It Looks Like Drew Pomeranz Has Figured His Shit Out In August, And The Red Sox Bullpen Actually Held A Lead
Here’s a legitimate question — with all this talk about the big, bad road schedule that the Red Sox have remaining, has that motivated them at all?
I can’t answer that question for sure, but it certainly feels like it. There were a few quotes that came out from John Farrell on Thursday about how the team was fired up about having to play a 1 o’clock game after getting to their hotel at 4am the night before. I mean, they’re not robots. They definitely hear, read and watch some of the things that are being said about them. It seems like the biggest narrative lately has been that the number of road games remaining on their schedule is going to be what sinks the ship. They’ve really only been playing better since that became a topic of discussion. That’s gotta be bulletin board material, no?
Well, if it’s not, then they’re acting like it, because they’re 5-1 on their current 11-game road trip, and they would’ve been 6-0 if their manager didn’t put one of the worst relievers in the MLB in the 8th inning of a 2-run game against the heart of the order of one of the best run-scoring teams in the majors. Yeah, I’m still bitter. Red Sox starting pitchers on this current road trip have a 1.51 ERA, the lowest ERA in the MLB over that span. For the sake of comparison, the league average over that same span is a 4.76 ERA. But it hasn’t just been a road trip thing. Red Sox starters in the month of August have an ERA of 2.45, which is the best in the American League, second best in the majors.
Drew Pomeranz kept that going last night, and he’s been on a pretty solid run himself this month. The lefty gave the Red Sox five innings of one-run ball, that one run being a solo home run, which looks like a typical Pomeranz line, but his night was ended because of a rain delay. He was only at 51 pitches, so you’re quite possibly looking at a second consecutive start in which he pitches into the 8th inning, when he had never done that in his career prior to his outing previous to last night.
I’ve written this before, but Boston is HUGE on first impressions. It’s taken a near-Cy Young season for Rick Porcello to shake the idea that he sucks, just because of a very poor first half last year. Fans still don’t trust Robbie Ross Jr. when he comes into games, because of a mediocre 2015, but he has the second lowest opponents OPS (.570) of any pitcher on the Red Sox this year, starters included. Point is, I don’t think anyone gets excited when they see Pomeranz’s name as the probable starter that day. And I’m not saying he’s a guy that you should get “excited about” per se, but you should feel good about getting a win that day.
Pomeranz shit the bed in his first start with the Red Sox, giving up five earned runs on 8 hits, two of which were home runs, to the Giants in a 3-inning performance last month, his worst with the Red Sox. In two of Pomeranz’s first three starts, he gave up five earned runs. There’s your first impression. But the reality is, Pomeranz has made seven starts for the Red Sox, and he’s allowed two earned runs or less in five of them. After last night, he now has four starts in a row, all this month, where he’s allowed two earned runs or less, giving him a 2.25 ERA in the month of August. Pomeranz’s 2.25 ERA this month is 14th best in the majors, but it’s only the third best on the Red Sox. Eduardo Rodriguez (2.08) and Porcello (2.10) have both been better.
You’re never gonna believe this, but the difference in this game was a David Ortiz two-run home run. I know, right? Bout time this fuckin’ guy does something to help a Red Sox team win. I ran the numbers for you yesterday, but let’s get an updated line after he went 3-for-4 with a home run last night. Over his last 10 games, Ortiz is hitting .484 with a 1.503 OPS, 2 doubles, 4 home runs, 9 RBI and 10 runs scored. His next home run will be his 30th of the season, and he’s only 3 RBI shy of 100 for the year. In August. He’s 40.
Once he reaches those numbers, it’ll be his 10th season with 30 home runs and 100 RBI, all of which he’s done with the Red Sox (a team record). Ortiz already passed Ted Williams for the most 30 HR/100 RBI seasons with the Red Sox in 2014, but last year he tied Williams for the most 100 RBI seasons with the Red Sox. Three more RBI and he’ll have broken another Red Sox record set by Williams.
I know there was a lot of concern about Xander Bogaerts’ offense, and rightfully so, but he’s quietly making a little bit of progress. He’s definitely not out of the woods yet, but Bogaerts has hit safely in eight of his last nine games, and he’s batting .282 with a .608 over that span. That OPS is dreadful. He’s 11 for his last 39 with 10 singles and one double. It’s not as much of a glaring issue now that he’s been moved to the number two spot in the order, but it still would be nice to see more doubles from him now that we know he’s fully capable.
Quick shout out to the Red Sox bullpen for not blowing this one. ‘Preciate you. I know you thought about it, but I’m really glad you changed your mind. Big help. Heath Hembree allowed a bomb to JD Martinez, but that’s fine. Everybody’s doing that these days. I’m sure he didn’t mean it. Farrell went with Brad Ziegler (golf clap) instead of Junichi Tazawa, Fernando Abad or maybe even Aaron Hill or Ruben Amaro to finish the seventh. Good job, John. Using that big brain of yours. Also, kudos for going to Craig Kimbrel for the four-out save, when you know that’s not his thing, after realizing that Matt Barnes was about to implode. Baby steps, but you’re learning, John. I see you.
Final score: Red Sox 3, Tigers 2