Red Sox: A mea culpa for my articles during the 2017 season
By Rick McNair
What in the world were they thinking? The Red Sox had the chance to either (1) Back out of the Drew Pomeranz trade or (2) Require the Padres to cough up some type of payment for their corporate skullduggery. Boston did nothing and the deal stood.
In 2016, Pomeranz was a bitter disappointment, finishing 3-5, 4,59 ERA and I was certainly not alone in pointing out the fact the Red Sox gave up their highest-profile pitching prospect for a lefty of questionable talent.
In spring training, the battle was on for the coveted fifth starter in the rotation and Pomeranz eventually got the call. When Steven Wright went out for the season the outlook was depressing with Pomeranz taking the hill. But miracles do happen and Pomeranz made 32 starts, went 17-7, and had a 3.32 ERA. The entire season was one of consistency. Meanwhile I called for his trade.
The item of note was the failure of Pomeranz in the playoffs and he joined Rick Porcello and Chris Sale as the Astros played a baseball version of whack-a-mole, but what is overlooked came in game 161 when Pomeranz pitched six innings of one-run ball against the same Astros – that sealed up the division title for Boston.
Pomeranz came around when needed most with the rotation missing David Price, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Wight for parts of the season. Can Pomeranz do it in 2018?