The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • C3

The Boston Globe Sports C3 THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2017 Kimbrel never stops striving for greatness son, Kimbrel leads the majors with 278 saves. Kenley Jansen of the Dodgers is second, 72 saves behind. Kimbrel has converted at least 90 percent of his save chances for five consecutive years, the only reliever ever to do that. Yes, that includes Mariano Rivera. "I think he sees himself as a guy that's going to be talked about in the history of the game when his career is said and done," Farrell said.

"That's what drives him. He has a genuine motivation to be great." What's missing is postsea-son success. Kimbrel has pitched in eight playoff games, picking up one save. But he has yet to play for a team that won a series. That can change with this Red Sox team, which has a 3 -game lead in the American League.

From Keith Foulke in 2004 to Papelbon in 2007 and Ue-hara in 2013, the best Red Sox teams have had a lockdown closer and Kimbrel could be the next to leap into his catcher's arms at the end of the World Series. "That motivates all of us. I don't sit around thinking about it but we all play this game for the postseason," Kimbrel said. "It's all about winning or losing. I'm here to win." I want to make sure I'm there.

That's part of being professional." But when Kimbrel earns a particularly tough save or successfully pitches more than an inning, he leaves it to others to break down his performance. Reporters are welcome to wait for him but it's often fruitless. Former Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon reveled in the glory and even modest Koji Ue-hara was ready with a quip. But Kimbrel doesn't go along to get along. "If I go out there and do my job, I do my job," he said.

"I've got a wife to go home to. I want get out of there as fast as I can." Beyond his wife, Ashley, Kimbrel often has family members at games. Mike Kimbrel has been known to ride his motorcycle long distances to see his son play. His brothers, Matt and Alan, also travel frequently. "The support is always there," Kimbrel said.

"My parents have been great my entire career. It's nice when you know there are people in the stands who care about you." Motivated by winning At 29, Kimbrel is already a figure of significance in his sport. His 1.80 ERA is the lowest in history among all pitchers with at least 300 innings of relief. Opponents have hit .153 against him, the best mark for any pitcher who has faced at least 1,500 batters since 1920. Since 2011, his first full sea lem for Kimbrel.

Consider this encounter on Monday afternoon at Marlins Park during All-Star workout day. A reporter and videographer from Fox Sports Asia were asking the players to record a brief promotional announcement for the network. Most did what was asked, looking into the camera, identifying themselves, and saying hello to viewers. It took 15 or 20 seconds after the script was read to them. Betts did it twice to make sure he had it right.

Kimbrel listened and shook his head. "I don't know if I can do that," he said. The reporter tried a shorter version. "Could you say, 'This is Craig Kimbrel, stayed tuned to Fox Sports he said. "Can you do that?" Kimbrel shook his head again.

"No," he said. The reporter finally gave up. Kimbrel, to a lesser degree, plays the same game with reporters who cover the Sox. On those rare instances when he pitches poorly he has appeared in only 16 losses since being obtained from the San Diego Padres before the 2016 season Kimbrel is standing at his locker when the clubhouse opens and takes all questions. That's one time the workout can wait.

"It's accountability," he said. "You guys always want to talk to me if I don't get my job done. KIMBREL Continued from Page CI dumbbells and does enough of a cardio workout to tire his body out enough to get to sleep. He would otherwise be a redheaded vampire, rattling around the house or his hotel room fueled by adrenaline until the sun rose. "If we're on the road, the bus waits for him," Red Sox bullpen coach Dana LeVangie said.

"He needs to get that workout in. He's so into the moment that it helps him calm down." When Kimbrel needs rest, it's often a nap in the clubhouse early in the game. That's why he doesn't go down out to the bullpen until the fifth inning. He has been perfecting his routines for 10 years now. Kimbrel has been a closer since the Atlanta Braves drafted him in 2008.

He has not worked as a starter since he was in junior college. "It's really all I know. I like getting the last three outs. I always have," he said. "I got that opportunity my rookie year.

In that sense I was fortunate. But I earned it. I always had that mentality of, 'This is what I've got; here it It works. Kimbrel has converted 54 of 58 saves in two seasons with the Red Sox and this year has a 1 19 earned run average over 36 appearances and 37 innings. He has struck out 68 of the 134 batters he has faced this season.

"When Kimbrel comes in, I just put my hands on my knees MIKE EHRMANNGETTY IMAGES Game, Red Sox closer Craig on Tuesday night in Miami. said. "We've seen it this year where I've come into the eighth inning. How I'm used determines how the game is managed. I have to be honest with how I feel.

That understanding is needed." Kimbrel throws at maximum effort and knows how his body will react. For him, throwing one inning two days in a row is less taxing than getting four or five outs in one game. Kimbrel has played for three teams and five managers in his career and tried to be upfront with all of them. "The game is always the game. It's just different players who are playing it," he said.

"Part of being a manager is understanding your players, so I'm honest with them." Direct approach Being direct is not a prob Red Sox surveying landscape at third Father of Red Sox prospect arrested By Matt Pepin GLOBE STAFF Jason Groome, the father of Red Sox prospect Jay Groome, was arrested in New Jersey on Monday and faces multiple drug and weapons charges, according to a report from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Groome, 43, and two other men were the focus of a three-month investigation involving several law enforcement agencies that led to the arrests. Groome, of Barnegat, N. was charged with the following, according to the report: possession of heroin, possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, distribution of heroin, possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine over one half ounce with the intent to distribute, distribution of cocaine over one half ounce, possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, distribution of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm (9 mm handgun), and possession of a firearm (9 mm hand JB fc.i'twj Peter Abraham can be reached atpabrahamglobe.com. Follow him on Twitter PeteAbe.

gun). The prosecutor's office report said Groome was stopped while driving on Monday, and at the same time his home was searched. Two other men were also arrested in connection with the investigation Anthony Brandt, 53, of Barnegat, N.J., and Daniel Wunder, 61, of Little Egg Harbor, N.J. Groome's son, a lefthanded pitcher, was drafted by the Red Sox in the first round of the 2016 draft. His last appearance in a game for the Single A Greenville Drive was Monday.

As of Wednesday Groome remained with the Drive. "This is a legal matter that doesn't directly involve our player. Of course we will continue to support Jay," Red Sox media relations director Kevin Gregg said in a statement issued by team. The Greenville Drive said Groome respectfully declined comment. Alex Speier of the Globe staff contributed.

Follow Matt Pepin on Twitter at mattpepl5. It's Medical Science. The licensed medical providers at the Northeast Men's Clinic provide proven medical solutions that are safe, private, and personalized. Our medications work when the pills and herbal remedies fail and are safe for almost every medical condition including diabetes, prostate problems, heart surgery, and more. In his sixth trip to the All-Star Kimbrel got the win for the AL and wait until they're out," right fielder Mookie Betts said.

"He takes the drama out of the game." The only drama this season has been how he's used. The Red Sox used Kimbrel for more than one inning four times from May 1 1 to June 6. He has not done it since. "We moved away from that not because he didn't agree with it," manager John Farrell said. "We had candid conversations about he felt physically and how that projects over the course of the season.

There's a going to be a time again when we do it. "We arrived at a pretty defined approach and we need to adhere to that." Kimbrel said he started the dialogue. "The communication about what you're willing to do and the workload is important," he surveying the third base landscape in their open-minded approach to upgrading between now and the trade deadline. With Devers on the horizon, the appeal of a short-term rental might be considerable to avoid blocking the prospect while also limiting the prospect hit that the team must assume to upgrade the position. The team must also decide whether it wants to focus on a power hitter or a versatile player who might be able to offer the team depth not just at third but also at short and second (where both Bogaerts and Dustin Pedroia have missed more games this year than they did last year).

RENTALS Mike Moustakas, Royals: Moustakas, who is leading all third basemen with 25 homers while hitting .270. 304. 559, seemed like an ideal trade target as the Royals sputtered through early June. But with Kansas City now just iy2 games out of a wild-card spot, it seems likely that the Royals will keep intact the core that won the 2015 World Series in hopes of making one last run before free agency breaks up the group. "I think the thing that makes us such a special team and special organization is we're more of a family than anything.

GM Dayton Moore cares for us like that," said Moustakas, in explaining why he felt "100 percent" confident that the Royals would remain committed to keeping this group together for the year. "We go out there every single game to play the game hard, the right way. He sees that and I think he appreciates the way we go out there and handle our business." Zack Cozart: At 31, Cozart emerged as an All-Star shortstop for the Reds, hitting .316 .394. 547. As a pending free agent, he recognizes that he's a candidate to move.

"At this point in your career, when you don't have a long-term deal and you're going to be a free agent after the season, you kind of know that those talks are going to happen," said Cozart. "If it happens, the good thing about getting traded at the deadline is you should be going to a contender." That said, the Red Sox would have to make an awfully large leap of faith to assume that Cozart who has never played third base as a professional can make an in-season transition to a new position, even while staying on the left KEITH BEDFORDGLOBE STAFF The Sox are pleased with the effort and production of Tzu-Wei Lin, but they are contemplating an upgrade at third. SPEIER Continued from Page CI been even better, hitting .377 .473. 583 with more walks than strikeouts and 10 homers in 65 games, good for 4.1 WAR (tied for first among third basemen). That performance underscores the cost of a narrow Red Sox miss a few years ago.

After the Mets released him following the 2013 season, Turner's efforts to sift through minor league contract offers had him choosing between two teams: The Red Sox and Twins. He was leaning toward Boston, a team that was letting Stephen Drew walk in free agency so that Xander Bogaerts could play shortstop. Will Middle-brooks was the anticipated starter, but coming off a down year in 2013. "I think the last night before I was going to make a decision, the Dodgers jumped in with an offer. The next morning is when I made that decision," said Turner.

"I think the main reason the Dodgers was the choice was because they're in the National League. The type of player I am, I knew I'd get more opportunities and at-bats in the National League than I would in the American League. It was a tough decision trying to choose between the Red Sox and Dodgers." Turner offered fantastic production at a bargain rate for the Dodgers over the next three years, then hit free agency again this past offseason. This time, the Red Sox showed little interest. "I think they were content with having Pablo Sandoval come back at the time," said Turner.

The market for Turner proved relatively modest. Ultimately, he re-signed with the Dodgers for four years and $64 million a sum that would have pushed the Red Sox over the luxury tax threshold, but also a considerably lower sum than the market had paid players who had produced to Turner's levels in recent years. The Dodgers have flourished (as have the Brewers, for whom Travis Shaw has a .299. 367 .570 line at a bargain salary) while the Red Sox have struggled to get any production from third. The Sox have been heartened by the recent solid contributions of Deven Marrero and Tzu-Wei Lin, but there is little assurance of production from the group of those two plus Sandoval, Brock Holt, and Rafael Devers.

As a result, the Red Sox are 1 side of the infield. "It would be weird," Cozart said. "Literally my whole life, I've played shortstop. I've never played another position. I would prefer to stay at shortstop.

I'd love to stay there. I've never thought about moving. I'm sure I would work and try to get better at it if that's what was needed. That's a very valuable player who can play all over the diamond." Todd Frazier, White Sox: Frazier continues to represent a strikingly straightforward means of addressing the Red Sox' struggles at the hot corner. He's hitting just .213 but his .335 OBP is close to the best of his career (he posted a .336 mark in his All-Star 2014 season) with a .444 slugging mark and 16 homers, marks that could benefit from Fenway's dimensions.

As a pure rental with about $4 million left on his 2017 salary, his modest numbers would help to limit the prospect return needed to land him. Eduardo Nunez, Giants: Nunez, who is expected to come back from a DL stint for a hamstring injury on Friday, offers little by way of power, but he's a solid hitter (.289. 325. 427 with a 102 OPS since 2015) who grades as competent if slightly below average at third as well as at short and the outfield. LONGER OPTIONS Josh Harrison, Pirates: Now a two-time All-Star, the super utility player is amidst a bounce-back season, hitting .280.361.436 with 10 homers.

His production and ability to play a number of positions means that he's an easy mention as a candidate to join any contender with positional needs. Harrison understands that fact even as he shrugs in reaction to it. "I don't worry about anything but playing," said Harrison. "I've been around to see guys get traded, guys come in, guys that were supposed to be traded that didn't get traded. Nothing is set in stone." He's signed through 2018 on a four-year, $27.5 million deal with team options for both 2019 and 2020, an affordable contract that suggests that the Pirates might not want to part with a player who can fit into the lineup in so many ways or, at the least, that they'd seek a strong prospect return in order to part with him.

Martin Prado, Marlins: Pra-do has a long track record as a solid and versatile infielder with a career .292. 341. 422 line (albeit little home run power) and 107 OPS, but injuries have limited him to just 33 games this year, during which he's hitting a meager .262.293 .373. He does get strong marks for his defense at third (he's also moved around the field in the past, though he's been exclusively a third baseman over the past two seasons) and clubhouse demeanor. As the Marlins prepare to sell off pieces, his three-year, $40 million contract represents one that they'd surely love to move.

They'd have to subsidize it to do so, since it's a deal that's out of line with his skill set, at an age (33) where decline is likely over the deal's duration; that fact also suggests the possibility of a modest prospect return. Alex Speier can be reached at aIex.speierglobe.com. Follow him on Twitter alexspeier. Erectile Dysfunction Our prescriptions work when pills and herbals fail, even with complications like diabetes, prostate problems, heart surgery, etc. Premature Issues You choose how long you last 30 minutes, 1 hour, and up to 90 minutes.

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