A shock-wave spread across the MLB Hot Stove when Buster Olney reported that the Chicago Cubs could trade Kris Bryant. The Red Sox minor league system is bare, but Rafael Devers is young, cheap, talented, and a powerful trade chip. Would a Rafael Devers Kris Bryant swap make sense?
Rafael Devers
Devers can be seen as a Red Sox wunderkind. He will only be 22 years old at the start of 2019 season. At that tender age, his accomplishments are many. Here are just a few:
His Baseball Reference page compares him at a similar age to Willie Mays and Cal Ripken Jr.
He’s the youngest Red Sox player to hit a Home Run since Tony Conigliaro in 1965.
He has a .884 OPS in the postseason including 3 Home Runs and 14 RBI in 15 games.
Because of these, and many other great performances, most consider him an untouchable. And for the vast majority of all the talent in all the world, he is.
But what if he could be the centerpiece, or only piece, in a trade for one of the best young players in all of baseball?
Kris Bryant
Kris Bryant himself is seen as a Chicago Cubs wunderkind. At the tender age of 26, he has already been a Rookie Of The Year, an NL MVP, and linchpin of a 2016 World Series Championship for the Cubbies.
Devers may be full of potential, but Bryant is a monster and has proved it over a much larger sample. Bryant is also playing much better defense than Devers at third base.
So why would the Cubs trade him? Because many of the same concerns the Red Sox have had with Mookie Betts. Bryant has refused to talk long-term extension with the Cubs.
Now, Theo Epstein, the President of the Cubs, downplayed the possibility of trading Bryant. But what do we expect him to say? If there is even a possibility, this could be an incredible opportunity.
In the spring of 2017, the Chicago Cubs visited Fenway Park for a 3 game series. It was a brief glimpse of the kind of, pardon the term, damage Bryant could do. In those 3 games, he hit 2 Home Runs, 2 Doubles, and had a 1.429 OPS.
Red Sox Payroll Concerns 2020
At the end of the 2019 season, the Red Sox have a number of payroll concerns. Among them are trying to sign Mookie Betts to a long-term deal, Chris Sale and Xander Bogaerts becoming free agents, and JD Martinez having an opt-out in his contract.
Having Kris Bryant, a superstar, on the team at a lower number through 2021, would provide some flexibility for the Sox in the short term. And Bryant is a much better bet to invest in than Rafael Devers. Bryant is simply a better player.
Because of Rafael Devers’ postseason success, and tantalizing thoughts of Willy Mays and a young and healthy Tony C, he could be a one for one trade chip for Kris Bryant. And hey, it’s just the kind of trade Dave Dombrowski is known for.
The 2018 Boston Red Sox were never the underdogs. They did not break the curse of the Bambino. They did not come out of nowhere to unite a city during times of tragedy. Entering the 2018 baseball season expectations for Boston’s beloved baseball team was World Series or bust. The team knew it on February 19th when Chris Sale was asked about his expectations for the season in which he said “The goal is World Series Championship”.
The Goal
On October 28th, Chris Sale, who had been dealing with shoulder issues for the majority of the second half of the season, came out of the Sox bullpen. Sale walked to the mound with one goal which he had echoed from day one of spring training: To win a World Series and cement the 2018 Boston Red Sox as the greatest team to ever step foot in Fenway Park.
What the 2018 Red Sox accomplished goes beyond baseball, for me. This season will stick with me forever. I watched every pitch of every game whether live or on replay. Every at bat from opening day on Thursday March 29th, when Joe Kelly, eventual World Series legend, imploded on route to a 6-4 loss to the Rays. I invested my heart and soul into this team.
The Moments To Remember
When asked to pick a moment or an at bat that stands out to I am at a loss. Not for a lack of options but rather an abundance of such. April 8th, when the Sox scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth to overcome the rays. April 11th, when Joe Kelly showed what the Sox were made of by beaning Tyler Austin and starting a bench clearing brawl. July 2nd, when Rick Porcello roped a three run double off Max Scherzer to lead the Sox to a 4-3 victory of the Nationals.
Who could forget the most electrifying at bat of my lifetime? Mookie Betts came off the bench to pinch hit in the bottom of the fourth against Blue Jays starter J.A Happ. Betts grinded out a thirteen pitch at bat and smoked a 95mph fastball down and in over the green monster for a grand slam. That moment as Betts was rounding first base looking into the Sox dugout pumping his fist was the moment it became evident this team was special.
From that point on, resilience became the first word associated with this team. An historic 108 win season, the probable A.L MVP, the best power hitter in the game, yet it was a one for all, all for one mentality to the very end. Nothing embodies that mentality better than three Red Sox relievers trying to warm up on two mounds to have a chance to pitch the last three outs of the World Series.
The Gauntlet
After two straight years of being bounced in the first round, the juggernaut entered the postseason facing the gauntlet. First came the 100 win New York Yankees, who set a major league record for home runs hit in a season. Chants of “We Want Boston” were heard all across New York during the Yankees wild card win over the Athletics. Unfortunately for New York, the Yankees fans got what they asked for.
After splitting the first two games at Fenway, the Sox faced a daunting challenge heading into the lions den that is Yankee Stadium. A moment that Aaron Judge will regret for a while was when he decided to taunt the Sox by walking by their locker room with a boom box playing “New York, New York”. Two games later the Sox were moving onto the ALCS after outscoring the Yankees 20-4 in New York. Steve Pearce made a stretch for the ages and damage was done to the hearts of Yankee fans everywhere.
For a team to be an underdog in a series after setting a franchise record for wins is unheard of. Naturally, the defending World Series champion Astros were favored to win the ALCS. Yet confidence in the Sox locker room never wavered. It took five games for the Sox to dismantle the Astros.
The Sox played with a swagger that I had never seen before by a team. That was again on display when Andrew Benintendi made a diving catch for the final out of game four. That catch will go down in history given the situation of there being bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. No fear, no hesitation, is why two weeks later the Red Sox became World Champions.
The Sox finished off the Astros in game five when Devers hit a three run homer off ace and postseason hero Justin Verlander. No pitcher could stop the Sox from doing damage, Verlander learned that the hard way. David Price on three days rest clinched the series and his first career win as a starter in the postseason by pitching six innings of shut out ball.
Two 100 win teams. 8 wins down, 4 to go, a chance to be remembered as the greatest Sox team in history was on the line.
The Dodgers were no stranger to the big stage coming off a game seven loss in the World Series a year ago. The talk was about the elite starting pitching of the Dodgers coming into the series. It took 7 hours, and 20 minutes. A terrible error by Ian Kinsler, and a historically bad day for the Sox to lose their first game in October away from Fenway Park. That loss showed the World why in forty years everyone will be talking about the 2018 Red Sox. They cannot and will not be knocked out.
Nathan Eovaldi came out of the bullpen and threw six spectacular innings. The impending free agent could have asked out and not one of us would have second guessed him. Instead he stood in there and fought until the bitter end. What transpired at Dodgers Stadium that night was the most heroic performance by a pitcher in postseason history. That is what sports is all about. Leaving everything out there for your teammates and brothers.
That is why the Red Sox are champions once again. No ego, no quit, win together and lose together. When Chris Sale threw his signature slider to bring Manny Machado to one knee and seal the title, history was made.
Thank you for a journey that I will never forget. For the rest of my life I will remember the greatest baseball team to ever play in Boston.
The Red Sox completed their ultimate goal last night, dispatching the Dodgers in five games. It was a fitting end to a season that saw them set a franchise record for wins. So where do these Red Sox rank among some of the greatest teams in Major League history?
Total Wins
The Red Sox won 108 games in the regular season, setting a franchise record. The 1912 Red Sox, who also won the World Series, won 105 games in a 154 game season. The Red Sox 108 wins places them in a tie for ninth most all-time. Due to the shorter seasons pre-1961, they rank a bit further down in terms of winning percentage. The case can be made though that this team had a tougher road.
There was no free agency in those days, so teams did not need to fear losing their players. Also, there was no postseason. If a team had the best record in their league, they made the World Series. There was no going through teams like the Yankees and the Astros again in the
Graphic from the Baseball Nexus
postseason after beating them out in the regular season.
Since free agency began, only the 2001 Mariners and the 1998 Yankees won more games than the Red Sox did this year. The same holds true for total amount of wins, when combining regular season and postseason wins. The 1998 Yankees won 125 and the Seattle Mariners won 120, and the Mariners did not even make the World Series that season, let alone win it. No other team in baseball history, pre-free agency or post-free agency, won more than 119 games; So this Red Sox team is in some rarefied air.
Postseason Road
It is safe to say that no team in history has faced the tall task the Red Sox just went through in the postseason. After winning 108 regular season games, the Red Sox reward was facing a 100 win Yankees team. The 100 wins from the Yankees was more than any National League team won. The Red Sox steamrolled through their rivals in four games however.
Next up was the 103 win and defending champion Houston Astros. Despite the Red Sox having the top record, many thought the Astros would be too strong for them. They were, after all, the defending champions and had improved their pitching staff this season. The Astros 103 wins were two more than they accomplished last season and placed behind only this seasons Red Sox and last season’s Dodgers for the most wins of the decade.
After dropping the first game, the Red Sox had no more issues with the Astros, taking four straight to dispatch of the defending world champions. The final three of those wins came in Houston and included beating future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander in the deciding game.
In the World Series, they faced the Dodgers, who were playing for the championship for the second consecutive season. The Red Sox didn’t have much trouble with them either, winning in just five games. It took the Dodgers 18 innings to win one game from the Red Sox. In that 18 inning affair, the Red Sox top four spots in the batting order combined to go 0-28, and it still took 18 innings and an egregious miscue in the field from second baseman Ian Kinsler for the Dodgers to win a game.
Ian Kinsler looks in disbelief after his error led to the Dodgers tying the game.
Star Power
As all great teams do, the Red Sox weren’t short of star power. Mookie Betts looks like he will probably win the MVP Award, after going 30-30 while leading the league in hitting. His closest contender for the award might be teammate J.D. Martinez, who hit .330 with 43 home runs and 130 runs batted in. On the mound, Chris Sale was the favorite for Cy Young until a couple disabled list stints in the second half.
And yet, despite the star power, the Red Sox did not win because of that. This truly was a team effort, showing just how great of a team it is. Mookie Betts batted just .217 with a .699 OPS in the World Series and hit only one home run the entire postseason. J.D. Martinez was a more human .278 hitter with an .881 OPS in the World Series. Chris Sale did not win a game in the series.
Instead, everyone pitched in, with journeyman Steve Pearce taking home the World Series MVP honors. The much-maligned David Price got his redemption. After struggling in his first couple postseason outings, running his playoff record to 0-9, Price bested Justin Verlanded in the deciding game of the ALCS, then won games two and five in the World Series. Nathan Eovaldi was practically not human, pitching six innings of relief in game three while routinely pushing triple digits with his fastball. He then volunteered to pitch again later that same day.
Boston Red Sox’s Steve Pearce celebrates after his home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning in Game 4 of the World Series. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Conclusion
So where do these Red Sox rank amongst the greatest teams ever assembled? It is hard to pinpoint an exact place, especially factoring in the different styles of play and the way the game has changed over the years. However, it is clear this team is near the top. The 1927 and 1998 Yankees usually get talked about, as do the 1929 Athletics. The Big Red Machine of the 1970’s is up there as well, but this team can win with them all, and winning is truly all that matters.
Broadcaster Ernie Harwell visits with Ted Williams: The Definition of Baseball. Courtsey National Baseball Hall of Fame Library and Archives.
“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” – Babe Herman Ruth.
In a world disrupted by hurricanes, recessions, politics and war, baseball is the constant that gives us heroes. Every fall, the World Series connects the generations. Fathers and sons come together; neighbors unite; strangers root for the same team as millions partake in the tradition that defines America.
In a world starved for heroes, baseball’s Fall ritual reminds us of players like Ted Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived who fought in two wars as a Marine combat pilot. We remember miracles, like the “shot heard round the world” when Bill Mazeroski won the championship in 1960 with one swing of the bat. During this year’s Series, we hold our breath, spellbound by the raw and fearless talent of players like Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez as they go to bat for the Boston Red Sox.
In a world that loves storytellers, one of the game’s most beloved muses was Ernie Harwell, the Hall of Fame Major League Baseball sportscaster who enraptured generations of fans with the saga of our past time. In this 1981 induction (SPEECH LINK) delivered on the porch of the Hall of Fame Ernie tells us what we love about baseball in a world where our diamond heroes help us battle hurricanes, recessions, politics and war. Here are a few of Harwell’s classic lines to remember during the 2018 World Series:
Courtesy, The Ernie Harwell Sports Collection, Detroit Public Library.
“Baseball is the president tossing out the first ball of the season and a scrubby schoolboy playing catch with his dad on a Mississippi farm. A tall, thin old man waving a scorecard from the corner of his dugout. That’s baseball.”
“Baseball is cigar smoke, hot roasted peanuts, The Sporting News, ladies day, ‘Down in front,’ ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game,’ and ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’”
“In baseball democracy shines its clearest. The only race that matters is the race to the bag. The creed is the rulebook. Color merely something to distinguish one team’s uniform from another.”
“Baseball is just a game, as simple as a ball and bat, yet as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes. A sport, a business and sometimes almost even a religion.”
“Why the fairy tale of Willie Mays making a brilliant World Series catch, and then dashing off to play stickball in the street with his teenage pals. That’s baseball. So is the husky voice of a doomed Lou Gehrig saying, ‘I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth.’”
“Baseball is a tongue-tied kid from Georgia growing up to be an announcer and praising the Lord for showing him the way to Cooperstown. This is a game for America. Still a game for America, this baseball! Thank you.”
The Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the World Series. David Price was locked in, the relentless 2 out offense was in bloom, and now the Sox have a 2-0 lead.
We’re not in the peak Eck ‘Time To Party‘ zone yet, but man oh man are we getting close!
David Price
Once again, @DAVIDprice24 had complete control on the mound tonight.
Live it up David. Any man who goes six innings with three hits allowed and two earned runs in the World Series gets to have his kid up there bring some levity.
While Price was busy rewriting his post season narrative, the offense continued to do things we have never seen. The mantra for offense in baseball is batting with runners in scoring position. For premium offense it’s all that plus doing it with two outs.
There is David Ortiz clutch, in which a singular individual gets hit after hit to win games in the post season. Then there is this team’s version.
In the top of the 5th inning, Hyun-Jin Ryu was steamrolling the Red Sox lineup. He got Ian Kinsler to ground out and JBJ to hit a weak infield fly. He got Christian Vazquez to an 0-2 count. Then it began.
Vasqy keeps his swing short and hits a single. Betts singled. The anticipation and trust and faith in this team begins to ripple through Fenway. Benny walks and the bases are loaded.
The Turning Point
Dave Roberts is getting killed for over managing his Dodgers, but what would you do? Let Ryu face lefty killer Steve Pearce with the bases loaded, or bring in a normally trustworthy strikeout reliever? Roberts goes with door number 2 and brings in Ryan Madson.
The moment proved too big for Madson. He walks Pearce. Almost every pitch looked like Mariano Rivera’s last pitch to Kevin Millar in game 4 of the 2004 ALCS to set up Roberts famous steal. The score is now 2-2. All of this with two outs.
So Madson, who had blown away JD Martinez in Game 1 with the bases loaded, gets to face him in the same situation. You can’t stop JD Martinez, you can only hope to contain him. Because JD is so obsessed about hitting, he look locked in, laser focused. Staying inside the ball, he rockets the second pitch to right and two more runs score. It’s 4-2 and the Dodgers are shook.
The Dodgers were one strike away from getting out of that inning. Who knows how long Ryu could’ve pitched. But The Red Sox relentlessness is a wonder to behold. Putting the ball in play. The Red Sox are making this look easy. Despite what we are witnessing it is not.
Historical Perspective
With runners in scoring position in the postseason the Red Sox are hitting 17-40. That’s a .425 average. .425 is beyond comprehension. They’ve turned into peak Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, Tony Gwynn, at the most critical times of the game.
The only other team in the same stratosphere is another old timey Titan. That’s the 1910 Philadelphia A’s. You remember them. Lead by a young Eddy Collins, they hit .394 in those situations.
The Bullpen
Tip of the cap. High Five. Way to go! The Red Sox bullpen, so maligned and beleaguered during the year, continued to dominate. Of note, Nathan Eovaldi, building an MVP case, pitched a clean 8th inning for the second game in a row. Along with Price, they set down the final 16 Dodgers hitters in a row.
Outfield Defense
Another day, another outstanding outfield catch. This was in the top of the 5th with the Dodgers trying to to increase their 2-1 lead. Brian Dozier thought he had a lead-off hit, but yet again there was Andrew Benintendi. Consequently, it was just another out.
Viewing Note
Commissioner Rob Manfred did an interview with Felger and Mazz on 98.5 The Sports Hub yesterday. You can find it here in the second half of the run-time. The interview starts off contentious. No surprise there. Up for debate: pace of play.
The incorrigible Felger hammers Manfred on pace of play in the postseason and Manfred takes exception. More or less Manfred downplays it and says pace of play is not as big of a deal as Felger is saying it is.
When it’s the 9th inning of Game 2 of the World Series, the score is 4-2, and the closer is on the mound? That is what drama and tension and watch-ability is all about. Most importantly Legends are made and Goats are birthed in these situations.
What do I see on my screen between batters coming to the plate? A split screen ad. Because Fox knows there’s all kinds of time between batters coming up and between pitches. They used it in Game 2 to throw ads at us, not between innings, but between pitches.
If that’s not a mic drop argument that there is way too much time wasted in the game of baseball, I don’t know what is. Commissioner Manfred, it is appalling you are allowing this to happen.
On To LA
The 2018 Sox are making themselves into an all time juggernaut. They’re up 2-0 in the World Series and headed to LA, the land of swimming pools and movie stars. Get ready for your glamour shot boys!
Game 1 of the World Series always feels the most special. There’s the pregame ceremonies and introductions giving added pomp to the proceedings, and a certain buzz that only exists when any and all outcomes are possible. As the series progresses, that “special” vibe is replaced by crushing existential dread hanging on every pitch, which only grows stronger with each passing game. But prior to the first game fans are still comfortable enough to do things like (rightfully) cheer on the opposing manager.
This is awesome: Boston cheers 2004 ALCS hero Dave Roberts during lineup introductions 👏 (via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/PBsTLKSYbn
Good news for Red Sox fans: There was plenty more to cheer about over the course of Tuesday night’s 8-4 win.
It’s no secret that the Sox strength lies in the top of their lineup, which contains a Murderers’ Quartet of Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, JD Martinez, and Xander Bogaerts. Here’s how they attacked Clayton Kershaw to kick things off in the bottom of the 1st:
Betts singled to center, stole second base, and won free tacos for America.
Benintendi slipped a hit through the hole into left field (scoring Betts), and took second on the throw home.
Steve Pearce popped out.
Martinez singled to center, scoring Benintendi.
2-0 Red Sox, before the Dodgers even had a chance to breathe. Los Angeles would continue to battle back throughout the early and middle innings, but Boston never trailed in this one. The Sox have had their fair share of fast starts this postseason, and continuing to do so in this series will go a long way towards winning the whole thing. Kershaw only lasted 4+ innings and was charged 5 earned runs, thanks to Boston’s relentless attack (and Martinez and Rafael Devers continually clutch postseason).
It’s a good thing, too, because the Red Sox ace didn’t have his best stuff either. Granted, Chris Sale may have still been recovering from a mysterious stomach injury that held him out of Game 5 of the ALCS. However, it was clear he didn’t have his best stuff. The Dodgers have been excellent all year at laying off pitches out of the zone, and Tuesday was no different. Sale threw 91 pitches, but only 54 (59%) for strikes. He positively labored through the first three innings especially, and wasn’t allowed to run through the LA lineup a third time. The velocity was sort of there, and his breaking stuff looked good, but he struggled to find the plate and was punished for mistakes:
Fortunately for Sale (and the Red Sox), the bullpen continues to be the surprise of the playoffs. It was another strong showing from the Boston relievers: 5 innings, 1 run, and importantly only 1 walk. When Joe Kelly is throwing changeups like this, you know things are going your way. Seriously, look at this thing:
On a similar point, Alex Cora is on absolute fire. This guy can’t miss, and you can doubt his moves at your own peril. He let Sandy León hit. León responded with a pair of singles in the same game for the first time since 1892. He brought in Nathan Eovaldi in the 8th to bridge the gap to Craig Kimbrel. Eovaldi was lights out. He even pinch hit Eduardo Nunez for Rafael Devers in the bottom of the 7th, despite pleas from Red Sox Nation to “please god don’t even think about it” (roughly paraphrasing there).
When you’re hot, you’re hot. And right now, Cora is pushing all of the right buttons.
Even Kimbrel came on in the 9th and looked like the guy he’s been for nearly all of his career. Straight gas, straight dominance. There’s still plenty of baseball to play, but it’s tough to ask for a better start for the Sox in this series.
Key to World Series Game 2
One last thing, that I’ll be watching for tonight: How will Roberts deploy his lineup and bench against David Price? In Game 1 the Dodgers manager went all righties against Sale, will he do the same in Game 2 or roll with his best guys? Either way, it’s interesting how Cora looked like the guy who has managed in a World Series before, while Roberts’ micro-managing screamed “first year on the job”. We’ll see if that script flips.
The Mookie debate about where he should play in Dodger stadium is so obviously over. But that means someone else in the outfield has to sit. It’s a grudge match between Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi. Let’s get ready to rumble!
By The Stats
I’m not going to flood you with statistics. Suffice to say, JBJ was close to 20% better than Benny in September against left handed pitching. That’s important, because the bulk of the best pitching on the Dodgers is left handed.
In the playoffs against all pitching, JBJ is a full 50% better than Benny. I’ve made light of Jackie’s three swings bringing him the MVP of the ALCS, but they were pretty big swings. Remember Papi in 2013 off Tigers closer Joaquin Benoit?
https://youtu.be/CYosReytpcM
Papi only hit .248 in that ALCS. But that one swing in game 2 changed everything.
Now from Jackie we have this in the 2018 ALCS:
https://youtu.be/NH18WpVfCgE
Sure, Jackie hit just .200, but that was no slap hitter .200. That was a Herculean .200. Can you remember any Benintendi at bats like that in the past month? Much fewer and farther between than from JBJ.
Almost Clear Cut
The fact remains these are small sample sizes we’re talking about. Jackie’s streaky hitting is legendary around here. How many times have we seen him hot as a pistol for a few weeks, only to fall back to mediocrity? Benny is steadier metronome of productivity.
It might come down to how these two perform in the first two games of the World Series against The Dodgers dual lefties of Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu. Cora’s lineups might even give us a clue in these two games. If Benny or JBJ sits it will be a telltale of what’s to come.
Let’s Go Boys!
Meantime let’s treat The Dodgers like the Boltons treated the Kingslayer and sever their best weapon tonight. If the Sox can conquer Kershaw in Game One it will shatter their confidence and lay a clear path to another World Series Title.
The news that Mookie Betts could play at second base is percolating in the World Series buildup. It’s thrilling, exciting, and fascinating to think about. Could Mookie play second when the World Series moves to Chavez Ravine?
I love Rochie. Who doesn’t love Rochie? To dream like him and be filled with wonder like him, that is living. And it’s not just pure fandom rooting for this. There are others making the argument that it truly makes sense. The noted Yankee fan MLB writers at The Ringer are making the case.
BETTS WANTS TO PLAY SECOND
There is something Rochie, and others salivating over Betts at second footage, don’t realize or mention: Betts has been doing this all year.
Betts is like that kid at CVS begging and touching all the candy when Mom and/or Dad have their hands full with prescriptions. He’s the relentless ‘A ‘ student begging teachers for every last point. He’s Bugs Bunny to the Red Sox coaching staff’s Daffy Duck.
It is undeniable. Mookie Betts wants to play second base.
His consistent and unflinching ground ball work at second yielded fruit: He played 4 innings at second on August 3rd 2018 against the Yankees. That happened to coincide with Alex Cora being ejected in the first inning. Mookie focused his laser beam of intensity on bench coach Ron Roenicke, and Roenicke wilted.
Mookie knew he had to act fast while Cora was hot over being ejected. He got in at second in the second inning, he was back in right field by the 8th.
WHY BETTS WON’T PLAY SECOND
One thing Betts to second champions are harping on is an Alex Cora interview I watched on the MLB Network. You can find the full interview here. He discusses the Mookie Betts to second possibility around the 23 minute mark.
Among the quotes there are a couple that jump out.
Speaking to Betts tenacity and Cora’s unwillingness “Today he’s going to try a few double plays…like I said there’s a chance, but it’s not like he will…” Mookie is very much Lloyd Christmas in this situation.
On the need for an experienced second baseman “(The) thing is in the national league they bunt, you know, and advance runners..”
On the Red Sox pitching staff “But…we don’t throw too many ground balls, it’s either strikeouts or fly balls.” In other words, the Sox need excellent outfield play to compliment the pitching staff.
To invoke a certain Colonel Jessep; we want him on that wall, we need him on that wall! Mookie probably won’t make any outstanding plays at second base. But Minerva McGalleon McGonagall herself would bet on Mookie making incredible outfield plays.
Alex Cora will have plenty of lineup decisions to make in the 2018 World Series. Putting Mookie anywhere but the outfield will not be one of them.
You can find the full interview with Alex Cora (Via CLNS) here.
Let’s take a minute to appreciate Rick Porcello from the ho hum, nothing to see here, game three of the ALCS in Houston. He comes in to start the fourth inning and proceeds to give up a pesky pole special, a 326 foot homer to Mookie’ Betts’ best pal, and number 9 hitter, Tony Kemp.
Tony Kemp. What a gnat. If the script was flipped and Houston wins in five it might’ve been him instead of our beloved JBJ being the ALCS MVP. Then he faces the daunting top of the Astros lineup.
THE SETTING
Just imagine: The roof is closed on Minute Maid park, the smell of leather, sweat, the Jackson Street BBQ and Taco Trio in the air. The awesome noise of the Houston fans pounding on his amygdala. It’s Alex Bregman at bat looking to atone for inciting the Sox with his Instagram post before game 3. Can we get an Instagram post of this sweet 102 MPH dot he swung through in his last at bat of the season? You know, this one. Ah, I think David Price said it better.
At one point in the series Bregman was slashing a .000 batting average, .700 on base average, and .000 slugging percentage that was blowing statisticians minds. Porcello dispatched the 800 lb gorilla of the Astros lineup with a strikeout, spotting the low and outside corner again and again. Then comes George Springer, doing his best Carlos Beltran playoff edition impression, having already homered and doubled in this game alone. Walk. Springer sprints to second on a blown Porcello toss over, inciting the Houston Thunderdome again.
It’s 4 – 3 Astros and they’re looking for more. With two outs now Rick has the Astro’s Tyrion Lannister, full of rage and frustration from having a home run taken away, or not, to deal with. And Altuve’s doing his best Kirk Gibson, limping along and stinging every ball he gets his bat on. Porcello induces a gentle, tiny, wrapped like a little burrito just out of the womb, infield pop up. As insignificant an outcome as there is from one of the best bat handlers in the game. Brilliance.
THE MAN
Yes, Rick Porcello didn’t have his best stuff. The Astros got to him. But Houston was on the precipice of routing him in the early innings of ALCS game 4 and he held his ground against the toughest part of the deepest lineup (I was hoping the national media wouldn’t notice the Red Sox incredibly deep lineup but I think we’re beyond that) in baseball and stood as tall as Nolan Ryan or, dare I say, David Price ever did. We tip our weathered hats and frayed nerves to you Rick Porcello. May Chris Sale endeavor to emulate you.
It’s pretty hard to believe it’s been 14 years since we’ve had a playoff series featuring Major League Baseball’s premier rivalry. The Red Sox and Yankees will kick off their first postseason matchup since 2004 later tonight, and on paper it looks to be a doozy. Two 100-win juggernauts. Over $400 million in combined payroll. Stars all over the diamond. History everywhere. I can’t wait.
I’ll be breaking down both sides of this series, and then picking a winner at the end. But before we get into all of that, let’s take a little trip down memory lane:
Okay, glad we got that out of our systems. On to the good stuff.
Starting Lineup
The Red Sox led the majors in just about every major offensive category this season. They placed first in total runs, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, and wOBA. Boston was led by MVP-caliber seasons from Mookie Betts (.346/.438/.640) and JD Martinez (.330/.402/.629), though the Sox received significant contributions from others as well. Andrew Benintendi improved dramatically on his rookie campaign. Jackie Bradley Jr. slashed .282/.349/.502 over his final 284 plate appearances after a dismal start. Xander Bogaerts finally shook off his second half demons to post a career year.
And yet, there are some holes, and question marks (specifically at second base, third base, and catcher). Meanwhile, the Yankees offense is just as potent, if not more so. The Bronx Bombers tied the Dodgers for the best wRC+ in baseball (the Red Sox were a close 3rd). They also broke the Major League record for home runs in a season, with 269. That last one is a big point in the Yankees favor, as teams who hit more HR tend to have more success in October.
The slugging starts with Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, who both homered in Wednesday’s Wild Card game. Luke Voit has been a revelation at first base, where his 188 OPS+ over 148 PA has lengthened an already long lineup and provided a boon desperately needed after poor seasons from Greg Bird and Gary Sanchez. That’s not to mention the production from rookies Miguel Andujar and Gleybar Torres. Plus, Brian Cashman was able to throw former NL MVP Andrew McCutchen into the mix in August.
The Sox have a great offense, but it feels like New York’s is a bit more formidable for this time of year.
Slight Edge: Yankees
Starting Pitching
Here’s how the first three starting pitching matchups seem to be shaking out:
Game 1 – J.A. Happ vs. Chris Sale
Game 2 – Mashiro Tanaka vs. David Price
Game 3 – Rick Porcello vs. Luis Severino
That certainly feels like it favors the Red Sox. Three AL Cy Young Award winners should be enough to tip this category in Boston’s favor. That is, until you include each pitcher’s career postseason ERA…
Game 1 – J.A. Happ (3.72) vs. Chris Sale (8.38)
Game 2 – Masahiro Tanaka (1.44) vs. David Price (5.03)
Game 3 – Rick Porcello (5.47) vs. Luis Severino (4.50)
Look, I get it. Postseason baseball is a small sample size, and past performance isn’t always indicative of future performance, especially in that scenario. But it’s hard to feel too confident, given Price’s non-Rays playoff history, Porcello’s inability to keep the ball in the yard, and Sale’s dip in velocity since returning from multiple summer DL stints. The Yankees starters might not have the same upside, but they certainly feel less volatile. The Happ acquisition continues to loom large. He’s undefeated since joining the Yankees, and has a career 2.98 ERA against the Red Sox. If he can beat Sale in Game 1, it’ll be a bad omen for the Sox’s chances through the weekend. I’m choosing to trust that the Red Sox starters are ready to turn a corner this postseason, but I don’t feel great about it.
Slight Edge: Red Sox
Bullpen
I’ll save you the suspense. This is a huge win (obviously) for the Yankees, and will likely be the deciding factor should the Yankees come out on top. The Red Sox bullpen, while much maligned over the past month, has actually been perfectly above average this season. Craig Kimbrel still looms at the end of games as a premier closer, and rebounded from a mid-summer swoon with a 13 appearance stretch where he allowed only 3 hits and 1 earned run between 8/12 and 9/21. Still, a 4 run implosion in his second to last appearance of the year against the lowly Orioles bumped his ERA to 2.74, the second worst mark of his career.
The rest of the Sox bullpen is fine. Solid, unspectacular, and far from reliable (unless you’re really into the Matt Barnes Experience).
The Yankees ‘pen, conversely, reads like a damn All-Star team. There’s Chapman and Britton. There’s Betances and Robertson. Chad Green may not have as big of a name as his teammates, but he might be the most consistent of the bunch. New York can trot any and all of these guys out there in a high leverage situation, and be reasonably comfortable that the outcome will be in their favor. They led the league in reliever fWAR, and while the Red Sox have had their share of come-from-behind wins this year, they’ll be hard pressed to overcome any substantial deficits in this series.
Major Edge: Yankees
Bench X Factor
Steve Pearce has been a terrific mid-season addition for the Red Sox, providing a boost at a premium offensive position as Mitch Moreland struggled down the stretch. But Brock Holt is the guy here. He can play nearly every position on the diamond, and had perhaps the best all-around season of his career. Holt slashed .277/.362/.411 with a 109 OPS+ this year, and had plenty of clutch moments off the bench:
Holt had 5 hits in 15 pinch-hitting plate appearances, 4 of which went for extra bases. Alex Cora will almost definitely call his number in a tight spot again this series, and Holt will need to deliver.
For the Yankees, Austin Romine *should* be the starting catcher. But, because the baseball gods would never want to deprive us of the joy of watching Gary Sanchez trot after yet another passed ball, he’s stuck in a platoon. If Aaron Boone is smart, he’ll put his best lineup on the field. Fingers crossed nobody gives him a heads up.
Edge: Red Sox
Manager
Cora has been a breath of fresh air for the Red Sox off the field and in the clubhouse this season. After two years of underachieving relative to their talent, the Sox took off under their first year manager’s watch. Cora hasn’t been perfect with his in game decisions, and it does seem like he lingers with guys a bit longer than I would like. However, he’s been excellent as rookie managers go on the whole.
I’ll just say I don’t get the same vibe from Boone, and leave it at that. Plus, I kind of miss Joe Girardi and his binder.
Edge: Red Sox
The Pick
I really want to pick the Yankees. While I think the Red Sox are a better team overall, and better suited for a full 162 game slate, New York feels built for the postseason, especially a short series. The bullpen discrepancy is a major check in the Yankees favor. In a series that figures to be as tight as this one, such an advantage is a major red flag for Boston.
But screw that. What’s the point of writing for a Red Sox blog if you don’t think the best regular season team in franchise history can make it out of the first round?
