The Boys Are Back (and They Might Be in Trouble)
Red Sox Ownership, per Yahoo Sports
The surest sign of spring in New England isn’t that first 70-degree day, nor the first few openings of the seasonal scoop shops. No – we know spring is here when Opening Day comes by, and the voice of Joe Castiglione graces radio dials once again. This year was unceremonious, with a 10:10 PM first pitch in Seattle, and that may be a harbinger for the uncompetitive season many are expecting from the Sox. Ownership has given us little to be excited about, and Craig Breslow’s insinuations that big things were to come raised expectations that haven’t been met in the slightest. Sure, Lucas Giolito was intriguing at the time of announcement, but it felt like Groundhog Day all over again when he was placed on the 60-Day IL. If we wanted another James Paxton, we could have just brought him back. Liam Hendriks was great at one point in time (he was a 99 overall in MLB The Show: 21 apparently??) but his best days very well may be behind him after missing the majority of his age 34 season and posting a 5.40 ERA. The fans are getting increasingly loud in calls for Fenway Sports Group to sell the team, and I’m largely in agreement with that sentiment. While I do think this team is more than a couple big free agent splashes away from contending, ownership is the reason we’re in this situation in the first place – it’s been multiple years now that we’ve watched this organization run like a small market team, while charging third most in the sport for tickets, per Statista. FSG dumps money into other sports ventures while letting the Sox squander and dig in the trash heap for the ballplayer equivalent of Warren Buffet’s ‘cigar butts’ – a cheap option who has ‘one puff’ left in the big leagues (see: any pitcher the organization has brought in over the last three years). Sensible at times, sure, but the headrush dies quickly. Without investment around the young core of this team, Boston will finish last in perpetuity within a division that has become arguably the best in sports. I can’t take another year where the best show in Fenway is watching Jake from Bentley drink 7 White Claws (~$115) to try and impress the scantily clad Emily seated next to him, before getting escorted off of the premises. Rinse and repeat.
Ceddane Rafaela, per Paul Rutherford / Getty Images
There is, however, reason for some hope in Boston. Brayan Bello, whom I have deemed an absolute stud, is locked up long-term, Raffy remains the leader in town, and there are young bats aplenty. I think if Ceddane Rafaela plays 140+ games, he’ll compete for Rookie of the Year, and I’d put him firmly in the running for a Gold Glove. The 2022 deadline acquisition of Wilyer Abreu and Emmanuel Valdez for Christian Vazquez has honestly looked excellent, and their continued development will be important in determining the future of this ballclub. Above all, this year may be most important for Triston Casas, who could be the secret sauce in proving to FSG that this team is ready to take the next step. After the All Star break last year, Casas went through stretches where he looked like one of the best hitters in baseball – if he can build on this momentum and cement himself within that conversation, this team has every chance of being competitive sooner rather than later.
The Sox are only a game in, and they’re 1-0, so I won’t sound the alarm. In fact, after game 1, I feel a bit better, although that’s obviously premature. I don’t have high hopes for this team, and I blame ownership alone – not the players nor coaches. While this does have the feeling of a team that can outperform expectations, my base case is 76 wins. Some probably feel that’s low but given how many times the Sox will face AL East opponents, I think it’s realistic. Buckle up, Royal Rooters. Still 161 ahead of us.