Since the day he joined the Red Sox, the Boston media has been tearing David Price to the ground. From being labeled soft and weak to being accused of having a Fortnite addiction, the starting pitcher has been through it all. In the eyes of the major press, the former Cy Young winner can’t do anything right. Maybe the source of the David Price slander dates back to the time he allowed 7+ runs in fewer than five innings against the Yankees. Or maybe it was the second time he did that. Or maybe even the third.
You get the point.
Despite Price’s reputation as an overpaid middle-rotation guy, he’s been wildly dominant in the past couple months. After his meltdowns against the Yankees and Royals in early July, the lefty boasts an average of 6.8 IP, ERA of 1.09, and 1.7 walks per 9 innings. What did he change?
To start, he’s made adjustments in his technique. According to Boston’s coaching staff, Price has moved his spot on the rubber almost to the first-base edge. He’s pitching from the full windup, and he’s improved his fastball command. This helps him when he turns to his changeup more often.
The Sox have been enjoying the benefits of these new adjustments. Boston has won 16 of the past 18 games Price has started, including his last eight in a row. During this stretch, the Sox had built a nine-game division lead and reached 90 wins by August 24. Maybe Price is the final piece to Dombrowski’s puzzle – Boston just can’t seem to lose when he’s on the mound.
This past Friday, Price dealt eight scoreless innings, handing out only three singles, no walks, and seven strikeouts while securing a 7-0 win over Cleveland. In case those numbers aren’t enough to impress you, elite hitters Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez went a combined 0-6 against Price. I haven’t exactly crunched all the numbers, but I’m pretty sure that’s a good start.
Regular season wins, however, won’t be enough for Price to prove himself – anything short of a ring will be a disappointment for this year’s Red Sox team. If Boston wants to beat the Astros or the Indians, they’ll need someone to match up in the second slot against Gerrit Cole or Carlos Carrasco. Who else but Price is right for the job? Porcello is inconsistent, E-Rod is hurt, and Eovaldi is getting shelled. Don’t even get me started on Drew Pomeranz.
Last year, Price was lights-out from the bullpen, but management couldn’t rely on him as a starter. This year Price needs to step up, destroy the narrative, and bring Fenway another flag.
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