This season the Red Sox pitching staff has – to make a classic statement – underperformed regarding expectations. The staff “Ace” was supposed to be Chris Sale who has simply – using a boxing vernacular – tanked. Right behind on the pitching highway to baseball hell is Rick Porcello, Nathan Eovaldi, and David Price.
To paraphrase a long-ago comedian of some note – Henny Youngman – “Take my bullpen, please!” The bullpen needs a hazmat suit for bullpen catcher Mani Martinez. Boston’s bullpen has been in a season-long contest with the rotation to determine which is most toxic to pitching success.