The Boston Red Sox are set to kickoff their third World Series appearance in past decade. Here are the 3 key players that need to show up in order for the Red Sox to raise their franchise’s ninth title.
The moment we’ve all been waiting for is here alas for us as Boston Red Sox fans. The 2018 World Series upon us and the boys from Boston are out to bring the championship home.
After signing David Price for the highest financial investment on a pitcher in baseball history and trading top prospects Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech to the Chicago White Sox for Chris Sale, then staying pat on a potential Giancarlo Stanton deal with Miami to sign J.D. Martinez for a $110 million contract, the 2018 Boston Red Sox had quite a lot to prove as a team with the highest payroll going into Opening Day.
That’s not to mention two instant bounces from the ALDS on back to back seasons.
However, this season is different and the team has proved to be legit. Just taking two losses in the postseason thus far, defeating two 100-plus win teams (Yankees, Astros).
They averaged 5.8 runs per game which is Leading us to where we stand now. The 102-year reunion between the Dodgers and Red Sox. Back when Babe Ruth was a featured attraction for fans to watch live. Fast forward to 2018 and the Red Sox have yet another shot at defeating the Dodgers who now reside in Los Angeles.
Here are Alex Cora’s 3 key players who need to come through in order for the Boston Red Sox to cap off their phenomenal, historic year.
Mookie Betts
Well let’s put aside the defensive excellence that is Mookie Betts in the outfield.
Pretty difficult to do right?
Can’t blame you. Almost robbing Jose Altuve which would’ve gone down in history as one of the greatest all-time Boston Red Sox postseason moments. Then throwing out Astros outfielder, Tony Kemp as he tried to stretch out a double.
Again, the defensive greatness is undeniable from Betts. However the bat hasn’t been there for the Red Sox.
Throughout the entire postseason, Mookie Betts is batting just .205 with just 3 runs batted in. That ranks Mookie ninth among Red Sox hitters with at least 20 or more post-season at bats. Boston as a team have also hit nine home-runs, not one coming off the bat of Betts.
This is his third post-season stint and he is yet to have hit his first career playoff homer. Now I’m not here to discredit him simply for not hitting a home run. Nonetheless it’s remained a fairly quiet offensive postseason for Betts overall. We can look back to the ALDS series against New York. There haven’t been any moments at the plate that nearly live up to Betts’ contribution in the outfield.
When entering the World Series matchup, that’s gonna need to change. The Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff enter this series with a post-season ERA of 2.79. That ranks LA third among all 2018 MLB playoff contending teams.
This offense is gonna need to show up and get to the Dodgers arms. A staff that’s had opponents hit .270 which is the second best this postseason. So point blank, the Dodgers pitching is no joke to overlook.
Craig Kimbrel
The man who’s kept Boston Red Sox fans alike, clenching their fists in fury and praying to escape a ninth inning jam.
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It hasn’t necessarily been the ideal 2018 post-season for Craig Kimbrel to say the least. An abundance of pure nail biting appearances out of the bullpen that’ll leave Red Sox fans on the verge of collapsing to the floor. Perhaps even revisiting the haunting memories of the pre 2004 years for some previous Boston sports generations.
When Boston first acquired Kimbrel back in the off-season of 2016, Red Sox fans began to paint the pictures of Kimbrel throwing the 98-plus MPH fastball in October. However they didn’t imagine David Price warming up in Houston with Kimbrel struggling in a save situation. While you can argue that Kimbrel’s miraculously managed to get the job done, it hasn’t been up to par with what we expect from him.
It all began in Game 1 of the ALDS series against New York. Kimbrel entered with a two run lead and managed to escape despite a towering home-run off the bat of Aaron Judge. Then again in that series against New York in Game 5 where Kimbrel looked anything but himself. A deep fly ball off Gary Sanchez’ bat which left the heart of Red Sox nation at a stop.
Then yet again against Houston in Game 5 when perhaps the clutchiest catch in Red Sox history by Andrew Benintendi bailed Kimbrel out. Cora was on the verge of making the bullpen call and Houston was just a shot away of tying the series.
Through 5 games this post-season, Craig Kimbrel’s ERA stands at an uncharacteristic 7.11. That’s third worst in the pitching staff and ahead of just Eduardo Rodriguez with 7.36 and Brandon Workman with a matchless 45.00 ERA. Alex Cora is gonna need Kimbrel back in regular form in order to get four more wins. The same Craig Kimbrel that earned him 2018 Reliever of the Year honors. Boston’s gonna need him back and ready for Game 1.
David Price
The man who finally showed up and came through not big, but huge for Boston in their World Series berth clincher in Houston.
Game 5 will 100 percent go down in the books as the moment David Price rose to the occasion and responded to critics all around. A response in the best way he could’ve possibly done so.
In going 6.0 scoreless innings while allowing just 3 hits and striking out nine Astros batters. Dethroning the former defending World Series Champions on their home diamond! That’s the $217 million moment we’ve all been waiting for!
However, for the Red Sox and David Price, this is gonna have be a contentious thing. Or at least for the next 4-7 games against the Dodgers. While the Game 5 start in Houston is certainly the biggest outing of the year by Red Sox pitching, we still need 4 more wins in order for it all to mean something.
This is the final test for David Price to diminish his entire haunting post-season demons from Tampa, Detroit, Toronto, and Boston. To take the ball and raise another title in the Boston Red Sox history books, marking his territory in playoff history.
We saw it post the 2003 playoffs with Tim Wakefield who came through big in 2004 and again in 2007. The final stop at the redemption tour for David Price begins in game 2 on Wednesday.
Until then, all eyes are Chris Sale, Clayton Kershaw and tonight’s World Series game 1. First pitch from Fenway Park is scheduled for 8:09 PM EST.