The Boston Red Sox had a very good season last year. Their overall regular season record was 93-69.The Red Sox had a good run last year, but their lack of offensive production, such as in their total lack of power hitters, hurt once they played Houston, who they met in the first round of the playoffs.
The Red Sox are off to a very positive start this 2018 season. Their record is 32-15 (as of 5/21), and they are tied for 1st place with the Yankees, in the American League East. They have a very good bullpen and strong power hitters in Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts. I predict that their 2018 regular season record will be 95-67 and that they will make the playoffs in the postseason a wild card.
In the offseason, the Red Sox signed Left fielder J.D. Martinez, a power bat. He was the only major acquisition. He is already paying major dividends. He and Mookie Betts are tied with 15 home runs and lead the American league as of this date. Otherwise, the team looks similar to last year, when Dustin Pedroia looked old, particularly due to injuries.
Currently, he is on the Triple A Paw Sox team recovering from his injury. He is expected back soon. The Sox re-signed Eduardo Nunez. He has played second base for most of the games thus far this year.
The team has gotten off to a great start, but the Yankees have been hotter as of late. A key for a successful season are solid bounce back years for Xander Bogaerts and Hanley Ramirez. Both have had strong starts to the season so far.
Pitching, as always, will obviously be a key to the season, too. A plan has been put in place to cut back innings from Chris Sale so he doesn’t fade late in the year, particularly in the playoffs as he did last year. David Price has been very up and down, and the major question with him will be whether he can deliver in the playoffs. He has been mediocre to poor in past post season efforts. Rick Porcello is looking solid thus far, and Eduardo Rodriguez looks fairly strong as a fourth starter. Drew Pomeranz has been very shaky as the fifth starter. Steven Wright has just come back from suspension and could slot into the number five spot if Pomeranz does not improve.
The biggest difference between the Red Sox and their chief contenders, the Yankees and the Astros, is the bullpen. The Red Sox bullpen has been shaky. Closer Craig Kimbrel has been a disappointment unless he’s pitching one inning in a true save situation. X factors in the bullpen are Tyler Thornburg and Steven Wright. Thornburg, who missed all of last year after coming in a trade from the Brewers for Chris Shaw and others, could be a shutdown seventh or eighth inning guy leading to Kimbrel. Also, Steven Wright could be slotted into the bullpen and could be a major upgrade. If they don’t work out, look for a mid season trade. However, one problem is that the Sox don’t have much left in their farm system of trade value. Jackie Bradley, Jr., who is off to a horrible start offensively, could be moved for bullpen help.
Alex Cora seemed to be signed as the new team manager due to the feeling that it was time for a change in the clubhouse. He seems to be more of a low key ‘players’ manager who interacts well with them as individuals. The karma in the clubhouse seems good at the moment.
Red Sox vs. Yankees? Who will be better built for the postseason? At this point the Yankees’ offense looks like one of the all time best. I am going to predict that they win the Division. In terms of the playoffs, the Red Sox would then likely draw the Yankees again and beat them, on their way to winning it all. As great as the Red Sox are looking, a big concern is that David Price and Chris Sale have never proven they can win in the postseason. That is in the back of all Red Sox fans’ minds.