Tag: 210715

Red Sox grades at 2021

With the restart of baseball set to go as the All-Star break ends, it’s time to hand out grades for the first half of this surprising Red Sox season. We’ll focus on key players or important parts of the team to start and leave the grades for the team and general manager until last.

Alex Cora: A+ The way he babies the pitchers still makes me crazy, but with him back in charge the karma seems so comfortable, which reduces angst when things are going bad for individuals, and that seems to make it easier for the team to do its job. If he’s not the best manager in baseball he’s darn close.

Middle of the Order: A With Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and JD Martinez all deserving All-Stars they’ve done what was needed. Their projected numbers over 162 games gives context to the season each is having: Bogey .332, 26 (homers) and 97 (RBI), Raffy .282. 40 and 128, JD .299, 32, 110.

Matt Barnes: A Thanks to whoever convinced him to challenge hitters from the first pitch my frustration level from watching him pitch has dropped by about three area codes. It’s turned him from a guy with tantalizing stuff who constantly made his job harder into an All-Star closer and the best pitcher on the team.

Nate Eovaldi: A- The brass took a lot of flak for spending big after his solid post season of 2018 and with him winning just six games since then it was justified. But by going 9-5 he has stepped up to be the ace the Sox needed without Chris Sale and through Eduardo Rodriguez’s struggles. So bravo for that, but as the question always is for him, will it continue all year?

The Bullpen Overall: B How many times have we seen a starter come out in the fifth followed by the pen putting up doughnuts to close out a win? A lot more than most thought, and that’s particularly important with Cora yanking his untested or less trusted starter regularly in the fifth or sixth because of his trust in the pen.

Bargain Basement/Reclamation Pickups: B When Hunter Renfroe, Christian Arroyo and Kiké Hernández signed it didn’t make a ripple. In fact, it amplified the Tampa Bay North vibe growing since Chaim Bloom left TB to be Sox GM. But the first two have made positive if unspectacular contributions, while the $3 million per Renfroe has been solid offensively since May 1 and leads baseball in outfield assists. Plus while everyone from the defensively versatile bench is hitting around the Mendozza line, Marwin Gonzalez and company have had their moments. And let’s not forget Garrett Whitlock, whom Bloom took off the Yankees’ hands for pennies before he delivered a 3-1, 1.44 ERA season as a major bullpen contributor.

Alex Verdugo: C+ The prize (outside of the payroll flexibility gained) from the Mookie Betts trade has been very good defensively, but at .273 and his 9 homers and 31 RBI in 304 at-bats he’s projecting to just 16 and 55 over 162 games, so the offense hasn’t met expectations.

The Defense: C It’s shaky in spots, which can hurt when the margin of error gets tighter in big games. But shortstop and catcher (on offense as well) are solid and the outfield, where Verdugo’s versatility gives Cora options, throws people out trying to get the extra base better than almost everyone. Not great, but probably good enough to let them get by.

E-Rod: C- I proclaimed after the first month he was none the worse for missing all last year. Well, I was wrong. He’s been horrible at times, as evidenced by the team’s losing all five of his May starts, and inconsistent at others, as they then won all five June starts, though they had to score 12, 10 and 8 runs twice to do it. History says he’ll probably turn it around, but as of now the 5.52 ERA doesn’t make it.

Bobby Dalbec: C- With him hitting .191 against right-handed pitching and on track to strike out nearly 200 times he hasn’t been as solid as last year’s 28-game debut suggested he might be. Still he’s on track for 20 homers and 70 RBI, so maybe he’ll pick it up as the rookie adjustments continue.

End of the Bullpen: C- While the ERA’s of Darwinzon Hernandez (2.70) and Hirokazu Sawamura (2.45) are respectable, their 1.227 and 1.50 WHIPS give no confidence they’ll throw strikes when it counts. Then there is Matt Andriese with the unsightly 6.05 ERA, 1.768 WHIP and team-leading 7 homers (tied with Sawamura) allowed in just 30 innings. They need improvement in two spots at least.

Chaim Bloom: B While the early returns from bargain pick-up making significant contributions are encouraging, what he does to help the team fill in the holes at the trade deadline will determine the year’s final grade. So the question is with need for a lefty hitter, two bullpen slots and probably a starter (though Sale’s return could be that) will he let all that slide in a bid to keep all his minor-league assets intact or smartly determine who the keepers are and use the rest to fill his holes as best he can?

The Team: A Overall they are flawed, entered the break after losing four of their last six and despite solid work from Eovaldi and Nick Pivetta in particular, I’m still not certain about the starters. But against all odds they’re tied with Houston for the most wins in the league, lead the AL East by a game and a half over Tampa Bay, are eight ahead of the Yankees and on pace to win 97 games. And while in the words of Bloom they have not accomplished anything yet, it’s hard to find fault with a team that has exceeded even the wildest expectations so far.

Neigh-borly service

Volunteers needed at equine therapy center

UpReach Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Goffstown is looking for volunteers to assist with its equine therapy programs starting in September. Operations manager Kathryn Conway talked about the opportunity and how lending a hand at UpReach can make a difference in the lives of the program participants and the volunteers themselves.

What does UpReach do?

Our mission is to improve lives with the power of the horse. We partner with horses to help people who [are living with] physical and cognitive disabilities or challenges; have experienced or witnessed trauma and are dealing with PTSD; are recovering from substance misuse; and people who want to augment their existing therapies and improve their health and wellness overall by working and connecting with horses. … We’re also running a program right now for frontline health care workers, first responders, caregivers and educators called Caring Connections, where you can come spend an hour in the peaceful company of our horses and ponies and just recharge, breathe and relax. You can brush them, lead them, come with colleagues, come by yourself — it’s very unstructured. There’s no cost; it’s just our way of thanking everyone for the hard work they’ve been doing over the past year and a half.

What kinds of volunteer opportunities are available?

We’re looking for people to assist with lessons. Depending on the independence level of the individual [lesson] participants, we may use up to three volunteers to support a participant during a lesson: two [to walk beside] the horse on either side, and one to lead the horse. … We also have a number of slots for people who aren’t necessarily interested in working with a student in a lesson, but would rather do barn chores … like help clean stalls, move hay around, clean water buckets and do some general maintenance around the property.

What is the time commitment?

We look for people who are willing to commit one to two hours a week for periods of six to eight weeks. If you’re working on barn chores, it’ll be closer to two hours. … Some volunteers come a couple of times a week. … It all depends on your schedule. Lessons usually run from 10 a.m. to sometimes as late as 6 p.m., so there’s a lot of flexibility.

Who would be a good fit for this volunteer work?

Anyone interested in being part of a team where they can help people, and anyone who likes horses and wants to get up close and personal with horses and learn more about them. … Even if [your level of interest in horses] is just, ‘Well, I think they’re really pretty,’ you’ll most likely end up falling in love with the horses. … It’s OK if you don’t have horse experience, because we will train you.

Is there an age requirement?

The minimum age is 14, so it’s great for high school kids … and [college] students … whose schools have a community service program; they can get their service credit hours by volunteering here.

What does training entail?

We have two training dates [to choose from] in August. … The mandatory volunteer training is three hours long. For people who want to work with the horses directly, there’s a supplemental training that’s an hour and a half long. … Most people who volunteer with us end up wanting to handle a horse at some point, so we highly suggest that volunteers just do both trainings right off the bat.

What are the benefits of volunteering at UpReach?

If you’re looking for a volunteer opportunity [where you can] directly help make life better for somebody else, and you also happen to like horses, this is really a win-win. … We have four miniature horses living here now, and they are such joyful little creatures; it’s pretty hard not to smile when you’re watching them. Being around horses just makes you feel better … and can definitely give you an increased sense of wellness and happiness and peace.

Vounteering at UpReach

To volunteer at UpReach Therapeutic Equestrian Center, complete and return a volunteering form, available at upreachtec.org/volunteerforms. Training sessions are offered on Saturday, Aug. 14, starting at 9 a.m., and Tuesday, Aug. 24, starting at 1 p.m. The term begins on Sept. 7. UpReach is located at 153 Paige Hill Road in Goffstown. For more information or to reserve your spot for a training session, visit upreachtec.org, call 497-2343 or email kathryn@upreachtec.org.

Featured photo: Kathryn Conway. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 21/07/15

Covid-19 updateAs of July 2As of July 12
Total cases statewide99,55599,770
Total current infections statewide181197
Total deaths statewide1,3721,375
New cases100 (June 29 to July 2)215 (July 3 to July 12)
Current infections: Hillsborough County3853
Current infections: Merrimack County1211
Current infections: Rockingham County4244
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

Covid-19 news

State health officials announced 17 new positive cases of Covid-19 on July 12. The state averaged 28 new cases per day over the most recent seven-day period, an increase of about 17 compared to the week before. As of July 12, there were 197 active cases and 15 hospitalizations.

Also on July 12, officials announced the launch of the NH Mobile Vaccine Van, a new initiative in partnership with ConvenientMD in an effort to increase access to Covid-19 vaccines. According to a press release, the van is due to begin operation on July 15 and will run throughout the summer, offering all three of the FDA-authorized vaccines in addition to translation services. It’s available to appear at local community events such as festivals, neighborhood block parties and farmers markets at no cost. The van is set to hold two upcoming vaccination clinics this week — at the Roundabout Diner in Portsmouth on Thursday, July 15, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and at the Sunapee Farmers Market on Saturday, July 18, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Housing stability

The Council on Housing Stability released its three-year Strategic Plan last week, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. The plan is a roadmap that coordinates actions and resources and seeks to increase housing availability by 13,500 units by 2024 to ensure that homelessness in New Hampshire is rare, brief and one-time whenever possible. It includes a three-year actionable framework to address homelessness across the state, with an emphasis on the need for an increase in inventory of affordable housing, the release said. Recommendations include promoting new housing development, reducing barriers to affordable housing and using a data-driven approach to determine regional needs.

The New Hampshire Council on Housing Stability was established by Gov. Chris Sununu on Nov. 18, 2020, and includes stakeholders from across the state, including state leadership, local mayors, and people who have experienced homelessness. The plan is led by the Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs and the Community Development Finance Authority, the release said.

ARPA funds

On June 7, the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to initially approve Mayor Joyce Craig’s recommendations for the city’s use of American Rescue Plan Act funds. According to a press release, most of the programs and positions are funded for the next five years, and during that time the city will measure program effectiveness to make sure it addresses the negative impacts of Covid-19 and helps build a strong recovery for the city. The recommendations will be discussed by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen’s Finance Committee before a final vote. “Manchester residents overwhelmingly cited education as one of the areas to which they would like to see ARPA funds allocated, and we look forward to working with Mayor Craig and the Board to help expand access to higher education for public school students in Manchester and to support local workforce needs,” Paul LeBlanc, President and CEO of Southern New Hampshire University, said in the release. Greater Manchester Chamber CEO Mike Skelton said in the release that “The Greater Manchester Chamber, along with many community business leaders, support the proposed ARPA spending plan and the investments that will generate and support job growth, stimulate economic activity and expansion, and strengthen the city’s ability to attract and retain its workforce.”

Unemployment numbers

Last week, the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security issued a press release after the weekly unemployment report was released by the United States Department of Labor, stating that the numbers reported for New Hampshire were wrong “and present a misleading view of trends in the state’s unemployment claims.” According to the release, some claimants were counted twice — once when they received their last week of federal unemployment benefits and again as a new claim for state-level benefits the following week. New Hampshire ended participation in the federal pandemic unemployment programs June 19 and instead incentivized people to return to work with a $1,000 bonus payment. The final week of benefits was included in the claims numbers reported by the Department of Labor, and some of those recipients may have qualified for benefits in the state’s regular unemployment program during the week ending June 26 — meaning those same individuals were counted a second time by the Department of Labor, the release said, artificially inflating the state’s numbers. “These numbers are wrong and give the misleading appearance of an increase from the prior week which has not occurred in the prior 3 months,” Rich Lavers, Deputy Commissioner at Employment Security, said in the release. “In reality when you compare claims filed by people in the regular state unemployment program, the weekly claims fell by 19 percent compared to the prior week and federal claims fell by 12 percent in the final week they were available.”

Aircrews from the New Hampshire Wing of Civil Air Patrol departed from airports in Concord, Laconia, Portsmouth and Nashua on July 10 during a statewide emergency response training exercise. According to a press release, the Air Force-assigned trainings focused on Civil Air Patrol’s airborne search and aerial disaster assessment photography skills.

The Manchester School District announced July 11 that longtime district administrator Debora Roukey of Goffstown will be the new principal of Central High School. According to a press release, Roukey is the first female principal in Central’s 175-year history.

A $50,000 Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act Local Drug Crisis Grant has been awarded to the Raymond Coalition for Youth, which works to reduce opioid, methamphetamine, and prescription drug misuse among youth and young adults in Raymond and its surrounding communities. According to a press release, the grant is provided by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in cooperation with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and will be paid out over five years.

Isabel Povey of Hampstead will represent New Hampshire at the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition in Florida later this month. According to a press release, the Pinkerton Academy senior was crowned Miss New Hampshire’s Outstanding Teen in February 2019 and has served as the state representative throughout the pandemic, volunteering with local food pantries, the NH Food Bank, and the international nonprofit organization Seeds of Hope. Preliminary competitions will be held July 29 and July 30, and the new Miss America’s Outstanding Teen will be crowned Saturday, July 31, the release said.

Clarification
Page 29 of the Hippo’s “Cool Things About New Hampshire” magazine should have said that Hayward’s Homemade Ice Cream served chicken tenders, steamed hot dogs and fries in addition to its homemade ice cream flavors. It does not sell burgers.

Generous Listening

Much of what passes for public conversation these days could well be likened to a poker game where each player slaps down a card and the others try quickly to put down one of higher value. Whether the topic is immigration, gun control/rights, or abortion, the exchange soon becomes heated and the pace frantic. What is lost, quite simply, is listening.

For 25 years, there had been a space in our lives where that was not the pattern. Rather than shouting, blustering assertions, or insulting innuendos, NHPR’s The Exchange had been true to its name, a thoughtful, measured, and substantive exploration of issues and events among people with diverse and often deeply different views (NHPR discontinued the show last month).

Twenty-five years of The Exchange also brought us lighter fare about matters we didn’t know we didn’t know, such as the issues of pets along our hiking paths, developing alternatives to maple sugar syrups, and the curious doings of some of New Hampshire’s long-ago governors.

These conversations, in the truest sense of that term, were moderated by Laura Knoy, host of the program since its inception.

Whether interviewing a U.S. presidential candidate on a swing through our state or hosting a three-way exploration of substance abuse, Laura consistently modeled her program on what she herself values, generous listening. The term first used by Rachel Naomi Remen and later by Krista Tippett is “listening that is powered by curiosity.”

It is further suggested that this is “a virtue we can invite and nurture in ourselves to render it instinctive.” For anyone who had consistently tuned in to The Exchange each weekday morning, it would be clear that generous listening is instinctive with Laura.

And that is the point about what so many of us will miss. The program not only facilitated a statewide forum for the examination of issues critical to our community but also modeled behavior by which civil conversations even about profoundly contentious and divisive matters can take place.

At a time of such polarization, we need many more such exemplars of what our “better selves” could be to one another.

You can contact Steve Reno at stepreno@gmail.com.

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