Pitching was an obvious weakness for the Boston Red Sox this season. Roster construction can take some of the blame while other factors were out of their control, including a starting rotation ravaged by injuries. In order to bounce back next year, it’s going to take more than new additions and better health. The pitching staff needs a change in philosophy.
The Red Sox plan on placing an emphasis on their pitchers attacking the strike zone. The idea is to pitch near the heart of the plate early in counts to get ahead rather than nibble around the edges to risk falling behind.