The World Series is right here, and the Red Sox gained’t be concerned. Instead, the baseball world will watch because the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks sq. off to find out this yr’s champion.
You know, similar to all of us predicted.
It’s laborious to think about many World Series matchups as unbelievable as this one. Entering the yr each Texas and Arizona have been coming off shedding seasons and on a number of events every seemed prefer it was cooked. Things have been particularly dire after the 2 golf equipment fell behind 3-2 of their respective league championship collection, however then each went on the highway and gained two straight to disclaim their opponents a second (or third) consecutive pennant.
It must be an thrilling collection, however should you’re from New England why do you have to care?
Even if the Red Sox aren’t enjoying there are nonetheless loads of related storylines that ought to curiosity followers. Here are a number of to observe because the Fall Classic kicks off.
Old pals on huge stage
Nathan Eovaldi is not any stranger to the brilliant lights of October, and after main the Red Sox on two deep postseason runs throughout his time in Boston, the right-hander is now enjoying a starring position for the Rangers.
Eovaldi has been lights out since signing with Texas this previous offseason and has carried the Rangers all through their playoff run. Through 4 begins Eovaldi is 4-0 with a 2.42 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 26 innings, posting a high quality begin every trip and pitching the Rangers to a important Game 6 victory in Houston. He will begin Game 1 for Texas on Friday night time.
Beyond Eovaldi the Rangers additionally characteristic former Red Sox left-hander Martin Perez, who pitched for the 2021 membership that reached the ALCS. Perez posted a 4.45 ERA in 35 video games (20 begins) this season and appeared in two video games out of the bullpen for the Rangers within the ALCS.
On the opposite aspect, former Red Sox outfielder Tommy Pham has had an attention-grabbing journey since leaving Boston this previous offseason. The 35-year-old signed with the New York Mets and was initially anticipated to be a platoon bat off the bench, however as an alternative he emerged as one among New York’s finest bats. He was traded on the deadline as a part of the Mets’ midseason selloff and is now a fixture in the midst of the Diamondbacks’ order.
The Diamondbacks are additionally run by former Red Sox normal supervisor Mike Hazen, who just lately signed an extension to stay in Arizona relatively than pursue his former group’s head of baseball operations place. Now in his seventh yr within the desert, Hazen’s executed a powerful rebuild and now has the Diamondbacks set as much as contend for years to come back.
Checking out potential new pals?
Besides checking in on former Red Sox gamers who’ve moved on, followers is perhaps excited by scouting attainable offseason targets who might probably come to Boston this winter.
The most notable title to observe is Jordan Montgomery. Acquired on the commerce deadline from St. Louis, the Rangers starter has been wonderful this October, going 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in 5 video games (4 begins). More importantly for the Red Sox, he’s additionally a confirmed workhorse who has made 30 or extra begins in three straight seasons and simply racked up a career-high 188.2 innings this previous yr.
For reference, Brayan Bello led the Red Sox in innings with 157 this yr, and no Red Sox starter has thrown 185 or extra innings since Eduardo Rodriguez in 2019 (203.1).
Beyond Montgomery there aren’t any apparent free agent or commerce targets, however one different chance is Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. The pending free agent hit 24 house runs with 35 doubles this yr, incomes his first All-Star nod alongside the way in which, and could be an possibility if the Red Sox determined to maneuver on from each Alex Verdugo and Adam Duvall.
A blueprint for Boston?
If it feels just like the Red Sox are a good distance from championship rivalry, the Rangers are a very good reminder {that a} membership’s fortunes can change in a rush.
Last yr the Rangers misplaced 94 video games. The yr earlier than that they misplaced 102. Texas hadn’t even posted a successful file since 2016, however this yr their latest aggressiveness paid off and now they’re 4 wins from capturing their first World Series in franchise historical past.
How did they do it? By supplementing a powerful homegrown core with huge exterior investments. Corey Seager and Marcus Semien have greater than lived as much as their huge contracts, and even when Texas’ huge wager on Jacob deGrom blew up, the membership doubled down by bringing in Eovaldi and later Montgomery and Max Scherzer to make sure it had the arms to compete.
There’s nothing stopping the Red Sox from executing an analogous playbook, so even when it looks like Boston is years away the Rangers ought to encourage hope that issues might flip quicker than many followers anticipate.
Source: www.bostonherald.com