Last season, the Red Sox finished 93-69 and lost to the 2018 World Series Champs Houston Astros in the first round. This season, the team is in a different direction with their possible historic season. With the addition of the new manager, Alex Cora, and right fielder J. D. Martinez, the season is looking up. The Red Sox’s current season is on pace to be the winningest season, the current record is 116 wins by the 1906 Cubs and 2001 Mariners.
The Red Sox’s have two MVP candidates in the American League: Mookie Betts (outfield) and J.D. Martinez (outfielder). Mookie Betts leads the league in batting average with .340 and Martinez in second with .331. Junior, Tyler Manchester, says, “They have the highest slugging average and lowest strikeouts which makes the defence work for the outs.” Mookie Betts recently recorded his first career cycle. A cycle is when one player records a single, double, triple, and a home run in one game. J.D. Martinez came to the Red Sox from the Arizona Diamondbacks this past offseason. He has made a big impact on the Red Sox with his league leading 38 home runs, but is tied with Khris Davis of the Oakland Athletics. J.D. Martinez has the chance for the Triple Crown, a batting title when you lead in home runs, batting average, and runs batted in. Manchester stated, “The fact that they’re scoring six to seven runs on average is incredibly hard to beat for their opponent.”
The Red Sox’s ace pitcher Chris Sale has shown that he is a candidate for the C.Y Young Award, pitching title given to the best pitchers in each league. Chris Sale recently came off the disabled list with shoulder discomfort but didn’t show any signs of slowing down with 12 strikeouts against the Baltimore Orioles. Junior, Joe Martino says, “They’re playing amazinging and
The Red Sox made a trade to get a new manager and received the Houston Astro’s coach Alex Cora. They made the deal the day after the Astros beat the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series. The Red Sox will have Cora as the manager until the end of the 2020 season. Riverbend Sophomore Stephen D’Amour said, “I think since the Red Sox got Alex Cora as a new manager, he brings different things to the team. The team gets a new way of seeing things and a better manager they like.” As the Red Sox continue there statistically great season many look forward to see how the season will pan out.