Crochet a tough critic (of himself) in Fenway debut

BOSTON -- Brrrrr.

The game-time temperature at Fenway Park on Tuesday night was 35 degrees, the third coldest on record for a Red Sox home game, according to Baseball Reference.

Garrett Crochet, Boston’s prized new ace, had a built-in excuse for not having his best command in his home debut with the Red Sox in a 6-1 loss to the Blue Jays.

But one thing that has become swiftly apparent is that the big lefty is not an excuse maker.

“It wasn't terrible,” Crochet said. “The biggest part is staying warm between innings, but if you do that, you're good.”

How did Crochet rate his stuff?

“Terrible,” Crochet said. “There really hasn't been a start this year where I feel like I've had my best stuff. Hopefully that's because I'm building and they're all going to come later in the year. But just not getting to the glove side very well with the four-seam or the cutter, a lot of over-correcting with the two and just yanking and not really driving it there.”

Considering that Crochet has a 1.45 ERA through his first three starts, it is probably a good sign of what’s to come if he isn’t a believer in his stuff so far.

What is the issue?

“A little bit of everything,” Crochet said. “Whether I'm behind in the count, or with runners in scoring position, there are some times where I'm picking my shots to just get ahead here, and it's a passive approach, and not one that I'd like to take often, but tonight, it was just a gritty start.”

The game was actually scoreless when Crochet came back out for the sixth. And in that frame, the Red Sox made two throwing errors (Alex Bregman and Kristian Campbell), and four of the runs the Jays scored off Crochet were unearned.

“He did a good job,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “Tough conditions. George [Springer] hits a homer, then we don’t make two plays. That was it. He did more than enough. He did a good job.”

Over 5 2/3 innings, Crochet scattered five hits while walking four and striking out five. He threw a career-high of 107 pitches after needing 102 pitches over eight innings in a gem over the Orioles in his last start.

Is there a particular pitch Crochet is trying to find?

“Not one in particular,” Crochet said. “I'd like to have them all. The changeup has been pretty solid for me. I feel like there are times where I could use it a little bit more, but it's never been that pitch for me in the past, so it's hard to justify it. The cutter, I'm just leaving it with a lot of plate right now. The swing-and-miss cutter, the fine line, shadow-zone, strike-to-ball, I just don't have it right now. It feels like it's either overcorrect and yanked or it's a little too much plate.”

As much buzz as Crochet created in his All-Star season last year and after his trade to the Red Sox and subsequent contract extension (six years, $170 million), it should be noted that this is just his second season as a starting pitcher.

There are still things he is refining.

“Command of the four-seam fastball hasn't been there this early,” Crochet said. “Walks overall, I had four today, so that kind of sucks. Just still feel like I'm not, I wouldn’t say searching, but trying to get it to click in practice to then bring it into the game.”

Perhaps pitching in the comforts of his former home in his next start Sunday in Chicago against the White Sox will help Crochet’s arsenal lock in.

“It'll be cool, I'm sure,” Crochet said. “I was in the visiting locker room once during COVID at the alternate [training] site. We went up there for practice one time. But I have no clue what it's like over there. So I guess it'll be cool to be in that dugout.”

But perhaps not quite as cool as it was at frigid Fenway on Tuesday.