The Boston Red Sox kicked off their 2024 season with an impressive record of 7-3 over a 10-game West Coast road trip, showcasing a level of performance that fans and analysts alike have not seen from the team in recent years. This remarkable start has been underpinned by an exceptional showing from their pitching staff, which allowed two or fewer runs in six of the ten games, setting a new franchise record for ERA (Earned Run Average) at the start of a season.
Pitching Excellence Sets a New Tone
The carried momentum is a stark contrast to the team's struggles in the previous season, where they concluded with a 78-84 record. This underperformance marked the third time in four years that the Red Sox found themselves languishing in the lower echelons of the league standings. Specifically, their pitching struggled significantly, with the team finishing 21st in ERA and 25th in ERA+ rankings in consecutive seasons. However, the early indications from the 2024 season suggest a significant turnaround, with the team's pitching core demonstrating a newfound resilience and effectiveness.
Team Adjustments and Strategy Shifts
Despite facing adversity, including the loss of Lucas Giolito for the season due to elbow surgery and the fallout of negotiations to sign pitcher Jordan Montgomery, the Red Sox management has been proactive in instigating change within the organization. Craig Breslow's appointment as the chief baseball officer, succeeding Chaim Bloom, marked the beginning of this transformation. Furthermore, the hiring of Andrew Bailey as the new pitching coach, taking over from Dave Bush, has imbued the team's pitching strategy with fresh ideas and approaches.
A critical strategic adjustment that has played a role in the team's early success is the shift away from a heavy reliance on fastballs, a move that has, so far, been validated by the team’s performance. Notably, about 90% of the innings thrown during the initial road trip were by pitchers who were with the Red Sox in 2023, indicating that the improved outcomes are less about new personnel and more about adjustments and improvements in strategy and execution.
Overcoming Challenges
The impressive stats come with the caveat that the Red Sox's early-season opponents have been among the weaker offensive teams, and the games were played in pitcher-friendly ballparks. However, the fact remains that the Red Sox’s approach to pitching has seen a marked improvement, with a clear departure from over-reliance on fastballs—a strategy that appears to be paying dividends.
Manager Alex Cora’s acknowledgment of the team's shift in pitching philosophy underscores the strategic pivot, emphasizing the differentiation in the approach compared to past seasons. The relationship and shared vision between Breslow and Bailey, tracing back to their playing days, further highlight the cohesive strategic framework being developed within the organization.
Looking Ahead
While it’s still early in the 2024 season, the signs of revival and strategic ingenuity bode well for the Boston Red Sox. The departure from a fastball-dominant approach to a more diversified pitching strategy has not only been a refreshing change but also an effective one. As the season progresses, it will be fascinating to see how this less fastball-reliant approach holds up against the diverse and challenging offenses across MLB.
What remains clear is that the Red Sox are not the same team as in previous years—both in personnel changes and in strategic orientation. With Bailey at the helm of the pitching staff and a management team willing to innovate and adapt, the Red Sox's early success may just be the beginning of a transformative season. As Cora aptly put, "Pitching-wise, we're different. Everybody knows it," a statement that could very well define the Red Sox's trajectory in the 2024 MLB season.