To paraphrase Bon Jovi…
“Ohhhhhhhhh, they’re halfway there; ohhhhhhh, The Sox are livin’ on a prayer”.
We are at the halfway point of the season and it’s time to do some serious soul searching for the defending World Series Champions. Effectively bringing back the entire team from last season, (Except for Joe Kelly and Craig Kimbrel), the Sox were expected to be serious contenders to repeat.
A combination of a terrible start and checkered bullpen without a defined closer has put the Sox on pace to win 20 games less than they did last year; going from 108 wins down to a mere 88. This should be better than an 88-win team. Last season the Sox got out to a huge lead, coasted throughout the season, and never looked back. This season’s team has had to claw back just to get into contention, seemingly from day one.
The midway point of a season is a great time to take stock and give out some grades. In doing this exercise came up with a few revelations
Christian Vazquez-A, 10HR 281AVG
Mitch Moreland-B-, 13HR 859OPS
Michael Chavis-A, 12HR
Xander Bogaerts-A, 59R 14HR 51RBI 296AVG 917OPS
Rafael Devers-A, 55R 12HR 48RBI 8SB 308AVG 865OPS
Andrew Benintendi-B-, 7HR 36RBI
Jackie Bradley Jr. B 218AVG
Mookie Betts-C, 62R 13HR 36RBI 266AVG
J.D. Martinez-B 45R 16HR 42RBI 284AVG
Chris Sale– C- 3-7
Rick Porcello-C- 5-7
Eduardo Rodriguez-B- 8-4
David Price-B+ 4-2
Bullpen-B
Honestly, without a defined, proven closer, I don’t know how anyone could expect this bullpen to perform any better. This is more about Red Sox management’s philosophy heading into this season. They believed their team was good enough to get through the regular season and go into the playoffs employing a similar strategy of using starters in relief. The problem is, they have to get to the playoffs first before they can utilize this philosophy.
Other than Mookie Betts, many Sox Hitters are having career years, (Vazquez, Bogaerts, Devers), so the offense isn’t at fault.
As much as everyone wants to pin this years’ woes on the ‘pen, I’d say the starters have collectively been a bigger disappointment. Sale and Rick Porcello are a combined 8-14. If that record were reversed and they were 14-8, the team would be 50-31, and nobody would be worried. And, the Sox have had to endure the first half, largely without Nathan Eovaldi, who will be back in the second half.
Will the Sox make the playoffs? I would rule against them winning the division. And as of today, they are looking up at Tampa Bay, Cleveland, and Texas. If I were a betting man…and some would say I am, I would say that the Red Sox will be on the outside, watching the playoffs from the comfort of home this season.
Wait
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