Boston Red Sox early “predictions” for the 2018 season
The Boston Red Sox have not had a productive offseason so far. Just what is the outlook of this franchise for the 2018 season?
My years of keen observation of all things baseball – with special emphasis on the Boston Red Sox – allows me to present the reader with exactly what will happen in 2018.
Just what does the future hold for our players? That time of year to toss it out and see what sticks.
David Price – I have the over/under as July for the final visit to Dr. James Andrews. I’ll take the under.
Chris Sale – Mr. September continues to be amazing until the last six starts of his season. Another fall from superlative to just ordinary.
Mookie Betts – MVP Awards apparently are based on fWAR or bWAR and not value to the team. Mookie losses once again.
Rafael Devers – The big question will be just finding a place to play Devers where a ball will not find him.
Xander Bogaerts – A season that will produce another Silver Slugger and an Iron Glove Award.
Rick Porcello – Porcello will successfully defend his American League home runs allowed championship.
Craig Kimbrel – A free agent year when relief pitchers are getting paid like starters. Kimbrel will be a very wealthy reliever come 2019.
Christian Vazquez – Somehow, he figured out what to do with a bat besides carrying it around. Vaz won’t hit .300, but with the game on the line, he will shine.
Dustin Pedroia – A hard worker who will come back with his usual .290 and plus defense.
Drew Pomeranz – The 2017 season was magical and in 2018 we will all wonder how did he ever win 17 games?
Steven Wright – Comparisons to Tim Wakefield will be valid. Could end up team pitching MVP.
Andrew Benintendi – Bennie will actually start to no longer be embarrassed by lefties.
Mitch Moreland – Will have less RBI than Carlos Santana and Eric Hosmer, but at a fraction of the cost.
J.D. Martinez – If Martinez is elsewhere so will about 500,000 fans.
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Hanley Ramirez – Hanley gives convincing proof that a dismal 2017 was not because of his shoulder.
Carson Smith – Smith will be what we saw in September and it will most certainly be needed.
Alex Cora – The honeymoon for Cora will be over by mid-May. The Red Sox fans will continue their tradition of blaming everything on the manager, including bad weather and a down economy.
Jackie Bradley – JBJ will have a nice .280 rebound season, but not for Boston.
Eduardo Rodriguez – Eddie will continue to tease with an excellent string of starts followed by a minor injury that takes six weeks to recover from.
Hector Velazquez – Hector will not be Kyle Kendrick, but more like Doug Fister at his Boston best.
Austin Maddox – The surprise arm of a very strong bullpen. Will he close when Kimbrel departs?
Eduardo Nunez – Fans love him. Teammates respect him. Plays with passion and heart. All that is certainly enough to keep him, but I’m not counting on it.
Farm System – The once lush and productive landscape is about as enticing as having a picnic on the moon. The system is three years away.
Dave Dombrowski – Brian Cashman outplayed the Red Sox and all other comers – especially DD. Maybe Duke will give him a job in 2019?
Next: Red Sox should not trade for Manny Machado
The Team – The Red Sox will win two playoff games. Unfortunately, one will be the Wild Card and the other an early playoff exit. Looking a lot like 1988-90.