Franchy Cordero struggles Wednesday night, commits three errors at first base
Cordero has now committed 10 errors this season
Franchy Cordero committed three errors at first base on Wednesday night in the Red Sox 7-6 loss to the Guardians.
Cordero made two errors on one play during the Guardians three-run second inning. He picked up a chopper to first which he dropped and then fired the baseball over the head of Nathan Eovaldi who was covering first base.
“We didn’t play good defense,” manager Alex Cora said. “At the end, that’s the result. You give the opposition more than 27 outs at this level, you’re going to pay the price. It’s been going on for a while here. Defensively, we were really good for a while. And we haven’t been good the last two and a half weeks.”
Cordero made his second throwing error of the game in the eight inning when he threw an off-balance throw that sailed wide-left and over the head of reliever John Schreiber who was covering first base.
“I think I should have taken a little bit more time on the second play and tried to under hand toss to the pitcher but I threw it away and that’s it,” Cordero said through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez.
Cordero has only made 47 starts at first base in the majors and while he’s still new to the position, he’s definitely experiencing some growing pains. He’s committed 10 errors this season.
“The first one, I talked to him,” Cora said. “I said, ‘As soon as you drop it, just don’t go to the next play because it has to be a great play. You’re going to your back and a lot of bad things can happen.’ He’s still learning the position. He hasn’t played too much at first base. He’s been better than last year, but obviously there’s going to be plays that it’s the first time it happens or he’s gonna rush to do it. It’s just tough. ... When you don’t play good defense, this is what happens.”
Long story short, the Red Sox have a first base problem. They’ve had this problem for two and a half years. Red Sox chief baseball officer needs to address the position and soon. Whether that’s promoting Triston Casas or seeking outside help via a trade. But the combo or Bobby Dalbec and Cordero offensively and defensively hasn’t worked.
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