MLB
Why the Red Sox are Major Contenders in the A.L.
I know what you are thinking. Yes, the Red Sox potential is good, but how will they get past the Yankees? And even if they do that how will they get past the Astros? Believe me these questions will be answered, but for now, but for now let’s talk about the Red Sox as a team. Pitching is an obvious strength. With Chris Sale as an ace and David Price and former Cy Young winner, Rick Porcello behind him, this is one of the best if not the best rotation in the MLB. Sale can pitch 7 or 8 shutout innings in any given start with around 13 K’s, and Price and Porcello can do the same off and on. Along with Craig Kimbrel out of the pen, they should be just fine with pitching.
Offense
The bats are also excellent, but they don’t provide the firepower that the Yankees or Astros do. But believe me, these guys can get the job done. Mookie Betts is tearing it up right now with a .344 batting average and 19 home runs. The new addition, JD Martinez, has similar numbers with a .315 average and 22 home runs. Andrew Benintendi and Xander Bogarts have also been very solid. Let’s talk about JD for a minute. In the 2017 playoffs, the Red Sox were an outstanding team, but they were missing one thing, one thing they had for a long time: a consistent, powerful bat. Their lineup was all contact hitters, which don’t get me wrong isn’t a bad thing, but on almost all World Series teams you have that one bat that drives in runs. The Cubs have Kris Bryant; the Astros had George Springer. The Red Sox didn’t have that since David Ortiz is now in a men’s softball league. JD provides that big bat that will drive in runs. This brings the Red Sox potential up significantly.
Chances In The Playoffs
Ok now lets talk playoffs, because that is what it’s all about, October baseball. Right now the Red Sox are two games behind the Yankees for first place in the A.L. East, and they are the 3rd best team in the entire A.L. If these standings stay the same as they are now Houston would be #1, the Yankees would be #2, and the Indians would be #3. The Red Sox would get the Mariners in the Wild Card game. The Red Sox would most likely start Sale, and the Mariners don’t have that much pitching, so they would need to put up a lot of runs to keep up with Boston. With Sale pitching, I don’t think that’s going to happen. Then they would get Houston in the ALDS, and this is when things get interesting. As we have already been over, Houston swept Boston in the 2017 ALDS. But this is the new Red Sox with JD, and the Stros had their year last year. My theory is if Boston could steal one game on the road they would win the series. Here is why I say this. The Red Sox have a very passionate home crowd, and the Sox have been unstoppable at home this year. Plus, they would have Sale pitching in Game 4 or if need be Game 5. If their bats come to play and if the pitching holds their own, Houston stands no chance.
Yankees Vs. RedSox
Now the series everyone wants to see. Yankees vs. Red Sox in the ALCS. One of the best rivalries in sports writing another chapter. This is assuming New York gets by Cleveland, let’s be honest Cleveland has that thing where they choke in October. Sorry tribe fans. What will most likely give the Sox an advantage here is pitching. Not just their own, but New York’s as well. Severino is about their only good pitcher. Sonny Gray is alright at best, and Tanaka is the most inconsistent pitcher in the MLB. I’m serious he either pitches 7 or 6 good innings, or he gets lit up for seven runs in the 1st inning. If the Sox get to their pitching early, they will be just fine because of their pitching on the other end. The critical thing is getting to them early though. If you wait until the 5th or 6th inning, New York will unleash the best bullpen in baseball, and then you are done. All in all, if we do get this series, I can’t see it going less than six games. The Red Sox potential is off the charts.
Well, I hope you guys enjoyed this article. If you want me to do this with another team in the future, just let me know.
