May 31, 1990
With an off day before the Boston Red Sox start a weekend series in Cleveland tomorrow, this is a good chance to review the Red Sox team and organization. Two months into the season is typically when organizations figure that they have a sufficient sample size to evaluate where their team stands. Unfortunately, the stats don’t paint a pretty picture for Boston at this stage. As the saying goes, you’re only as good as your record says you are. And their 16-36 record says that the Red Sox aren’t very good. Although we aren’t even a third of the way through the season yet, being 16.5 games behind the AL East leading Baltimore Orioles is a sizable hole to try to climb out of.
While the pitching has shouldered a lot of the blame for this slow start, the team stats indicate that the offense has been at least an equal culprit. The Red Sox rank dead last in the American League in runs scored, and are in the bottom two or three in just about every offensive category, including last in home runs and slugging percentage. The lack of power and big hits has greatly hampered the team’s ability to put runs on the board.
Of chief concern is the start for 38 year old Dwight Evans. Serving primarily as the team’s everyday designated hitter, he has struggled to the tune of a .158 batting average and just 4 home runs. After batting .285 with 20 homers just a year ago, the Red Sox were undoubtedly banking on getting more out of Evans. Everyday cleanup hitter Ellis Burks has posted subpar numbers across the board as well. He finds himself at .234 with just 2 home runs through two months of the season.
Wade Boggs also got off to a horrific start to the season, but a recent surge has his average up to .282. The most consistent hitter in the Red Sox lineup has been leftfielder Mike Greenwell. He is hitting .305 with a team leading 8 home runs and 30 RBIs.
On the pitching side, staff ace Roger Clemens has been outstanding as expected. His 6-1 record and 1.94 ERA have him in the mix for his third AL Cy Young award. Mike Boddicker has pitched better than his 2-7 record would indicate, but he has been rather uneven throughout the season. The Red Sox traded for starter Bob Tewksbury from the Cardinals prior to the season with the expectation that he could slot in as a dependable number three starter, but that has not been the case. After 6 horrendous starts to open the season, Tewksbury was demoted to the minors to work on his mechanics.
The relief pitching has been a bright spot thus far with Jeff Reardon and Lee Smith forming a lockdown tandem at the back end of the bullpen. The issue has been getting to them with a lead.
Boston has a couple of high profile free agents after this season, specifically Boddicker and Smith. If things don’t turn around in a hurry, it’s fair to wonder if the Red Sox will look to trade them to a contender in order to receive some prospects or young players in return
Around the League
Looking around the league, there are some individual performances that certainly stand out. Dave Magadan of the New York Mets has his average at .416 and actually had it as high as .444 before a 4-for-22 stretch over his last six games.
Toronto’s Fred McGriff has hit 20 home runs already this season and finds himself on pace for 61, which of course would tie the record set by Roger Maris in 1961. McGriff is also tied with Pedro Guerrero of the St. Louis Cardinals for the Major League lead in RBI with 53.
Pittsburgh’s Barry Bonds and Oakland’s Rickey Henderson are both on pace to post a combination of power and speed statistics that we have never seen before over a full season. Bonds has 14 home runs and 23 stolen bases putting him on pace for 44 and 72, respectively. Rickey Henderson has hit 16 homers and stolen 19 bases giving him a 51/60 pace. Jose Canseco is currently the only member of the 40/40 club and also remains a threat to achieve that milestone again with 11 home runs and 13 steals so far this season.
Oakland starting pitcher Mike Moore has made 12 starts thus far, posting a record of 11-0 with a 1.71 ERA and 0.94 WHIP making him the clear frontrunner for the AL Cy Young award. His primary competition for the award appears to be Chicago’s Jack McDowell, who sits at 6-0 and currently leads the league with a 1.05 ERA and 0.79 WHIP.
Down on the Farm
The Pawtucket Red Sox have gotten off to a poor start just like their parent club. At 17-31, they have the worst record in the International League. 33 year old 1B Rick Lancellotti is hitting .274, and his 11 home runs lead the IL.
The AA New Britain Red Sox have started 25-23 and are in the middle of the pack in the Eastern League. The majority of Boston’s top prospects are at the AA level. 3B Jeff Bagwell is hitting .335 with 4 home runs, SS John Valentin is at .254 with 1 home run, and OF Phil Plantier is at just .233. At age 21, Plantier is young for the AA level, and has struggled thus far. 25 year old 1B Mike Twardoski is off to an outstanding start by hitting .331 over 175 at bats. While not considered much of a prospect, he may be working towards being held in higher regard by the organization.
On the pitching side for New Britain, Kevin Morton and Tom Fischer are both off to great starts and figure to be in the mix for Eastern League All-Star appearances. Pitcher Derek Livernois suffered a shoulder injury a week ago and will miss the remainder of the season.
The Lynchburg Red Sox who play in the Single A Carolina League have had one standout performance thus far; 18 year old outfielder Greg Blosser has 11 home runs so far this season.