Mea culpa time for a Red Sox fan

The performances of David Price, Hanley Ramirez, and Rick Porcello for the Red Sox have now given me a glorious mea culpa opportunity.

Sometimes it feels really good to be wrong. Time for a writing version of self-flagellation as I trace back to some of the articles that have given me a healthy dose of comeuppance or a visit to the Crowbusters for some up to date recipes.

I was certainly not kind to David Price, but there was actually some credibility to it and it was all provided by Price. The first half of the season Price was a faux ace – a cheap import like some trinket manufactured in a third world hell hole by kids getting twenty-five cents a day. The numbers were deplorable for a pitcher with his credentials.

The base numbers were alarming as Price saw his ERA stagger in at 4.34 with the dreadful tendency to give up home runs and leads at the most inopportune of times. The strikeout totals were impressive and the one nugget of hope that this was a pitching mirage was a FIP of 3.38 and xFIP even lower at 3.13. Was Price just getting his bearings?

Since the All-Star break, Price has been consistently improving incrementally and it shows. Run support as always has been beneficial, but Price simply shuts the door. Price is now the fourth-ranked starting pitcher in the American League according to Fangraphs and that cannot be disputed. The debate will soon center on Price and Rick Porcello getting the precious first go in the playoffs.

What we now see is what was certainly expected. My first reaction was Price would have a Lefty Grove type off-year and then return to form. A mea culpa as the year was reduced to half a season.

Hanley Ramirez move to first base has been an obvious success, but I had little doubts over that decision. However, I also felt the opportunity presented itself to trade Ramirez when his potential value was escalating. My assumption was that Ramirez – a notorious streak hitter – would soon return to a prolonged slump and stall the offense. Never happened.

Defensively Ramirez is ranked sixth in the American League and presents us with a negative UZR/150 of – 6.5. As a former professor was prone to say “balderdash.” Eric Hosmer is last among qualifiers at -7.7 and even the three rodents chased by the farmer’s wife can “see” how adept Hosmer is. That alone should make one scratch one’s noggin over fielding metrics.

Ramirez has hit and hit with intensity, clutch and panache that has made him a welcomed batsman when runners are on base and some line drive terror is needed. In the first half Ramirez had a respectable .288 average, but only eight home runs and 48 RBI. Since then the home runs multiplied two-fold and the RBI total for the season has reached 100 for only the second time in his career.

Hanley had a cloud of negativity surrounding him when he was brought into Boston. The rumor on the street was Ramirez was somewhat of a sensitive character who managed to rub teammates and management the wrong way. In Boston that has not been present – not a hint of discord. Ramirez has readily accepted position changes and has certainly put in the necessary effort.

Rick Porcello is probably a “mea” without the “culpa.” I really didn’t write about Porcello, but have posted numerous times that I expected a return to 2014 form with the Tigers – a dependable middle or lower rotation pitcher who keeps you in the game. I certainly was not alone on a South Seas island with this opinion.