Boston Red Sox: Garrett Richards quickly earns ire of fanbase

The Boston Red Sox did not do much in free agency this offseason. Despite numerous holes on the roster, Boston took more of a measured approach, refusing to hand out overly exorbitant contracts and avoiding the top of the market. Despite numerous holes in their pitching staff, Garrett Richards was their biggest signing for either the rotation or the bullpen.

It did not take long for Red Sox fans to show their displeasure with that decision. In fact, it took just ten batters before Richards’ was booed.

Garrett Richards not making fans with Boston Red Sox debut

Things did not exactly get better for Richards from that point on. He ended the day having allowed six runs on seven hits and two walks over his two innings, striking out two batters. The game did not get much better after Richards departed, as the Red Sox lost 11-3, making just the second time in team history they opened the season with three consecutive losses at Fenway Park.

These struggles follow a rough spring training for Richards. He had posted a 5.93 ERA and a 1.610 WHiP in his 13.2 spring innings. While he struck out 14 batters, he also issued 11 walks in that span. His command was certainly questionable, both during March and in his first outing.

Richards being booed was likely the result of frustrations at the Red Sox play over the first three games. Not only were they swept in Boston, but they were swept at the hands of the Orioles, a team expected to finish in the AL East basement.

As Richards was the Red Sox big dollar signing at $10 million for 2021, his performance made him an easy target. Those boos will only get louder if he, and the Red Sox as a whole, continue to struggle. Given the way the Red Sox have sputtered out of the gate, that is entirely possible.

It did not take long for Garrett Richards to hear the boo birds. He has become the target of the fans’ frustrations towards the Boston Red Sox.