3 Red Sox New Year’s Resolutions

Mandatory Photo Credit: Boston Globe / Getty Images

Every year we all come up with New Year’s resolutions. Whether it’s wanting to eat better or consistently going to the gym, there is always something we set out to do to accomplish in the new year. As this is often an individual goal, the same thing can be applied to the game of baseball. In this exercise; the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox have made progress finishing third in the AL East in 2024. However, they have not reached the postseason since 2021 and have had more last place finishes in the division than any other team over the last 6 seasons. While .500 in 2024 was better than the year prior, the Red Sox should have these resolutions in mind so they can have a strong 2025 season.

1. Better Discipline At the Plate

There was nothing more frustrating than watching the Red Sox offense go from hot to cold with the flip of a switch. The offense was fun and even electric at times. Tyler O’Neill flexed his big Canadian biceps and Ceddanne Rafaela had clutch hits in the seventh inning or beyond. Jarren Duran was an electric factory. Overall, the Red Sox did some exciting things last season.

The Red Sox offense scored the ninth most runs and hit the ninth most home runs. They were fifth in batting average, seventh in OPS, and 11th in wRC+. However, they struck out A LOT!

The Red Sox struck out the third most only behind the Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners. That correlated to the third highest strikeout percentage (25.4%). The strikeout rates for the lineup were eye opening and a big reason the team struggled to be consistent.

Tyler O’Neill: 33.6%

Triston Casas: 31.7%

Trevor Story: 31.1%

Wilyer Abreu: 28.0%

Ceddane Rafaela: 26.4%

Rafael Devers: 24.5%

Jarren Duran: 21.8%

One caveat is Casas and Story missed the majority of the season, so they never really found their rhythm. O’Neill came with plenty of pop and power, but he struck out a lot making him a boom or bust player. It’s an issue that trickled down the entire lineup.

The Red Sox should look to bring in someone to bolster the lineup that makes a ton of contact rather than just raw power. We all saw the offense look like a top offense in the sport at times in 2024. Cutting down the amount of strikeouts will make them more consistent and even more dangerous in 2025.

2. Improving the Infield Defense

For my own personal sanity, the infield defense has to improve. It was yet another tough go for the infield. Losing Trevor Story ultimately hurt the defense in more ways than one. The Red Sox had a revolving door in the infield, especially at shortstop and second base. It was tough to watch at times. Ceddanne Rafaela was adjusting and got better at shortstop as the year went on. But the inability to make the routine play and get the simple outs was gut punching. Yes, I am looking at you David Hamilton and Emmanuel Valdez. Godspeed to Valdez in Pittsburgh, but I am a bit glad I don’t have to watch Valdez try to play second base anymore.

The defense gave up 93 unearned runs and accumulated the second most errors in baseball. Almost all of those miscues came from the infield.

Red Sox second basemen had the second most errors in baseball from the position and accounted for -10 outs above average. Third base was also rough accumulating -8 defensive runs saved and -10 outs above average. There wasn’t much Boston could do at shortstop once Trevor Story went down but it was alarming after his injury. The shortstop position accumulated -7 defensive runs saved and -9 outs above average. First base was in the negative as well but was without question was the best defensive spot in the infield. With all of the negative values in the defense, it puts a ton of pressure on the pitching staff to be perfect.

The outfield defense was immaculate. Between Wilyer’s canon of an arm in right field and Duran and Rafaela making spectacular catches, the outfield defense is not a concern. The focus has to be on improving the infield defense. When Story returned things became much more fluent and he was able to stabilize the infield. Devers must continue to improve this offseason by putting in the work. Hopefully a healthy Casas and Story will go a long way to having a legitimate defensive infield.

The bar is low, but the potential is certainly there to be significantly better in 2025.

3. Winning at Fenway Park

There’s nothing more dreadful than blaring Sweet Carolina at Fenway Park when the team is getting their teeth kicked in. It hits much better when the team wins. However, the Red Sox have not enjoyed home cooking and recently have been a much better road team than a home team. Since winning the World Series in 2018, the Red Sox are 220-215 on the road. At home? 217-219, good for a .499 winning percentage. It hasn’t been entirely bad, but being .500 at home since having the World Series parade sure doesn’t sit right.

Fenway Park has become a stomping ground for visiting fans. Having a better product on the field (hopefully a winning product) should change that. Winning at home should be the next sign of improvement. In 2024, the Red Sox went 38-43. Just think, adding five more wins at home would’ve propelled them into the Wild Card spot. Winning at home is great. Getting the rowdy Fenway crowd going crazy is even greater.

There’s been zero playoff games for the Red Sox organization over the past 3 years. Hopefully if Boston can improve with these three resolutions it will lead to playoff baseball once again in Fenway Park in 2025.

Happy New Year from Ballpark Buzz!