When the Boston Red Sox signed star free agent pitcher David Price to a massive seven-year, $217 million deal, the city of Boston thought they had finally landed the anchor atop the rotation that the team needed to get over the hump. Coming off of a season in which he pitched to an 18-5 record and a 2.45 ERA, expectations were high for the Red Sox new ace, and he appeared ready to deliver.
Price embraced the city and its fans and seemed to be the kind of guy who can handle one of the toughest markets in all of sports. Things got off to a fantastic start, as the Red Sox won Price’s debut against the Cleveland Indians, a game in which he pitched six innings, only allowing two runs and striking out 10. The buzz in Boston would not last long, as Price got shelled in the home opener against the Baltimore Orioles; giving up five runs in just five innings of work.
The 30-year-old managed to turn things around against his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays, earning a win after allowing just two runs in seven innings pitched. Most believed that Price’s dud against Baltimore was just a one-time thing, but were quickly proven wrong as Price gave up eight runs to the Tampa Bay Rays, who field one of the worst starting nines in the majors.
Red Sox fans overreacted, immediately calling the Price signing one of the worst in history. He would go on to make several statements asking Boston to stick with him, and delivered on his promise to improve by tying his career high in strikeouts against the Atlanta Braves with 14. Once again, it appeared that he had turned a corner and was settling in with his new team. But keeping with the trend, David went out and gave up six runs in back-to-back starts against a struggling New York Yankee line-up.
Somehow, despite all of the struggles, Price has managed to put up a 4-1 record, but has an ERA just under seven. For a guy who is one of the highest paid pitchers in the history of the entire sport, and is supposed to be the ace of a contending team, David Price could not be any more disappointing through a month and a half of his Red Sox career.
Boston is a tough place to play, there’s no question about that. Whether you make $30 million a year or just joined the team from the minors, Boston fans will let you have it if you fail to live up to expectations. When you’re signed to a deal worth more than $2oo million and supposed to be the best player on the team, a 6.75 ERA is unacceptable. After back-to-back last place seasons, Price was supposed to represent hope for a fanbase that desperately needed a real, meaningful baseball season.
When you’re performing well, Boston is the best city in the world to be an athlete in. The fans will embrace you and practically worship you, but when you’re on the other end of the spectrum, I can’t imagine it’s terribly pleasant. That’s where David Price currently finds himself, but it doesn’t have to remain that way. Price will take the mound tonight, with reports indicating that he has made some big adjustments and is ready to pitch to expectations.
If Price can put together a few good starts, he might find himself back in the good graces of Boston fans, but if not, David Price runs the risk of potentially losing the Red Sox fanbase for good.
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