The Boston Red Sox
The Sox find themselves in a similar position to the Nationals, albeit one not as dire or certain. There is a chance that this is Boston’s last year in their current incarnation, but they could extend it another year or two.
After that, they will have too many free agents and homegrown players starting to get paid to sustain the current roster. And an aging Dustin Pedroia to deal with.
Also, like the Nats, Boston keeps winning its division but losing in the divisional round. The last two postseasons combined have seen them win precisely one playoff game. If they don’t do more damage this year, the idea of dismantling will take real shape.
Readers of my ones and zeroes are more familiar with the Sox than these other teams. I recently wrote a piece on the Sox and Yankees pitching staffs that covered most of this same ground; here’s an excerpt:
Just a Smidge
"Chris Sale was healthy last season and deserves to be first mentioned here. The lefties’ 214.1 IP led the AL, as did his 308 SO. Consider that he posted a 2.90 ERA and it becomes little wonder he finished second in the CY Young voting. And right behind him is perhaps fellow Cooperstown inductee, LHP David Price. Two years ago Price was as good as any pitcher in baseball, throwing 220 innings while posting a league-best 2.45 ERA. Next up for Boston is yet another left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz. Now becoming one of the most reliable pitchers in the game, Drew posted his second straight season with an ERA of 3.32. And once again he pitched roughly 170 innings. Pomeranz figures to give the Sox another impressive and imposing season. That seems likely to be the case for RHP Rick Porcello as well. The enigmatic pitcher has been alternating great years and bad for five years, making his 4.65 ERA from last year a tantalizing promise for 2018 — especially if he can match his numbers from 2016."
And here are some things I didn’t say in that piece.
A Top to Bottom Team
The Sox offense not only looks to have a great combination of speed and power, but also every reason to believe that several of the team’s best players will be improved this year. And as I pointed out, that could give them four 20-20 players.
SS Xander Bogaerts is just now entering his age 25 season; 3B Rafael Devers is 21; LF Andrew Benintendi is 23; and, the best of them all, RF Mookie Betts, is 25. My money is on Bennie and the Betts to have the most significant improvements and impact on the team.
And they finally did add LF J.D. Martinez. All he did was hit .303/.376/.690 with 45 home runs last year. His addition, along with the improvement from the Baby Beaners (or should that be Beanie Babies?), could vault their offense from underwhelming to top-tier.
That will pair nicely with what could be both the best one-two combo in baseball and the best overall starting staff in the AL. And let’s not forget top-five closer Craig Kimbrel. Added all up, it might equal the Red Sox as WS champions this year.
That’s the good news.