Although debut shortened by damage, Mead already feeling at house with Pink Sox

WEST SACRAMENTO – Curtis Mead’s pleasure of enjoying his first recreation for the Pink Sox become ache when he was drilled on the left hand with a 94.9 mph fastball from Athletics righty Jack Perkins within the prime of the fourth inning of Monday’s 4-2 victory at Sutter Well being Park.

Whereas Mead initially stayed within the recreation, he was changed on protection by Anthony Seigler to open the underside of the fifth inning. Mead was recognized with a left wrist contusion and X-rays got here again adverse. He’s daily.

“Squeezing my hand feels OK,” mentioned Mead. “Just a bit little bit of ache rotating. We already obtained an X-ray and every thing appeared OK, so I’m hopeful that I’ll really feel higher tomorrow morning and it gained’t be an issue.”

Hyped for his Boston debut, it was a little bit of a letdown for Mead to have to look at the ultimate 4 innings within the clubhouse.

“I used to be form of considering, strolling to the clubhouse, simply tremendous dissatisfied,” Mead mentioned. “I needed to return right here and assist the crew and needed to play. So yeah, it’s irritating. But it surely was a fairly enjoyable recreation. Not less than we had been in a position to win my first recreation. That was the cool a part of it.”

Mead had struggled to make an influence in a restricted pattern dimension at his earlier stops. This time, he arrived as a sought-after bat the Pink Sox introduced in to extend their postseason possibilities.

“It was distinctive. I simply keep in mind chatting with my agent about the entire thing, and he was like, ‘It is a little bit completely different than after we had been traded in March.’ Everybody right here has been superior, and I really feel like they’ve welcomed me with open arms, and simply been supportive in no matter I want,” Mead mentioned. “My agent was like, ‘Dude, you are gonna take pleasure in it. Boston’s an superior place to play, and also you’re becoming a member of a very good ballclub.’”

Mead set himself up for achievement – and, not directly, to be a key Commerce Deadline acquisition for a marquee crew – by bettering his setup on the plate.

It has led to a profession yr wherein he belted 17 homers with an .852 OPS in 87 video games with the Nats. He appears ahead to including to that stat line in Boston.

“My setup is one thing that I’ve put stress on prior to now, and I felt prefer it needed to be completely excellent for me to be in a great place to hit,” Mead mentioned. “So, I form of took the stress away somewhat bit in that regard, and simply needed to be comfy, and in the end landed there. It’s been good, which has been good.”

Trying again on it now, Mead realizes that he did an excessive amount of self-correcting prior to now.

“If I had a nasty recreation, I might attempt one thing new. It simply wound up with me not feeling tremendous comfy within the field. I’ve tried to be tremendous in line with what I do day-after-day within the cage to organize, in order that once I step within the field, I am feeling good about myself and may simply put all my concentrate on the ball,” mentioned Mead.

What’s the largest adjustment he has made?

“I believe the primary factor for me is simply making an attempt to maintain it easy. I wish to preserve it brief. I am making an attempt to only keep out of my very own approach, preserve it as compact as attainable,” Mead mentioned. “Guys simply appear to maintain throwing more durable and more durable, so I in all probability attempt to minimize it down somewhat bit and simply be a bit extra direct with my swing. I do not wish to go up there feeling like I’ve to cheat to a great fastball. In order that’s in all probability the premise of it.”

Although Mead has made 42 begins at third base this season and only one at second, the Pink Sox didn’t wish to transfer Caleb Durbin away from the new nook, the place he’s performed Gold Glove-caliber protection all season.

That was fantastic with Mead, who made 35 profession begins at second earlier than Monday night time.

“I believe final yr I performed much more second than I did third, and early within the season in Washington I didn’t have common enjoying time to start out the yr, and day-after-day I might take grounders – grounders at second and a few at first,” Mead mentioned. “So, you already know, it is positively a spot that I really feel comfy with. And yeah, simply excited to form of work at it and dial it in.”

Although Mead has made 42 begins at third base this season and only one at second, the Pink Sox didn’t wish to transfer Caleb Durbin away from the new nook, the place he’s performed Gold Glove-caliber protection all season.

That was fantastic with Mead, who made 35 profession begins at second earlier than Monday night time.

“I believe final yr I performed much more second than I did third, and early within the season in Washington I didn’t have common enjoying time to start out the yr, and day-after-day I might take grounders – grounders at second and a few at first,” Mead mentioned. “So, you already know, it is positively a spot that I really feel comfy with. And yeah, simply excited to form of work at it and dial it in.”