With 2014 winding to an end, lets break down the Red Sox by the numbers. Some are quirky, some are telling, and some are just interesting. <\/p>\n
In any event, they can shed some light on what we just saw, as well as the upcoming season. <\/p>\n
0 Red Sox relievers who averaged at least 94 mph on their fastball last year. There were otherwise 57 such pitchers across the game, and this points to one possible deficiency as the team heads into the final portion of the offseason. <\/p>\n
The Red Sox can hope a youngster like Matt Barnes develops into a late-innings power arm, and stay the course. <\/p>\n
Or they can make one more key addition to whats shaping up to be a deep squad and add a legitimate power arm to the back of the bullpen. Junichi Tazawa (93.9 mph) is the closest theyve got, but they could use someone else in front of Koji Uehara. <\/p>\n
.143 Average by Xander Bogaerts during a disastrous 60-game stretch from June 8-Aug. 30. <\/p>\n
Theres lost and then theres what Bogaerts was in the months after Stephen Drew came aboard and punted Bogaerts from shortstop to third. <\/p>\n
The assumption is that Bogaerts will never experience such an epic run of brutality again for the rest of his career. But the fact that he was in that vicinity at all should at least give the Red Sox pause as they project what hell give them this season. <\/p>\n
It helps that Bogaerts hit .320 with four homers and 16 RBI the rest of the way. Those 25-game totals project to 25 homers and 100 RBI over a full season, which the Red Sox would take. <\/p>\n
Listen, I still think Bogaerts will be a star sooner than later, but we cant discount the notion hell once again struggle. <\/p>\n
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Originally posted here:<\/p>\n
Red Sox Beat: No strength in numbers<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With 2014 winding to an end, lets break down the Red Sox by the numbers. Some are quirky, some are telling, and some are just interesting. In any event, they can shed some light on what we just saw, as well as the upcoming season. Continue reading