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Red Sox: Top-10 reasons to get excited about baseball in 2018

By Cole Witaszek

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 09: Andrew Benintendi #16 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with Mookie Betts #50 after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros during game four of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 9, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 09: Andrew Benintendi #16 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with Mookie Betts #50 after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros during game four of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 9, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 15: Closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after the final out against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on August 15, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Red Sox defeated the Indians 3-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 15: Closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after the final out against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on August 15, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Red Sox defeated the Indians 3-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

After a somewhat disappointing first campaign in Boston, the Red Sox closer bounced back in a big way this past season. Craig Kimbrel was an absolute monster in 2017. With 16.4 strikeouts per nine, nine strikeouts per walk, and an ERA of 1.43, an eighth-inning lead meant game over in Fenway.

Every time he took the mound the question wasn’t if they’d hit him but how bad he’d make them miss. He is one of the most dominant relievers of our generation and has an arsenal that’s almost unfair.

Kimbrel has somehow maintained a career ERA of 1.80 and an ERA+ of 222. For context, that’s 122 percent better than league average. If Kimbrel had enough innings to qualify, that mark would be the greatest career ERA+ of anyone in the history of baseball.

This is Kimbrel’s walk year and likely our last chance to see the fireballer in a Red Sox uniform. He is almost certainly the best reliever we will see in Fenway Park for a long, long time. So buckle up; it’s going to be a wild last ride. The Red Sox look like a team that will have plenty of leads to protect this upcoming season and there’s no one on this planet more qualified to guard them.

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