The Boston Red Sox finished last in the AL East last year, with a mediocre 78-84 record.
You wouldn’t know it if you watched them play in the spring this year, though.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Sox are undefeated in spring training action.
“It’s only spring training, but still, the Boston #Red Sox (7-0-3) are the only undefeated team in baseball, their longest unbeaten spring training streak since 1951, per SABR,” MLB insider Bob Nightengale tweeted.
It’s only spring training, but still, the Boston #Red Sox (7-0-3) are the only undefeated team in baseball, their longest unbeaten spring training streak since 1951, per SABR
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 7, 2023
The fact that there are ties in that record should pretty much tell you everything you need to know about its legitimacy.
Spring training: the word is self-explanatory.
Most players are getting up to speed, getting their arms loose, finding their stroke at the plate, and still adapting to the new rules.
We have seen countless spring training stars fade once the real action begins.
The same can be said about teams: they might or might not be good, but how they fare in the spring is by no means predictive.
In fact, there is a very strong argument to say the Red Sox didn’t actually get better during the offseason.
They don’t have Xander Bogaerts, a 6-win player per WAR (Wins Above Average), anymore.
They also lost JD Martinez, Nate Eovaldi, Michael Wacha, and other important players.
There is hope, though, but it will require some best-case scenarios presenting themselves.
They brought in Japanese star Masataka Yoshida, they extended slugger Rafael Devers, and also signed Justin Turner, Corey Kluber, Kenley Jansen, and others.
Chris Sale, one of their best pitchers, is trending in the right direction after a series of injury-riddled seasons.
The Red Sox do have hope and a chance to be competitive.
Luck should be on their side, though.
In the end, their spring training start might end up being just a fun fact over the course of the long season.
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