Boston Red Sox: 100-win season may be possible, but meaningless
By Gio Rivera
David Price (Mental headcase who’s shown no sign of improvement)
There’s one area of improvement I’ve wanted to see from David Price. Pitching in key situations; and no, not out’ve the bullpen. We’re not even in the playoffs yet and Price can’t seem to get it together against the leagues top teams when it’s his turn to step up.
The Yankees. Price’s apparent kryptonite since joining the Boston Red Sox. That’s right. We’ve seen it twice this season first hand. In fact let’s take a look at those stats for Price against the Bronx Bombers.
In just two starts this season against New York, Price has an 0-2 record with an ERA of 24.92. He’s only lasted 4.1 innings on the mound against the Yankees, where he’s allowed 12 base hits and 6 home runs. If you wanna put aside this season, fine. The numbers overall against New York still aern’t pretty.
As a Red Sox pitcher overall, Price has an ERA of 8.43 against the Yankees. That’s 44 runs allowed in 47 innings on the mound during his stint in Boston.
It is genuinely insignificant what David Price can do for this team against non-contending teams. It’s only the regular season and Price can’t bear the sight of pine-stripes at the plate. Alex Cora needs him to perform on the mound and show up…. as a starter! Not baseball’s $217 M dollar relief pitcher.
Rick Porcello (Streaky, not Consistent)
Streaky. That’s the perfect way to describe Rick Porcello because ever since the Yoenis Cespedes trade, I haven’t been able to confidently assert Porcello.
We’re all aware of the horrific 2015 debut season with Boston. Just shortly after being signed to a 4-year deal worth over $80 M. It’s almost as if I can’t tell whether or not the Sox got their moneys-worth with Porcello. In 2016 we then saw a rejuvenation on the mound, making the trade look genius. Porcello won 22 games, was lights out at Fenway, and took home the Cy Young Award.
Unfortunately that celebration quickly ended. Seventeen losses and a 4.65 ERA in 2017. Yup. That was Rick Porcello’s third year in Boston.
As a result of the inconsistency, I can’t trust Porcello in October. Speaking of the postseason. Those stats don’t get any prettier. Two seasons, three starts, and 8.1 total innings. That comes out to a 7.78 earned run average. Yup. Not trustworthy at all.