Season in Review: 2022

After the surprising success of the 2021 season, there was reason for optimism in 2022.  Chris Sale was supposed to be healthy and the team was bringing back a lot of players from the 2021 season, but with a few new players meant to improve the defense.  Unfortunately, the team got off to a slow start with their offense.  They started rolling in May, then a series of key injuries decimated the team.  They ended up finishing in last place, with a record of 78-84.

FIVE FAVORITE PLAYERS

XANDER BOGAERTS

Bogaerts was Boston's WAR leader in 2022.  Despite reduced power numbers, he still hit .307/.377/.456.  He led the team in average, on-base percentage, runs (84) and hits (171).  He hit 38 doubles, 15 home runs and drove in 73 runs while stealing eight bases.  Bogaerts was named to the All Star team and won his fifth Silver Slugger Award.  He finished ninth in the MVP voting and was a finalist for the Gold Glove.  Unfortunately, it was his last season in Boston.

RAFAEL DEVERS

Devers was once again Boston's biggest power threat.  The third-baseman led the team in home runs (27), RBIs (88), slugging percentage (.521) and OPS (.879).  He also tied Bogaerts for the lead in runs scored (84).  Devers improved his defense at third and hit .295/.358/.521.  He was second on the team in doubles (42) and third in hits (164).  His numbers would have been even better had he been healthy all season.  He was still an All Star and finished 14th in the MVP voting.

ALEX VERDUGO

Verdugo struggled with some injuries early on and tried to do too much at the start of the season.  When he changed his approach, his numbers improved dramatically and he had a huge second half of the season.  He ended up hitting .280/.328/.405 with eleven home runs and was second on the team with 74 RBIs.  He was also second on the team with 166 hits.  He contributed 39 doubles and 75 runs scored.  Verdugo is a breakout candidate going into 2023.

NATHAN EOVALDI

Boston's top starting pitcher from 2021 had some injury issues in 2022 that limited him to 20 starts.  That has long been an issue for Eovaldi.  Despite this, and some truly horrific home run numbers, Eovaldi still had a 6-3 record with a 3.87 ERA.  In 109.1 innings pitched, he struck out 103 batters, while walking just 20.  Eovaldi tied for the league lead in shutouts (one) and led the team in complete games (two).  It was also his final season in Boston.

CHRISTIAN VAZQUEZ

He played in just 84 games because the Red Sox traded him at the deadline, but he was still one of my favorite players.  Vazquez was having a pretty decent year when he was traded.  The catcher had become a pretty reliable contact hitter who did not strike out a lot.  He was hitting .282/.327/.432 with eight home runs, 20 doubles and 42 RBIs.  He was traded to the Astros at the deadline for a couple of prospects.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

GARRETT WHITLOCK

Whitlock was another player who struggled with some injuries in 2022.  The team also could not really figure out what his best role should be, trying him out as a starter and then moving him back to the bullpen.  Despite all of that, he had a record of 4-2 with a 3.45 ERA in 78.1 innings pitched.  He started nine games, but also notched six saves.  He struck out 82 batters and walked just 15.  Whitlock is one of the most talented pitchers on the team, they just need to figure out how best to use him.

TANNER HOUCK

Everything I said about Whitlock's role above, also applies to Houck.  Houck was given a bit more of an extended look at closer and tied for the team lead with eight saves.  He also started four games.  Houck pitched 60 innings over 32 games and had a 5-4 record with a 3.15 ERA.  He struck out 56 batters and walked 22.  Like Whitlock, his role is also unclear, though he appears to work better as a multi-inning reliever.  He will not be the closer though as Boston signed one for the 2023 season.

NICK PIVETTA

Pivetta looked like the ace of the team for awhile.  Early on in the season, he was essentially carrying the team on his back.  He led the league in games started (33), and there is a lot to say about a pitcher able to stay healthy and make every game.  He struggled at times and that led to a record of 10-12 with a 4.56 ERA, but he led the staff in innings pitched (179.2) and strikeouts (175).  He will be counted on to be a dependable starter again in 2023.

FAVORITE ACQUISITIONS

TREVOR STORY

Certainly the biggest name acquisition, if not the best acquisition, Story had an injury-plagued year.  He was limited to just 94 games due to a series of nagging injuries.  He struggled early on too, due to illness.  When he was on though, Story left little doubt why he was acquired.  Switching to second base, Story was an elite defensive player and a dynamic offensive player.  He hit .238/.303/.434 with 22 doubles, 16 home runs, 66 RBIs and led the team with 13 stolen bases.

MICHAEL WACHA

Boston's best pick-up for the 2022 season though was Wacha.  Wacha solidified the rotation when he was healthy.  He made 23 starts and led the team's starters in a number of pitching categories, including wins and winning percentage (11-2), ERA (3.32), WHIP (1.115) and tied Eovaldi for the league lead in shutouts (one).  Wacha threw 127.1 innings and struck out 104 batters while walking just 31.  He made an impression in 2022, but will not be back in 2023 as he has signed on with the Padres.

FAVORITE MID-SEASON ACQUISITION

TOMMY PHAM

Pham did not have the best numbers of the mid-season acquisitions Boston brought in at the deadline, but Reese McGuire does not have any cards yet.  Pham was pretty decent though.  In 53 games, he hit .234/.298/.374 with six home runs, 12 doubles and 24 RBIs.  He seemed to play hard and had some big hits down the stretch.  

FAVORITE ROOKIE

BRAYAN BELLO

Boston tried out a number of rookie pitchers, but only Bello showed enough to believe he could be a legitimate starting pitcher in the Majors.  Bello struggled early on, as he was clearly rushed to the Majors, but as the year went on, he settled into the role.  In 13 games (eleven starts), Bello had a record of 2-8 with a 4.71 ERA.  He threw 57.1 innings striking out 55 and walking 27.  

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS

J.D. MARTINEZ

Martinez suffered a significant power outage in 2022.  The designated hitter was still named to the All Star team and still hit 43 doubles to lead the team, but he managed to hit just 16 home runs and drive in 62 runs in 139 games.  There were long stretches of time between home runs.  Martinez hit .274/.341/.448 with 76 runs scored and 146 hits.  It was not a typical season for the slugger.

CHRIS SALE

Sale continued to struggle with injuries.  He missed the first couple months of the season, then finally made his season debut with a strong start in July.  Unfortunately, in his next start he suffered a broken finger after being hit in the hand with a line drive.  Then, while rehabbing, he suffered another setback that shut him down for the season.  He was 0-1 with a 3.18 ERA, five strikeouts and a walk in 5.2 innings pitched.