2024-04-09 03:49:19
This article is compiled from Red Sox season preview: Four questions that will determine the club’s competitiveness
The Boston Red Sox have changed in many ways during this long offseason.
The Red Sox in spring training showed a new atmosphere and a new rhythm.Head coach Alex Cora reignites team’s competitive spirit, but the key is whether this competitive spirit can continue into the regular season. The results in the warm-up games probably shouldn’t be read too much into, but if the Red Sox didn’t have the good results they have had over the past six weeks of spring training, Red Sox fans would definitely be even more anxious.
This year’s spring training, the Red Sox record is 19 wins, 12 losses and 3 draws, which is the best record since the 22 wins, 9 losses and 1 draw in the 2018 spring training. The pitchers’ total ERA is 3.76, ranking second among all teams. Judging by the results in spring training, the Red Sox will be an interesting team this year at least.
The American League East is becoming increasingly competitive, and the Red Sox need to pay more attention. However, in comparison, even without starting pitcher Lucas Giolito this year and Vaughn Grissom and Rob Refsnyder, who are likely to miss the first month of the season, the Red Sox are still one of the teams with the fewest injured players in the American East.
Blue Jays starters Kevin Gausman and Alex Manoah, and relievers Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson are all troubled by injuries; the Yankees started the season without Gerrit Cole, DJ LeMahieu and Anthony Rizzo; the Rays lineup also has many injured players, the most noteworthy Among them are outfielder Josh Lowe, infielder Jonathan Aranda, and pitchers Shane McClanahan, Jeffrey Springs, Taj Bradley, Drew Rasmussen and Shane Baz. These players are unable to appear in the opening season due to injuries or surgeries.
The Red Sox are facing the longest road trip of the season at the beginning of the season, with 10 games spanning three cities on the West Coast of the United States. However, if the Red Sox can survive these ten games, it will be very helpful to their season. After all, Of the next 20 games, 14 are home games.
There are still many unanswered questions about the Red Sox, and here are a few we’ll be paying close attention to as the season begins:
Is it a golden starting lineup or a broken starting rotation?
At the end of March, Jordan Montgomery officially signed with the Diamondbacks, ending previous rumors that the Red Sox wanted to sign him. Regardless, the Red Sox starting rotation is set. Brayan Bello, who started the opening game, turned 25 in May and was the youngest Red Sox starter since Aaron Sele in 1995. In fact, this year’s starting rotation is the Red Sox’s youngest and most untested in recent years.
At the same time, this group of starters are mainly from the Red Sox development system. This phenomenon has been seen in most Red Sox in the past ten years. Three-fifths of the rotation were players drafted or signed by the Red Sox (Bello, Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford), with the remaining Garrett Whitlock and Nick Pivetta starting their careers with other teams before coming to the Red Sox. The biggest concern in the Red Sox rotation is whether this group of pitchers can consistently produce good results. Each pitcher has his moments of outstanding performance, but whether 2024 can be a season of steady improvement for this group of pitchers will be the key to the success of the Red Sox. No key.
Can the offense produce performance?
The Red Sox line includes power hitters Rafael Devers, Triston Casas and Tyler O’Neill (plus Wilyer Abreu), as well as speedy Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran, and Trevor Story, adding a lot to the line. However, for batting to be effective, the key is that each hitter needs to contribute steadily. If the cannons perform sluggishly, it will be much more difficult for the Red Sox to score, but speed and good athleticism will indeed put extra pressure on the opponent’s starter. Data website FanGraphs ZiPS predicts a bullish outlook for Masahiro Yoshida, but is less optimistic about Abreu and Duran.
How much can the Red Sox fielding upgrade?
The Red Sox’s fielding couldn’t have been worse last season. Since Statcast began keeping records, the Red Sox’s OAA last year was the second-worst on record. Trevor Story’s return to shortstop this year will strengthen the infield defense a lot, while also helping pitchers create outs. At the same time, Rafaela’s speed and fielding range in center field can also improve fielding in the outfield.
Head coach Cora is in the last year of his contract, will it affect his coaching?
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