What is the Red Sox’ biggest flaw heading into the season?
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The Sox look like a playoff team on paper. The lineup fits together better with J.D. Martinez in the middle. The rotation is deep, especially if Drew Pomeranz is anything close to what he was last year. The bullpen should be good. John Farrell is gone. But is there a flaw here we’re overlooking? Maybe depth in general? – Pat C.
I’m not sold on their infield defense. Hanley Ramirez is adequate at first, and Xander Bogaerts is OK at short with the possibility of improvement. But Eduardo Nunez is not a good second baseman, and Rafael Devers, while possessing all of the talent to be a good third baseman, was a mess after his callup last year. For however long he’s out, they’re going to miss Dustin Pedroia’s glove more than his bat.
But that’s nothing that’s going to derail them. And I think the depth thing is a good point, albeit a minor one. I know it’s the trend to load up on relievers nowadays, but it still seems like a four-player bench (Mitch Moreland, Blake Swihart, Sandy Leon, Brock Holt) leaves them a little short. That’s remedied easily enough though with a minor transaction or two if it becomes an issue. I would have kept Deven Marrero given the lack of a true defensive whiz on the bench.
Really, only two things can keep them out of the playoffs. Injuries to their best players, or the late-season revelation that Alex Cora is actually an embedded Astro. I’m not sweating either right now. This team is darned good.
But what do you guys think? Is there are flaw with the Red Sox that we’re overlooking? I’ll hear you in the comments.
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