Tag Archives: Boston Red Sox

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.

Rafael Devers And Why He Should Be An All-Star

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The first half of the MLB season is officially history and the All-Star teams have been selected. For the Red Sox, J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts have been selected onto the American League All-Star roster as reserves at D.H. and outfield, respectively. But what about Rafael Devers? Why isn’t he on the All-Star team? Well, I am about to defend why Devers should have been on the All-Star team.

His Average

Most of the time, you hear about Hall of Fame hitters having an average right around .300. Well, Devers is certainly exceeding Hall of Fame numbers. He is currently hitting .329 with the Red Sox in the first half of the 2019 season. That is good for second in the American League, behind the Yankees D.J. LeMahieu. Isn’t D.J. LeMahieu in the All-Star game? Last time I checked, yes indeed he is! Bottom line is that if you are hitting above .300 at the Major League level, you should be finding a way to get that player to the All-Star game. Oh and just for what it’s worth, Devers went 4-5 again last night against the Toronto Blue Jays.

His RBI Count

Not only is Rafael Devers hitting for average, but he is also knocking in runs left and right. It seems like whenever Devers is up, he has runners on base and they’re finding their way home. So far this season, Devers has 58 RBI’s. That is good for 8th in the American League, ahead of the likes of players such as Edwin Encarnacion, Gary Sanchez, and Alex Bregman just to name a few players. Oh and by the way, Sanchez and Bregman are All-Stars this year too! Whatever. At least Devers is knocking in runs for the Red Sox and can be a reason why they can turn things around in the second half of the season.

His Defense Improving

Now let me preface this by saying that I know Devers isn’t winning a Gold Glove any time soon. I get that, believe me. But think about this. Last season, Devers was one of the leaders in the entire MLB in errors at third base with 24 total. Last year, it was scary to see a ball hit in the direction of Devers. But now, he looks a lot more confident and smooth in the field. Sure, he has 12 errors in 78 games played at third base. But the thing is, a lot of those errors came early on in the season. He has since calmed down and made plays that he wouldn’t have come close to making last year. He is starting double plays with ease, he’s making tougher plays look much easier, etc. The bottom line is that Devers continues to improve his defense which is making him more of a complete player.

In Conclusion

Rafael Devers should be in the All-Star game, period. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Devers has earned the right to take a plane ride to Cleveland and be a part of the All-Star festivities as an American League All-Star. With the way he has swung the bat so far this season and with his defense constantly getting better, Devers should be there this year. But don’t fret Red Sox fans. Devers will have a few All-Star nods under his belt before we know it.

Takeaways From The Red Sox-Yankees London Series

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The Boston Red Sox took on the New York Yankees in a two game series played in London. Unfortunately for the Red Sox, they came away losing both games in the series, 17-13 and 12-8 respectively. The end result is obviously not what we wanted as Red Sox fans. But, there were some interesting tidbits picked up along the way. Let’s look at a few takeaways from the Red Sox and Yankees London Series.

Rafael Devers Continues To Hit Well

Rafael Devers continues to prove to everyone that he is for real at the plate. Devers is hitting .322 at the plate with 12 homeruns and 50 RBI’s so far this season. His hot bat continued in the London series. In the first game, Devers went 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored. In the second game, he went 1-5. Granted, the second game isn’t what we are used to seeing this season. But, everyone has an off game. The overall point is that Devers continues to swing the bat well. In a season where the Red Sox have stayed inconsistent, Devers has been a very consistent lineup piece.

Xander Bogaerts Continues To Prove He Should Have Been An All-Star

What more does the MLB have to see to finally put Xander Bogaerts on the American League All-Star team? This is still baffling to me personally. Bogaerts went into the London series and continued to put together a strong first half of 2019. He went 2-6 in the two games with 2 RBI’s. On the season, Bogaerts is hitting .299 with 16 homeruns and 57 RBI’s. He has also played a great shortstop this year. So again, what more does this man have to do to get a bid in the All-Star game? He continues to prove that the contract extension in the off-season was well worth it.

J.D. Martinez Is Starting To Get Hot

One of the guys that gets the Red Sox offense going is J.D. Martinez. Martinez seemed to have found his consistent swing again in London as he was red hot in those two games. In game one, he went 3-5 with an RBI and a run scored. The next day in game two, he went 3-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Hopefully, this is a sign that J.D. Martinez will have a monster second half of the 2019 season.

The Red Sox Can Hit The Yankees Pitching

Keep in mind, it’s not like the Red Sox got creamed in both games. They lost 17-13 and 12-8 in the two games. For those keeping track at home, that’s 21 runs in 18 innings. If you have any pitching at all, you win that series. Everyone knows the Red Sox rotation on paper is a very strong one. The bullpen…that’s another story. But, if the Red Sox pitching can turn a corner, then they know they can keep up with the Yankees offensively.

In Conclusion

You can always take away a positive with losses and there are some good positives in these particular losses. The Red Sox seemed to have found their offense. Their pitching can be better, which is a good sign. Also, last time I checked; there is a whole second half of the season to play. Crazier things have happened, and this Red Sox team is very talented. Don’t be surprised if the Red Sox make a run in the second half of the season, with a few moves to help them along the way.