Boston Red Sox: Quite frankly, Garrett Richards needs to get a grip

To say it’s been an up and down season for Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Richards would be an understatement.

While the team as a whole is staying atop the American League East, the starting pitching has been sputtering, especially  Richards who struggled once again on the mound giving up five runs in just 1 2/3 innings pitched in the team’s 8-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday night.

Is it a matter of losing his grip on the mound?

Well, that could be more of mental issue as the way Richards has spiraled in the opposite direction following MLB’s crackdown on the use of foreign substances has caused him to lose his grip literally and figuratively.

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Boston Red Sox, Garrett Richards has to focus on adjustments

To be fair to Richards, the MLB’s focus on pitchers using anything but rosin on the mound has many pitchers losing their mind, but it’s time for adjustments and like every pitcher throughout baseball, the Red Sox hurler is going to have to find a way to transition.

If he does, perhaps he’ll get back to the way he was performing in a stretch of 8 starts in which he went 4-2 with a 2.98 ERA.  He looked great during that stretch which followed a pretty horrendous start to the season.  In a 162-game marathon, it’s going to be about transitions and Richards certainly knows that.

"“Going through a little transition period right now,” Richards said following the game, via MLB.com.  “Changing some grips on some of my pitches, learning new pitches, just trying to figure this whole thing out.  Like I said, a little transition period, still determined to get it figured out.”"

Hopefully, he’ll get it figured out quickly because there’s a couple of pitchers internally who could take that spot if Richards continues to struggle.  Not only is there a young pitcher in Tanner Houck rehabbing his way back, but Chris Sale is also trending for a return later this summer.  That is not even counting what the team could and may do by the MLB Trade Deadline.

Garrett Richards needs to get a grip emotionally and physically

So, while the team is continuing to win despite the struggles on the mound, the pressure will be on a pitcher like Garrett Richards to re-define both his mindset and approach on the mound.  There can’t be any excuses because MLB’s crackdown is not only changing the way Richards grips the ball, but also impacting some of the best pitchers in the game as well.

While there won’t be a change as far as Richards’ role in the starting rotation short term, there could be if he doesn’t find his way in the next few starts.  It really starts with confidence as the Red Sox starter strives to re-discover his command on the mound.

"“He’s got to commit to making some changes, that’s the best way I can put it,” Red Sox pitching coach Dave Bush said.  “It is difficult.  He’s not the only one going through this, but any time there’s a dip in performance, doubt can creep in, and insecurity and all that stuff is normal.  Players go through that all the time.  Part of the process is psychological and being confident he has the ability to do it.”"

He also has the talent as he has shown during that stretch of eight starts in which he looked like valuable offseason signing for Chaim Bloom.  Since then, however, he has looked like a mental case who needs to quickly find his focus or else there will be more outings like Wednesday night in Tampa.

Even if Sale and Houck don’t find their way back in the starting rotation, those types of performances will see Garrett Richards pitch his way into the bullpen or even out of baseball.