The Red Sox Make The Fall Classic Part Two
Joey Baker
October 25, 2018
Joey Baker
October 25, 2018
(Disclaimer: This article was completed on Monday, but due to unfortunate technical difficulties it is only being published on Thursday.) Now, taking a look at the roster that got the Red Sox to where they are, you can see that their appearance in this year’s fall classic is no surprise. The Red Sox have a very interesting rotation heading into the series. There is a ton of uncertainty in regards to the top of the rotation. Chris Sale was in the hospital at some point in the last week, and David Price is historically bad in the postseason. Price however pitched 6 dominant innings in the clinching game vs the Astros to earn his first playoff win. Nathan Eovaldi has been a very pleasant surprise for the Sox since he was traded from the Rays in late July. Also in the rotation, 2016 AL Cy Young winner Rick Porcello who has been a stud for the Red Sox this season. This postseason, Eovaldi has went 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA, and Porcello has went 1-0 with a 4.22 ERA. At the top of the Rotation Sale is 1-0 with a 3.48 ERA, and David Price is 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA. I still think at the top, arm talent is more valuable than past statistics so Sale and Price are still very valuable for this series. Grade: A
The bullpen is one of the biggest concerns for the Red Sox throughout the season and in the postseason. Replacing the struggling Brandon Workman, Drew Pomeranz has been added to the Red Sox playoff roster. This move has been seen as probably the most surprising move leading to the series, considering that Drew Pomeranz is so disliked throughout the city of Boston. Pomeranz is getting his first taste of postseason action this year, but in the regular season he went 2-6 with an ERA of 6.08. Lefty Eduardo Rodriguez has a 7.36 in the postseason. Closer Craig Kimbrel, has struggled immensely this postseason, posting a 7.11 ERA, but somehow he has not blown a save in all 5 opportunities he had. There are some bright spots in the bullpen though, as Joe Kelly has posted a 1.69 ERA, Matt Barnes has posted a 1.42, and Ryan Brasier and Heath Hembree have both not allowed a single run in the postseason. Also Chris Sale looked really solid coming out of the pen, and David Price is one of the best starters to come out of the bullpen in postseason history. Grade: B
The Red Sox most likely best lineup in the AL this year. At the top JD Martinez is by far, the best hitter in MLB this season, Mookie Betts being a very close 2nd to JD, as he will most likely be the AL MVP this year. Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Xander Bogaerts all have been pleasant surprises this year in terms of hitting. JBJ is very hot right now as he was named ALCS MVP after hitting 9 RBIs in the Astros series. Rafael Devers is also hot right now, after hitting a two run home run against one of the best playoff pitchers of all time, Justin Verlander. Ian Kinsler, Mitch Moreland, and Christian Vazquez aren’t as impressive as the others, but they are all .200 or above. Let it also be known that manager Alex Cora will most likely have Rick Porcello as a starting pitcher in a game at LA, because he is one of the best hitting pitchers in the AL. Bogaerts is one of the best shortstops defensively in the MLB. Devers is error prone at third which is something to watch out for. To prevent Benintendi or Bradley Jr. from sitting in LA games, Cora said that he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Betts playing 2nd base, where he has played a few games this season. This lineup on paper is very good, and they have been playing to their potential this postseason. Grade A.
The Red Sox have a decent bench this year, but nothing amazing. Sandy Leon is a good backup catcher, Steve Pearce has been a exceptional starter in relief of the injury plagued Moreland, Eduardo Nunez is error prone, but he is a solid bat off the bench if he is healthy enough. Brock Holt is now a postseason legend, as he is the only player in MLB history to hit for the cycle in a playoff game, which is insane, Holt has been the Sox utility guy this season. Grade: B
Overall I think this Red Sox team will win the series in 6. The starting pitching has been very solid, the bullpen has a few guys who will pitch very good against the Dodgers. The starting lineup is pretty good defensively, and is a solid hitting lineup, with every player right now playing up to their potential. And the bench is good not great. Also, it has been apparent that the Sox have thrived upon the bulletin board material that Aaron Judge and Alex Bregman have given them, so it wouldn’t surprise me if hothead and known Red Sox hater Manny Machado will do something stupid to inspire the team. The Dodgers provide a worthy opponent, but the Sox should be able to hold on in 6.
The bullpen is one of the biggest concerns for the Red Sox throughout the season and in the postseason. Replacing the struggling Brandon Workman, Drew Pomeranz has been added to the Red Sox playoff roster. This move has been seen as probably the most surprising move leading to the series, considering that Drew Pomeranz is so disliked throughout the city of Boston. Pomeranz is getting his first taste of postseason action this year, but in the regular season he went 2-6 with an ERA of 6.08. Lefty Eduardo Rodriguez has a 7.36 in the postseason. Closer Craig Kimbrel, has struggled immensely this postseason, posting a 7.11 ERA, but somehow he has not blown a save in all 5 opportunities he had. There are some bright spots in the bullpen though, as Joe Kelly has posted a 1.69 ERA, Matt Barnes has posted a 1.42, and Ryan Brasier and Heath Hembree have both not allowed a single run in the postseason. Also Chris Sale looked really solid coming out of the pen, and David Price is one of the best starters to come out of the bullpen in postseason history. Grade: B
The Red Sox most likely best lineup in the AL this year. At the top JD Martinez is by far, the best hitter in MLB this season, Mookie Betts being a very close 2nd to JD, as he will most likely be the AL MVP this year. Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Xander Bogaerts all have been pleasant surprises this year in terms of hitting. JBJ is very hot right now as he was named ALCS MVP after hitting 9 RBIs in the Astros series. Rafael Devers is also hot right now, after hitting a two run home run against one of the best playoff pitchers of all time, Justin Verlander. Ian Kinsler, Mitch Moreland, and Christian Vazquez aren’t as impressive as the others, but they are all .200 or above. Let it also be known that manager Alex Cora will most likely have Rick Porcello as a starting pitcher in a game at LA, because he is one of the best hitting pitchers in the AL. Bogaerts is one of the best shortstops defensively in the MLB. Devers is error prone at third which is something to watch out for. To prevent Benintendi or Bradley Jr. from sitting in LA games, Cora said that he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Betts playing 2nd base, where he has played a few games this season. This lineup on paper is very good, and they have been playing to their potential this postseason. Grade A.
The Red Sox have a decent bench this year, but nothing amazing. Sandy Leon is a good backup catcher, Steve Pearce has been a exceptional starter in relief of the injury plagued Moreland, Eduardo Nunez is error prone, but he is a solid bat off the bench if he is healthy enough. Brock Holt is now a postseason legend, as he is the only player in MLB history to hit for the cycle in a playoff game, which is insane, Holt has been the Sox utility guy this season. Grade: B
Overall I think this Red Sox team will win the series in 6. The starting pitching has been very solid, the bullpen has a few guys who will pitch very good against the Dodgers. The starting lineup is pretty good defensively, and is a solid hitting lineup, with every player right now playing up to their potential. And the bench is good not great. Also, it has been apparent that the Sox have thrived upon the bulletin board material that Aaron Judge and Alex Bregman have given them, so it wouldn’t surprise me if hothead and known Red Sox hater Manny Machado will do something stupid to inspire the team. The Dodgers provide a worthy opponent, but the Sox should be able to hold on in 6.