E-Rod (myocarditis) gets 'really good news'
The Red Sox got what manager Ron Roenicke described as “really good news” regarding lefty Eduardo Rodriguez, who missed all of 2020 due to myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle).
The expectation of the training staff at this point is that Rodriguez will be able to have a normal offseason and be ready for Spring Training.
You know the old saying that you need to walk before you can run again? That is literally true in the case of Rodriguez, who has essentially been idle at his house for over two months.
Rodriguez was examined by doctors in Boston last week. The pitcher spoke by Zoom on Thursday night with Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, head athletic trainer Brad Pearson and the heart specialists who have been examining Rodriguez.
"I talked to Eddie afterward, and he was pretty excited," Roenicke said. "So everything -- all the reports that came back, they looked at it [and] he’s been cleared to start walking. In a couple of weeks, that’ll elevate to maybe some treadmill walking and exercising, and they’re hoping that his offseason will be normal and he’ll be able to build himself up for next year.
“So we’re all excited about it. And like I said, Eddie was thrilled. I think he was concerned, as he should be, about what was going on, but the concerning part of it looked good on the exams, and so that’s where we are with him. Hopefully, like I said, it’ll be a normal offseason and building up, and [he'll] be able to come out next year and have a great season.”
It is likely that Rodriguez got myocarditis as an after-effect of COVID-19, which he dealt with in late June and early July.
The Red Sox hadn’t provided many specific updates on Rodriguez’s condition until Friday, so it was certainly noteworthy that he hadn’t really been permitted to do any physical activity.
“Yes, for [two] months, basically, he hasn’t done anything, other than just activities around the house. No physical activities,” Roenicke said.
That said, the Red Sox still think he has enough time to be in the shape he needs to be in by Spring Training.
“Yeah, I think it is [realistic],” said Roenicke. “I think we can look at that. He is going to be able to push himself. Brad was just in here a little while ago, and we were talking about it, and if everything continues as it is, we expect him to have a pretty normal offseason, which is huge for us, huge for him, being able to be that type of pitcher [like he was in 2019].”
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Rodriguez will continue to be on close supervision from the medical staff until he is fully cleared to ramp up his physical activities.
“Yeah, so actually right now, they’re OK with him going for walks, and they would like him to, actually,” Roenicke said. “But not the stress walks. Not the elevated treadmill walks. Hopefully, in a couple of weeks, he can maybe progress to that. This thing is not like, ‘OK, you’re free to go at it and do whatever you want.’ They’re still monitoring what he’s doing.
“We know it’s still a slower process to build himself back up. The good news is that he has been cleared to do that. I think once you’re cleared, you know that at some point, you’re going to get to that spot where you know you need to push yourself and physically be ready for the demands of a long season.”
Roenicke’s status
Roenicke, who signed a one-year contract in Spring Training after the stunning departure of Alex Cora, expects to get some more clarity on his future in Boston early next week.
Roenicke will fly back to Boston with the team after this weekend’s three-game series in Atlanta.
“I’ll be there for at least a couple of days -- maybe two, three days. I miss my wife like all these players miss their families. So I would like to get back and see her and my son and my two granddaughters,” said Roenicke. “I’m looking forward to doing that. So I won’t be in Boston too long, but plan to talk to Chaim in the couple of days after the season.”
If the Red Sox decide to go in a different direction at manager, there’s always a chance Roenicke could return to his previous role as bench coach, which he filled under Cora in 2018-19.
Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez praised Roenicke for the job he has done this season amid difficult circumstances.
“I think [Roenicke] has done a great job,” said Martinez. “He’s been very positive throughout this whole thing. I think he understands how difficult this season is. He’s kind of explained that to us in meetings and stuff. He’s done a great job.”
Roster juggling
The Red Sox continue to have a revolving door with respect to their roster in the final weekend, just like it has been all season.
On Friday, right-handed reliever Domingo Tapia was placed on the injured list, a day after taking a line drive off his right biceps. Righty Austin Brice, who has been out since Sept. 9 with a right lat strain, was activated to fill Tapia’s spot.