Some noteworthy stories from around the web for Red Sox fans:
- Boston Herald’s John Tomase on what the Red Sox can learn from the Royals. Among the lessons, having a string of power relievers, each throwing north of 95 MPH. Boston had none (Junichi Tazawa topped out at 94.98 MPH in 2014).
- This season only 11 MLB players hit 30+ home runs. There were 47 in the 2000 season. All the more reason, GM Cherington says, the Red Sox approach can’t change in a wholesale fashion. We must, he says, “be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.” Providence Journal’s Brian Macpherson has a good piece on Boston’s philosophy, and how it’s staying put—at least when it comes to grinding out at-bats.
- Red Sox rookie Mookie Betts has landed himself a spot on the Baseball America 2014 All-Rookie Team. But that’s not as surprising as this: it’s at 2nd base, where he played 14 games this season.