Ordinarily, JDM would have no business playing LF at Fenway on a wet day, but the Sox needed to sit Verdugo and Franchy, for different reasons.
Guys either draw a lot of walks or they don’t. If you want different results, you usually need different players. But some of the Sox’ lowest walk rates belong to their best hitters.
Also worth nothing that only Detroit’s pitchers have issued more walks than the Sox in the AL. That’s concerning too.
Very insightful points, Matt.
If I can expand on a couple of them.
Ordinarily, JDM would have no business playing LF at Fenway on a wet day, but the Sox needed to sit Verdugo and Franchy, for different reasons.
Guys either draw a lot of walks or they don’t. If you want different results, you usually need different players. But some of the Sox’ lowest walk rates belong to their best hitters.
Also worth nothing that only Detroit’s pitchers have issued more walks than the Sox in the AL. That’s concerning too.
Ironically