Another series has come and gone for the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox played the Chicago White Sox in a three game series at Fenway Park before taking off to London to play the Yankees. Boston came away with a two out of three series win over the A.L. Central White Sox. Here is a recap of the whole series.
The Red Sox found a way to win on Monday night. They survived game one of the series with a 6-5 win over the White Sox. Marco Hernandez was the hero as he hit an infield single to shortstop to drive home the game winning run. Eduardo Nunez and Andrew Benintendi led the way offensively for the Red Sox as they had two hits a piece.
On the pitching side, Eduardo Rodriguez got the start and pitched adequately. He finished the night throwing 6 and 1/3 innings while giving up six hits, five earned runs, two walks, and four strikeouts. The impressive part of this game was the bullpen. The bullpen combined to give up 0 earned runs while giving up two hits, two walks, and had six strikeouts in 2 and 2/3 innings. Credit to the Red Sox bullpen for getting the Red Sox the opening win of the series!
Tuesday Night: Red Sox 6 White Sox 3
In the second game of the three game series, the Red Sox found themselves as winners once again. They came away with a 6-3 over the White Sox in what was a convincing win. Offensively in this one, it was the Rafael Devers show. Devers finished the game going 4-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Xander Bogaerts had a two run homerun in this game as well.
David Price got the start in this one and he continued to dominate as he has the whole season. Price went 6 innings. He gave up two earned runs on eight hits while also compiling nine strikeouts on the night. The bullpen once again did a fantastic job closing this game out. The combination of Matt Barnes, Ryan Brasier, and Brandon Workman gave up no runs, with two hits, one walk, and six strikeouts to their credit. This was another complete effort for the Red Sox to win game two of the series and ultimately win the series as well.
Wednesday Afternoon: White Sox 8 Red Sox 7
The Red Sox tried to finish off the sweep of the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday afternoon. Unfortunately, they fell just a little bit short. The Red Sox ended up losing the series finale by a score of 8-7. The White Sox were able to pull through, thanks to a Jose Abreu two run homerun off of Matt Barnes in the top of the ninth inning.
Offensively, the lineup was pretty balanced in this one. Rafael Devers had three more hits. Xander Bogaerts had two hits of his own, including a go ahead single in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the Red Sox up 7-6. J.D. Martinez, Michael Chavis, and Jackie Bradley Jr. also had two hits a piece during the game.
For the pitching staff, Chris Sale had the start in this one. He gave up five runs on six hits, while striking out 10. Steven Wright made his 2019 debut and had a strikeout in one inning of work. Matt Barnes was the losing pitcher in this one as he gave up two runs on three hits.
In Conclusion
The Red Sox should have realistically swept this series. But, two out of three is always successful. Now, the Red Sox get to play in London for an upcoming two game series against the Yankees. Salvage a split or even sweep of the brief series and come back to the states ready to close out the first half of the season on a positive note!
As the numbers extend higher, the pickings continue to thin. Fewer and fewer players have worn the numbers as they climb into the sixties and beyond. The numbers have also generally been worn for shorter amounts of time, assigned to rookies just making the Majors. If the rookie succeeds, they usually change their number the following season. If they don’t make it, well, they aren’t wearing the number long. Therefore, I am going to do more than just five players at a time and close out this series of articles with just two more articles. Unfortunately, no Red Sox player has ever worn the number 69, so here are the greatest to wear the numbers 61-68.
Number 61 – Bronson Arroyo
Bronson Arroyo is one of the few players who stuck with his high number, wearing 61 for his entire career. The Red Sox grabbed Arroyo off waivers before the 2003 season, and what a find it was.
Arroyo pitched in Pawtucket for almost the entire first season and threw a perfect game down there, just the fourth in International League history. He pitched 17.1 innings for the Red Sox out of the bullpen, allowing just four earned runs. This earned him a spot on the postseason roster, where he performed well.
Arroyo earned himself a rotation spot in 2004, making 29 starts. He finished the year 10-9 with a solid 4.03 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. He made a good start in the ALDS, allowing two runs on three hits over six innings. In the ALCS, he was involved in the famous Alex Rodriguez “slap” play at first base.
In 2005, Arroyo made 32 starts and pitched over 200 innings, starting a streak of nine straight seasons with 199 innings or more thrown. He went 14-10 with a 4.51 ERA in the regular season.
The Red Sox mistakenly traded Arroyo in the offseason for Wily Mo Pena, but he left his mark on Boston.
Honorable Mentions: Brian Johnson, Felix Doubront, Clay Buchholz (2007-09)
Alex Rodriguez illegally slaps the ball out of Bronson Arroyo’s glove as he went to tag him out running to first base in game 6 of the ALCS.
Number 62 – Jon Lester
This is the second number Lester has been chosen for, as he was the winner for his typical number 31. Jon Lester wore the number 62 during his rookie season of 2006. Once he was an established Major Leaguer following the season, he changed to the lower number.
A highly touted prospect, Lester was rated as the 22nd best prospect in all of baseball entering 2006. The former second round pick was coming off an excellent season in AA Portland. He began the year in Pawtucket and posted a 2.70 ERA over 11 starts before being called up to Boston.
Lester would go 7-2 for the big club that season, although with a mediocre ERA. However, he pitched very well for the first half of his time with the Red Sox before possibly hitting a wall. Young pitchers don’t generally throw many innings, so the amount of innings and the impact of the innings being pitched may have caught up to him. Through his first eight starts he was 6-2 with a 2.38 ERA. In that eighth start he allowed just one hit over eight shutout innings against the Kansas City Royals.
Although he faded later in the year, Lester was still 7-2 and helped add another reliable starter for over a month.
Honorable Mention: Rich Hill (2015)
Number 63 – Junichi Tazawa
Tazawa was given an honorable mention at the number 36 for his work from 2013-2016. However, before that he was wearing the number 63 from 2009-2012. He is here for his work in 2012 alone.
Junichi Tazawa at one time was a pretty decent prospect for the Red Sox as a starting pitcher. He made his debut in 2009 and got the loss against the Yankees in his first game. He did not fare much better after that either, making four starts and two relief appearances total.
In 2010, he blew out his arm in April and missed the whole season. When he came back in 2011 it was as a reliever. He only made three appearances for the Red Sox that season. With the slim pickings at the number, Tazawa earns the top spot on the strength of 2012 alone.
Tazawa pitched 37 games in 2012, allowing just seven runs over 44 innings. He struck out 45 batters while posting a 1.43 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. He was arguably the best reliever on that mess of a team.
Honorable Mentions: Justin Masterson, Robby Scott
Number 64 – Will Middlebrooks
Will Middlebrooks arrived in 2012 as the Red Sox best hitting prospect. He was ranked number 51 by Baseball America at the start of the year and only improved his standing as the year wore on. After raking at Pawtucket for a month, Middlebrooks was called up and made his Major League debut on May 2nd.
Middlebrooks hit all season for the Red Sox, bashing 15 home runs over 267 at-bats. He batted .288 and posted a slugging percentage of .509 at the big league level that rookie season. This would be the only season he wore the number 64, and it was easily the best season of his career. However, he did win a World Series ring with the club the following season.
Number 65 – Steven Wright
Wright might be the unlikeliest winner of two different numbers, having gotten the nod at number 35. There was little competition at that number, and there is zero competition at this one. The only other player I noticed who contributed anything pitched 3.1 shutout innings in 1998.
Steven Wright wore the number 65 for the 2014 season. That year he threw 21 innings, mostly in relief, and had his first Major League success. Even with the knuckleball, Wright struck out 22 batters against just four walks. He posted a 2.57 ERA and 1.19 WHIP that season for the Red Sox. He has worn the number 35 ever since.
Honorable Mention: Carlos Valdez
Sep 7, 2014 Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Steven Wright (65) pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Number 66 – Bobby Poyner
As you can see, there isn’t a lot to choose from at some of these numbers. Not to take away from Poyner, he did a good job for the Red Sox this past season, but he has only thrown 22.1 innings. Only five players have ever donned the uniform 66 for the Red Sox.
A left-handed reliever, Poyner had a fantastic spring and surprisingly pitched his way onto the ballclub. He pitched effectively over 20 appearances, going 1-0 with a 3.22 ERA. His WHIP was an excellent 1.12 and he struck out 24 batters against only three walks. The low walks are an excellent total for a lefty reliever, as they generally walk a fair amount of guys.
Honorable Mention: Daniel Nava (2012 only), Drake Britton
Number 67 – Brandon Workman
Workman is one of four Red Sox to ever wear the number, and the only one to play in more than 11 games. He has had his positives for the club though, this past postseason aside.
Workman first appeared with the big club in 2013. He struck out 47 batters over 41.2 innings that season, making three starts and 17 relief appearances. He had a 6-3 record despite a 4.97 ERA. Workman did make three straight good starts to close out July. A few rough outings skewed his overall solid body of work. Workman then pitched 8.2 innings without an earned run over seven postseason appearances. His work out of the bullpen certainly helped the Red Sox as they won their third World Series in nine years.
The next season, Workman had a 3.27 ERA at the end of June before the wheels came off. He finished 1-10 with a 5.17 ERA. Workman wound up hurting his arm and it was a long road back to the Majors.
He found his way back in 2017 and had a 3.18 ERA over 33 relief appearances. This past season he wore the number 67 for a bit and the number 44, going 6-1 with a 3.27 ERA in the regular season. This gives him a 3.22 ERA over 81 innings since making it back to the big leagues.
Number 68 – Matt Barnes
Barnes wore the number 68 for his first four seasons before switching numbers for the 2018 season. Of course, 2018 is his best season to date, but he did enough prior to this season. He is the only player worth mentioning at the number.
Barnes debuted late in 2014, then struggled as a rookie in 2015. He had an up and down 2016, but showed some promise as he struck out over a batter per inning. He finished 4-3 with a 4.05 ERA.
In 2017 he took another step forward, leading into this past season. Barnes was 7-3 with a 3.88 ERA in 2017, posting a career best 1.22 WHIP. He struck out 10.7 batters per nine innings, surpassed only by this past seasons 14 strike outs per nine.
Jul 6, 2016 Matt Barnes (68) throws a pitch against the Rangers at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
The greatest Red Sox to wear the set of numbers between 31-35 are all recent players. In fact, the one who played for the Red Sox the longest ago was a key member of the 2004 curse breaking team. These five players won 10 World Series rings with the Red Sox. There is a retired number, a captain and a current Sox player.
Number 31 – Jon Lester
Lester played the role of Red Sox ace for several seasons. Before he got there, he had to overcome cancer at the age of 23. After his return from cancer, Lester played a role in winning the World Series in 2007, pitching 5.2 shutout innings in the final game of the series. The next year, he was ready to be the Ace on a team no one expected him to be. In May, he no-hit the Royals at Fenway Park. Lester finished 16-6 with a 3.21 ERA that season.
In 2009, Lester took a giant step forward in the strike out department, striking out 10 batters per nine innings. In 2010, he struck out 225 batters for the second straight season and led the American League in k/9. He made his first all-star team that season and won 19 games. The end result was a top five finish for the Cy Young Award.
After his second straight all-star appearance in 2011, Lester’s pitching dropped off significantly in 2012. He rebounded in 2013, then took his game to a new level for the postseason. After winning two games with a 2.33 ERA over the first two series, Lester dominated the Cardinals in the World Series. Lester won both games he pitched and allowed just one run between them. That ran his World Series career to one run over 21 innings pitched.
2014 would be Lester’s last in a Red Sox uniform, as the team traded him at the deadline. Lester was having his best season, posting a 2.52 ERA over 21 starts before the trade. He made his third all-star team that season. Lester was 110-63 with a 3.64 ERA with the Sox. He pitched even better in the playoffs, winning six games with a 2.11 ERA.
Honorable Mention: Ferguson Jenkins
Number 32 – Derek Lowe
Lowe’s Red Sox career had its share of ups and downs, but overall he was a good pitcher. Lowe also was one of many Red Sox to play the role of hero in 2004. Acquired from the Mariners along with Jason Varitek for blown save machine Heathcliff Slocumb, Lowe was brought aboard in one of the more lopsided trades in baseball history.
Lowe started his career as a swingman and didn’t have immediate success with the team. He was stellar in 1999 though, even working his way to the closers role as he saved 15 games. Lowe had a 2.63 ERA with a WHIP below 1.00 that season. In 2000, serving as closer for the entire season, Lowe had a 2.56 ERA and led the league with 42 saves while making his first all-star team. Lowe’s closing ability took a turn for the worse the following season though, as he lost the role of closer. With his ERA over 4.00, the team experimented with him starting, giving him three starts to finish the season. Lowe allowed just two runs over the three starts.
As a full-time starter in 2002, Lowe came out of the gates hot, allowing just one hit over seven shutout in his first start. By the end of April, Lowe was no-hitting the Devil Rays at Fenway Park. He finished the season 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA and came in third for the Cy Young. No one could have imagined this success, and although it was a career season, Lowe had plenty more good pitching to come.
Lowe won 17 games in 2003, although his pitching fell off quite a lot. In 2004, his ERA was all the way up to 5.42 and he found himself excluded from the ALDS rotation. However, Lowe was on the mound to earn the win in the deciding game of the series over the Angels. Down 0-3 to the Yankees in the ALCS, Lowe pitched well enough to give the Red Sox a chance as they staved off elimination. He took the mound in game seven and was again the winning pitcher in a deciding game. In game four of the World Series, Lowe finished off the trifecta, pitching seven shutout innings as the Red Sox swept the Cardinals. Lowe was the winning pitcher in the series-clinching win of all three postseason series to finish out his Red Sox career.
Honorable Mention: Craig Breslow
Number 33 – Jason Varitek
“The Captain” is number 33 of course. Varitek meant a ton to the team, leading up to the curse breaking, breaking the curse, and then the ones following up on that. His leadership in the clubhouse as well as on the field was invaluable. He called a great game and is one of only two catchers ever to have caught four no-hitters.
Varitek split time with Scott Hatteberg at the catcher position in 1998. The Red Sox felt comfortable enough handing the starting gig to Varitek in 1999, and he rewarded them with a 20 home run season. The starting job was his for the next decade. He looked like he was on his way to a career year in 2001 before he broke his elbow diving for a foul pop on the on-deck circle.
Varitek’s real breakout came in 2003. He made his first all-star team that season and mashed 25 home runs, a number that would remain his career high. He hit four home runs in the postseason with an OPS over 1.000. The next season he batted .296 with a career best .872 OPS. He would hit .321 with two home runs in the seven game ALCS against the Yankees. Oh, and who could forget his encounter with Alex Rodriguez from that summer?
Varitek hit .281 with 22 home runs and an .856 OPS in 2005. During that three year stretch from 2003-05, Varitek’s average season was .283 with 22 home runs and an .863 OPS. He was one of the very best offensive catchers in the game while also being invaluable behind the plate. His offensive production did fall off after that, but he did have a solid 2007. Varitek hit .255 with 17 home runs and a .787 OPS that year. He then won his second World Series in the fall.
In addition to the rings and the no-hitters, Varitek made three All-Star Games, won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger Award. He probably should have won more Gold Gloves than he did. He is tenth in franchise history in games played. Furthermore his 193 home runs are the most by a catcher for the Red Sox. Varitek will forever be one of the most beloved and well-respected Red Sox.
Honorable Mentions: Jose Canseco, Dave “Boo” Ferriss
Number 34 – David Ortiz
No words can really say what David Ortiz meant to the franchise. He might be the most popular player in franchise history. He had countless big hits, countless walk-offs, and without his heroics in 2004 the curse wouldn’t have ended. Again in 2013, with his rallying speech following the marathon bombings, as well as his grand slam in game two of the ALCS, the 2013 World Series doesn’t happen without Ortiz.
It took the Red Sox a couple months to finally give Ortiz the playing time he deserved in 2003. Once they gave it to him, he raked, hitting .293 with 29 homers and a 1.010 OPS from June 1st on. With his clutch hitting he managed to enter the MVP race. It was the first of five consecutive seasons in which Ortiz would place in the top five for the MVP. He led the league in RBI in both 2005 and 2006 and set a Red Sox franchise record when he hit 54 home runs in 2006. From 2004-07 he averaged a season of .304 with 44 home runs, 135 RBI and a 1.024 OPS.
After a couple down seasons during which he still managed to hit 51 home runs, Ortiz rebounded in 2010 and enjoyed another productive run through the end of his career. In 2011 he batted over .300 for the first time since 2007. He would accomplish this again in 2012, 2013 and 2016. Ortiz saved the best for last, batting .315 with 38 home runs and a league-leading 48 doubles and 127 RBI at the age of 40 in 2016. He also led the league in slugging (.620) and OPS (1.021). Ortiz had his number 34 retired by the Sox the very next season.
Honorable Mentions: Rich Garces, Scott Cooper
Number 35 – Steven Wright
Although he may not be on the level as the four preceding him in this list, Wright would take number 35 on the strength of his 2016 season alone. He also has won two World Series rings with the Red Sox, giving this group 10 total among them.
The knuckleballer didn’t make the majors until he was 28 years old. With his four appearances during that 2013 season he got himself a ring. He showed some ability over the next two seasons, winning five games with a 3.75 ERA.
2016 brought Steven Wright’s career season, and it could have been even better had John Farrell not inexplicably pinch-run him. Wright, the team’s ace to that point in the season, hurt his shoulder while pinch-running and had to go on the disabled list. Wright had thrown a complete game shutout in his previous start to improve to 13-5 with a 3.01 ERA. After a disabled list trip, he didn’t fare well in two starts and was shut down for the season.
Unfortunately, Wright has not been healthy much since then. This season he pitched very well, but was on and off the disabled list all season long and didn’t pitch in the postseason. When healthy, Wright was 3-1 with a 2.68 ERA over four starts and 16 relief appearances. So far in his career he is 24-15 with a 3.77 ERA and one All-Star Game.
Honorable Mentions: Billy Klaus, Burke Badenhop
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Steven Wright (35) pitches during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Knuckleballer Steven Wright has said he believes he is healthy enough to pitch in the World Series. Wright was initially on the ALDS roster but was removed after complaining about renewed soreness in his knee. This left Wright ineligible for the ALCS roster as he was replaced for both series by Heath Hembree. Assuming Wright’s simulated game Sunday went well, what should the Red Sox do for the World Series?
The Pros
Steven Wright has been a very effective pitcher for the Red Sox, both as a starter and as a reliever. Wright was an all-star back in 2016 but has missed much of the past two seasons. Wright has a troublesome knee which keeps barking and sending him back to the disabled list. After a DL stint earlier in the season, the Sox moved Wright to the bullpen where he enjoyed great success.
In 16 games as a relief pitcher this year Steven Wright was 2-0 with a 1.52 ERA and one save. Some of that work came early in the year however, before he began starting in June. When Steven Wright returned to the Red Sox in September he allowed just one run over 13.2 innings pitched. Wright was even used in high-leverage spots, picking up a win, three holds and a save over the final month.
Bringing a knuckleballer in out of the pen following a conventional pitcher can be highly effective. After seeing a healthy dose of fastballs and curves, seeing a slow knuckleball all of a sudden can really mess with a hitters timing. Then, once Wright was removed from the game again for a new reliever, one likely throwing in the upper-90’s, imagine how that would mess with the batters. There’s a reason he has had success.
The other pro Steven Wright would offer out of the pen is giving the Red Sox another relief pitcher who could eat innings if needed. If the starting pitcher were knocked out of the game Wright could pitch for several innings. If the game went extra innings, Wright could essentially pitch for as long as the team needed him to.
The Cons
The first con would have to be the health of Wright’s knee. As stated before, Wright was put on the ALDS roster only to be removed after the first game due to the discomfort in his knee. What if Wright’s knee acted up again?
This really should not be a reason to keep Wright off the World Series roster. The team has other pitchers traveling with them; if Wright’s knee acted up again they could just replace him on the roster like they did in the ALDS.
The only other con I can see would be timing. Just like Wright’s knuckleball can mess with a hitters timing after seeing a healthy dose of fastballs, maybe it could do the same to the catcher trying to catch his knuckleball. But again, Wright has put up some impressive numbers out of the pen already down the stretch this season and can be a real weapon to have out of the bullpen.
The Verdict
I am definitely a proponent of adding Steve Wright to the roster for the World Series. His ability to pitch multiple innings if need be as well as his knuckleball messing with opponents’ timing is too much of a weapon to pass up. The team should replace Brandon Workman on the roster with Wright.
Although Workman was effective this year at 6-1 with a 3.27 ERA, he has not been the same pitcher of late. Workman allowed five runs over his final 2.2 innings this season. Small sample size, yes, but it has continued into the postseason. Workman has an ERA of 45.00 since the playoffs began. He has pitched three times, getting just one out in all three outings. He put on three baserunners in his first outing and allowed a run. His next outing he managed to get the one out without allowing a run, but did put two men on base. His outing in the ALCS was the worst yet, giving up four runs on three hits, two walks and two home runs. Workman can not be trusted in any meaningful role at the moment.
Workman has an ERA of 45.00 this postseason.
Other Roster Moves
The other roster move I would consider would be to add Bobby Poyner to the team. Poyner would give the Red Sox another lefty out of the pen, as currently all they have out there is usual starter Eduardo Rodriguez. Rodriguez isn’t exactly someone who would come in to face a lefty in a tight spot. With the Dodgers having Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson, not to mention the fact Yasiel Puig struggles mightily versus lefties, and it might be a good idea to have someone throwing from the left side out there.
Poyner proved his worth when on the team this season, pitching to a 3.22 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and over a strike out per inning. Lefties batted a measly .143 against the rookie left-hander with only one walk and one extra-base hit. He could come in handy against the Dodgers.
Heath Hembree would be the other pitcher to go if the Sox were to add both Wright and Poyner. Hembree has pitched 3.2 shutout innings in the postseason, albeit in lower leverage spots. He also walked four guys over those innings, so he hasn’t been entirely sharp. This comes on the heels of a 4.20 ERA and 1.33 WHIP during the regular season. The only other option would be Eduardo Rodriguez, who has an ERA over 9.00 this postseason. Rodriguez has more value in his ability to pitch several innings if need be though, so I would keep him on the roster.
The Red Sox bullpen has far and away been the biggest struggle of this team. Craig Kimbrel has been lights-out lately, which is a great sign. Ryan Brasier has come out of the shadows in 2018; putting up a mid 1.0 ERA in about 30 appearances since he got here. Bobby Poyner is looking more and more like a reliable lefty specialist every day and Brandon Workman has been very effective with a 2.33 ERA in 39 appearances. After those four guys, that’s when it gets scary.
Matt Barnes had pitched his way to a 2.25 ERA up to August 5th, but it would only go up from there. In the month of August, Barnes would pitch to a 9.64 ERA that would raise his season total to 3.39. Hitters were also hitting with an OPS over 1.000 against him. Not very encouraging considering the fact that he was looked upon as the 8th inning man for a little while. Then come Heath Hembree and Joe Kelly, two guys who are currently pitching their way out of the postseason roster.
After starting the season with a 1.73 ERA, Kelly has raised it up to 4.19. He put up a 8.31 ERA in June, only to put up an 8.38 in July. He had a much better August and attained a 1.42 ERA in 12.2 innings, with hitters only hitting with a .675 OPS against him. However, he went back to his old ways in September, pitching to an ERA over 8.0 again thus far. Heath Hembree, on the other hand, had only one good month. One. That’s it, and that was back in June. Besides that, his ERA has consistently been over 4.0 Not good. The bullpen certainly looks worrisome going into October. However, there is someone who is able to help out with this problem. An unlikely someone most would probably say.
Steven Wright Is That Man
Steven Wright pitched out of the bullpen several times this season before starting four games in the rotation. Through his first three starts his knuckleball was dancing, and he only gave up one run in 21 innings. After giving up ten runs to Seattle in his fourth start he went on to the DL with left knee inflammation. He would make a comeback at the beginning of September, and little did we know his role back on the team was much bigger than we thought. Steven Wright is now a late reliever for this bullpen.
Ever since Wright has returned, he’s had six appearances, pitching seven innings and not giving up a single run. He’s struck out six and only allowed five hits. It’s safe to say Wright’s knuckleball has been dancing. The only problem is that it could end up dancing too much for the Red Sox own good. Wright is what he is, a knuckleball pitcher. It’s nothing against Wright personally, it’s just the knuckleball in general. Just like Tim Wakefield at times would make you nervous.
The Wright Guy
I’m not worried that Wright will come into a game, give up a bunch of hard contact and get shelled. The problem is you can’t control exactly where a knuckleball is going to go. Him coming into a game for one inning gives off a little uneasy feeling for that reason. He may come in and walk a couple of guys if he’s wild. And those guys may be able to move up on the base paths with a pitch that the catcher can’t grab. The last thing you need is a runner on third coming home in a postseason game because of a knuckleball that ends up being a wild pitch.
I’m not saying that Wright shouldn’t be a part of this bullpen. I am a big Steven Wright fan, and I definitely think it’s an intriguing idea that’s worked so far. Besides his six walks, Wright has looked really good. He’s just going to have to avoid putting guys on base via the walk. If he’s able to do that, the Red Sox may have a lethal postseason weapon in their hands. A hero that you didn’t see coming.
We’ve officially entered the sports abyss. You know, that 48-hour black hole following the MLB All-Star Game where there are no sports to be found. The World Cup is over. There are no baseball games in sight. NFL training camp is still a ways off. Hell, even the NBA’s Summer League has concluded.
In these dire times, all we can do is lock ourselves in our rooms, and look ahead to what the second half of the Major League season might bring.
Red Sox fans are surely hoping for more of the same. Boston won an MLB record 68 games prior to the break, and hold a 4.5 game lead over the Yankees for first place in the AL East. There should be plenty of intrigue over the season’s final two and a half months. Here are a few key themes for Sox fans to keep an eye on for 2018’s stretch run:
Will Dave Dombrowski Make a Move?
The trade deadline is looming. The Red Sox may be on pace for 112 wins, but they have their share of holes. Three starting pitchers (Drew Pomeranz, Steven Wright, and Eduardo Rodriguez) are on the disabled list. The bullpen, beyond Craig Kimbrel, is “good enough to get by” at best and “heart-attack inducing” the rest of the time. 2nd and 3rd base have been well below average offensively, and a train-wreck defensively (at least when Rafael Devers and Eduardo Nunez have been in the lineup). The catcher position has been underwhelming as well, though the Sox aren’t alone there.
In short, there’s reason to believe that Boston may try to make an upgrade over the next couple of weeks. The Red Sox have been rumored to be interested in a high-caliber reliever. The Orioles’ Zach Britton could be on the table, and is one big name to watch. Boston has also shown interest in former Yankee Nathan Eovaldi. An augmentation to the pitching staff seems most likely, though whether it’s a major get like Britton or a stopgap solution like Eovaldi remains to be seen. However, don’t sleep on a boost to the lineup as well (The Royals’ Mike Moustakas or Whit Merrifield, anyone?). When you have a first half like the Red Sox did, a big swing is almost always in the works.
Dr. Chris vs. Mr. Sale
The splits are staggering. By almost every metric, Chris Sale is worse in the second half of the season than he is in the first half. For his career, Sale is 69-26 with a 2.66 ERA before the All-Star break, and 32-36 with a 3.28 ERA after it. Last year was no different; after a dominant first half, he showed signs of mortality down the stretch. Everything came to a head in the postseason, when he allowed 9 runs on 13 hits in 9.2 innings over two appearances versus Houston.
Sale will once again be coming off a stellar first half (10-4, 2.23 ERA, 13.1 K/9). We’ll see if he can keep it rolling for the full 162 plus postseason, assuming the Sox make it that far.
Will Jackie Bradley Jr. Get Hot?
JBJ has been nothing short of frustrating this season at the dish. His .210/.297/.345 slash line doesn’t inspire much confidence. Neither does his less-than-robust 73 OPS+. Fortunately for Bradley, his typically excellent defense has managed to keep him in the lineup more often than not.
There are signs that a patented Bradley Jr. hot streak could be around the corner. His .265 BAPIP is its lowest since 2013, despite a career best 38.8 hard-hit percentage (and a career low 9.7 soft-hit percentage). JBJ also showed signs of life towards the end of the first half. In 18 games since June 24th, Bradley is hitting .323//377/.548 with a couple of HR and 15 RBI to boot.
JBJ truly just needs to be mediocre at the plate in order to justify his prescence in the lineup with the way he mans centerfield. However, he’s also capable of going on extreme hot streaks that can buoy an entire offense for a month. Assuming he times that streak right, it could determine the AL East race.
Can Mookie Betts Stay Hot?
Mike Trout is already an all-time great, and the best player in baseball. But Betts has been the top dog this season from the jump. His monster first half (.359/.448/.691 with 23 HR, 18 SB, and a 200 OPS+) has made him the clear AL MVP favorite so far. It has also almost completely erased an underwhelming 2017 season. Check this out:
It truly does feel as though this season is a correction for 2017, and combining both puts him right in line with 2016’s MVP runner-up campaign. The Sox need him to keep that pace, and stay locked in. While the top 5 of the lineup is as formidable of a group as any (Betts, Andrew Benintendi, Xander Bogaerts, JD Martinez, Mitch Moreland), the bottom part has been suspect to say the least. Boston can’t afford much of a drop-off from their stars, especially Betts.
There’s plenty more to keep an eye on as the Red Sox make their way through the dog days of summer into the fall, of course. But don’t be surprised if these key points loom large through September and October.
It’s July, which means only one thing: Trade SZN. The Red Sox made their fair share of roster moves in June, including signing former All-Star 2B Brandon Phillips to a minor league contract and trading for Steve Pearce. However, Dave Dombrowski has never been shy about shuffling pieces around the board (and across the league), so it’s unlikely the Sox are done tweaking their roster for the summer.
The next shoe to drop could be a move for starting pitching help. The Red Sox were among several teams in attendance for current Rays’ starter Nathan Eovaldi‘s start on Monday, per MLB.com’s Bill Chastain.
Sox fans will remember Eovaldi best during his stint with the Yankees from 2015-16. During that two-year stretch, Eovaldi was 23-11 with a 4.45 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. He missed all of last season after undergoing his second Tommy John’s surgery in August 2016. Eovaldi could represent a low-risk/low-cost rental for teams in need of pitching depth down the stretch.
The Problem
Boston fits that mold perfectly. Chris Sale has been dominant and Rick Porcello has been both consistent and dependable. David Price has shown a tendency to mix strong stretches with complete meltdowns. He is also only a year removed from his own injury issues. Eduardo Rodriguez seems to have righted the ship with Wednesday’s virtuoso performance in Washington. He’s also notoriously inconsistent, and has gone deeper than the 6th inning only twice in his 17 starts this year. Drew Pomeranz and Steven Wright are currently on the disabled list.
Both Wright and Pomeranz are close to returning. Wright is expected back by the All-Star break, and Pomeranz made his first rehab start this week. However, Wright’s knee issues are becoming chronic, and Pomeranz allowed four HRs in Monday’s rehab start. Neither qualify as reliable back-of-the-rotation options.
The Solution
That’s where Eovaldi fits in. He’s posted a 3.92 ERA across seven starts so far this season, with career highs in K/9 (7.6) and K/BB (5.83) ratio. While he’s benefited from good batted ball luck, he’s also had poor home run luck. Opponents are only batting .211 on balls in play, and he’s stranded 79.6% of his runners. However, Eovaldi’s HR/FB rate (21.4%) is higher than ever. In other words, look for both of those numbers to even out a bit as the sample size grows.
Eovaldi’s stuff has remained consistent in his return as well. He still throws gas (avg. four-seam velocity of 97 mph). He’s also mixed in a cutter more frequently than ever. In 2016, only 7.3% of Eovaldi’s pitches were classified as such. That number has climbed all the way up to 25.3% this season. That could partially explain his luck on balls in play. An improved cut-fastball is limiting how much solid contact opposing batters are able to make.
Granted, none of these numbers are exactly eye-popping. But, they are representative of a solid fifth starter who provides depth at the end of the rotation. Eovaldi would come with his own question marks as well; he missed the start of this season with elbow and rib injuries. However, if the price is right, he could be a nice piece to help get the Sox through the dog days of summer.
We’re now officially in the dog days of summer, and a familiar weakness has been glaring for the current Red Sox roster: the bullpen. Earlier this morning, the Sox announced the activation of Tyler Thornburg, who has spent close to eternity on the DL since being traded from the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016. Thornburg will surely bring a new presence to the ‘pen, but the problems run a bit deeper than one man can fix.
In order for the Sox to sure up their suspect bullpen, a few key moves need to be made. The race for the pennant is well underway and this team needs reinforcements. Here are the top five ways the Sox can restock the pantry and be ready for the storm come September and October.
5. Move Steven Wright Out of the Rotation
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Steven Wright has anchored the starting rotation since his return to the lineup earlier this season. In four games started, he is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA. Over 40 total innings pitched, he has given up 30 hits, only 15 earned runs while walking 20 batters, and striking out 31. Wright’s knuckleball has been nothing short of brilliant thus far, minus the shelling he received against the Mariners in his last start before landing back on the DL with a bum knee.
The belief is that Wright could return to full health within the next two weeks. But with the starters doing their part to produce quality outings, Wright’s services may be better utilized out of the ‘pen. After all, he was extremely effective as a long-term reliever when he first rejoined the team earlier this season. His ability to provide stability after a shaky start – coupled with his borderline un-hittable knuckle pitch – makes him much more of a valued asset in later innings of the game.
4. Trade for Kyle Barraclough
Courtesy of Elite Sports NY
The Miami Marlins have not had many bright spots in their 2018 campaign. With a current record of 35-52, they are festering in the cellar of the NL East. Miami is a full 15.5 games back from first place. The Marlins are unquestionably out of the playoff picture for this season, so they will be evaluating their current roster for trade pieces. Kyle Barraclough sits at the top of this list like a cherry on top of a melting sundae.
The Marlins don’t have many valuable pieces they can sell for younger, rising talent, but Barraclough is without a doubt catching the eye of many pennant-chasing teams as the trade deadline draws near. This season, the 28-year-old hurler has somewhat quietly put together a dominant showing, amassing a 1.17 ERA in 38 innings pitched. The accolades continue – he has allowed only 14 hits, two home runs, and 19 walks while striking out 42 batters.
The Red Sox have been rumored to be interested in the right-handed pitcher in recent weeks. Barraclough would provide extra insurance to the backend of the bullpen, currently anchored by the likes of Joe Kelly and Craig Kimbrel. A flashy arm, like the one Barraclough possesses, would elevate this ‘pen to a dominant status.
3. Trade for Rasiel Iglesias
Courtesy of ESPN
Rasiel Iglesias is in a similar situation as Barraclough; his team is dwelling quite steadily in the cellar of the division and are evaluating their roster for trade pieces. Iglesias is clearly a guy with surefire talent that could command a hefty return on the trade market.
The right-handed closer for the Reds has been the last stop in the Red’s bullpen for the season, notching 16 saves and a 2.63 ERA. In 37 innings pitched, Iglesias has allowed only 26 hits, 6 of which left the ballpark, and 13 bases on balls. But his 42 strikeouts speak for themselves – this guy can really get it done.
Iglesias is yet another arm the Red Sox have been linked with in trade rumors. He seems like he would fit snug like a glove as a setup man for Kimbrel. But if the Sox want to grab this guy, they have to act quickly. Iglesias has been linked with other teams, including the Wahington Nationals and Houston Astros, all hoping to provide reinforcements to their ‘pen before the postseason. Iglesias won’t be available for much longer, so it’s time for the Sox to make their move.
2. Move Drew Pomeranz to the Bullpen
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There aren’t many Sox fans who can say they’ve been satisfied with Drew Pomeranz’s performance this year. Frankly, I’m not sure if Red Sox management has a differing opinion. Pomeranz has been a real stinker, a true shell of himself from his former all-star days with the San Diego Padres. His 6.81 ERA leaves much to be desired, and the team seemed forced to give him some time on the DL just to move him out of the starting rotation.
The question now remains, should he even be allowed back into the rotation once he is “healthy” again?
Chris Sale, David Price, Rick Porcello, and Eduardo Rodriguez are the pitchers on the roster who are locks for starting slots moving forward. That leaves one final spot to round out the rotation, and you have to believe it is up for grabs. There are at least three pitchers, including Pomeranz, who will be vying for that role. The other two are Wright and Brian Johnson. Both Pomeranz and Wright have had success in a Red Sox uniform in the starting rotation. But this season has them better slatted for relief work. That leaves one man for the job.
1. Promote Brian Johnson to the Starting Rotation
(AP Photo/Derek Hamilton)
Brian Johnson represents the exact opposite of Wright and Pomeranz; he brings much more value to the starting rotation than to the bullpen. Johnson has provided spot-starts for Boston in recent weeks while Pomeranz and Wright work towards better health. He certainly has made the most of them. Though Alex Cora has been quick to yank him out on his short leash, Johnson has offered the backend of the rotation a bit of stability that the other two pitchers have not. In his past two starts, he has allowed a combined three earned runs in close to nine innings pitched. In four games started this season, he has allowed no more than two earned runs in any outing.
However, his splits out of the bullpen have been less impressive. Though he has still shown to be an effective reliever for Boston, he has been exposed at times. Recall the extra-inning game in Toronto when he was called in and promptly allowed the game-winning two-run blast. Johnson was shelled at Fenway Park just 10 days earlier by the subpar Kansas City Royals. He allowed three hits and an equal number of home runs in only one inning of work.
The numbers don’t lie. Johnson has enjoyed moderate success in a starter’s role and been relatively susceptible in relief work. With Pomeranz and Wright scuffling to find their way in the rotation, the open spot is for Johnson’s taking. In the coming weeks, we will see if Alex Cora and company reward him with that prize.
With 4 southpaws in the starting rotation, adding another right handed starting pitcher would help bring more transition throughout series.
As of right now, the rotation consists of Sale,Price,Porcello,Rodriguez, and Pomeranz. Does anyone else spot the problem? There is only one right handed starter!!! Sure, Steven Wright has recently been activated by the Red Sox but will he make an impact? Well, his last start was April 29, 2017, and he will start his way back as a bullpen player ( for now.)
While the month of May has seen a decline, now is the time to make the adjustments that are so desperately needed. There are many different low cost candidates that the team could look for in a trade before the trade deadline.
Trade Candidate: Julio Teheran Atlanta Braves
The 27 year old is molding a marvelous season thus far, with a 4-1 record throughout his first 9 starts, he sports a 3.49 era in 49 innings pitched with 43 strikeouts. In his last start against the Chicago Cubs, he lasted 6 innings while giving up 4 earned runs on 4 hits and only 1 strikeout. While he’s not totally a makeshift player, he has lights out stuff. What would it cost in a trade? In short, it all depends on his market value up until the trade deadline. With the right mentoring, he could blossom into a powerful name in the future.
Trade Candidate: Dan Straily Miami Marlins
The 29 year old finished his first full season in 2017. In 2018 he has a 1-0 record with a 5.54 era in 13 innings during his first three starts. While he has never had eye popping stats, he is a ground ball pitcher. He does pitch well in hitter friendly ballparks. Like Miami, Fenway is a hitter friendly park. He has a very team friendly contract, only making $3.375 million this season with three years of arbitration afterward.
With the team still in great shape, there are so many avenues the team could take.Time will tell.
It’s only spring training, but the Boston Red Sox starting rotation has already has its injury woes. Last week, manager Alex Cora announced that both Eduardo Rodriguez and Steven Wright were not likely to be ready for Opening Day. To make matters worse, Drew Pomeranz recently left his first spring training appearance with forearm tightness. Pomeranz says he’s fine, but what if another starting pitcher gets hurt? Do the Red Sox have the depth to handle such an injury?
What If Another Starting Pitcher Gets Hurt?
This article may read like an overreaction, simply because Pomeranz said he’s fine. There’s no reason to doubt him, so right now he probably is. However, Pomeranz has a history of arm injuries and fatigue, so it’s still worth looking at what the Sox would do without him. Right off the bat, it seems like the Sox have two main options: stay the course or sign a free agent.
Option One: Stay the Course
As things currently stand, the Red Sox will need one of Brian Johnson, Hector Velasquez, or Roenis Elias to take the fifth spot in the rotation. Each one has their pros and cons, but the Red Sox can likely survive in spite of the spot starter.
If the Red Sox need two spot starters, this task becomes considerably harder. Pomeranz isn’t a Cy Young caliber pitcher, but he’s leaps and bounds better than Johnson, Velasquez, or Elias. More pressure would fall on the offense, as they’d probably have to bail out the pitching to an extent two out of every five games.
Johnson and Velasquez both have proven that they can keep the Red Sox in games, so having both in the rotation wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. However, relying on two minor league caliber pitchers isn’t ideal, and the Red Sox will likely check out the open market.
Option Two: Sign a Free Agent
Jake Arrieta is a free agent, but probably won’t be a Red Sox
Image credit: NBC Sports
The Red Sox organization is very adamant about staying under the luxury tax, which means Jake Arrieta will not be a member of the team. Boston has roughly $8 million dollars to spend before hitting the luxury tax threshold, and Arrieta won’t sign for that.
Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn are the only other solid starters left on the market, but both would likely force the Red Sox to exceed the luxury tax. If they do that, they’ll drop ten spots in the upcoming MLB draft. Additionally, both players have received qualifying offers, which means signing one of those two would make the Sox forfeit their third highest draft pick.
Depending on how desperate the Red Sox are, they might bite the bullet and sign one of those three regardless. However, if the Red Sox truly want to stay under the luxury tax, they’d have to get creative.
Getting Creative
Clay Buchholz would be the return nobody asked for
Image credit: ESPN
The Red Sox could look into acquiring former Sox John Lackey and Clay Buchholz, but both guys have their limits. Lackey is 39 and coming off one of the worst seasons of his career. He’s openly debated retirement before, and might not have anything left in the tank. As for Buchholz, the Red Sox should avoid him at all costs. Red Sox Nation was on that roller coaster for the better part of a decade, there’s no need to get on that ride again.
Kyle Kendrick is also an option, albeit a very low upside one. The Red Sox thought enough of him to bring him in last year, but he woefully underperformed. In a year where the Red Sox constantly needed a spot starter, Kendrick was unable to step up. He fell behind Johnson and Velasquez on the depth chart, but he does have a record of major league success. If the Red Sox believe last year was a fluke, then perhaps they’ll bring him back.
There aren’t many good options outside the organization, but one player they could check out is Brett Anderson. Anderson once had a very promising career, and was actually traded to the Colorado Rockies for Pomeranz back in 2013. He had success with the Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Dodgers, but injuries have limited him. He’s only pitched 66.2 innings since 2015, and he hasn’t looked that great in any of them. Still, the Sox could kick the tires to see if there’s any magic left in the 30-year old.
Which Option Is Best?
Truthfully, the best option is to stay the course. Getting creative is asking for trouble, as all of those options are high risk. The need for starting pitching depth isn’t large enough to justify the cost of Arrieta, Cobb, or Lynn. Having two spot starters in the rotation isn’t ideal, but this Red Sox team is built well enough to survive. As long as the starter can keep the game competitive for the first five innings, the rest of the unit should be able to pick up the slack.
The Cons
