The 2023 Boston Red Sox season has been an interesting one. Now that it’s the needed All-Star break, the Red Sox are five games above .500 with a record 48-43 record. While that is not a bad record on paper, it is only good enough for last place in the highly competitive American League East. The Sox are two games back of the final playoff spot in the American League Wild Card race behind the Toronto Blue Jays and arch nemesis, the New York Yankees.
Red Sox 2023 Season First Half Review
The Good
The maturation and improved play of two players, Jarren Duran and Alex Verdugo, have gone well for the Red Sox. Additionally, what some pundits thought was a financial disaster with the signing of Japanese prospect Masataka Yoshida was a wise decision.
Jarren Duran
There were questions about Duran’s maturity and demeanor. This author questioned Duran’s behavior, especially after last season when he gave up on a ball he lost in the lights, allowing Raimel Tapia an inside-the-park grand slam. Manager Alex Cora also seemed concerned about Duran’s maturity and attitude.
Duran started this season at Triple-A Worcester. Due to many injuries this season, Duran was recalled to the big league club on April 17. Since then, Duran has solidified his importance to this team by hitting .319, including five home runs with 33 RBI and 17 thefts on the base paths.
Alex Verdugo
Since the 2020 trade of star player and fan favorite, Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dogers, there has been debate about who won the trade. In the season, many pundits felt the Dodgers won the trade since it happened. However, Alex Verdugo has shown he can be a productive and essential leader for this vital team. Verdugo is having a career year this season, batting .290 with seven home runs and 38 RBI. Verdugo also had a few clutch, game-winning hits this season for the Sox.
Masataka Yoshida
When the signing of Masataka Yoshida occurred, many individuals in baseball media felt the Sox overpaid. Some went as far as to say that Yoshida would be a bust. Yoshida has managed to silence his critics to this point. He is batting .313, including nine home runs and 43 RBI. Yoshida has also proven to be a quick study of Fenway’s famed, yet unpredictable, Green Monster, as he has played a stellar left field for the Sox.
The Bad
Pitching
What started out as a promising and somewhat dominant season for ace Chris Sale has once again turned into a nightmare scenario, as he finds himself on the 60-day-IL. Once starters this season, Nick Pivetta and Corey Kluber have been relegated to the bullpen. Even with the move to the bullpen, both pitchers continue to struggle, with some fans questioning why they are still on the roster.
The answer to that question is likely because the Red Sox have been trying to remedy the situation by giving both waivered and call-ups from Worcester inning auditions. It can be argued that that strategy is ineffective because the Red Sox are not getting a complete look at how a pitcher performs over the long term.
How to Remedy a Bad Situation
What would be a more effective strategy would be to take prospects that they will likely not promote to the Major League roster and trade for experienced relief pitchers. If they are going to make a playoff push, they should also consider trading for a veteran starter. For example, trade either to a team like Kansas City Royals for starter Zack Greinke instead of playing with Bobbie Dalbec. It sounds like he’s like a yo-yo or the team is not giving Ryan Fitzgerald an opportunity. Granted, Greinke is not having a great season, but that could be because of the young team behind him.
The Ugly
What is the difference between bad and ugly? Besides sitting in the basement of the AL East standings, there’s more to it than just that altogether. When it comes to ugly, some started out wonderfully and then suddenly and unexpectedly soured for Boston. This season, however, ugly could be pinpointed elsewhere in the forms of certain players.
Adam Duvall
Adam Duvall started the 2023 season white-hot with his bat while playing a stellar outfield. On April 8, Duvall attempted to make a diving catch in the outfield and fractured his wrist. Duvall returned to the Red Sox lineup on June 9. Since returning, he has batted a respectable .252. While not horrible, it is nowhere near what he batted before the injury. Hopefully, Duvall’s bat heats up again in the second half of the season as the Sox push for a playoff spot.
Yu Chang
Many thought Yu Chang would be an excellent utility player for the Red Sox. Chang responded by playing stellar at both second base and shortstop for the Sox while showing he had some pop in his bat, hitting three home runs in the first month of the season. On April 24th, Chang broke the hamate bone in his left hand on a swing at the plate. Chang just returned to the big club a few days, driving in two runs in the Sox 7-3 victory. Chang’s consistency at the plate will need to improve, as he is only batting .186. With the date of Trevor Story’s return remaining ambiguous, Chang could also play a pivotal role in Boston’s push for a playoff spot.
Takeaway
The Red Sox season at the midway point is full of things. The team has had its highs, the lows, mainly Red Sox pitching, with few exceptions. And finally, the Sox have had injuries that have hurt them as a team overall, with none more prominent than Duvall and Chang. The Red Sox and their fans are hoping the second half of the 2023 season will go better than the first half.
Photo Credit: © Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Players/managers mentioned:
Jarren Duran, Alex Verdugo, Adam Duvall, Nick Pivetta, Corey Kluber Masataka Yoshida, Raimel Tapia, Alex Cora, Alex Verdugo, Mookie Betts, Zack Greinke, Ryan Fitzgerald
