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The 2023 Red Sox: By the numbers

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The 2023 Red Sox: By the numbers


Baseball is a numbers game. It has always been a numbers game.

Number of games played, homers hit, runs driven in, strikeouts, walks. Wins and losses. Averages and percentages. Single-season and career statistics. Record highs and personal worsts.

That’s not even getting into the advanced metrics of the modern era.

One stat alone won’t tell the full story. In 2023, the Red Sox finished 78-84, in last place for the third time in four seasons. But their record belies how great they were at times, on both individual and collective levels.

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To truly understand this team, why they flourished, faltered, and how they ultimately failed, one must examine the numbers behind the numbers. So, one last time before the calendar page mercifully flips to a new year and clean slate, here are the 2023 Red Sox by the numbers:

Record and records

Here’s an odd bit of trivia: this was the ninth season in which the Red Sox won exactly 78 games, but only the sixth time they also finished with exactly 84 losses. The 1905, 1911, and 1935 teams each compiled 78 wins, but only 74 or 75 losses, making them three winning seasons.

Also hidden within their record were some unfortunate firsts. Among them, an early September contest which became the first 9-inning loss in franchise history in which the Red Sox collected at least 21 hits.

For the third year running, the Red Sox led all Major League teams in doubles (339). Excluding the shortened 2020 season, that streak goes back to 2018. They were second in the game in batting average on balls in play (BABIP), and ranked sixth in batting average (.258) and ninth in slugging percentage (.424). They were fourth in hits (1,437), 11th in runs (772) and RBI (734), but a lack of power left them 18th in homers (182). They were a respectable 13th in strikeouts (1,372), but didn’t draw nearly enough walks (24th, 486), and left 1,117 men on base, 12th-most in the Majors.

What really did them in, though, was starting pitching or lack thereof. With an all-too-familiar dearth of durability in the rotation, 17 different pitchers cobbled together starts for Boston in 2023. Quality starts – at least six innings, no more than three earned runs – were few and far between. There were 47 of them this year, an improvement of exactly one over last year’s mark. In fact, the last four seasons have yielded the club’s lowest quality-start counts of the Live Ball Era, which began in 1920.

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However, Kutter Crawford made franchise history as the first pitcher to record as many as four games of at least six innings pitched and one hit allowed in a single season. He and National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell led the Majors with four such outings apiece.

Speaking of Cy Young awards, relievers aren’t typically in the conversation – the last bullpen arm to take home the prestigious pitching accolade was Eric Gagne with the Dodgers in ‘03 – but Chris Martin received a fifth-place vote this year, and finished 12th overall for AL Cy Young. He posted a 1.05 ERA over 55 appearances for Boston this season, and consistently carried the later inning workload for almost the entire season.

Justin Turner spent his age-38 season doing things the David Ortiz way. He joined Ortiz and Bob Johnson as the only Red Sox players to drive in 96 or more runs in a single season at 38 or older.

And how many rookie-eligible players have drawn 70 or more walks in a single season? Triston Casas just became the sixth in franchise history. He did so in 132 games, second only to Billy Goodman’s 1948 season, when he walked 74 times in 127 contests. Casas also became the fifth Red Sox rookie under 24 years old to homer at least 24 times in a single season, and the first since Nomar Garciaparra in 1997.

Debuts

Thanks to a replenished farm system, when the Red Sox needed reinforcements, they were able to call up some high-caliber talent. Eight players made their major league debuts in the following order: Masataka Yoshida, Enmanuel Valdez, Chris Murphy, Joe Jacques, David Hamilton, Brandon Walter, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela.

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The farm system, meanwhile, improved to No. 5 in Baseball America’s organizational rankings, and No. 2 in FanGraphs’.

Memorable Milestones

In May, Kenley Jansen became the seventh pitcher in MLB history to convert 400 saves. Two weeks later, former Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel joined him in the club. Oddly enough, both picked up No. 400 in Atlanta, against a team they both played for previously.

Devers reached and promptly blew past 150 career home runs, 200 career doubles, and 500 career RBI. With his 400th career extra-base hit in mid-September, he became the first player in franchise history to reach the mark before turning 27. (Ted Williams would’ve done it, if not for his three years of military service in World War II.)

Adam Duvall passed the 400 career runs and 500 career RBI marks, and Justin Turner reached 300 doubles. Before getting traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kiké Hernández picked up career home run No. 100.

Payroll

Last, but certainly not least, the bottom line.

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Last December, Chaim Bloom gave Masataka Yoshida a five-year contract for $90 million, the largest ever for a Japanese position player. Then, in January, Devers signed a franchise-record 10-year contract extension worth $313.5 million, far surpassing the previous record: the seven-year, $217M they gave David Price in 2015.

However, overall spending headed in the opposite direction. After finishing in last place with a payroll over the Competitive Balance Threshold in 2022, the Red Sox reset their penalties this year. Despite vocal pleas from their players to bring in reinforcements before the midsummer trade deadline, the brass stood pat. According to Spotrac, Boston finished the season with just under $222.5 million in luxury tax spending, leaving over $10 million in space. That put them 12th in the league in spending.

While the Red Sox came under fire for scrimping, it’s worth pointing out that the three top spenders this year, the Mets ($374.6M), Yankees ($296.3M), and Padres ($291.2M), all missed the postseason, too.



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Proposed “perfect” Red Sox trade sees Boston deal Jarren Duran, prospects for $15.5 million two-time All-Star ace

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Proposed “perfect” Red Sox trade sees Boston deal Jarren Duran, prospects for .5 million two-time All-Star ace


The Boston Red Sox found their ace in Garrett Crochet this year, after trading for him around this time last year. Now, they’ve made some moves to finally get him some support in the rotation, but none of those moves are truly a No. 2 to back him up.

Fansided’s Cody Williams believes he has the perfect trade for a name that’s been floated around as an option: Milwaukee Brewers All-Star Freddy Peralta. 

“While Boston has long looked like an obvious suitor for Peralta, the trade assets haven’t necessarily lined up perfectly for both them and Milwaukee…Now, the Brewers still aren’t in need of outfield help, so to speak, but there is certainly room to upgrade over the likes of Jake Bauers, Garrett Mitchell or Blake Perkins, which Duran or Abreu would allow them to do. Furthermore, in typical fashion for Milwaukee, they could flip an asset they’re unlikely to be able to pay in Peralta for immediate major-league upgrades with plenty of club control at low cost and prospects that could help keep the ball rolling under Pat Murphy,” Williams wrote. 

MORE: Cubs predicted to trade for $3.75 million 150 SO ace to create 1-2 punch with Shota Imanaga

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The trade would look like this: 

Red Sox get: RHP Freddy Peralta

Brewers get: OF Jarren Duran, SS Franklin Arias (No. 1 Prospect), RHP Juan Valera (No. 12 Prospect) 

MORE: Mariners predicted to trade for $5.75 million All-Star, Gold Glove as amazing replacement for Jorge Polanco

Peralta posted a 17-6 record, a 2.70 ERA, 204 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.075 over 176 innings pitched last season. Combine him with Crochet, and the Sox have a World Series-contending-level rotation. 

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The only problem with this is it’s basically a one-year rental. Peralta’s contract is up after this year, and he’s projected to get a five-year, $152 million deal. 

The Sox have shown they don’t believe in giving long-term contracts out to players over 30, and Peralta will be 30 in the upcoming season. Hopefully, the Sox make an exception, get uncomfortable like they said they would, and pursue this trade.

MORE MLB NEWS

Braves predicted to be top trade candidate for $325 million two-time World Series MVP, five-time All-Star as massive upgrade over Mauricio Dubon

Red Sox predicted to be top landing spot for $116.5 million three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, would be massive upgrade from David Hamilton

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Phillies predicted to be top trade candidate for $7.7 million All-Star MVP, would replace Nick Castellanos



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BU spoils Northeastern final game at Matthews Arena

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BU spoils Northeastern final game at Matthews Arena


BOSTON – Before the lights went out at Matthews Arena for the last time, they shined brightly on Boston University center Brandon Svoboda.

The sophomore from Pittsburgh scored two goals including the game-winner at 18:21 of the third to lift the Terriers to a 4-3 victory over Northeastern, on Saturday night. Svoboda’s fourth of the season was the final goal scored at Northeastern’s historic Matthews Arena.

The Terriers’ victory over the Huskies was the last sporting event played inside Matthews Arena, which officially opened its doors as Boston Arena in April of 1910.

“I got a lucky bounce and I capitalized on it and put it in the back of the net,” said Svoboda. “Playing the last game ever in this building is pretty special and what was it, 1910 this place was built so it was pretty special being the last team playing in this building.

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“We are a young group and we are figuring it out so it was obviously a big deal to get a W in the last game in this arena.”

BU improved to 9-8-1 and 6-3-0 in Hockey East going into the semester break while the No. 11 Huskies fell to 10-6-0 and 5-4-0 in the conference.

“It was just a big win for us going into the semester break,” said BU coach Jay Pandolfo. “The first half has not been ideal for us so to finish it that way, to come back in the third period to win a hockey game in this environment, where this is their last home game here and they wanted to win and we found a way to pull it off.”

Northeastern purchased the structure in 1979 and renamed it Matthews Arena three years later. The demolition of the old barn nestled between Mass. Ave and Gainsborough Street will begin in January and the new arena is scheduled to go online in September of 2028.

“Having a new facility is definitely a big selling point,” said NU coach Jerry Keefe. “It is going to have all the amenities you need to develop players and I think this generation of recruits like the shiny and the new.”

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The first Beanpot Tournament was played at Boston Arena in 1952, so it seemed appropriate that Northeastern would play its final game against a neighboring Beanpot opponent. BU played its home games at Boston Arena from 1918 to 1971 before moving into its new facility on Babcock Street.

Pandolfo enjoyed many Matthews moments both on the ice and behind the bench. Pandolfo also played in the final Beanpot game at the old Boston Garden.

“I always enjoyed playing here that’s for sure,” Pandolfo said. “It was a fun place to play and I always enjoyed it and I enjoyed coaching there. It is a great environment and a special old building.

“That’s the biggest attachment for me and that I just enjoyed it. My grandfather played at Northeastern, my mom’s dad and that makes it special as well. It was also Boston University’s home rink as well for a long time and that is a big reason we are here closing it out with Northeastern.”

The Huskies had some extra zip in their blades that created several scoring opportunities, all of which deftly handled by BU netminder Mikhail Yegorov.

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NU went up 1-0 on a power play goal by freshman center Jacob Mathieu at 11:28 of the first. Mathieu found an opening outside the BU crease and redirected Giacomo Martino’s wrister from the left circle for his fifth of the season.

NU went up 2-0 at 14:36 when junior center Tyler Fukakusa finished a two-on-one break with his second goal of the season. BU got on the board when Svoboda netted a power play goal at 17:40, his third of the season.

“We were playing fine but we just made some mistakes so to get out of that first period 2-1 was important no question about that,” said Pandolfo.

BU tied the game 2-2 on sophomore center Sacha Boisvert’s second of the season at 13:38 of the second. NU went up 3-2 when sophomore left wing Joe Connor beat the buzzer at 19:59 with his sixth of the season. NU tied the game 3-3 on Kamil Bednarik tally at 18:02 of the third. Svoboda would score 19 seconds later to complete the comeback.

“You give up a late goal at the end of the second period after a power play, that can really hurt you,” said Pandolfo. “But our guys were determined to come back.”

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Boston city councilor pushes for state audit of federal grant funds after misuse by city program

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Boston city councilor pushes for state audit of federal grant funds after misuse by city program


Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn requested that the state auditor’s office conduct a formal audit of the nearly $560 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds the city received from the federal government, in light of misspending by a city program.

Flynn sent a letter to State Auditor Diana DiZoglio on Friday requesting an audit of the federal grant funds the city received through the ARPA legislation of 2021 that was issued as a COVID-19 pandemic-relief measure.

The councilor said Boston received nearly $560 million in federal funds for pandemic recovery. The money was committed by the end of 2024, and must be spent by the end of next year, he said.

“In May of this year, it was reported that the City of Boston’s Three Squares Main Streets program allegedly misspent ARPA funds in the amount of $32,000,” Flynn wrote in the letter. “Irresponsible funding and spending leads to inflated costs and missed opportunities to improve our communities.

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“It is critical that the City of Boston spends taxpayer dollars responsibly to regain our credibility and show respect to the residents,” he added.

Flynn wrote that he chose to pursue a state audit due to the City Council’s failure to hold oversight hearings, and ensure that “Boston is in compliance with spending regulations.”

Auditor DiZoglio’s office said Friday that it had received Flynn’s letter and that the councilor’s request requires a majority vote from the City Council and approval from the mayor to permit the auditor’s office to conduct a municipal audit.

“Our General Counsel will be sending Councilor Flynn the legal process required, under the law, to engage the Office of State Auditor with respect to a municipal audit,” DiZoglio spokesperson Andrew Carden said in a statement.

“Unlike the Office of Inspector General, which has the full legal authority to audit and investigate municipal government entities without a request or permission from a city or town, the Office of State Auditor, while mandated to audit state government entities, is actually legally required to obtain permission from a municipality, via both a majority vote from the City Council and approval by the Mayor, to be permitted to conduct a municipal audit,” Carden added.

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Flynn told the Herald he wouldn’t hold his breath for approval from his colleagues on the City Council, which is largely allied with Mayor Michelle Wu.

“Since the City Council failed to hold the necessary oversight hearings to determine how we spend federal funds, an outside audit is essential to ensure appropriate spending, demonstrate transparency and accountability,” Flynn said. “The Boston City Council will not support an independent audit of our financial records to ensure we are complying with federal spending laws.”

Mayor Wu’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment on whether the Wu administration would support Flynn’s request for a state audit.



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