an opportunity to ramp up and get him back, but it's just we have to wait on the hand. So, I do think so. I don't know if it's going to happen or not, but I do think that could happen."
