If you only caught the game yesterday and missed the buzz online, you might not have noticed, but the Red Sox and Angels got into a minor scuffle — and it didn’t even happen during the game. The incident took place beforehand and surprisingly involved Red Sox first base coach Jose Flores, not a player.
Though everyone downplayed the situation — manager Alex Cora chalked it up to “just baseball talk” — reports suggest it stemmed from the Angels suspecting Flores of stealing signs. (Rob Bradford, WEEI)
Ironically, given how thoroughly the Red Sox lit up Lucas Giolito, it seemed more like the Angels had a read on the pitches. Still, Giolito isn’t pointing fingers or making excuses; he admitted he simply didn’t have it. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
This isn’t the first time Boston has been caught up in sign-stealing drama (let’s be honest — it happens to every team at some point). The last notable flare-up came against the Yankees, and those long-time rivals are set to face off again this weekend — though it may already be too late for Boston to make a run at them in the division. (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
Adding a bit of intrigue to that series: the Sox recently claimed Rookie of the Year hopeful Carlos Narvaez off waivers from the Yankees. It’s a twist of fate, considering New York was the only team that took a chance on him as an amateur from Venezuela. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
Meanwhile, Ceddanne Rafaela, no longer a rookie, hasn’t matched Narvaez’s production so far. Still, he’s a young talent working to establish himself. With advanced stats hinting he’s had some bad luck at the plate — paired with his elite defense — a breakout might be around the corner. (Chad Jennings, The Athletic)
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