Introducing the 2022 Boston Red Sox

The “Patirrojos” arrive with high expectations and the same number of doubts to the Major League season, after reaching the American League Championship Series in 2021

Boston Red Sox He will open the 2022 season in a position similar to the one he had during 2021. Everyone recognizes the offensive potential that the team has, but the doubts surrounding its starting rotation and its shallow depth generate mistrust. However, the combined city of Boston He has the opportunity to surprise many, despite not being among the favorites to win it all this season.

Starting with the positive aspects, the core of the alignment of the Red Sox it returns intact and has so far shown no sign of slowing down in productivity. the dominican rafael devers, Xander Bogaerts Y JD Martinez They will again be located within the offensive heart of the team, after combining to hit .287 with an OPS of .873, 89 homers and 291 RBIs in 2021.

If to this is added the addition of Trevor Story, one of the most coveted free agents of 2022 and who has maintained interesting offensive numbers (despite having the advantage of playing at Coors Field in Colorado for his entire career), the team should be solid as far as hitting is concerned. refers. Story is coming off a season of 24 home runs, 75 RBIs, a .251 batting average and an .801 OPS.

To this must be added the productivity of names such as Alex Verdugo Y Kike Hernandezwho had successful seasons in 2021 and are on track to do the same next season.

Gentlemen: Carita put this game 8⃣ to 0⃣… We’re just going for the second episode 😳🤯😵pic.twitter.com/00Kd62JMlI

— ESPN.com.do🇩🇴 (@ESPN_DO) October 16, 2021

As for defense, Red Sox recovered one of their familiar faces, after changing it to Milwaukee Brewers. Jackie Bradley Jr. will be playing in the outfield, which will maintain stability at those positions despite the departure of Hunter Renfroe of the set. Similarly, count on the already mentioned, Trevor Storyinside the infield, will help bring stability to second base, a position with which Red Sox they have been showing negative situations and instability for years.

It is here that we come to the noted weakness of Boston, the pitching From the outset, the team will not have its ace, Chris Salefor at least two months, after being diagnosed with a stress fracture of the ribs. Edward Rodriguez chose to go into free agency and is now a member of Detroit Tigerswhich leaves Nathan Eovaldi, after a bad year, as the first option of the group. They signed the veteran Rich Hillwho returns to the team for the third time and last year they had the best version in years of Nick Pivettawho returns for 2022.

⚠️ Nasty Nate at Work ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/UdcubS86CR

— Red Sox (@RedSox) June 27, 2021

After that, nothing is certain as far as the rotation is concerned. The acquisition of Michael Wach is no guarantee of having a solid opener, Tanner Houck Y Garrett Whitlock they’ll keep moving in and out of the bullpen as needed, and the team’s other offseason acquisition was james paxtonwho will also miss at least two months of the season due to injury.

The bullpen, one of the team’s biggest weaknesses last season, was bolstered with the hiring of jake diekman Y matt strahm. However, most of the names that were there before will return this year, which may be an indication of things to come for Boston. In 2021, Boston’s relief corps had a 3.99 ERA, in 607 innings pitched.

In betting, Red Sox occupy the twenty-first position according to the experts, to take the World Series. In the american league they are the sixth-best projected team to do so, trailing three squads from their own division. This shows how little confidence there is in the results of the team, not believing that there is a possibility of repeating what was done in 2021, despite the fact that this year there will be more teams in the postseason.

Bogey 💣 pic.twitter.com/IW2A38Xp9t

— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 31, 2021

a lot of what i do Boston in 2022 will depend directly on the decisions of alex cora, team leader. With a weakened rotation and no expectation of winning, cora must demonstrate, once again, that he belongs to the elite of the managers of Big leaguesif the Red Sox They intend to achieve something this season. They have the bats and the defense, no question about it, but the pitching will be where all the attention is.