Boston Red Sox: Moving forward for 2017
By Rick McNair
Pitching – Starters
The final tally for the starters certainly improved as Boston finished second in fWAR at 13.9. My personal benchmark is walks and the angst they give me. The Red Sox were sixth-best in the American League at 2.76 BB/9. Earned Run Average (ERA) finished third at 4.22 and its metric twin xFIP was 4.29.
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What was a nightmare in April and May slowly took traction on a far more positive trend? David Price – a potential free agent disaster – suddenly found his game and elevated himself to almost ace status. Almost since Rick Porcello claimed that status with a beginning to end performance that should be culminated in a Cy Young Award.
Two great starters do not make a staff, but a number three starter certainly adds talent – especially when that starter is an All-Star. Steven Wright ran (pun intended) into an injury that placed his season on virtual hold for the final two months.
Eduardo Rodriguez returned from Pawtucket and impressed showing all the promise that he displayed in 2015. Expect the 24-year-old lefty to keep on that trajectory, E-Rod is joined by mystery man Clay Buchholz. Either one of the best or a disaster.
The question mark is Drew Pomeranz. Is Pomeranz a budding star or just another trading failure? Pomeranz made 13 starts for Boston with some mixed results with a 3-5 record and 4.59 ERA. Fenway Park was a pitching debacle for the 27-year-old lefty with no wins and a 6.43 ERA.
The reserves are thin for the Red Sox with a walk an inning Henry Owens the only reserve with reasonable MLB experience. Expect the Red Sox to go into the free agent market, but not for any quality, but for the flotsam that is available for the hopes that something may stick.
Collectively the staff is quite capable of getting the team to the playoffs, but what happens at that point is what we so horribly witnessed against Cleveland.
Worry Beads: Is Wright going to be 100%? Which Buchholz will surface? Is Pomeranz a dud?
Prediction: Rodriguez wins 17 games.