Rich Hill is back and he's ready to rant
Saturday, the baseball world was reminded how unnerving and unacceptable some fans' reactions can be.
It was revealed after the Astros' game against the Reds that starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and his family had received death threats via social media after he had allowed seven runs in what became a 10-run first-inning for Cincinnati.
"I understand people are very passionate and people love the Astros and love sports, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is a little bit tough to deal with," said McCullers, who is married with two young daughters. "So just as a father, I think there have been many, many threats over the years aimed at me, mostly, and I think actually one or two people from other issues around baseball actually had to go to jail for things like that. But I think bringing kids into the equation, threatening to find them or next time they see us in public they're going to stab my kids to death, things like that, it's tough to hear as a dad."
Astros manager Joe Espada added after the game, "There are people who are threatening his life and the life of his kids because of his performance. It is very unfortunate that we have to deal with this. After all he's done for this city, for his team, the fact that we have to talk about that in my office -- I got kids too, and it really drives me nuts that we have to deal with this. Very sad. Very, very sad."
Unfortunately, this is far from an isolated incident. Just ask Lucas Giolito.
What happened on the day of Giolito’s first home start in a Red Sox uniform wasn’t new to him, but it is tough to ignore.
The moment wasn’t distinguished because of his outing Tuesday night. Such outings as the one in which Giolito allowed six runs over just 3 ⅔ innings have happened to the 30-year-old before. He has, after all, pitched in 182 major league games.
The red flag came because of what transpired in the moments after the game when Giolito got access to his phone.
That’s when he saw the messages.
“My last start obviously went terribly,” he said. “I go through messages on Instagram and stuff telling me to kill myself. I got one that was like, ‘I hope you and your family die’ after the last one. I pitched poorly, so that’s what happens. … It happens every time you pitch bad.
“Moreso in the last couple of years. It might be a little bit different because it was my first poor performance in a Red Sox uniform and I know there is a very passionate fan base here and then you mix that with the gambling and I pitched a night game so people might be a little liquored up and feel free to let loose in the messages.”
The problem, as Giolito, has escalated due to the desperation that has come with sports gambling. It has become so prevalent, said the pitcher, that reporting the threats are no longer a priority.
“I don’t care anymore,” he explained. “A few years ago I had one that was extremely personal. It was to the point where I was wondering how does this person know this information about my life. I reported that one, but I don’t know if it went anywhere. The stuff where it is like, ‘Kill yourself,’ or ‘I hope you die’ it’s like, whatever. I’m very used to that.
The reality is that the genie - that was truly released thanks to the Supreme Court 2018 ruling that sports betting wouldn’t just be limited to primarily the state of Nevada, leading leagues to partner with sports gambling agencies - is not going to be put back in the bottle.
It has all drawn significant attention and revenue to the networks covering the games, and the leagues that make up the sporting world. Major League Baseball educates, informs, and regulates within its own walls, but there is so much it - or any league - can do when it comes to those being impacted by the performances of those participating.
That was the reminder Giolito was offered once again thanks to a bad day at the office.
“They get aggravated and I don’t know their situation,” he said. “They might have bet what little money they have on a parlay hitting five strikeouts or something and if I don’t finish the leg for them they’re out their paycheck for two weeks. Obviously, people get emotional. I wouldn’t do it. I’m not interested in sports gambling. I think it’s a losing game.”
McCullers Jr. and Giolito are just two examples. Unfortunately, because of access, bravado and some of the dynamics surfaced by the Red Sox' pitcher, there are - and will be - more. The hope is that any and all attention drawn to the issue will highlight what a losing game it truly is ... in so many ways.
Lucas Giolito details threats made toward him by fans
THE RED SOX’ VELOCITY CAMP
Remember a year ago, when the Red Sox’ pitchers were spinning their way to an eye-opening start to the 2024 season? By May 10, the staff was leading the majors with a team ERA of 2.78 ERA riding the philosophy that the fewer fastballs the better.
By the end of the season, the Sox’ pitchers had thrown the second-fewest number of pitches clocking in at 95 mph or better (12 percent).
Times have changed.
This season, 21.5 percent of the pitches thrown by the Red Sox staff have been clocked in at 95 or higher, the sixth-highest rate in all of baseball. It’s not by accident.
“Essentially, it’s making sure we are making the main thing the main thing. When I came into the organization I wanted to make sure we were making the main thing the main thing,” said Red Sox director of pitching Justin Willard, who joined the organization before last season after coming over from Minnesota. “If you’re talking about throwing nasty stuff in the zone, then if we’re working on nasty stuff that’s what we’re working on. What is the feedback we’re getting? Is this nasty? Or if you are in the zone, are you in the zone or not? Too many times in baseball we will focus on everything.”
There are a variety of avenues the Red Sox have gone down to implement this strategy, some more obvious than others. And one of the less visible projects can be found down in Fort Myers, Fla. at what has been simply described as “Velocity Camp.”
Wondering where 34-year-old Austin Adams was prior to finally making his debut in the Red Sox organization via an April 23rd appearance with Triple-A Worcester? The answer: He was spending three weeks at The Camp.
“Ultimately it was born from a guy who is fighting the aging curve,” Willard explained. “You can expect to lose a quarter of an MPH per year after the age of 24 and we’re just trying to beat that aging curve.
“He has no training history. He has done mechanical stuff but he hasn’t done high-intent throwing stuff. So we are trying to capture to see if activating and getting the CNS (central nervous system) firing a little bit quicker could potentially negate some of that downward trend in velocity he is seeing year over year.
“In Adams’ case, we wanted to remove him from competition and really just give him the feedback as to if he was throwing harder or not. We’re going to try different implements. We’re going to try different exercises. We’re going to try different movement patterns. All with the hope that he could unlock something that drives him toward his ultimate goal.”
The program - which also included 32-year-old veteran hurler Jose De Leon during the April session - encompasses a variety of strategies. Run-and-guns. Shuffle throws. Heavy balls. Lighter balls. Gym work. Nutrition. Medical maintenance. As Willard explained it, “All of this comes into a holistic program.”
“It’s no longer just throwing to get ready,” he adds. “It’s throwing to optimize.”
Speaking of throwing harder, you might want to notice that Brad Keller threw 100 mph this week. Why should that fastball to Teoscar Hernandez be notable? Because when the current Cub pitched in his 11 games for the Red Sox last season he maxed out at 96 mph and averaged 93.8 mph. Welcome to the world of chasing - and often finding - velocity.
A SCOUTING AND DEVELOPMENT SUCCESS STORY
One of those pitchers who has gone through the Red Sox' Velocity Camp is Brandon Clarke, a fifth-round pick in last year's MLB Draft who has already been promoted from Low-A Salem to High-A Greenville. (Already adding three MPH to his fastball in just the last few months.)
The 6-foot-4 lefty first started distinguishing himself throughout spring training, including an eye-popping performance at the Breakout Game against the Rays. That has carried over to the regular season, with Clarke totaling an 0.63 ERA in his first four starts, striking out 24 and walking two.
So, how does a pitcher like this land in the fifth round? Some of it has to do with the uneven path taken by a player who had Tommy John surgery as a high school junior, had to redshirt after more physical issues at University of Alabama and ultimately ended up in junior college in Sarasota.
All of it ultimately turned out to be an opportunity for the Red Sox and their scouting department, specifically 28-year-old Dante Ricciardi.
The son of former Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi had already made his mark as a scout in the Red Sox organization signing the likes of Shane Drohan, Nathan Hickey, Luis Guerrero, Nelly Taylor, Brandon Neely and Drew Ehrhard (who reached Double-A last season after not being drafted the year before).
The scout had first seen Clarke in 2023, but that season saw the big lefty throw just six innings and touch 95 mph occasionally. The following year it was a different image, with the pitcher routinely sitting in the mid-to-high 90's with command that pushed his walk-rate down by 20 percent.
Both Ricciardi and longtime scout Tom Kotchman kept suggesting that the Red Sox start getting more looks at Clarke via their national crosscheckers. Yes, it was junior college, but it was also a package that was getting increasingly tough to ignore. The conviction on Clarke only grew after he hit 100 mph at the MLB Scouting Combine.
Then came the Draft, followed by the Camp. All of it has led to one of last year's biggest scouting and drafting success stories.
"On top of his talent is absolutely dynamite makeup to go along with it," Ricciardi said in an email. "He deserves all the credit he’s received for going out and executing everything that’s been thrown his way. I am extremely proud to have my name associated with an individual like Brandon Clarke."
HOW IS AROLDIS CHAPMAN DOING THIS?
When you're throwing 42.9 percent of your pitches at 100 mph like the Angels' Ben Joyce (who is now on the 60-day IL) that's incredible. The same goes for the rate turned in by the A's Mason Miller (39.8 percent) and Justin Martinez of Arizona (31.1 percent).
But when you're managing to throw at the century mark or better 27.3 percent of the time at the age of 37 years old, like Aroldis Chapman, that is truly something different.
Chapman has thrown three pitches over 103 mph, and nine at 102 mph or better. It shouldn't have come as too much of a surprise considering the lefty hit 105 mph two times last season.
So, how is this happening? We asked Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey this week on the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast:
AND SOME OTHER STUFF …
- Chris Murphy, the lefty pitcher who underwent Tommy John surgery in early April last year, is on the verge of returning to actual games. He has built up to three innings during his live BP sessions, clocking in with numbers surpassing anything displayed prior to the injury.
- Some Dustin Pedroia talk since the former second baseman was in attendance for the Red Sox’ series in Kansas City: 1. Bobby Witt Jr. idolized Pedroia growing up, wearing No. 17 because it combined the numbers of his two favorite players - Pedroia (No. 15) and Derek Jeter (No. 2); 3. Rafael Devers worked out with the glove Pedroia gave him in 2018 for the past six seasons up until this spring; 3. Pedroia has vowed not to entertain managing until his kids are finished playing youth sports, but that doesn’t mean one big league team didn’t at least inquire about his interest in recent years. (Not the Red Sox.)
- Last year’s second-round pick Peyton Tolle - who stands at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds - has been dominant for High-A Greenville. After allowing one run over five innings Saturday night, Tolle’s previous four starts saw him give up just two runs over 18 innings, striking out 31 with just three walks.
- Only one hitter has a higher hard-hit percentage than Rafael Devers’ 61.9 percent: Shohei Ohtani (68 percent).
- The Twins have won seven in a row since Rocco Baldelli was handed a “Baseball Isn’t Boring” sticker. Coincidence? We think not.
- One scout who has been following Triple-A Worcester: “(Marcelo) Mayer has looked better lately than (Roman) Anthony. He is turning around 97 mph fastballs like they’re nothing. He’s ready now.”
- If there was any doubt about what color the Red Sox’ new City Connect uniforms (scheduled to be worn for the first time Friday) are, some of the players are offering hints. Liam Hendriks has been breaking in an all-green glove, while Trevor Story already has a personalized green belt with the gold inscription, “Green Monster.”
- Speaking of uniforms, Salem pitcher Michael Sansone recently experienced a nightmare thanks to his choice of attire ...
- Kenley Jansen has allowed a run in only one of his 10 appearances. The problem for the Angels’ closer is that in that one game, he gave up six runs, pushing his current ERA to 5.40. He is 7-for-7 in save opportunities. Life of a reliever.
- The Marlins are having their coaches call the pitches for their minor league pitchers/catchers, with the Triple-A players getting a chance to execute on their own 20 percent of the time. Let's just say some have an issue with the strategy, as was evident by Rich Hill's appearance with Julian McWilliams on the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast: