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The 2018 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox Will Go Down As Legends.

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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.

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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.

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The Final Chapter

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 Bullpen Is Now A Strength Heading To Dodger Stadium

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The Red Sox bullpen won them game two, and the World Series last night. Yep, that was not a typo. The Sox bullpen which was ninth in the majors in ERA is shoving the bats down the Dodgers throats in this series. If anyone just watched the Sox bullpen during the regular season they would understand why this is so absurd. Joe freaking Kelly who could not find the plate in the second half of the season is mowing hitters down. Let’s take a closer look at how the Sox pen turned it around.

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Eovaldi Out Of The Pen

The real key to the turn around in the bullpen has been “The Rover”. That is what Alex Cora calls using a starting pitcher out of the bullpen. The biggest question coming into the playoffs and throughout the regular season was who was gonna bridge the gap to Kimbrel. It became such a problem the Sox practically had tryouts for the eighth inning in September. Steven Wright was even giving a chance that should tell you how desperate Cora was. However, it seemed like Cora had the answer all along.

Nathan Eovaldi has been lights out in the postseason especially coming out of the pen. Sale and Porcello have also provided key innings out of the pen but Eovaldi has been the story. In 3.1 innings out of the pen, Eovaldi has allowed one hit and struck out two. Eovaldi started his career with the Dodgers in 2011 and has come full circle to haunt them in their quest for a World Series. Six batters have come to the plate against Eovaldi and he has set all six down. Everyone was clamoring for a power arm out of the pen and another starter. Dombroski went out and got both for the price of one.

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Approach and Consistency

As noted the biggest problem for the Sox was who was gonna pitch the seventh and the eight in a tight game. All season long Cora was rotating through guys night in and night out hoping something would stick. Now Cora finally has a plan. In game two of the World Series with a two-run lead, Joe Kelly came out of the bullpen and was ridiculous. The thought of Kelly pitching in a two-run game in the World Series a month ago would have been laughable. Kelly is now pitching like the best reliever on either team. He has struck out six of the four batters and has looked like Andrew Miller of a few years ago.

Barnes who sat out most of September with a hip injury has been lights out this postseason. In 7.1 innings this postseason, Barnes has allowed only two hits, one run, and has struck out six. Barnes has always had good stuff his problem has been spotting his fastball and throwing his curveball for strikes. This postseason, Barnes’ off-speed pitch has been nasty. In game four of the ALCS, Barnes came out of the pen and threw two beautiful curveballs on the outside part of the plate to secure the strikeout and get out of a jam. If Barnes has a feel for that curveball, he can be a weapon.

The most important difference for the Sox pitching staff has been the approach. Finally, the Sox pitchers are attacking hitters. From Price to Kimbrel every single pitcher on the Red Sox is pounding the inside corner. Its the most basic style of pitching hard stuff inside sets up soft stuff away. Kimbrel in his past two appearances has been effective because he is not trying to pick a corner. Instead, he is throwing gas inside and jamming hitters. Every pitch works off that fastball. It does not matter how hard you throw; if you cannot control the inside of the plate, you are going to get crushed. Cora and his staff deserve a lot of credit for coming to their senses. As a result, the Sox’ biggest weakness has become a weapon.

Three Keys to Winning the World Series

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The Sox are just four wins away, and we now know the final opponent is the Los Angeles Dodgers. Boston has played near perfect baseball throughout the postseason and are positioned to win the franchise’s ninth World Series championship. With the Dodgers returning to the Fall Classic for the second straight year, they are no easy foe. Many small factors can provide a big swing in this series, and there is a few the Sox ought to hope go their way to help capture another World Series.

The Bullpen:

So far in October, the bullpen has been tremendous. Most baseball fans had written off the bullpen, saying that there wasn’t any reliable options to bridge to Kimbrel. Rather the opposite has been the case, the bridge of Matt Barnes, Ryan Brasier and Joe Kelly has been formidable. It has been Kimbrel who’s had the issues. However, Craig Kimbrel seemed to find his form in game five, as he closed the Astros out fairly easily, with some of his throwback stuff. If the middle inning guys can continue to pull their weight, it would make this series a lot easier on the stress levels of Sox Nation.

The Manager:

Everyone in Boston and their grandma loves Dodgers manager/Red Sox hero Dave Roberts. However, the man that matters most this series, is Alex Cora. Through the two beatdowns the Sox have delivered in New York and in Houston, their manager has continued to look genius. Every decision has been genius when deciding between Brock Holt or Ian Kinsler, or Eduardo Nunez or Rafael Devers. Or even behind the plate, between Sandy Leon and Christian Vazquez. Every decision has been well calculated and every decision has paid off. If Cora continues to pull strings like this, and when managing his bullpen, the Sox are going to be damn near unstoppable.

The Game 2 Starter:

Just like I predicted, David Price showed up in his second start of the ALCS and he dealt. He shook the monkey off his back and has turned his postseason narrative right around. To solidify this newfound reputation and to grow his legacy more, the start in game two of the World Series is crucial. Whether Chris Sale can overcome his “stomach issues” and pitch well in game one or not, game two will be huge. Either Sale pitches well, and it’s on Price to get the series to the west coast with the Sox up 2-0. Or Sale struggles, and then David Price is pitching to save the Sox season from going to L.A. down 0-2. Whichever way it pans out, the start from Price will be a turning point in this series.

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Why David Price Has Earned Another Start

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Much has been made over the years, into this postseason, about David Price. It goes without saying that he hasn’t been Sandy Koufax or Madison Bumgarner in the playoffs. However, there were many elements of Sunday night’s start that provide us with signs that Price has turned a corner. For the first time in his career, his team won a game that he started. It goes deeper than that, from pitching out of jams to limiting damage.

Game Two:

Last night, David Price wasn’t perfect, but he was good enough. The walks were a little concerning, but the overall perseverance of Price was enough to earn him another start in a potential game six. The line isn’t gorgeous, four runs on four walks and five hits, but it did the trick. The bullpen did its job like I tried to tell you all before. The Sox won, which is obviously the priority, and Price showed progress in his ability to pitch in October.

Looking at the four runs, they came on two big hits. One came in the second off the bat of George Springer, and another in the third from Marwin Gonzalez. Both were strikes, yes, but neither were bad pitches by any means. Springer was able to swing inside out and just tuck one over Steve Pearce‘s head. With two outs in the inning, both runners were able to score easily, but that was an at-bat that easily could’ve gone Price’s way. When it comes to the Gonzalez home run, again, it wasn’t a bad pitch at all. In fact, the entire at-bat was well calculated and executed. The Astros slugger was just able to get his hands around on a tough pitch up and in and he drove it. Neither pitch that was costing of runs was a bad pitch, just a better swing.

Looking Ahead to Price in Game 6:

So, with everything considered, I believe Price actually pitched very well. If it were anybody else besides Gonzalez that came to the plate in the fifth, he would’ve stayed in the game. In all likelihood, he would’ve been in position for his first career postseason win as a starter. Alex Cora made the right decision matchup-wise, but David’s stuff was good enough for him to pitch another inning.

Going forward, Price deserves another start and he will deliver in the said start. He was very reliant on his fastball and seemed to shy away from the changeup. If he can gain some traction when it comes to throwing that changeup, he could really stifle this gritty Astros lineup. Barring a three-game sweep of the games in Houston, Price will start the biggest game of his career, a game six at Fenway Park in an elimination game. David Price has earned it, and he will come through again for this team.

Mookie Betts: The Five Tool MVP

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Throughout the history of baseball, only a select handful of men have ever been regarded as a five-tool player. Even fewer were able to provide sustained success. The original example is the Say Hey Kid, Willie Mays, and then we go to legends like Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez, along with the new kids on the block like Mike Trout and Bryce Harper. So we turn to this year and the culmination of what has been building for a while for Mookie Betts. We take a brief look at each of his five tools, and how they contribute to one of the most electrifying players in the sport and the clear-cut MVP of 2018.

Speed

Let us start with Betts’ most recent accomplishment, becoming a member of the 30/30 club (30 homers and 30 stolen bags), and being only the second Red Sox player to ever do so. Mookie is never afraid to push the envelope and go first to third on a ground ball. Or to steal a base even when the pitcher and catcher know it’s coming. But after three straight years of 20+ stolen bases, he was finally able to reach the elusive mark of swiping 30. There is no reason to think he’ll slow down either. The speed factor will be a huge part of his game, both at the plate and in the field, for many years to come.

Hitting for Power

For a guy that doesn’t even sniff being six feet tall, Betts still packs a big punch. He’s posted his third straight 20 home run season and this year he’s elevated his power to another level. His league-leading .643 slugging percentage is absolutely insane. It’s over a HUNDRED points higher than any of his previous seasons. He also boasts an average exit velocity of 92.2 mph, which also puts him near the top of the league. The difference is he’s doing it all with a five foot nine frame. Yet he’s still amongst the big boys like Manny Machado and Yoenis Cespedes when it comes to the raw power off the bat.

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Hitting for Average

This was never going to be an issue for Betts in the Majors. A brilliant hitter all throughout the minor league system, he adjusted to professional pitching real quick. Only once has he posted an average under .290 in his career, and now he’s primed to win the first batting title of his career, with a .346 average going into Thursday night. He’s going to have roughly 800 hits at the culmination of 2018. Setting himself up very nicely (with good health) to have a realistic shot at reaching 3000 hits.

Defense

Buck Showalter said he was the greatest defensive right fielder he’s ever seen, and he’s been around since the 70s, need I say more? Mookie is a lock to win his third straight gold glove, and he’s only made one error out in right. One, single error… all season… which is crazy considering how often the ball is in his hand.

Arm

Last but certainly not least, is the cannon that is also known as Betts’ right arm. Of the five tools, this is the one that can be least supported by statistics. Lucky for you, all you have to do is a turn the television on when the Red Sox are playing. You’ll quickly be able to see for yourself the incredibly amazing throws that Mookie can make. Whether it’s to second, third or even gunning someone down at home, it genuinely looks too easy for Betts. He picks the ball up and next thing you know, the runner is out by five steps. Mookie did, that’s what just happened.

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College Football Week 0 Preview and Predictions

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The 2018 college football season starts this weekend. There are only four games on the schedule with no ranked teams, but some games are interesting. This week in college football has been called week 0 because of the lack of teams that play. The four matchups include 2 FBS VS FBS matchups, and 2 FBS VS FCS matchups.

Duquesne VS UMass

Betting Odds: UMass -24.5, O/U 67.5

The first college football game of the season will feature the UMass Minutemen vs the Duquesne Dukes. UMass enters this game with high expectations for the year. If they win all of their favored games they will become bowl eligible for the first time since they joined the FBS. UMass got off to a really rough start last year going 0-6. However, it was not all bad as they played teams like Mississippi ST very close, and finished winning the 4 of 6. The Minutemen have a great offense led by QB Andrew Ford. On the other hand, Duquesne is only playing for the upset. If they lose it is no big deal for them, but a win means a lot. The Dukes start this year right outside the top 25 in the FCS, so a win would do wonders for their season.

Final Prediction: UMass 41, Duquesne 16

Prairie View A&M VS Rice

Betting Odds: Rice -21, O/U 61

This is probably the least appealing FBS game of the week. One major storyline is how new head coach Mike Bloomgren will fare in his debut with Rice. Prairie View A&M will also be welcoming in a new head coach in former Grambling State offensive coordinator Eric Dooley. Prairie View has a very good defense at the FBS level led by cornerback Ju’Anthony Parker who led the team in INTs (4), and turned 2 of those 4 picks into touchdowns. On the other side of the football is C-USA team, Rice. Rice has been at the bottom of the C-USA for years now, and look to get out of there with a new head coach. The Owls have a good running game with twin running backs Aston and Austin Walter running behind fullback Giovanni Gentosi. This team is still a few years away from competing in the C-USA, but they should be able to pull out a win this week.

Final Prediction: Rice 23, Prairie View A&M 16

Hawaii VS Colorado ST

Betting Odds: Colorado ST -14.5, O/U 58

This game will be the first head-to-head conference matchup of the year in college football. The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors will face the Colorado ST Rams in Mountain West action. Colorado ST enters this season trying to get past the 7-win mark as they have not won a bowl game in their last 3 attempts. The Rams will have to figure out some things early on as they look to replace star wide receiver Michael Gallup, as well as their top receiving tight end from a year ago. Colorado ST will have a new QB as Washington transfer K.J. Carta-Samuels takes over under center. For Hawaii, this game will set the tone for how their season will go. They went a very disappointing 3-9 last year just one year removed from a bowl game. Hawaii will return their famous run-and-shoot offense that made them so good a few years ago. Overall, with Colorado ST having so many pieces to replace on offense, I believe Hawaii will pull off the upset.

Final Prediction: Hawaii 26, Colorado ST 23

Wyoming VS New Mexico ST

Betting Odds: Wyoming -3.5, O.U 45

This game will feature 2 FBS schools that made a bowl game last season. The pair of teams have major holes to fill on both sides of the ball. New Mexico ST is the only FBS team to lose their leading passer, rusher, receiver, and tackler from last season. The Aggies will open up with new QB Matthew Romero, a very mobile talent. Wyoming has to fill the shoes of first-round pick Josh Allen who played QB for them last year. The Cowboys defense will bring back most of their starters from a year ago. The Wyoming defense in 2017 led the nation with a +24 turnover margin thanks to Andrew Wingard and Carl Granderson. Overall, Wyoming and New Mexico ST will look different than what they looked like last year in their bowl winning season.

Final Prediction: Wyoming 20, New Mexico ST 14

This week in college football is a fun week to sit back, and enjoy a few games with bowl implications. I will continue this series every week of the college football season while keeping score of my picks.

First Ever BSE Podcast (@alykins32)

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Boston Sports Extra has a Podcast!

Get all your Boston sports news. That’s right, get your Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, Bruins, and Revolutions news and information, now in podcast form.

On this Episode Anthony, Zack, and Justin get in deep about where the Red Sox stand at the break and where they can and should move forward from here. And a bonus! Get into the latest Celtics news and what it means for all the pieces that Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens has available. Get it right here for all your unbiased news of your favorite teams.

 

Download the Episode Here!

Free Agents the Celtics Should Look at this Offseason

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With NBA free agency starting on July 1, the Boston Celtics are again one of the more fun teams to watch in free agency. In 2016, the Celtics signed 4-time all-star center, Al Horford to a 4-year deal. In 2017, the Celtics signed one of the biggest names in free agency, Gordon Hayward, who was coming off his best year yet and made his first all-star appearance. Now in 2018, Boston looks to continue to add pieces to bring them to their 18th title. These are some of the free agents they should consider signing:

Lebron James, Forward (Player-Option):

Starting this off with arguably the greatest player of all-time. Lebron James will most likely look to join a new team after losing to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals for the second year in a row. Lebron is now poised to join a new team for the 3rd time in his career. This has left many to believe that the Celtics are one of the destinations he will consider.

Boston is one of, if not the best, options for Lebron to win a championship. However, it also leaves some problems for the Celtics. One of the main reasons Kyrie Irving is in Boston is because he wanted to have his own team and leave Lebron. This leaves the main decision of what do the Celtics value more, Lebron or Kyrie. It is a decision the Celtics should look at and consider.

Rodney Hood, Forward (Restricted):

One of Lebron James’ teammates from the 2017-2018 season, Rodney Hood, seems like a smart fit for the Celtics. Hood showed that he was a knockdown shooter and solid-defender during his time in Utah where he averaged 13.1 points per game during his 3 and 1/2 year career. He got sent to Cleveland halfway through the season, and his PPG numbers dropped off to 10.8. Rodney Hood has shown why he is a very solid go-to option off the bench which is what the Celtics lacked at certain moments last year.

Shabazz Napier, Point Guard (Restricted):

Shabazz Napier showed flashes of what made him so highly-touted coming out of college. Napier had a rough start to his NBA career where he was only averaging 4.3 PPG. However, in 2018, he had a very good season for the Blazers where he posted career highs in PPG with 8.7 and FG% shooting with .420 percent. Napier would be a solid backup option if anything happens to Rozier or Kyrie this off-season.

Nerlens Noel, Center (Unrestricted):

The Massachusetts-native Nerlens Noel has been centered around many trade rumors throughout the years to Boston. Noel has fallen off in his recent play for the Dallas Mavericks where he comes off the worst year of his career, averaging 4.4 PPG and 5.6 RPG. Noel has been a solid player throughout his career though while he is averaging around 9 points and 7 rebounds. The Celtics could use a big man who can score in the post, grab rebounds, and protect the rim.

Nemanja Bjelica, Power Forward (Restricted):

A relatively unknown compared to the other players on this list, Bjelica is becoming one of the biggest sleeper free agents in this class. He is coming off his best year in 2017-2018 where he started 21 games for the T-Wolves and put up career highs, 6.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and .415 3-Point FG%. Bjelica can come off the bench for the C’s and provide a spark from three and grab some much-needed rebounds. The Celtics were one game away from making it to the NBA Finals last year. Maybe one of these guys are the people to send them over the top.

Bruins’ Fourth Line Has the Potential to Play a Huge Factor

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Have the 2018 Boston Bruins found themselves as productive a fourth line as the Merlot line was back in 2011? Nothing is guaranteed yet, but up to this point the recent emergence of the fourth line for the Bruins has been a key factor in their success. In the past nine games the Bruins have secured a point in all of them, going 7-0-2. The most encouraging sign is that it’s not because of a singular player or line like it has been in the past. But a definite positive sign almost halfway into the season has been the overall excellence of the Sean Kuraly, Tim Schaller and Noel Acciari.

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Defensive Dependability/Toughness

As you would want from most fourth lines Kuraly/Schaller/Acciari have gone above and beyond to earn the trust of Bruce Cassidy. As a line the trio has combined to go -2. Considering they are tasked with keeping other teams offensive lines in check this is pretty impressive. At this point in the season Cassidy has no hesitation to send out his fourth line and for good reason. Right now they are playing fabulous, selfless hockey. Whether it is in the defensive zone rotating along the boards or through coverage as if they are anticipating each others moves, it’s quite extraordinary. Along with each of the three being solid penalty killers and none of them shying away from good body contact.

The toughness element of this line cannot be understated. For stretches this season the Bruins have been pushed around by more physically dominant teams. But now with the Kuraly/Schaller/Acciari line adding not just a physical presence to the lineup but also holding opposing players responsible. Just as Schaller did when Acciari took a nasty hit up high against the Senators. Schaller showed no hesitation in dropping the gloves to protect his partner. But do not be confused, this is a line that knows how to check cleanly and effectively. Defensively reliability and guts of the Kuraly/Schaller/Acciari line certainly mirrors that of the Merlot line in its prime.

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Offensive Production/Versatility

Since the disband of the Merlot line, the Bruins have struggled to find a reliable versatile fourth line. Mainly because the veterans they brought in did not provide enough offensively and the young kids enough defensive reliability. But Kuraly/Schaller/Acciari is not just a bunch of defensive specialists. They can get after it on the offensive end as well. So far the trio has combined to put up 13 goals and 12 assist for 25 points. While also adding a surprising amount of speed to the Bruins’ lineup.

That is what makes this line so fascinating to watch. One minute they can be doing the dirty work in the defensive end. Then the next they are going end to end at full speed creating great scoring chances. It’s very impressive to watch and was on full display against the Islanders. Kuraly helped set up Schaller’s goal and Acciari netted one as well. They lead the Bruins to an impressive 5-1 victory.

The selflessness on the offensive end has been they key for this line. The right play is the simple play to them. They take what the defense is giving them. No more no less, and it has worked quite well. While none of them are offensive juggernauts by any stretch. Each of the three has the ability to score a timely goal or make a winning play. If the fourth line can keep up this level of production than opponents are not gonna be excited to play the Bruins.

Matt Beleskey May Be One of the Biggest Bust in Recent Years

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When the Bruins signed forward Matt Beleskey in the summer of 2015 many viewed him as a potential replacement for Milan Lucic on the left side of David Krejci. Worst case scenario was that he became a physical third-line winger with the ability to get some dirty goals, right? Wrong, not even the most bitter Bruins fan could have predicted this. The Matt Beleskey era in Boston has been quite forgettable. Not something you want to hear about someone who pulls in $3.8M a year.

Lack of Production

Playoff production landed Belesky at the top of the 2015 free agency list.  For Anaheim,  the left wing put up  eight goals, and nine points playing alongside Ryan Getzlaf.  In an overall down year in the forward department, Beleskey seemed like a great offensive addition for a forward-hungry Bruins team. But to put it lightly, things have not gone according to plan. In 143 games for the Boston Bruins, Beleskey has scored18 goals, 27 assist, for 45 points, and has a horrible -12 rating. In his last 63 games, the left winger has only eight points, and is a -18. That includes zero points in 14 games played this season.  Zero.

On top of that, he seems to make an atrocious turnover whenever Cassidy unglues him from the bench. At this point, Beleskey brings more value from the press box because at least the Bruins won’t carry dead weight on the bench.

Lack of Physicality

Recently, a lot of people  speculate that the Bruins need to add some toughness. This is very valid, especially with the way teams have been taking luxuries with late hits on Bruins forwards recently.  Don Sweeney has to start shopping for a veteran forward to add some snarl to the lineup. Beleskey, supposed to be the tough guy on the team, has proved, useless. His defensive performance as noted has and continues to be, horrible with his -18 rating over the past two seasons. But even his physicality has taken a step back. Last season’s Beleskey compiled 98 hits, the lowest amount since 2010-2011. He will drop the gloves, leading the team with three fighting majors. But his fights are meaningless if he cannot continue the physical play during the game.

Now Sweeney has some major roster moves to make and Matt Beleskey could be the one to go.