Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
If the Boston Red Sox want to turn this season around, they’re going to have to figure out a way to fix not only their starting pitching rotation, but their arsenal of relievers. In their 5-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves, the Red Sox started Joe Kelly who managed to pitch a full five innings and was replaced by both Robbie Ross, Jr. and Alexi Ogando in the same inning.
While the Red Sox are probably going to seek out ways to fix their starting rotation in the coming months, they should perhaps focus more on how they can acquire relievers who will be able to give the team quality pitching performances that last more than two-thirds of an inning. Yes, that’s correct — the only pitcher who pitched over a full inning was Kelly.
Had the Red Sox been up against a team with bats that aren’t as dead as the Braves’ have been, this game might have been a lot worse, if not for the mediocre pitching performances, for the sloppy infielding. Xander Bogaerts, Dustin Pedroia, and Mike Napoli all had their fair share of dropped balls, failed grabs off of dives, and rushed plays that led to the Braves grabbing an extra base or two.
Even if the Red Sox infielders had been able to get it together, it’s not entirely convincing that the outcome would have been any different. All of the issues the Red Sox are having go back to their lack of team unity and the absence of a pitching rotation that can be taken seriously. At this point in the season, the Red Sox could theoretically catch fire offensively and still be not end up looking like a team to be feared, simply because it’s become far too easy to tee off on their starters and then put pressure on their relievers who can’t put out the fire once it’s been sparked.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Red Sox need to make sure they prepare themselves for a complete pitching overhaul. It’s hard to believe that this is a team that won the World Series just two seasons ago, and it’s time for their front office to act like it.
Christopher Nicastro is a Boxing Beat Writer for www.RantSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter, ‘like’ Rant Sports on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
