Boston Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia is about to have a career year
By Cory Claus
The Resume, So Far
Boston has won the last two AL East crowns. And that should not be dismissed.
They have, however, won but a single playoff game in the last two seasons. Meanwhile, the Astros won the 2017 World Series while AL Central winner Cleveland won more games last year than Boston (102/93).
Both of their phase twos are going better than that of the Red Sox.
Add that their division rival Yankees just entered the same situation this year, as signaled by the acquisition of NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton, and Boston’s fun phase is turning in to a bummer.
But that can all change this year.
Boston has a team not only built to win now, but also capable of doing so. It is not hyperbole to suggest they could have the best starting staff in the division, if not all of baseball.
Lefties David Price and Chris Sale could finish one-two in the CY Young voting, while RHP Steven Wright could be almost as effective. Even righty Rick Porcello’s disappointing 2017 is reason for optimism.
He has been alternating good years and bad since 2013, every mediocre season being followed by an excellent one. His CY Young season of 2016—during which he posted a 3.15 ERA—was preceded by his 4.92 ERA from 2015, par exemple.
That makes his 4.65 of last year a good omen for 2018.
But Has the Defense Rested?
And now that Boston has added speed and power with UI Eduardo Nunez and LF J.D. Martinez, the offense can at least hold up its end.
Those same additions, though, have simultaneously hurt the defense.
Martinez might routinely push Andrew Benintendi to center, displacing the far superior defender Jackie Bradley. Both Nunez and Martinez, meanwhile, provide their own trade-offs as neither man will ever be outfitted for gloves of gold. Still, other teams have won with worse.
Add it all up and it means the Red Sox can win it all this year, but are far from the favorites. Maybe even in their own division.
And it also adds up to a career defining year for 2B Dustin Pedroia.