Red Sox: Five most disappointing players from 2020 season
By Sean Penney
The five most disappointing Red Sox players in the 2020 season.
A multitude of factors contributed to the downfall of the Boston Red Sox this year. Much of the damage was done long before Opening Day – the franchise player was traded, the manager stepped away under a shroud of scandal and ownership insistent on dipping under the luxury tax rather than spend money to plug the glaring holes on the roster.
We never should have expected this team to be a true contender under these circumstances but few expected the decline to be this steep. The Red Sox still have their fair share of talented players but the problem was that several of them didn’t live up to their lofty reputations. While there were a few bright spots providing a positive outlook for the future, these disappointing performers raise some concerns.
The most obvious weakness of this team was the pitching staff, a problem created primarily by the absence of their two top starters. Despite that the team’s disappointing placement at the bottom of the standings ties directly to them, you won’t find Chris Sale or Eduardo Rodriguez on this list. It’s not the former’s fault that he required Tommy John surgery, nor is the latter to blame for developing a heart condition following a bout with COVID-19.
The same goes for the much-maligned Andrew Benintendi. Yes, he was dreadful to open the season before landing on the injured list with a strained rib cage. He only played in 14 games though, a sample size too small to criticize harshly. Any player can slump for a couple of weeks. Considering his talent and track record, it’s unfair to assume Benny wouldn’t have figured it out if he stayed healthy.
The most disappointing players are those who were given a fair shot only to let us down. They could be newcomers we thought would fill an important role or star players who came nowhere near meeting their high expectations. There’s plenty of blame to pass around for the dismal results of this season but these players rightfully have fingers pointed in their direction.