Boston Red Sox: 5 biggest disappointments of 2019 MLB season
2. David Price lost his trump card
If David Price held the trump card after coming up big for the Boston Red Sox during the team’s World Series run in 2018, he played it and loss it midway through the 2019 MLB season.
With Chris Sale struggling, the Red Sox really needed Price to step up into that ace role. The lefty did it for a little while, but injuries took a toll on Price as he was shut down for the rest of the season in September due to a cyst on his wrist which originally landed him on the injured list in early August.
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Prior to that, David Price was having an up-and-down season for the Red Sox. In 16 starts before the MLB All-Star break, he went 7-2 with a 3.24 ERA. He was holding that trump card with great pride and confidence then but going 0-3 with a 7.88 ERA in six starts following the All-Star break, it was apparent he wasn’t as strong as earlier in the season.
But it wasn’t the injury and overall inconsistency on the mount that made David Price a disappointment, it was another battle with Hall-of-fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley that put the Red Sox hurler back on the wrong side of favoritism with fans.
Shocked that the 2017 confrontation between the two resurfaced, Price played his role by criticizing an MLB Network documentary featuring Eckersley during a time in the season where the team was trying to remain in contention for a playoff spot.
If not for that, David Price may have been given a pass for this season amongst the faithful of Red Sox Nation.