Tag Archives: Boston Red Sox

2018 Outlook for Rick Porcello

Porcello’s Career in Boston so Far

Rick Porcello has experienced his fair share of highs and lows since arriving in Boston. The Red Sox acquired him in the winter of 2014 from the Tigers in exchange for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. In his first season following the trade, Porcello had fifteen loses and ERA of almost five. His second year in Boston was the complete opposite, as he won twenty-two games and the AL Cy Young award. Last year he struggled again and was unable to repeat his Cy Young performance. He lost a career high seventeen games and again had an ERA above four. This season will be his fourth year in Boston, and it should be an interesting one.

Photo Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

2017 Struggles

Unlike Sale and Price, Porcello is not a strikeout machine. He is a sinkerball pitcher who pitches to contact. Last year he allowed a career high thirty-eight home runs and a career high two hundred and thirty-six hits. This was a result of a couple of factors. Last year his signature sinkerball pitch didn’t have the same effect. He pitched more up in strike zone making his pitches easier to hit. He does not throw the ball very hard which means he can’t just blow people away. What makes Porcello effective is when he’s able to stay out of the upper part of the strike zone. This makes it harder for hitters to barrel up the ball and induces ground balls.

Photo Credit: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

2018 Expectations for Porcello

Porcello is not as bad of a pitcher as he showed last year. He also is not a perennial Cy Young award candidate. With Price, Sale, and Pomeranz atop of the Red Sox rotation they don’t need him to be. In 2018 he will likely be the fourth starter, which could work out very well. When the former Tiger first came to Boston he was expected to be the ace. That didn’t workout and he had his breakout season in 2016 when the Sox signed David Price to be their ace. Porcello may not win twenty-two games a year, but he Is capable of pitching too a sub 4.00 ERA. He does not have the stuff to be an ace but does have the stuff be a consistent and at times an above average pitcher.

Photo Credit: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Why Porcello Is Key

If he can regain his signature sinkerball pitch then the Sox could have the best fourth starter in baseball. There won’t be as much pressure on him to carry this team which gives him a better chance to succeed. I expect Porcello to win between thirteen and sixteen games with an ERA under four. The sinkerball pitcher will be looking to rebound, and he will have the perfect opportunity to do that.

Why 2018 Could Be David Price’s Best

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Price’s Red Sox Career so Far

2018 will be a year that will define David Price’s career. Since he signed with the Red Sox prior to the 2016 season, things haven’t gone as planned. Price won seventeen games in his first year in Boston, but had an ERA of 3.99 and struggled in his only postseason start. Last year he was injured for the majority of the season and clashed with the media. People started to question his character and if he should stay in Boston. He returned in the playoffs as a reliever and was dominant. He came up big when the Red Sox needed him the most and did not give up a run in his two appearances. Price will be looking to build off that and be the ace the Sox envisioned when they signed him.

Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara- USA Today sports

What Last Year’s Playoff Performance Meant

As a reliever last year Price had perhaps his best performances as a Red Sox. Up until the point he hadn’t had a clutch moment in a Red Sox uniform. In Game 3 of the American league Division Series, he entered the game with the Sox clinging to a 4-3 lead. With the Red Sox facing elimination he put them on his back and pitched four scoreless innings. It wasn’t the dominant playoff start that Price has lacked but it was as close as you can get. This should help Price going into 2018 and if the Red Sox make the playoffs this year.

Photo Credit: Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)

Why Is 2018 so Important for Price?

The season before Price signed with Boston he had 18 wins and a 2.45 ERA. He was considered one of the best pitchers in baseball. The Red Sox need him to be the ace like pitcher he was. If he can, then the Sox will have one of the best rotations in baseball. After the 2018 season the former first overall pick can opt out of his deal. Price could seek a more lucrative deal, but he would also be leaving a lot of money on the table.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Aaron Josefczyk

Will Price Opt Out?

It is too early to say whether Price will opt out or not? He will need to show he’s healthy and still a dominant pitcher. If he can’t do this than it’s hard to imagine him getting a deal that would be lucrative than if he stayed in Boston. One thing people can be sure of is he will be more motivated than ever in 2018. He will be out to show that he is still a dominant pitcher. Price came to Boston two years ago to win a title. In each of the past two seasons, Price and the Red Sox have been eliminated in the playoffs both times in their own ballpark. This will be a year that will define Price’s career, and it could be something special.

2018: The Year of Bogaerts

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After an offensive dive last season, 2018 is primed to be they breakout year we’ve all been waiting for when it comes to Xander Bogaerts.

After a season in which he suffered a hand injury, Bogaerts’s numbers hurt as well. In 2017, Xander hit .273 with 10 homers and 62 RBIs. Those numbers are surprisingly low following his amazing 2016 season, when he hit 21 homers and 89 RBIs to go along with a .294 batting average. With new manager Alex Cora in the mix, Xander Bogaerts is primed to have a career year.

Although spring training to me doesn’t evaluate much besides the prospects, X man is showing signs of prosperity. The starting shortstop is locating the pitches and shows flashes of the power that got his signed when he was 16. The Aruba native will only make $7,500,000 this season, and will become an unrestricted free agent after 2019. With super agent Scott Boras handling negotiations, odds are there will be no talks of an extension anytime soon.

Over the years his defense has improved. It can only get better from here. While being able to cover most of the left side of the field, he covers the middle as well. Compared to shortstops such as Correa, Lindor, and Simmons, Bogaerts is the cheaper option. What he makes up for in savings won’t deteriorate his value. He can slap the ball anywhere on the field with great precision.

While he could easily command a six year, $125 million deal, the potential is there with room for improvement. No fan of the sport has seen his ceiling. This could be the year he stays consistent throughout the entirety of the season.

Stat line Prediction for 2018:

.313 BA, 26 home runs, 97 RBIs

This prediction relies heavily on his health and consistency. These numbers could be achievable with having a clubhouse factor such as David Ortiz popping in as a player consultant this season. With all eyes pointed on New York, look out for Boston to defend their AL East crown?

J.D. Martinez Is Making Plays with Mookie Betts

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Looking Forward to J.D. Martinez in 2018

When J.D. Martinez signed with the Red Sox, it felt awesome no doubt. But it didn’t feel fully real. At least not then. I wouldn’t even say it feels 100% real now, as he has yet to play a regular season game for it to really sink in. But it’s definitely getting to the point where I don’t feel like I’m in a dream anymore.

It was the same way when David Price signed a couple of years back, and Chris Sale last year. They both had to start a few games before it really sunk in that they were here.

J.D. has finally gotten into his first few Spring Training games. I never really thought about it but hearing “J.D. driving in Mookie” is definitely a term we will be hearing all season. And I am here for it.

USA Today

Martinez + Mookie

Mookie Betts was in a 0-16 hole so far in Spring Training going into today’s game against the Rays. He finally got his first hit on a ground ball to third. He pointed to the sky and celebrated with the new first base coach Tom Gooden. But something would happen a few AB’s later that really got me excited.

J.D. Martinez came to the plate with two outs and Mookie on first base. J.D. had played his first game the day before and went 0-2 on two fly outs. On his first at bat in his second game hitting cleanup, he hit a fly ball to right field that got down. It went deep enough for Mookie to come around third and score.

There's a good chance you'll see more of this in 2018. pic.twitter.com/RAfnR70GMO

— Red Sox (@RedSox) March 8, 2018

That run didn’t matter much, as it was only a Spring Training run that got the game to a 3-1 deficit. None of that was what I was excited about. But it was the fact that J.D. Martinez had just driven in Mookie Betts. That is for sure a delightful thing to hear and something Sox fans will be hearing all season long. It will be a phrase that I will have no problem getting used to.

Cover image courtesy of NESN.

The Eduardo Rodriguez Breakout Season

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The Boston Red Sox rotation, when healthy, is one of the best in the league. Chris Sale is one of the top five starters in baseball, and David Price, Drew Pomeranz, and Rick Porcello are all above average at their respective spot in the rotation. However, there is one X-Factor in the rotation that could truly send this group from great to elite. Eduardo Rodriguez has flashed talent since entering the majors in 2015, but has struggled with consistency. Now in his fourth major league season, here’s what needs to happen for the Eduardo Rodriguez breakout season to become reality.

The Eduardo Rodriguez Breakout Season

Start Healthy and Stay Healthy

The first jersey Rodriguez wears this season shouldn’t be a Boston Red Sox one

Image credit: Portland Press Herald

E-Rod is expected to miss the start of the regular season, but it’s not all bad news. Rodriguez has begun throwing bullpen sessions off the mound, and could be ready to return as soon as mid-April. This is ahead of the initial recovery date, which is obviously good news.

However, Alex Cora and the Red Sox need to be smart about bringing E-Rod back. His off-season knee surgery was mostly seen as a maintenance work, but he’s had knee injuries before. The Red Sox need to be sure not to bring him back into the rotation before he’s ready to go.

He’s been rushed back too early before, and the results haven’t been great. E-Rod went through a different knee issue in 2016, and came back a bit earlier than he should have. The 2016 rotation was something of a mess at the time, so it’s understandable why then-manager John Farrell wanted E-Rod back as soon as possible.

Learning from History

However, learning from history shows patience is the best course. E-Rod made his 2016 season debut on May 31^st, and after six starts he held an ugly 8.59 ERA. He gave up four or more earned runs four times, and only made it out of the sixth inning twice.

The Red Sox demoted Rodriguez to Pawtucket to fix his mechanics and get healthy. He returned three weeks later looking like a completely different player. Rodriguez made fourteen starts and recorded a 3.24 ERA after that demotion. He was one of the best pitchers on the team and should have started in the playoffs against the Cleveland Indians.

Brian Johnson is currently scheduled to take E-Rod’s spot in the rotation. It will be tempting for Cora to get Rodriguez back in the rotation as early as possible, but he needs to be smart. Rushing E-Rod is a short sighted move that will only make the team and Rodriguez worse in the long run. Get him healthy, and let him dominate.

Use the Slider

When it’s working, Rodriguez has one of the best sliders in baseball

While getting E-Rod fully healthy rests primarily on the training and coaching staff, E-Rod needs to make sure he’s smart with his pitch selection. Rodriguez is a three-pitch pitcher, and can be unhittable when all three are working. His fastball is his main pitch, and he has a nasty change up. However, it’s his slider that makes him deadly.

When Rodriguez doesn’t trust his slider, his pitches become predictable. Hitters can sit on the fastball and change up, and those pitches alone aren’t good enough to consistently get guys out. That’s not to say that E-Rod can only get guys out with the slider; he’s had good games rarely throwing it. Last season against the Baltimore Orioles, E-Rod pitched six shutout innings while throwing his slider just 5.6% of the time.

However, a lot of E-Rod’s bad starts have one thing in common: the absence of the slider. In 2017, Rodriguez had six starts in which he pitched fewer than six innings and gave up four or more earned runs. His slider use was under 10% in four of those six starts.

Looking at the data, most of E-Rod’s noted inconsistency comes from starts where he doesn’t use his slider. When healthy and not using his slider, his good versus bad starts are split roughly 50/50. When he’s healthy and able to keep batters guessing, he almost always puts up quality starts.

What to Expect This Year

I’ve admittedly been high on Rodriguez ever since his 2015 debut, but this should be his breakout year. Rodriguez has been in the majors long enough that Alex Cora should know the best way to use E-Rod. He’ll know that E-Rod needs to get his slider working. He’ll know that rushing E-Rod back to replace Brian Johnson is a bad idea.

It wasn’t that long ago that E-Rod was one of the top prospects in baseball, and he’s still just 24. He won’t ever threaten Sale for the ace position, but there’s no reason to think that he can’t push for the second or third spot in the rotation. Regardless of where he ends up in the lineup, he should push the unit over the top. Sale, Price, Pomeranz, Porcello, and a healthy Rodriguez should be nearly unhittable. Combine that with a strong offense and bullpen, and these Red Sox should be very hard to beat this season.

Cover Image Credit: NBC Sports

Rafael Devers- Boston’s Future at Third Base

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The Third Base Conundrum

Last year in the summertime, the Red Sox were in a very tough place. They had just released Pablo Sandoval, a third baseman they had expected to be their guy over the next five years. He was signed to a $95 million contract in the winter of 2014. He did not produce in the way he did in San Francisco, where he helped lead them to three championships in five seasons.

They had started the year off with Pablo over Travis Shaw, because they were hopeful the Sandoval situation would work out. Obviously it didn’t. So they could’ve just went back to Travis Shaw at third, right? The problem was Shaw was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Tyler Thornburg, a right handed reliever who was injured for the whole year. So Shaw is out mashing on the Brew Crew, meanwhile the Red Sox were forced to release their joke of a third baseman.

One of the biggest talks of last year was who the Red Sox could trade for to play third base. Everyone mentioned Mike Moustakes, from Kansas City, who could be a good rental. Nobody wanted the best prospect in the organization, Rafael Devers, to get called up since many thought he would be too rushed. But Dave Dombrowski didn’t listen as he would call up Devers in July.

Devers is the Future

At first many were skeptical, but that went away quick. In his second game he slammed a 427 foot home run. He would later single later in that game and never look back. He stayed hot for the rest of the year, hitting home runs left and right, including the famous one off of Aroldis Chapman to tie the game in the top of the ninth in Yankee Stadium. I mean, he’s already getting clutch hits against the Yankees at age 20. Just crazy.

He’s had a great spring so far, hitting .400 with two homers in several games. He went back to back with Andrew Beninendi last Sunday, and did the same with Xander Bogaerts against the Rays.

The lineup is still being figured out, as Cora will put guys in the right places for protection. But Devers definitely has the capability of being in the top or middle of that lineup.

What to Look Forward To

As far as the defense goes, he’s struggled. But that’s okay. You have to remember he’s not even 21 yet. Defense will come around. One of the players Devers looked up to growing up was Adrian Beltre. Beltre came up with the Dodgers at a very young age and struggled defensively at third. But now? He’s a five time gold glove winner and someone you see making great plays every single night. So as far as defense goes for Devers, it will come around.

I am super excited to see what the future holds for this young kid who isn’t even near his prime yet and already hits like a veteran. He is perfect for Fenway as he has learned to use the monster very well. The future looks bright for the young Devers, but as of right now, he’s looking like a big part of this 2018 Red Sox team.

Cover image courtesy of NESN.

How Do the Red Sox Match up with the Yankees?

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The 2018 MLB season starts later this month, and the Red Sox and Yankees will be battling it out for first place in the AL East. The Red Sox have won the division two straight years, and the Yankees lost in the ALCS last year. Since they are likely to be neck and neck, let’s evaluate how they match up with each other:

Hitting

The Yankees have a dominant duo with Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, who combined for 111 home runs last year. They are complemented by other productive hitters such as Gary Sanchez, Aaron Hicks, and Didi Gregorius. The Red Sox struggled with power last year, but they did add slugger J.D. Martinez to the lineup. Unlike the Yankees, the Red Sox rely on average and speed to score runs. If Hanley Ramirez, Mookie Betts, Rafael Devers, and Andrew Benintendi all hit for power, then the Red Sox will win the division. If they hit for average, the Yankees will win. Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley Jr. have not lived up to expectations, but they both have great potential. They could be nice compliments at the bottom of the order.

Final prediction: The Yankees hitting will match up better than the Red Sox.

Yankees Pitching

The Yankees have a shaky starting rotation, but a very good bullpen. If Luis Severino repeats what he did last year, then he is the clear ace. If he does not, the Yankees are in trouble. Masahiro Tanaka is rarely healthy and has struggled in past years when healthy. Sonny Gray had a promising start to his career, but he had a 5.69 ERA in 2016 and a 3.75 ERA in 2017. If he can get back to his 2015 days when he had a 2.73 ERA, then he will be a great number two starter. The rest of the Yankees rotation is filled out by 37-year-old CC Sabathia and inexperienced Jordan Montgomery. The Yankees should win almost every game when they have the lead going into the seventh. David Robertson, Dillon Betances, and Alrodis Chapman is a dominant 7-8-9 trio.

Red Sox Pitching

The Red Sox pitching staff has a ton of potential. David Price, Chris Sale, Drew Pomeranz, and Rick Porcello all have the potential to be aces. David Price struggled a bit in 2016 but shined when healthy in 2017. Rick Porcello won the Cy Young award in 2016 but struggled in 2017. Chris Sale was an MVP candidate but started to fall off at the end of last year. Drew Pomeranz has been excellent since the start of 2016, hopefully, he can keep that up. Eduardo Rodriguez is a nice option for the fifth starter, but it looks like Brian Johnson will take that spot due to Rodriguez’ knee injury. The Red Sox did not make any improvements to the bullpen, and it seems like Carson Smith and Tyler Thornburg will be relied on. They were traded for in consecutive offseasons, but injuries have kept them both sidelined.

Final prediction: Red Sox pitching staff will match up better than the Yankees pitching staff.

Cover image courtesy of BoSox Injection.

What If Another Starting Pitcher Gets Hurt?

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It’s only spring training, but the Boston Red Sox starting rotation has already has its injury woes. Last week, manager Alex Cora announced that both Eduardo Rodriguez and Steven Wright were not likely to be ready for Opening Day. To make matters worse, Drew Pomeranz recently left his first spring training appearance with forearm tightness. Pomeranz says he’s fine, but what if another starting pitcher gets hurt? Do the Red Sox have the depth to handle such an injury?

What If Another Starting Pitcher Gets Hurt?

This article may read like an overreaction, simply because Pomeranz said he’s fine. There’s no reason to doubt him, so right now he probably is. However, Pomeranz has a history of arm injuries and fatigue, so it’s still worth looking at what the Sox would do without him. Right off the bat, it seems like the Sox have two main options: stay the course or sign a free agent.

Option One: Stay the Course

As things currently stand, the Red Sox will need one of Brian Johnson, Hector Velasquez, or Roenis Elias to take the fifth spot in the rotation. Each one has their pros and cons, but the Red Sox can likely survive in spite of the spot starter.

If the Red Sox need two spot starters, this task becomes considerably harder. Pomeranz isn’t a Cy Young caliber pitcher, but he’s leaps and bounds better than Johnson, Velasquez, or Elias. More pressure would fall on the offense, as they’d probably have to bail out the pitching to an extent two out of every five games.

Johnson and Velasquez both have proven that they can keep the Red Sox in games, so having both in the rotation wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. However, relying on two minor league caliber pitchers isn’t ideal, and the Red Sox will likely check out the open market.

Option Two: Sign a Free Agent

Jake Arrieta is a free agent, but probably won’t be a Red Sox

Image credit: NBC Sports

The Red Sox organization is very adamant about staying under the luxury tax, which means Jake Arrieta will not be a member of the team. Boston has roughly $8 million dollars to spend before hitting the luxury tax threshold, and Arrieta won’t sign for that.

Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn are the only other solid starters left on the market, but both would likely force the Red Sox to exceed the luxury tax. If they do that, they’ll drop ten spots in the upcoming MLB draft. Additionally, both players have received qualifying offers, which means signing one of those two would make the Sox forfeit their third highest draft pick.

Depending on how desperate the Red Sox are, they might bite the bullet and sign one of those three regardless. However, if the Red Sox truly want to stay under the luxury tax, they’d have to get creative.

Getting Creative

Clay Buchholz would be the return nobody asked for

Image credit: ESPN

The Red Sox could look into acquiring former Sox John Lackey and Clay Buchholz, but both guys have their limits. Lackey is 39 and coming off one of the worst seasons of his career. He’s openly debated retirement before, and might not have anything left in the tank. As for Buchholz, the Red Sox should avoid him at all costs. Red Sox Nation was on that roller coaster for the better part of a decade, there’s no need to get on that ride again.

Kyle Kendrick is also an option, albeit a very low upside one. The Red Sox thought enough of him to bring him in last year, but he woefully underperformed. In a year where the Red Sox constantly needed a spot starter, Kendrick was unable to step up. He fell behind Johnson and Velasquez on the depth chart, but he does have a record of major league success. If the Red Sox believe last year was a fluke, then perhaps they’ll bring him back.

There aren’t many good options outside the organization, but one player they could check out is Brett Anderson. Anderson once had a very promising career, and was actually traded to the Colorado Rockies for Pomeranz back in 2013. He had success with the Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Dodgers, but injuries have limited him. He’s only pitched 66.2 innings since 2015, and he hasn’t looked that great in any of them. Still, the Sox could kick the tires to see if there’s any magic left in the 30-year old.

Which Option Is Best?

Truthfully, the best option is to stay the course. Getting creative is asking for trouble, as all of those options are high risk. The need for starting pitching depth isn’t large enough to justify the cost of Arrieta, Cobb, or Lynn. Having two spot starters in the rotation isn’t ideal, but this Red Sox team is built well enough to survive. As long as the starter can keep the game competitive for the first five innings, the rest of the unit should be able to pick up the slack.

Cover Image: SI.com

Red Sox Petition to Change Yawkey Way Back to Jersey Street

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From Yawkey Way Back to Jersey Street

John Henry and the Red Sox over the past year have been thinking of changing the street name “Yawkey Way”. They recently filed a petition to name it back to what it was before, Jersey Street. This may really be breaking news, as we all know why the ownership is pushing for this to happen.

Tom Yawkey, the old owner for the Red Sox for over 40 years, wasn’t the greatest guy ever. Although he did some great things to help out the community throughout his tenure, he was also a racist.

When Jackie Robinson was first coming to be, Yawkey wasn’t interested in signing him because of his race. His prejudice heavily swayed who could and could not play for his team. Because of this, the Red Sox were the last team to have a nonwhite player on their team.

One reason why it’s so important for this change to be made is because it’s 2018. There is no place for racism under any circumstance. The Red Sox have always been looked at as a racist organization, and they need to find a way to get past that.

Time to Take Action

If the name isn’t going to be Jersey Street, I would love for it to be something incorporating Ted Williams. Someone who is possibly the greatest hitter to ever live, and who took time off to fight in two wars. Plus, he was very supportive of African-American players. But if it’s going to go back to being Jersey Street, it’s certainly a better name than what it is now. I would be okay with it.

The reason the Red Sox have to file a petition for this is because the team doesn’t have control of the street name. But what do they have control of? The fact that Tom and his wife Jean Yawkey’s initials are written on the Green Monster in Morse code. So if they can’t get rid of the street name right now, they can at least get rid of those initials on the monster.

The Red Sox aren’t a racist organization now, of course. No team in the MLB is discriminatory whatsoever. But as far as the Red Sox go, they need to move forward from their controversial past.

Cover image courtesy of cbssports.com

Ideal 2018 Red Sox Opening Day Lineup

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New Red Sox manager Alex Cora has his hands full with this Red Sox lineup in 2018. He has all of the talent he could ask for in his lineup. However, constructing it is going to be a very tall task. Now fused with young star-power, J.D. Martinez, and veterans, this lineup has a very high ceiling for the upcoming season.

LEADING OFF: MOOKIE BETTS

You can say whatever you want about how Mookie Betts should be batting third or fourth because he’s the best pure hitter on the team. Betts should be the first batter for the 2018 Red Sox. Mookie has everything you would want in a leadoff guy: power, quick hands, speed, and good base running skills. During his time as the Red Sox leadoff hitter, Betts had multiple leadoff home runs and hit much better than when he was in the third or fourth hole. He can be a big time spark plug and boost to the lineup from the lead-off spot, especially if he returns to his 2016 form.

HITTING SECOND: ANDREW BENINTENDI

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We all know the story of Andrew Benintendi- a top Red Sox prospect that tore through the system and debuted in 2016, instantly becoming a vital part of the lineup. A lot of people argue that your best hitter should be batting second, which might just be Benintendi. He has put on some weight to increase his power, which combined with his speed makes for a dangerous hitter. Benny Biceps in the second spot would be a great table-setter for the big boys in the lineup.

BATTING THIRD: HANLEY RAMIREZ

I know what you are thinking. Why would Hanley Ramirez be playing first base over Mitch Moreland after his disappointing 2017? Anyone who is going to criticize Hanley for his 2017 performance has to take into consideration that the guy played most of the season with “one arm,” as Hanley said himself. Not only that, but I am not worried about Hanley’s defense at first, because in 2016 he did very well there. Also keep in mind that in 2016, Hanley thrived at the plate while playing in the field.

BATTING FOURTH: J.D. MARTINEZ

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The King Kong of Slug. This was the guy that the Red Sox wanted, and they got him. After rejuvenating his career in 2014, JDM has been one of the best hitters in the league. He hit 46 home runs between Detroit and Arizona last season. J.D. Martinez should be in the cleanup spot for two reasons. One, no matter what people say about the third hole in the lineup, the best power hitter on the team should be batting fourth. And the second reason to build on that point is that J.D. would create opportunities for himself to start off an inning with a double or home run and get some momentum going, rather than coming up with two outs.

BATTING FIFTH: RAFAEL DEVERS

Rafael Devers was one of the main reasons why the 2017 Red Sox won their division. A highly touted prospect, Rafael was called up to take over the reigns of third base in the middle of a pennant race. He did not disappoint, hitting ten home runs in just 58 games. His most famous one, of course, being the game-tying home run off of Aroldis Chapman on Sunday Night Baseball. I expect Devers to have a great first full season, and will be a great lefty bat behind Martinez.

BATTING SIXTH: XANDER BOGAERTS

If I had been making the lineup two or three years ago, Xander would not be this far down. Bogaerts had a terrible 2017 season, large in part thanks to a hurt hand. He is looking for a bounce back season in 2018, and I think he has as good of a chance as anyone else to have a monster season. He will certainly have an opportunity to prove himself and move up in the lineup, but I think he starts the season in the sixth spot.

BATTING SEVENTH: CHRISTIAN VASQUEZ

Known throughout the Red Sox system for his stellar defense behind the plate, Vasquez showed how talented he is with the bat in 2017 during his platooning time with Sandy Leon. His defining moment of the season was his walk-off three run homer against the Indians. Vasquez is a great defensive and offensive catcher, and he should most definitely be playing over Sandy Leon on opening day.

BATTING EIGHTH: JACKIE BRADLEY JR

JBJ is most certainly the streakiest hitter in this lineup. He always has one month where he tears the cover off of the ball, but then other months where he can’t hit anything. Because of his stellar defense in CF and the power that he is, Jackie Bradley will be a regular in this lineup.

BATTING NINTH: EDUARDO NUNEZ

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Having Eduardo this low in the lineup is certainly not a knock on him, but rather a compliment. You could easily have him higher up in the lineup, which I would not have a problem with. But I do like him in the ninth spot. His ability to get on base and his speed allows him to be a great hitter to have in front of the best hitters in the lineup.

If I was filling out the lineup card for the Red Sox, this would be the order I choose. Alex Cora has so many combinations that he can play around with, but this is lineup could be very dangerous if everybody plays to their potential.