Tag Archives: Red Sox

Bullpen Needs Additions In 2018 Season

Bullpen Needs New Starting Pitchers

The Red Sox were rebuilding their bullpen during the 2017 season, but with a new coaching staff for 2018, another update may be needed.

E-Rod Now in Recovery

Eduardo Rodriguez recently had surgery, and is now in the recovery process. He will not be able to start until May or June, at the earliest. Even then, he may only be pitching out of the bullpen. Rodriguez struggled with his knee throughout the season, and was eventually placed on the 10-day DL. After his return, it was obvious Rodriguez was going to need to look at surgical options during the offseason. With Rodriguez out for spring training, the Red Sox will need to look into another starting pitcher for the 2018 season.

Is Price The New Secret Weapon?

After David Price returned from the DL, it took time to work him back into the pitching rotation. The coaching staff decided he wouldn’t start, but rather would play when necessary. Price was quick to show his injury not only made him stronger, but he was also back to earn his spot in the rotation. He proved his value in late middle relief. He thrives off run support, and a strong offense behind him. With Price pitching as middle relief, things are looking up for the bullpen.

Porcello Not As Strong As 2016

It was clear to Red Sox Nation that something about Rick Porcello was different this season. He didn’t play like the Cy Young winner he was for the 2016 season. After watching Porcello play, he didn’t seem injured. It appeared as though he was not practicing, or looking for any way to improve. Porcello needs to work on his pitching throughout the offseason if he wants to stay in the starting rotation for 2018.

Doug Fister- A Giant Question Mark

Doug Fister was a question mark all season. No one knew if he would have a great game, or a terrible one. With Alex Cora coming in, he will want the starting rotation to be reliable. Fister showed progress throughout the 2017 season. He carried an ERA of 4.88 for 2017, which was the highest ERA of his career. This could be a red flag to the new pitching staff when deciding if they will re-sign him for 2018.

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Drew and Improved

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Drew Pomeranz’s 2016 season

On July 14th, 2016 the Red Sox acquired left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz in a trade with the San Diego Padres. To that point, Pomeranz was putting together a fine season. Drew went 8-7 with a 2.47 ERA in 17 starts with San Diego. He also only allowed eight home runs in those 17 starts. Personally, I thought it was a decent trade. It was exciting to see another talented pitcher join the rotation. I thought the move provided Boston with serious rotation depth as Pomeranz was joining a group that already featured quality pitchers such as eventual Cy Young winner Rick Porcello, David Price, Steven Wright and Eduardo Rodriguez.

The numbers were clearly good, but Red Sox fans were displeased with the move. Red Sox Nation was uneasy about getting rid of the highly talented pitching prospect Anderson Espinoza. This put a lot of pressure on Pomeranz and unfortunately it did not work out well. Pomeranz went just 3-5 with an ERA of 4.59 in 14 starts. His HR/9 rose from 0.7 to 1.8, not pretty. Red Sox fans became displeased with the front office for getting rid of Espinoza for a back end starter.

Slow start to 2017 for Drew

Sox fans entered the 2017 season indifferent about the rotation. There was plenty of confidence in newly acquired Chris Sale and Cy Young winner Rick Porcello. However, many were concerned about the rest of the rotation. Would E-Rod and Price stay healthy? Will Steven Wright’s knuckleball “knuckle” this year? Will Pomeranz pitch as poorly as he did in 2016? Tremendous pressure was on Pomeranz’s shoulders, he had yet to prove he could pitch in the stacked AL East. It was a rough start to the season for Pomeranz as he posted an ERA of 4.97 through his first eight starts. His poor performance made him one of the least popular players among the fans. This increased the animosity of the fans towards the management.

Big Smooth turns it around

After Drew’s rough start to the season, he found his groove. Pomeranz got on a roll and ended the season with a 17-6 record and an ERA of 3.32. His monthly ERAs from June to September went like this: 3.00, 2.72, 2.28 and 3.69, very effective. He won eight starts in the second half alone while posting an ERA of 3.01. Pomeranz’s performance quickly began to alter the opinions Red Sox fans had of him. He solidified himself as the second best pitcher in the rotation only behind Cy Young candidate Sale.

The key to his dominance?

Pomeranz is well known for his filthy curveball, which he throws 37% of the time. He constantly has hitters off balance as they are unsure if they will see his curve or fastball. His curveball is slow and has a deep break. Hitters often times can’t wait on it, which produces an off balance, front-footed swing. When batters do manage to lay off, it is typically because they see it as a ball upon his release, but the sharp break often brings it back over the plate for a called strike. This nasty curve also makes his fastball more effective. Despite his fastball only being thrown around 91 MPH, he gets many swings and misses at it. Relative to his curveball, which is typically 79 MPH, his fastball looks very fast to batters. The 12 MPH difference between his two main pitches is a nightmare for batters. Hitters can not seem to time him properly as sitting on the fastball makes them vulnerable to the curveball and vice-versa.

What does the future hold for Pomeranz?

No one can be certain, but I personally think we will see a similarly good Pomeranz in 2018. He showed incredible consistency after his first eight starts. I do not see a logical reason why he would not be effective again in 2018. Sure, he may not be quite as good, but I anticipate his numbers will be in the same ballpark (no pun intended). As long as he brings the same curveball along with him, he should have no problem keeping hitters off balance and succeeding. Another solid season from Pomeranz will be a key factor in the rotations effectiveness.

*Follow me on twitter @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*

The Red Sox Need A Big Bat

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The Red Sox are coming off another good season, but one that ultimately fell short. There are many factors that play into why, but the lineup is a big one. The Red Sox lost legend David Ortiz, and didn’t replace his bat. As a result, the lineup faltered. This offseason they need to rectify the situation.

Red Sox Lineup

Without the presence of David Ortiz in the lineup this season, many players regressed. They may have been pressing more to try and fill the void. In past seasons, pitchers didn’t want to face Big Papi, which gave the other batters better pitches to hit. This cannot be understated. Mookie Betts dropped off considerably, most notably his batting average. Xander Bogaerts went from a near .300 average with 21 home runs, to .273 with 10 homers. After hitting 30 home runs in 2016, Hanley Ramirez may have been the one most expected to fill the void left by Ortiz. He disappointed, and only batted .242. The Red Sox need a legitimate power hitter, a threat to go yard every time.

As a team, the Red Sox finished 27th in the league in home runs. Fenway Park is a hitters park, and while the Red Sox have often taken advantage, they failed to this season.

The Red Sox finished 22nd in the majors in the all-important OPS category. OPS is a combination of on base percentage and slugging percentage, it combines two very important skills. The Red Sox need to bring these offensive numbers back up. They aren’t a 2nd division team.

How to improve the lineup

J.D. Martinez of the Arizona Diamondback celebrates after hitting a grand slam against the St. Louis Cardinals (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Last season, the Red Sox could have signed Edwin Encarnacion to replace Big Papi. It seemed like the perfect fit, but the Red Sox passed. Passing on Encarnacion cost them this year as he hit 38 home runs, a number that would have probably increased playing at Fenway. They cannot make the same mistake in 2018.

A fix this year could come in the form of JD Martinez. He may not provide the same presence as Big Papi, but honestly, who could? Martinez’s power production would be with the best of them though. Adding him to the fold gives the Sox the home run threat, run producer in the middle of the lineup and makes things easier on the rest of the lineup. Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts and company will see better pitches to hit if Martinez is looming on deck and producing. The addition would also alleviate some pressure on them. Two years ago, the Red Sox were 9th in the Major Leagues in home runs and first in OPS. Yes, they dropped from 1st in OPS to 22nd. Add that big bat, and they should be back in the top ten.

Who is JD Martinez?

J.D. Martinez of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates in the locker room after defeating the Colorado Rockies 11-8 in the National League Wild Card game (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

JD Martinez began his career as a 4th outfielder for the Houston Astros. He was average for his three seasons in Houston before being cut prior to the 2014 season. He worked hard to revamp his swing, and it showed in his results. After he was scooped up by the Tigers (by none other than Dave Dombrowski), Martinez has been one of the better hitters in the league. He stays under the radar, but Martinez can rake. He has batted .300, with 128 home runs and a .936 OPS. Even with missed time, that’s an average of 40 home runs per season. He is 10th in the Majors in home runs and 6th in OPS during that 4 year span.

This season, Martinez had a career year at the age of 30, hitting 45 home runs despite missing roughly the first month and a half of the season. After being traded to Arizona, Martinez hit 29 home runs in 62 games. While he may not get recognition nationwide, JD Martinez is a top power hitter.

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2011	23	HOU	NL	53	226	208	29	57	13	0	6	35	.274	.319	.423	.742
2012	24	HOU	NL	113	439	395	34	95	14	3	11	55	.241	.311	.375	.685
2013	25	HOU	AL	86	310	296	24	74	17	0	7	36	.250	.272	.378	.650
2014	26	DET	AL	123	480	441	57	139	30	3	23	76	.315	.358	.553	.912
2015	27	DET	AL	158	657	596	93	168	33	2	38	102	.282	.344	.535	.879
2016	28	DET	AL	120	517	460	69	141	35	2	22	68	.307	.373	.535	.908
2017	29	TOT	MLB	119	489	432	85	131	26	3	45	104	.303	.376	.690	1.066
2017	29	DET	AL	57	232	200	38	61	13	2	16	39	.305	.388	.630	1.018
2017	29	ARI	NL	62	257	232	47	70	13	1	29	65	.302	.366	.741	1.107
7 Yr	7 Yr	7 Yr	7 Yr	772	3118	2828	391	805	168	13	152	476	.285	.342	.514	.857
162	162	162	162	162	654	593	82	169	35	3	32	100	.285	.342	.514	.857

What will it take?

Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton are comparable players who signed free agent deals in the past few years. Both players easily surpass 20 million per season. I’d take Martinez over either of them personally, with 25 million dollars per year being a reasonable expectation to shell out for his services.

The question becomes how many years to give him. Ideally a 4 year deal around 100 million, but it will likely take a 5th year to get it done. If the Red Sox can get him for 5 years at that rate, a 5th year shouldn’t stand in the way. He’d be 35 at the end of his contract, but wouldn’t be like another Albert Pujols situation in Anaheim. For the production he has been putting up over the last 4 seasons, 5/125 is worth it. Will the market command even more, push him to 150 million? There have been reports that the up and down Eric Hosmer is looking for an obscene 200 million dollar deal. No thank you.

Where does he play?

Lou Gorman once famously passed up trading for batting title champion Willie McGee in the heat of a pennant race because he asked the question: where would he play? Gorman has been second guessed ever since.

Barring a trade, Martinez would play designated hitter. Hanley has one season left on his contract, he isn’t here for the long run, and he hasn’t been that good. Martinez could be the primary DH, while Hanley splits time at first base with Mitch Moreland (back for another season?) or Sam Travis. Hanley primarily played first base in his only good season in Boston to date. Martinez could occasionally play in the outfield to keep him up to speed, and give others a rest day. On those days, Hanley could slide to DH to get out of the field, and rest his aching shoulder from those strenuous throws he’d be making at first base.

The Red Sox might have an inside track on acquiring Martinez that some other teams do not. Dave Dombrowski is the one that gave JD Martinez another chance in Detroit following his release from the Astros. It would make sense for JD Martinez to be interested in playing for Dombrowski again.

The Red Sox have an opening for him, they have the need, all that is left to do is sign him.

And the New Manager Will Be?

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With John Farrell out as Red Sox manager after five years at the helm, the Sox are looking for a manager for the first time since the Bobby Valentine debacle. Dave Dombrowski will be interviewing for the first time since joining the Red Sox. Farrell made some questionable in-game decisions, it was probably time for him to go. Looking back on his tenure though, he won a World Series while here and three AL East Division titles. Thank you for your work John Farrell. Now, onto the candidates for replacing him.

The Favorites

Brad Ausmus, in my opinion, is the leading candidate for the job. Not saying he is my top choice, (though I think he’d be a fine hire) he’s just the lead dog in the race. Managers typically do better in a second go around; Terry Francona, Tony La Russa and Bobby Cox are just a few who flopped in their first managerial stint only to go on to success in their second job. Joe Torre took several tries before getting it right. Ausmus is a smart guy– he went to an Ivy League school in Dartmouth. He also caught behind the plate for 18 seasons. Ausmus knows baseball. In 2013, he interviewed for the Red Sox managerial opening and impressed the Red Sox with his pitch. If Toronto had not agreed to trade John Farrell to the Red Sox, Brad Ausmus probably would have been our manager.

Brad Ausmus was hired in Detroit by none other than Dave Dombrowski, who is now doing the hiring for the Red Sox. Maybe he will go hire his guy again. Ausmus could do better a second time around, though he wasn’t a complete flop in Detroit. He posted two seasons above .500, including a 90 win season in 2014. Ausmus is from Connecticut and owns a home on Cape Cod, he is a local guy. The connection here is too easy. In pairing Ausmus back up with Dombrowski, the Sox would have the man who gave JD Martinez another chance after being waived by the Astros, and his former manager with the Tigers. Maybe this pairing would increase the Red Sox chances of signing him.

Dave Dombrowski has hired Brad Ausmus as manager before.

Alex Cora is the other name that will be discussed. Cora has been talked up as a future MLB manager since he was still playing. A sizable chunk of those playing days came in Boston as a utility infielder. Acquired by the Red Sox in 2005, Cora stayed with the team through the 2008 season. Many former teammates have touted his baseball acumen and said he would make an excellent manager. Cora currently serves as the Houston Astros Bench Coach, and has had obvious success there. Any hiring of him would have to wait until after the Astros season concludes, which at this point hopefully isn’t anytime soon.

Alex Cora #13 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates as he scores the game winning run in the ninth against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Secondary Candidates With Managerial Experience

Ron Gardenhire is a name that surprises me a bit, as he has had health issues. Currently serving as a coach with Arizona, Gardenhire had a lot of success while managing the Twins; regular season success. The Twins made the playoffs in six of his first nine seasons at the helm, finishing with a losing record just once in that span. They only advanced out of the first round in his first season, way back in 2002. Their overall playoff record under him was 6-21. The Twins also trended downhill over his last 4 seasons, topping out with a high of 70 wins.

Brad Mills is an interesting name. Mills served as Francona’s Bench Coach for much of his time in Boston before taking the Managerial position in Houston. Houston was lousy during his time there, but they would have been lousy under anyone. The Astros roster was quite anemic during those years. Stated previously, having prior managerial experience usually helps in a second go around. Mills is again serving as Francona’s Bench Coach in Cleveland, having more success alongside his friend.

Brad Mills poses during photo day (Photo by: Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Tony Pena is a bit of a dark horse candidate. He isn’t mentioned much, and I’m curious why he hasn’t managed since 2005. Pena was once an up and coming managerial candidate. He was in the game seemingly forever as a catcher. He won Manager of the Year in 2003, his second year on the job. What is the reason for him not getting a manager position since? Pena interviewed for the Sox opening last time, and has been serving on the Yankees coaching staff since 2006.

Secondary Candidates with Red Sox ties

Mike Maddux was considered one of the favorites for the Red Sox manager position in 2013 before he withdrew from consideration. At the time he cited being too far away from his family in Texas. Since that time, Maddux has taken the position of pitching coach with the Washington Nationals, not really any closer to Texas than Boston. He seems to have changed his mind. Maddux did well as pitching coach in Texas, considering the pitching conditions and the guys on their staff. He has done a good job in Washington as well. Maddux also pitched for the Red Sox back in 1995 and 1996, so he is familiar with the city and the atmosphere at Fenway. Maddux is someone I believe deserves the opportunity to manage in the future.

Mike Maddux pitching for the Red Sox in 1996.

DeMarlo Hale is another former Terry Francona bench coach in Boston. Unlike Mills, he has yet to receive a chance to manage at the big league level. He did manage for years in the Minor Leagues before becoming a coach in the big leagues. Hale was only the Red Sox bench coach for two seasons, his tenure ending following the 2011 beer and chicken fiasco. I’d consider him a bit of a long shot.

Gary Disarcina has worked all over the Red Sox organization, so why not add another job to his belt? He was a baseball operations consultant, did some studio work for NESN, and was a minor league manager and infield instructor. Disarcina has had three separate stints with the Red Sox, winning Minor League Manager of the Year in his one season as Pawtucket’s manager in 2013. The last two seasons he has served as the bench coach.

Gabe Kapler is probably an unlikely candidate, but one who deserves to be on this list. During Kapler’s first retirement from his playing days, he immediately became a manager in the Red Sox system. He managed in the low minors for the Red Sox for one season before deciding he wanted to continue his playing career. Kapler hasn’t gotten back into managing since his ultimate retirement. Kapler has however been the Director of Player Development for the Dodgers the past few years, contributing to the revamp of their minor league system.

Jason Varitek is the long shot candidate everyone wants to know about. Is Varitek a real possibility to manage the team? Maybe a few years down the road would be a better time? We aren’t really sure what to make of his potential candidacy. However, it is obvious to anyone who watched Varitek during his playing days that he is very smart and knowledgeable about the game of baseball. He caught a record four no-hitters and won 2 World Series championships. He just seems like the kind of guy who will one day make an excellent manager.

Jason Varitek #33 of the Boston Red Sox walks in from the outfield after throwing before the start of the Red Sox game against the Baltimore Orioles. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Secondary Candidates with no experience and no Red Sox ties

Tim Wallach has been discussed as a future manager for several years now. Wallach interviewed for the Red Sox opening in 2013. He won Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year in 2013.

Sandy Alomar Jr. is another former Major League catcher with a probable future as a manager. He has been in coaching since 2008 and even got six games as the Indians interim manager in 2012, going 3-3. He has served on Terry Francona’s staff in Cleveland the last five seasons.

Dave Martinez is a guy I am surprised hasn’t gotten a manager job yet. He has served under Joe Maddon as his bench coach since 2008. They spent seven years together in Tampa Bay, and the last three in Chicago with the Cubs. Suffice it to say, the pair have experienced a great deal of success together. He would be an intriguing dark horse candidate, but one that will likely wind up managing somewhere else down the road.

Dave Martinez should get a chance to be a Major League manager someday soon.

Who Will Be The Next Red Sox Manager?

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John Farrell has been fired after his five year stint with the Boston Red Sox. Farrell’s tenure certainly had some enjoyable moments, highlighted by his 2013 World Series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Farrell was among one of the most decorated managers in Red Sox history: ranking sixth in total wins (432), second in playoff appearances (3), and first in division titles (3). Why did Farrell lose his job? The answer is lack of communication with players, as well as his tendency to talk too much, while often contradicting himself. The decision to move on from Farrell begs an answer to the question: WHO will be managing this team next season?

In a press conference yesterday, Dave Dombrowski stated he wishes to hire a new manager as soon as possible. He stated the next manager will most likely not be an in house hire. We can scratch Jason Varitek off the list already. Many names are being thrown around, but few qualify as both realistic and sensical. Some say Joe Girardi, but the Yankees are playing in the ALCS. They’re not getting rid of Girardi. The possible options to keep an eye on: Alex Cora, Butch Hobson, Ron Gardenhire, Dave Martinez, Brad Ausmus and, this last one is a bit far fetched, Jim Leyland.

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Alex Cora

Cora is the bench coach for the Houston Astros. He is viewed by many as one of the top choices to become a manager of a team. He is expected to be offered an opportunity as early as next season. Why not give him one in Boston? Cora would be a great fit for the Red Sox. He played with Boston from 2005-2008, and is familiar with the city and its expectations. Former teammates say he is the most intelligent player they have ever played alongside. Per Buster Olney, the Red Sox are going to go through the normal interview process, but it is likely that Cora will be heavily considered as the successor to John Farrell.

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Butch Hobson

Currently managing a Class A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Hobson managed the Red Sox from 1992-1994 with a 207-232 record. Hobson is a tough, gritty coach, who some believe can thrive in an environment like Boston. He is another candidate who has a history with the Red Sox, he also played for them from 1975-1980. Potentially brought in to tame the attitude and egos of players like David Price and Hanley Ramirez, Hobson is certainly a strong candidate. He may not be exactly what this team needs at the current moment.

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Ron Gardenhire

Now retired, the legendary Twins manager went 1068-1039 in his 13 years with the Twins. Gardenhire ranked in the top five for coach of the year voting six times, and won the award in 2010. Dombrowski has always admired Gardenhire, dating back to his days as the general manager of the Detroit Tigers. The hiring of him wouldn’t be a shock, but Dombrwski will have to convince him to come out of retirement to manage the team. This would be a tough task.

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Dave Martinez

Martinez is a former MLB player, Rays bench coach from 2007-2014, and Cubs bench coach since 2014. Martinez is a candidate that is viewed as a top option for ball clubs. He is considered to be a disciple of Joe Madden, who is one of the smartest and most successful coaches in the league. Madden has called Martinez his right hand man. Someone who has studied the game alongside Madden, would appear a viable candidate to manage any team.

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Brad Ausmus

Recently let go by the Tigers, Ausmus went 64-98 this season as the Tigers manager, overall record 314-332 in his four years as the Tigers manager. Ausmus is another case of familiarity within the ball club. Dombrowski hired him during his tenure as the general manager of the Detroit Tigers. Ausmus is one of the less favorable candidates for the job; much like John Farrell, Brad Ausmus has had similar criticisms regarding in game decisions.

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Jim Leyland

Now retired, Leyland went 700-597 as the Tigers manager during his eight year stint. He led the Marlins to a World Series in 1997. Leyland, my favorite candidate for the job, has seemingly closed any door leading to coaching again. This is only a possibility because Dombrowski had success with Leyland in both Detroit and Florida– winning a world series, and two pennants together. Leyland would be the guy to get, but it seems unlikely.

Whomever gets the job has their work cut out for them. There is inconsistency in the rotation, uncertainty in the bullpen and underperformance from the players. Expectations are extremely high in Boston. With a young core of talented players, and a rotation boasting multiple Cy Young candidates, the bar is set high. There is always room for improvement–power bats are the main issue. Dave Dombrowski certainly has a long road ahead of him this offseason. If there is one thing history tells us though, Dombrowski always gets the guy he wants.

Boston Red Sox Season in Review

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Boston Red Sox Season In Review

The 2017 Boston Red Sox season had a lot of ups and downs. A 93-69 season. The Red Sox acquired Chris Sale, the pitcher they needed at the top of their rotation. Lingering questions burned about David Price, and his spat with Dennis Eckersley and the media only added more fuel throughout the season. The ‘little leader’ Dustin Pedroia, batted just .204 in his last 26 postseason games. The Red Sox starting pitching in four ALDS games pitched 11.1 innings, gave up 23 hits, 16 ER, 6 HR. ERA: 12.70.

Lots Of Young Talent But No Power Hitter

The young talent on the team was great in the regular season, but they are still missing a power hitter. With the Yankees creeping on the AL East, right behind the Red Sox, they need a big bat. Otherwise the AL East title next season will undoubtedly go to the Yankees. But which player do you give up for a power hitter? The last two postseasons Bogaerts batted .138; Betts batted .269; Pedroia batted .143; and Bradley Jr .160. All combined for 33 strikeouts and 19 hits. I have to say a shake up in the clubhouse is needed to breathe some life into the playoffs. If that means trading Bradley Jr., then they should do it.

What Does Dave Dombrowski Do About The Manager And The Team?

Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell speaks during a news conference, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, before his team’s workout as they prepare for Sunday’s Game 3 of baseball’s American League Division Series against the Houston Astros in Boston. (AP Photo/Bill Sikes)

The Red Sox have announced this morning that John Farrell will not be the manager in 2018. Farrell, who won back-to-back division titles, and lost back-to-back ALDS titles, was fired this morning. The Red Sox needed a big shakeup. Dave Dombrowski didn’t think that keeping Farrell was in the best interest of the team. You can check off one of the items Dave Dombrowski needed to do this offseason. They wasted no time firing the manager.

The next few weeks could shake up the team even more. The Red Sox have a lot of work to do.

Red Sox Are About To Get Swept

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Red Sox About To Get Swept Again

The Boston Red Sox face another swept for the second year in a row in the ALDS. Chris Sale, allegedly the ace, pitched game one. He hadn’t pitched a postseason game befor, but he should have been fine, right? Wrong! He pitched five innings, gave up nine hits, seven runs, three home runs and had an ERA of 12.60. Some Red Sox fans need to wake up. Winning the American League East means nothing if you can’t make it past the first round of the playoffs.

Red Sox in the Playoffs — A Circus

All Red Sox pitchers yesterday gave up 12 hits, eight runs, had eight strikeouts, but gave up four home runs. When Nunez gets up in the first inning, he can’t even make it to first base. He fell on his face in pain. He had to be carried off the field by John Farrell and a trainer. Jose Altuve stole the show, hitting three homers for a 8-2 blowout win.

Red Sox Outscored 30-10 in ALDS 2016/2017

Deja vu all over again. The same as last season in the playoffs. The Red Sox have been outscored 30-11 from last year’s ALDS to this. Which means Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, Christian Vasquez — the core of this team– have yet to win a playoff game. They get to this stage with a full head of steam, and they completely choke. These guys can’t live up to the hype. The Red Sox had Drew Pomeranz going today and his good season completely goes out the window. He pitched just two innings, gave up five hits and four runs, one strikeout, two home runs, and an ERA of 18.00.

To make matters worse, Betts leaves the game after his last at bat, re-injuring his left wrist. With the 8 -2 loss, the pitching gave up 12 hits, eight runs, two homers, five strikeouts, and six walks. The Red Sox and Astros play again Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park with Doug Fister on the mound. If the Sox lose, either Betts, or Benintendi will be gone in the offseason for a power hitter, because boy do they need one.

Hot Date in Houston for the Sox

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Red Sox seek redemption in the 2017 ALDS

Well the Sox just ended the regular season with a four-game series against the Houston Astros. Houston grabbed three of four from the Sox in Fenway. Now, starting Thursday at 4 pm ET, these two clubs meet again for at least three more contests in the ALDS. The Astros won this years season series 4-3 and outscored Boston 35-22 in those seven games. Houston may appear to have an edge, but we all know the MLB playoffs are a crap-shoot.

Houston certainly has the better offense, ranking first in the AL in runs scored with 896. Boston scored 785, not nearly as many as Houston, but still good for sixth in the AL. The Red Sox pitching staff has an edge over Houston with the team ERA for the year standing at 3.70. Houston’s team ERA stands significantly higher at 4.12. While both teams have similarly talented starting rotations, the pitching advantage for Boston comes from their phenomenal bullpen. The Sox ranked 2nd in the majors this year with a 3.15 bullpen ERA. Houston’s bullpen was far worse, with a 4.27 ERA which ranked them 17th in the majors.

ALDS Game 1- Sale vs Verlander

Mouths water over this exquisite pitching match up. Sale and Verlander are undoubtedly two of the very best pitchers in baseball. Sale has the better ERA (2.90) but Verlander comes into the playoffs as one of the hottest pitchers in baseball. The Sox lefty threw an MLB-leading 214.1 innings this year. Verlander racked up the innings as well with 206. It appears Verlander may have handled the physical stress a little better, as his performance improved as the season went on. For Sale, it was the opposite. He seemed unhittable until the end of the season when his numbers started to fall off. Sale’s ERA over the last month of the season was 3.72, not great for his standards, but still pretty solid. He was under a lot of scrutiny for his poor performance but he actually allowed 0 ER in three of his final six starts. As I mentioned, Sale lead the entire league in innings pitched. So his poor late-season numbers were likely a result of fatigue. He last pitched on September 26th, so he should be plenty rested come Thursday’s series opener.

Verlander Finishes Strong

Verlander also put together an exceptional year, but very unlike Sale’s season. Houston’s new ace had a rough start to the season with a pre-all star break ERA an uncharacteristic 4.73. This may have had something to do with being on one of the worst teams in baseball (Detroit Tigers). As expected, Verlander was much improved in the second half, posting a 1.95 ERA after the All Star break. He was especially exceptional in the last month of the season, earning five quality starts in as many tries and posted a 1.06 ERA to go along with a 0.65 WHIP. Verlander’s main advantage in this match up is experience. He has 16 career post season starts and Sale has none. Verlander is 7-5 with a with a 3.39 ERA in his post season career. expect game one to be a low scoring affair despite the high powered offenses.

ALDS Game 2- Pomeranz vs Keuchel

Another great pitching match up here in game two. Many teams around the league would love to have Pomeranz or Keuchel serving as a backup to their ace. Pomeranz has put together a career year posting a 3.32 ERA on the season. A reason for concern for the Sox is that the Astros Lineup is stacked full of great right handed hitters. Houston’s lineup features the league batting title champ (Jose Altuve), Carlos Correa, George Springer, Alex Bregman and Yuliesky Gurriel, all righ- handed batters. However, Pomeranz has handled them well this year. In two starts Pomeranz has thrown 12.1 innings while allowing just seven hits and two ER. Houston batters are hitting only .245 with just eight extra base hits in 102 at bats vs Drew. Boston will need this display of dominance from Drew if they want the win.

Like Sale, Keuchel was scorching hot to start the season, going 9-0 with a 1.67 ERA. Unfortunately for Houston, Keuchel found himself on the DL in June due to a neck injury. He returned in July and struggled mightily, posting a 5.05 ERA in six starts. However, Keuchel did seem to find his groove in August as he went 3-2 with a 2.87 ERA. The bearded lefty seems healthy and locked in as we enter the ALDS. Prepare for another low scoring game in game two.

ALDS Game 3- Morton vs Porcello?

The official pitching match ups have not been posted but this is who I imagine game three will feature. The third post-season starter position for the Red Sox is up for grabs between Doug Fister, Eduardo Rodriguez and Rick Porcello. I believe Porcello is the best option, despite having a disappointing year after winning the 2016 AL CY Young. I am ruling Doug Fister out of the equation due to a horrific final month which he had an ERA of 6.85. While E-Rod has slightly better numbers than Porcello this year, the difference is not enough to overcome his lack of experience. Porcello has certainly not lived up to expectations, but his numbers are skewed by some really poor starts. The quality starts are still there, but the bad ones have just been really bad. Rick has thrown at least 6 innings in 26 of his 33 starts. He has allowed three ER or fewer in 19 starts this year and even has two complete games. If the good version of Porcello shows up for the Red Sox then they have a clear advantage here in game three. Veteran Charlie Morton has put together a career year for Houston in his 10th year in the league. Morton has won 14 games and has an ERA of 3.62. I am leaning towards Houston electing Morton due to his impressive final month which he posted an ERA of 2.54 in 28.1 innings of work. This match up will really come down to Porcello pitching to his potential and keeping his sinker down in the zone.

*Follow me on twitter @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*

Astros-Red Sox Positional Breakdown

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On Thursday the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox will start the best-of-five ALDS series. These two teams closed their regular seasons facing each other, so they had plenty of time to get acquainted. This series means a little more of course, and the two teams will pull out all stops to try and advance. Which team has the advantage at each position?

Starting Pitching

Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros throws against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on September 27, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Astros’ trade for Justin Verlander right before the waiver deadline has shored up their rotation. After a sub .500 month of August, people doubted the Astros’ legitimacy as a World Series contender. Behind Dallas Keuchel, their rotation had question marks. Lance McCullers got hurt after a hot start and hadn’t been pitching well since. Then Verlander arrived. Verlander went 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA for the Astros and they bounced back to go 21-8 from there on out. With Verlander and Keuchel at the front, the Astros have two aces. McCullers has been struggling, but Brad Peacock has had an excellent season for them, winning 13 games with an ERA of 3.00 and 11 strikeouts per nine. He would seem to be a fine option to slot in at number three.

The Red Sox have a Cy Young candidate in Chris Sale at the top. Following him is Drew Pomeranz, who somewhat quietly has put himself in a position for a potential top five finish in the Cy Young vote himself. Beyond that, though, the Red Sox have many questions. No one is quite sure yet who will be their #3 or 4 starters, and none of the options are altogether appealing.

Advantage: Astros

Bullpen

The Astros are strong at the back end of their bullpen, but if forced to dip into the pen earlier in games they could face issues. Closer Ken Giles is excellent, and Chris Devenski had a heck of a year for them striking out 100 batters. Will Harris is another excellent reliever for them, posting an ERA under 3.00 for the third consecutive season. No one else is reliable though. Their next best reliever, Luke Gregerson, had an ERA of 4.57.

The Red Sox bullpen is strong, and rather deep with options. It features Craig Kimbrel, possibly the best closer in the game. Kimbrel struck out 126 of 254 batters faced this season! He’ll be setup by Addison Reed, and possibly Joe Kelly and Carson Smith. Those are some solid pitchers, maybe not quite as good as the Astros setup men, but good. After that, the Red Sox depth shows much better. They have many quality options for relievers to make the roster, unlike the Astros whose fourth best wouldn’t make the Red Sox roster.

Advantage: Red Sox

Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after beating the Houston Astros and winning the AL East Division at Fenway Park on September 30, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)

Catcher

The two teams differ quite a bit at catcher. The Astros will pretty much just feature Brian McCann, while the Red Sox have two catchers in Christian Vazquez and Sandy Leon who should both get playing time. McCann is a low-batting-average hitter with good pop, whereas the Sox have Vazquez who batted .290 but with just five home runs. On the defensive side they are even more different. McCann is one of the worst defensive catchers in the league, who only threw out eight of 62 would-be base stealers. That 13% caught stealing rate pales in comparison to Christian Vazquez’ 42% and Sandy Leon’s 37% clip. Vazquez and Leon combined to throw out 39 base runners.

Advantage: Red Sox

First Base

The Astros have highly touted Cuban import Yuli Gurriel playing first. Gurriel had a nice first full season in the Majors, batting .299 with 18 homers and 43 doubles. He actually batted over .300 in every month except for May.

The Red Sox’ Mitch Moreland batted only .246, but thanks to his ability to draw walks, his .326 on base percentage is actually only six points behind Gurriel’s. He out- homered Gurriel 22-18, but his slugging percentage still lags behind. Moreland is probably better with the glove, having committed just five errors after winning the Gold Glove last season, but it’s not enough to make up the difference.

Advantage: Astros

Second Base

Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros bats during a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 13, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Dustin Pedroia is a high contact, good average hitter who is also an excellent defender. As much as I love Pedey, this is no contest.

Jose Altuve led the league with 204 base hits, becoming the first player ever to lead his league in hits in four straight seasons, collecting 200+ in each of them. Altuve came in third in the MVP vote a year ago and has a strong case for winning it this season. He led the league in hitting with a .346 average, while also popping 24 homers despite being 5’6″. Oh, he also stole 32 bases and missed reaching 40 doubles for the fourth consecutive year by just one double. He is one of the absolute best players in the league.

Advantage: Astros

Third Base

This is a fascinating match up. Both teams have a very good, young player at the position. Alex Bregman was the second overall pick in the 2015 draft and made the Majors by the next year. This year he batted .284 with 19 home runs and an .827 OPS.

Red Sox Rafael Devers has long been considered one of the highest upside players in the minor leagues, and he’s still only 20! In 58 games Devers matched Bregman’s .284 batting average while cracking 10 homers and posting an .819 OPS. Their numbers are almost identical and both are very highly touted.

Advantage: Push

Shortstop

Carlos Correa had been a fine shortstop his first two years, winning Rookie of the Year in 2015 and hitting 20 homers in both seasons. He took a step forward this year though, showing he could contend for best shortstop in baseball for many years to come. Correa batted .315 with an excellent .941 OPS this season.

As for the Red Sox, they have a very talented shortstop in Xander Bogaerts, but one who is maddeningly inconsistent. Bogaerts had a fantastic first half last season, only to fall way off in the second half. This year he again started hot before cooling off. At seasons end he had only batted .273 with 10 home runs while also making numerous baserunning mistakes. This is no contest.

Advantage: Astros

Left Field

The Astros have a variety of guys they play here, and Marwin Gonzalez may be the one they use. He has played all over however, and like Eduardo Nunez for the Sox, could be used in a variety of places. Cameron Maybin was aquired from the Angels to play outfield. He is adept at stealing bases, but his hitting prowess leaves something to be desired.

The Sox have a rookie to get excited about for years to come in Benny Biceps. He might not be as good now as he will be, but he is still a very good player already. Benintendi hit 20 home runs and stole 20 bases this season, the first rookie left fielder to accomplish that since Barry Bonds 30 years ago.

#RedSox Andrew Benintendi is the youngest left fielder with at least 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in a season since Barry Bonds in 1987.

— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) September 30, 2017

Advantage: Red Sox

Center Field

The Red Sox will usually have the advantage in the field here. Jackie Bradley is a wonderful defensive outfielder, routinely making spectacular throws and catches. He isn’t bad with the bat either, a bit inconsistent, but he gets the job done.

The Astros though have George Springer, a guy who hit 34 home runs this year. Springer also batted .283, showing he isn’t just a power hitter. His .889 OPS dwarfs Bradley’s .726 mark.

Advantage: Astros

Right Field

The Astros play former Red Sox Josh Reddick in right field, and he actually had one of his best seasons. Somehow, Josh Reddick batted .314 this year; not sure where that came from. Despite a down year from Mookie Betts, this isn’t really a contest. Betts almost won the MVP last year and is a very good fielder to boot. He hit 46 doubles this year and drove in 102 runners. His season may have left a bit to be desired, but the talent difference between these two is rather large.

Advantage: Red Sox

Mookie Betts #30 of the Boston Red Sox reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a game against the Houston Astros on September 30, 2017 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Designated Hitter

Hanley Ramirez had a very disappointing follow up to his 2016 campaign, reverting back to the guy we saw in 2015 who swings wildly for the fences in every at bat. He only hit .242 and killed many rallies. He did manage to hit 23 home runs though, which is more than we can say for the Astros’ Carlos Beltran. Beltran, showing all of his 40 years, batted just .231 with 14 home runs and a devilish .666 OPS.

Advantage: Red Sox

Utility

I’m making a utility spot for the aforementioned Marwin Gonzalez and Eduardo Nunez. Both will probably play in more games than they won’t…if Nunez is healthy that is. Marwin Gonzalez had an out-of-nowhere breakout season. He batted .303 with 23 homers and 90 RBI this season, by far his best season to date. Nunez really helped kick start the Red Sox lineup after being acquired from the Giants, batting .321 with 8 home runs and a near .900 OPS for the Red Sox. Nunez’ Red Sox numbers extrapolated over a season would be similar to what Gonzalez has done, but is he healthy?

Slight Advantage: Astros

Final Analysis

So the final breakdown totals come to five advantages for the Astros, five advantages for the Red Sox, and two pushes. These teams are looking pretty even when it comes to which team has the advantage at each position. The Astros did win 99 games to the Red Sox 93 and finished the year stronger. They also have home field, so the overall advantage would have to go slightly to them, but this could be a good ALDS matchup. Sit back, watch, and hopefully enjoy.

Red Sox Backing Into The Playoffs

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Red Sox Backing Into The Playoffs

With the regular season coming to a close and the playoffs starting, it seems the Boston Red Sox are backing into the postseason just like last year. Last season the Red Sox won the division with a loss to the Yankees but still wearing goggles and drinking champagne in the clubhouse. The Red Sox play the Astros today and tomorrow to close out the regular season. They have lost four of their last five games and lead the division by two games. With a Red Sox win or a Yankees loss they would clinch the AL East.

This would be the first time in the team’s history they would clinch the AL East in back-to back seasons. Clinching the division means nothing if you back yourself into the playoffs and get swept in the first round. If the Red Sox don’t win the division today do you pitch Chris Sale tomorrow? In Sale’ s last eight starts he’s 4-4 with 48 hits and 23 runs, 11 home runs and 67 strikeouts. I say keep him rested, clinch today so you don’t have to pitch him tomorrow. The only reason Sale pitches tomorrow is if they haven’t clinched yet or to get to 313 strikeouts.

Will David Price Start A Playoff Game?

I still would have David Price pitch a playoff game like I’ve said before. He’s making way too much money to be coming out of the bullpen. The bats have been quiet too as of late. Losing 12-2 Thursday night and 3-2 last night they just can’t seem to get the hit they need to win.

Pedroia On Last Night’s Loss

Baseball: World Series: Boston Red Sox Dustin Pedroia (15) in action, making throw vs St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Game 5.
St. Louis, MO 10/28/2013
CREDIT: Al Tielemans (Photo by Al Tielemans /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)
(Set Number: X157127 TK3 R1 F82 )I

Pedroia said after last night’s game “it’s just one of those games, we couldn’t find a way to get the big hit and do something offensively. We just came out a couple of runs short we’ll get after it Saturday.” Now if both the Yankees and Red Sox are tied for the division they would play a one game playoff Monday at Yankee Stadium.