Call to the pen
Fansided

Boston Red Sox 2018 Season Review: The good and the bad

By Kristen Bentley

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Members of the Boston Red Sox pose for a team photograph as they celebrate after winning the 2018 World Series in game five against the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 28, 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Members of the Boston Red Sox pose for a team photograph as they celebrate after winning the 2018 World Series in game five against the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 28, 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: Mookie Betts #50 and J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate with champagne in the clubhouse after winning the 2018 World Series in game five of the 2018 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 28, 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: Mookie Betts #50 and J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate with champagne in the clubhouse after winning the 2018 World Series in game five of the 2018 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 28, 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

With 108 wins, the Red Sox did a lot of things right. While this is the most wins in the history of the Red Sox, it is not the most wins in the history of the game. Maybe the team can shoot for that in 2019?

Several things went right for the BoSox, starting with off-season and in-season signings. The notable moves included signing J.D. Martinez on February 26 – after the 2018 spring training began. In late June, Dave Dombrowski picked up Steve Pearce and some cash in a trade with the Blue Jays, who received Santiago Espinal. A month later, Dombrowski acquired Nathan Eovaldi in a trade with the Rays. He also added Ian Kinsler at the July trade deadline.

Eovaldi became an unlikely hero in Game 3 of the World Series where he pitched six innings, beginning in the 12th. Even though the Sox lost this game in the 18th, Eovaldi pitched his heart out in what would become a defining moment in his career. In those six innings, he gave up three hits and one earned run while striking out five batters. In a game that lasted 7:20, he was the most memorable player.

Pearce was another unlikely hero for the Sox. The 35-year-old was named World Series MVP after hitting three home runs in the last two games of the series against the Dodgers. In those final two games, his batting slash was .500/.556/.1.750. In Game Four, his home run and clutch double helped bring the Sox back from a 0-4 deficit. And, in Game Five, he got the game going with a home run off of Clayton Kershaw in the 1st, and he helped finish the game with another one off of Pedro Baez in the 8th.

Then, there was David Price. He joined the Sox in 2016 and had some struggles along the way. But, in the World Series, he seemed to rediscover himself. Much had been made about Price’s inability to get a win in the postseason. But, he proved the critics wrong and got two wins, most importantly, the win in Game 5 where he pitched seven innings and gave up only one run off of three hits.

Betts also went right in 2018. The AL MVP was a must-see player all season. He and Martinez were in a battle all season for batting titles. Betts led the MLB with a batting average of .346. He and Francisco Lindor both scored 129 runs in 2018 – the most in the MLB. He also had the best slugging percentage in the MLB: .640. He did all of this even after missing time for a side injury in June. He not only won the AL MVP, but he took home a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. He also attended his third All-Star Game.

We can’t forget about J.D. Martinez, who came close to winning a Triple Crown – if not for Betts and Khris Davis of the Athletics. Martinez has become one of the best hitters in the MLB – if not the best. His 130 RBI led the MLB and his 6.4 WAR was the best of his career. Red Sox fans are lucky to get to see him play on a daily basis. Not only is he inspirational on the field, but he’s a good person off the field, too.

Home/Boston Red Sox