Author Archives: @BigAl2793

The New England Patriots Offense Is Very Much Underrated

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The New England Patriots have prided themselves over two decades with their offense. They obviously have Tom Brady, who is arguably the greatest QB to ever play in the NFL. But coming into the 2019 season, the rest of the offense around Brady has been questioned. This Patriots offense is very underrated and here are the reasons why.

Julian Edelman

If you’re going to start anywhere, it might as well be with Julian Edelman. Edelman is coming off of a Super Bowl MVP performance. He is also nursing a hand injury currently. But none of that should matter! Brady and Edelman have great chemistry between the two of them. “Minitron” has also quietly come up as one of the most reliable receivers in the entire NFL. As long as Edelman is ready to go week one against Pittsburgh, the Patriots offense will continue to move forward.

Phillip Dorsett

With Danny Amendola and Chris Hogan both gone, the role of Phillip Dorsett just got larger. Dorsett had a big role in the AFC Championship game last year, including a big touchdown reception. He did have three touchdown receptions last season, so he can contribute to this offense. With Dorsett on deep routes, it can open up the field for Brady and company during the 2019 season.

Josh Gordon

This is an interesting case to discuss. Josh Gordon had 40 receptions for the Patriots, with three of them being for touchdowns. Gordon helped Tom Brady when the Patriots needed a spark to their offense. However, Gordon is facing suspension from the NFL. He filed for reinstatement the other day, so we’ll see what happens there. If Gordon gets reinstated and back on the field with the Patriots, it makes their offense that much better.

Demaryius Thomas

This is one of the newest members of the Patriots receiving core. The signing itself can be seen as a low risk, high reward type of signing. Demaryius Thomas has hurt the Patriots in the past. So, it is nice to have him alongside Tom Brady for a change. Thomas is coming off a big injury to his Achilles, so the questions are there. But, he was effective for Houston last season with 59 receptions, with five of them being touchdowns. Thomas can be the veteran presence that replaces a Chris Hogan or Danny Amendola. Personally, I can’t wait to see what Thomas brings to the Patriots offense.

Ben Watson

This was a signing that raised a few eyebrows during this past off-season. Ben Watson spent the first six years of his career in New England. So it makes sense that he is essentially ending his career where it all began. Watson is entering his age 39 season, so the question of production is obviously there. Plus, he’s serving a four game suspension for PED violations. He’s not going to replace Rob Gronkowski, that’s obvious. But, he can be a factor that gives you a little bit of what Gronk used to give.

The Patriots have a lot more offensive weapons than people think. Their offense is going to be fine once the chemistry evolves in training camp. The Patriots have a title to defend. So the offense will be extra motivated to run the league. Boy, will this Patriots offense be fun to watch come September!

Patriots-Lions Week Headlines, Notes, and Observations

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The NFL season is just around the corner. That means that training camp is in full swing and joint practices are starting up. The New England Patriots open up their 2018 title defense with a preseason game this week against the Detroit Lions. With the Patriots and Lions getting their join practices underway, let’s take a look at a few story lines to look at this week.

Bill Belichick vs. Matt Patricia

This is a classic case of the teacher versus the student in a head to head matchup. We all know that Matt Patricia was the defensive coordinator for the Patriots for two of their Super Bowl runs. Then in the 2018 off-season when the Lions came calling, Patricia took the head coaching job. Keep in mind, the Lions finished 6-10 in Patricia’s first season at the helm. Oh and by the way, his first win was against the Patriots. It’s going to be interesting to see how the dynamic pans out for these two former colleagues. Will Matt Patricia be smart and not tell Bill Belichick any secrets? Will Belichick see something in Patricia’s system that he could use for his own benefit? We’ll see once the week unfolds.

Jarrett Stidham

This is more of a headline that I’m interested in seeing unfold. Jarrett Stidham is the Patriots 4th round selection out of Auburn University. People aren’t paying too much attention to him. Tom Brady obviously signed his extension through 2021 yesterday, and Brian Hoyer is the backup. But, nobody is giving Stidham much of a chance. Think about this for a second. He was a First Team All-SEC quarterback in 2017, and played in arguably the best conference in College Football. Stidham also threw for 36 touchdowns in his two seasons with the Tigers. Could Belichick be getting Stidham ready for the future? Maybe. It will be interesting to see how Belichick utilizes Stidham throughout the preseason.

The Wide Receiving Core’s Health

One of the big questions of the entire off-season has been the Patriots wide receivers. Will they be healthy enough to be ready for the season as perform? Well right now, Julian Edelman is out with a hand injury. Demariyus Thomas has the questions of coming back from an Achilles injury. A guy like Braxton Berrios is on the fence for just making the Patriots roster. This team needs some healthy bodies at wide receiver, and they need them quickly. With a retired Gronk, the wide receivers will be depended upon more than ever for Tom Brady.

In Conclusion

There is a lot to look at between these two teams. The Patriots always win the AFC East with relative ease. The Lions are competing in a tough NFC North division with Green Bay, Chicago, and Minnesota battling it out every season. The Patriots do not play the Lions this upcoming season. Plus, there was a time last season where the Patriots lost in Detroit and people thought the Patriots were done. Maybe Belichick and company want a little payback for last season. Well…maybe not because it’s preseason. But football is back and it’s time to get technical once again. Cue up NFL RedZone!

Red Sox-Rays Series Recap, Notes, and Observations

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The Boston Red Sox had momentum coming into this series after taking three of four from the New York Yankees. They were a half game behind the Rays in the American League Wild Card standings. After the series concluded, the Red Sox find themselves three and a half behind as the Rays swept them at Fenway Park. Although the results aren’t what the Red Sox want, there were positives to take away. Here are the important tidbits of what you need to know about the most recent Red Sox and Rays series!

Game 1: Rays 6 Red Sox 5

The first game of this series felt like a win. It was a back and forth game that brought good at bats, good battles, and puzzling pitching moves. The Red Sox were down 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning. In a surprise move, Rays manager Kevin Cash decided to pull starter Charlie Morton for a lefty reliever to face Andrew Benintendi. The center fielder hit a two run homerun to left field to put the Red Sox back on top.The lead wouldn’t last long, as Colten Brewer came on and gave the lead right back in the top of the sixth inning. The Red Sox would ultimately lose 6-5. Benintendi and Rafael Devers both had three hits apiece in this one to pace the offense. Sam Travis also had a nice little game for himself, going 2-2 at the plate. The Red Sox saw action from seven of their pitchers in the narrow defeat as well.

Game 2: Rays 8 Red Sox 5

In game two, the Rays came out and attacked the Red Sox early and often. The Rays offense scored five runs off of Rick Porcello to cruise to an easy win. Although the game never felt as close as the score indicated, there were still Red Sox players who performed well. Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez led the way on offense, getting three hits a piece while knocking in two runs. Sam Travis had another two hit game, and Michael Chavis went two for four in this one with an RBI as well. Josh Taylor and Marcus Walden pitched well in the last two innings for the Red Sox, combining for no walks and five strikeouts.

Game 3: Rays 9 Red Sox 4

Another day, another rough game for the Red Sox. Andrew Cashner started and continued to struggle. At the plate, Xander Bogaerts was four for four on the day with two homeruns. Andrew Benintendi also stayed hot at the plate with three hits. All in all, this was just a tough way to end the series for the Red Sox, as the Rays completed the sweep.

In Conclusion

This isn’t the desired result wanted, but it’s on to the Bronx. Hopefully, the Red Sox pick it up a little pitching wise and can take at least the last two from the Yankees. If this Red Sox team wants to make a push for the playoffs, they have to get going right now. Not in a month, not in a week, they have to start playing consistently right now. Let’s see how this team responds in the second game tonight!

David Ortiz Is Now Out Of The Hospital And Recovering Well

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The Red Sox are in the dog days of July, going into August. Obviously, we all know that they are trying to push for a playoff spot for a chance to repeat as World Series champions. They took a good step forward by defeating the Yankees three out of four games this past weekend at Fenway Park. But what might have been forgotten about with the rivalry taking center stage is a tidbit of great news. It was reported the other day that David Ortiz has been officially released from the hospital.

The Ortiz news is good for a few reasons.

He’s Healthy!

This is the most obvious statement there is regarding Ortiz. He is healthy enough where he is now out of the hospital and home. He’s not 100%, but he’s good enough where he is able to post on social media.

https://twitter.com/Starting9/status/1155896468936581120

It is definitely tough to recover from a shooting. David Ortiz is not superman, he is only human after all. Sure, we are used to seeing him doing Herculean type of things, where our mouths hit the floor in awe. The clutch hitting in 2004, and the unreal run he went on in the 2013 World Series are only a few examples of that. People thought originally that Ortiz might not have made it out of the hospital alive. After all, there were reports saying Ortiz told the doctors the night of the shooting, “Please don’t let me die, I’m a good man!” So the fact that Ortiz is back on Instagram and putting out statements definitely is an exhale for all of Red Sox nation.

This Could Be Extra Motivation For The Red Sox

It sounds crazy, but the current Red Sox could use what happened to Ortiz as motivation. The 2013 Red Sox had the Boston Marathon bombings that was their motivation to show what type of city Boston is: a city of unity. This can be another case of unity. Granted, in 2013 lives were lost, and there were no lives lost in Ortiz’s case. But great teams need something to inspire them throughout the grueling 162 game regular season. Remember, some of the guys on that Red Sox team played with Ortiz before he retired after the 2016 season. With this current Red Sox team, it couldn’t hurt having extra motivation of knowing that somebody tried to harm a Red Sox legend.

Red Sox Nation Can Stop Worrying

Red Sox fans like myself can now just focus solely on the team. It is great to have Ortiz recovering like he has been. But now, the focus is all on getting back to the playoffs. Ortiz can recover and watch the Red Sox in the comfort of his own home. We can let Ortiz get back to full strength and hope for the best for this Red Sox team as the trade deadline approaches.

In Conclusion

It is great to see Ortiz not in a hospital bed. He means so much to the Red Sox organization and Red Sox fans worldwide. He won’t be back to 100% right away. But baby steps will get Ortiz back to his old self, and maybe even back to Fenway Park to the roar of the crowd.

Why the Red Sox NEED Kirby Yates

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The MLB trade deadline is vastly approaching and the Boston Red Sox are one team that everybody is looking at closely. A lot of questions swirl around the Red Sox as the end of July nears. Will they sell and get rid of some of their top tier talent? Will they buy for a chance at possibly repeating as World Series champions? One thing the Red Sox desperately need is an actual Closer. Sorry Nathan Eovaldi, but I think you’re way more effective as a starter. One name that is surfacing in trade talks is San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates. The Red Sox have been linked to him several times. With all of this being said, here are a few reasons why the Red Sox absolutely NEED Kirby Yates as their future closer.

They’d have a Closer!

This seems like a silly reason, but bare with me for a second here. The Red Sox went into this season thinking guys like Ryan Brasier or Matt Barnes could take over the closing role for Craig Kimbrel. Well, Brasier is now in Pawtucket and Barnes save opportunity ratio is…not great. Dombrowski felt great about his bullpen, and they have proven him wrong, despite what he says publicly. Yates can give you the closer security that this team has been lacking all season. Why not take a chance on a guy that actually closes for a living? As opposed to sticking a guy that is getting used to being back in the bullpen?

His numbers

Take a look at the ERA on Yates for a second. No really, take a look at the ERA. Kirby Yates is currently holding a 1.05 ERA. Any pitcher that has an ERA that is sub two is somebody that I want on my roster everyday and twice on Sundays. You cannot fake an ERA like that, whether you are in the Major Leagues, High School, or Little League. Yates also has 31 saves and 70 strikeouts on the season. So yeah, this guy is a great candidate to get as your Closer when he is actually producing.

He is an All-Star

Kirby Yates made his first career All-Star game this past season. It would almost be like trading for Drew Pomeranz when he was an All-Star, except Yates would be a lot better of a fit to the Red Sox right now. All-Stars like to play in Boston for this Red Sox organization. What’s the harm in adding one more to the fold when you have a chance to win another World Series?

This deal needs to happen and it needs to happen fast. The Red Sox could solve a lot of their closer problems by adding somebody like Kirby Yates to it. We all see the path this bullpen has gone this season and a change needs to be made. The offense is there, the defense is extremely good, and the starting pitching can be one of the best staffs in the game when everybody is lights out. Say it with me: bring Kirby Yates to Boston now!

Red Sox Take Two Out Of Three From The Rays

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The Boston Red Sox began a crucial stretch for their potential 2019 postseason run on Monday. They took on the Tampa Bay Rays in a three game set, trying to make up some ground in the American League East. The series is now over, with some good news for all of you Red Sox fans out there. Let’s recap this series, breaking it down game by game.

Game 1: Red Sox 9 Rays 4

The Red Sox came out in game one and flat out punched the Rays in the mouth. This one saw a lot of power out of the Red Sox bats from the start. Rafael Devers kicked off the scoring with a two run RBI double. J.D. Martinez hit a three run home run and led the way with a 2-5 night with four RBI’s. Andrew Benintendi and Sam Travis also hit home runs as part of a seven run third inning that gave way to an easy 9-4 win for the Red Sox. On the mound, Eduardo Rodriguez threw seven shutout innings, giving up two hits, four walks, and six strikeouts on the night. It was safe to say that the Red Sox got off on the right foot in this series after game one.

Game 2: Red Sox 5 Rays 4

This one was not as much of a walk in the park as the first game. The Red Sox had to use all 27 of their offensive outs, and a shaky last half inning in the bottom of the ninth, to come away with a 5-4 victory. Andrew Benintendi led the way with a 2-4 performance with 2 RBI’s. Christian Vazquez found himself hitting a deep home run for his 16th of the season. Chris Sale was on the mound in this one and he looked like the Sale we’re used to seeing. He threw six innings giving up 4 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 10 strikeouts; and still had a no decision. The combination of Brandon Workman and Marcus Walden helped secure a one run victory for the Red Sox. That also secured a series win going into the final game of the series on Wednesday.

Game 3: Rays 3 Red Sox 2 (For Now!)

The “For Now!” part we’ll get to in a second. The Red Sox struck first in this one with a two run single from Rafael Devers in the third inning. Unfortunately, that would be the only scoring the Red Sox could muster in the series finale. Charlie Morton kept the Red Sox off the scoreboard after that, going seven innings with 11 strikeouts to his credit.

Here’s the “For Now!” part. The Rays apparently had 10 players in their lineup, including two pitchers. The Red Sox tried to argue this, which led to a 19 minute delay in the game, with umpires even confused about the move. This game is under protest and some think the Red Sox have a legitimate case here. So we’ll see what happens with that. For now, the Red Sox lose this one 3-2. David Price was the tough luck loser in this one, going six innings and giving up three runs.

In Conclusion

The Red Sox proved they can be better than the Rays. They are one game back of the Rays and can catch them this weekend. The only downside: the Yankees are in town. If the Red Sox can prove that they can beat the Yankees in a series right now, the trade deadline can be extra crucial. Also, there could be another postseason in Boston with a good two months of baseball ahead of them. One series at a time though!

I’m Not Concerned About Chris Sale

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We all know that the Boston Red Sox have not been relatively close to their 2018 form. You could blame a lot of the Red Sox mediocre season on a number of different factors. Some would say it’s the continuous aggravation of the bullpen underachieving. Others might point to the fact that guys like Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez aren’t having the same years in 2019 as they did in 2018. But what a lot of people quickly forget about is Ace Chris Sale.

Sale has not been himself this year and we all can see it. Coming into today, Chris Sale is 3-9 with an alarmingly high 4.27 ERA. Sale has been very accountable this season, taking the heat for every bad start that he has had so far this season. But with all of that being said, here are a few reasons why I’m not concerned with Chris Sale.

He’s Always Been A Strikeout Pitcher

There is no sugarcoating this fact. Chris Sale has been a strikeout pitcher since the first year he started for the Chicago White Sox. While his wins might be down on the year, his strikeout production surely has not decreased in the slightest. In 19 games this season, (prior to his start today against the Toronto Blue Jays) Sale has 160 strikeouts on the season. If you do the math on that quickly, he is averaging 8.42 strikeouts per start. So it isn’t a case of his strikeout totals decreasing by any means.

He’s Accountable

You’re probably wondering what accountability has to do with Sale. Well, it has to do with Sale more than you think. Sale could very easily have been a jerk about the whole situation and come up with excuses for why he’s struggled. “The catchers aren’t calling the right pitches”, “The offense doesn’t give me run support”, “I’m hurt”, to name a few. But, that’s not the type of guy that Sale is deep down inside of him. He has flat out beaten himself up during after start press conferences. “I suck right now”, “I have to be better”, “I’m a liability right now”. Those are quotes of what he has said throughout the season. Boston loves Sale because he backs up what he says. He acknowledges his good starts and becomes his own worst critic when he fails. You can’t ask for much more than that.

His Teammates Saw Something Recently

You heard it from Eduardo Rodriguez first. Sale was going to deliver a good start today and he did. Jared Carrabis gives it away a bit with his mention of Sale striking out 12 Blue Jays hitters over five innings at the time. He was dominant as ever today.

Six innings with 12 strikeouts while giving up two walks and two hits? Yeah, give me that every time. That’s the Sale we all know and love. That is also the Sale the Red Sox need from this point forward for the rest of the season.

In Conclusion

Sale is going to be fine. He’s as competitive and as smart as they come for starting pitchers. He has the pitches and the mental part to help him turn his season around. If the Red Sox want to get back in this division race at all, Sale has to build off of his great start today. Something tells me this isn’t the last good start Sale has in the 2019 season.

What You Need To Know About Andrew Cashner

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The Red Sox are sending out newly acquired right-handed pitcher Andrew Cashner to the mound tonight against the Toronto Blue Jays. The deal came at a time where the Red Sox were in need of a change in their pitching staff. He is 32 years old and comes with a wealth of experience. But, what else should you know about the new Red Sox right-handed pitcher? Let’s take a look at a few key factors that you should consider when you think about Andrew Cashner.

He’s Never Been On A Winning Team

Andrew Cashner has spent his entire MLB career without being on a winning team. He spent the first two seasons of his career with the Chicago Cubs in 2010 and 2011. The Cubs in those seasons had 75 and 71 wins, respectively. He then went to the San Diego Padres for the next four and half seasons before being traded to the Miami Marlins. He spent 2017 with the Rangers, and then his last season and a half was spent with the Baltimore Orioles. Whether it was just bad luck or a bad organization, Cashner has never found himself in a position where he was contending for a playoff spot. Is that his fault? Not at all!

He’s Having A Good Season So Far In 2019

It is hard to come by wins if you are a Baltimore Orioles’ pitcher. So for Andrew Cashner to have a 9-3 record so far this season is really huge for the Red Sox. Sure, the 3.83 ERA isn’t exactly CY Young award material. But the thing is, Cashner is winning baseball games. Now, imagine what his numbers can really look like if he has a legitimate offense backing him up every start. The Red Sox should be thanking their lucky stars that they found a guy that has found his way to the win column a good amount so far this season. In 96 innings, he has 29 walks given up. So the good thing is that Cashner has good control on the mound in 2019.

He Has A Good Changeup

A lot of pitchers have success in the Major Leagues because of the command of their changeup. Guess what? Andrew Cashner has a good changeup. The changeup is a pitch that can be a pitcher’s best friend when the breaking ball isn’t working that day. So when I first saw that Cashner’s big pitch is his changeup, that gave me a huge sigh of relief. Plus, he’s confident in the pitch which will make a huge difference in August and September when the Red Sox will need wins the most.

In Conclusion

The Red Sox traded for a guy that can help them right now. He has been around the Major Leagues for about 10 seasons now, so that will serve well for the Red Sox from a veteran aspect. He loves the changeup and is having success this season so far. What more can you want from a new acquisition? We’ll see how he throws tonight in his first Red Sox start. But, from what I’ve heard, seen, and read about him; I’m excited to see what he can bring to the table.

An Ode To Brock Holt

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With this Red Sox team the stars are pretty obvious. On the offensive side, you have Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogaerts as well as others that have excelled. On the defensive side, there are guys like Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi making amazing catches left and right. For the pitching staff, you have Chris Sale and David Price leading the way. But one guy that gets forgotten about more often than not is Brock Holt. Just in case you were one of the Red Sox fans that forgot about Holt too, here are a few reasons to love the utility man.

His On Field Ability

It’s not like Brock Holt is one of the worst baseball players we’ve ever seen. In fact, he is pretty good. Remember, Holt was the only member of the 2015 Red Sox team to make the All-Star team. During the Red Sox World Series run last season he was a big part it. In the regular season he hit .277 with seven home runs ,along with 46 RBI’s. Remember the game three rout of the Yankees in the ALDS at Yankee Stadium last season? Yeah, Holt hit for the cycle that game. The batting averages in the ALCS and World Series might not have been great for Brock. But it seemed like when the Red Sox needed a big at bat from him, he would make something happen. Also, Holt is having a good year so far this season with a .317 average. In other words, Brock Holt is a valuable asset to the Red Sox.

His Personality

Brock Holt has one of the best personalities on this Red Sox team. Where do I even begin with the examples to show this? The first one has to be the J.D. Martinez hugs. Every single time J.D. Martinez hits a home run, Brock Holt is right there to greet him. On social media, Holt is as funny as they come. He doesn’t mind commenting on anything from Mookie Betts style choices to the popular “Section 10 Podcast” account, and everything else in between. Brock is as genuine as they come and has been a great clubhouse presence for the Red Sox.

His Generosity To Charity

Just look at the tweet above. Holt has no problem with donating to charities such as the Jimmy Fund. He was the Red Sox representative for the Roberto Clemente award in 2018. So, that says a lot about Holt’s character. No matter what the charity case is, Brock is one of the first guys to be ready to contribute anything necessary.

In Conclusion

Brock Holt is one of the hidden gems on this Red Sox team. It always helps to have a good locker room presence, which he definitely is day in and day out. But, he also can contribute on the field by playing multiple positions and swinging the bat. So thank you Brock for all you’ve done for the Red Sox thus far in your career! It would be nice to see the utility player finish his career in a Red Sox uniform.

Why To Be Optimistic About The Red Sox In The Second Half

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The Boston Red Sox are about to embark on the second half of their 2019 season. They currently sit at 49-41, two and a half games back of the Rays, and nine back of the Yankees. A lot of people, including myself, were not overly enthusiastic about the first half of the season. But the second half kicks off officially on Friday when the Red Sox host the Dodgers. Keep in mind, this is a rematch of last year’s World Series match-up. Here are some reasons to be optimistic about the second half of the season.

Rafael Devers

First things first, can we acknowledge what a season Rafael Devers has had? Now, can we all agree that he should have been in the All-Star Game? We all can agree? Okay good, moving on!

Rafael Devers had one of the best first halves on the Red Sox by far. He is currently hitting for a .324 average ,along with 16 home runs and 62 RBI’s. If that doesn’t impress you, he also has 69 runs scored, along with a .923 OPS. Devers has been a man on a mission in the first half of the season. Now he just needs to keep up his hot hitting in the second half to give the Red Sox a chance of contending.

David Price

David. Price. Is. GOOD. Let’s end any debate of that now. While other Red Sox arms such as Chris Sale and Rick Porcello struggled in the first half, Price excelled. He was the Red Sox most consistent starter, and continuously pitched deep into his starts when they needed him. The numbers don’t exactly wow you, but they make you nod your head in approval. Price is currently 7-2 with a 3.24 ERA. In 83 and 1/3 innings he has 95 strikeouts, so just above one an inning. A lot of people were skeptical of Price in his first few seasons in Boston. But last year from the All-Star break until now he has now put the past behind him. If Price can continue his consistency in the second half, and the other starters improve, the rest of the MLB needs to look out.

Christian Vazquez

Nobody has really talked about Christian Vazquez in the first half. The Red Sox catcher has swung the bat very well so far this season. He is hitting .299 with 14 home runs and 41 RBIs (both career highs). We all knew Vazquez was an above average defensive catcher. But the hitting side of things was always Vazquez’s biggest question mark. He has certainly proved a lot of people wrong this season. If he keeps this pace up, maybe the demands for Sandy Leon will decrease.

In Conclusion

The Red Sox are in a better spot than we all think. They have had it all in the first half of the season. There’s been the rising star (Devers), the veteran making a statement (Price), and the surprise of the year (Vazquez), with the second half of the season yet to start. Are the Red Sox perfect? Not even close! No MLB team is perfect in all aspects of the game. But, do they have the pieces that can help them make a second half run? Definitely! 72 games remain, let’s see what this Red Sox team has in store for us.