Top 25 MLB stories of 2017

Top 25 MLB stories of 2017, from Aaron Judge to Houston Strong

HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 03: Marwin Gonzalez #9 of the Houston Astros and Alex Bregman #2 hold the World Series Trophy during the Houston Astros Victory Parade on November 3, 2017 in Houston, Texas. The Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in Game 7 to win the 2017 World Series. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

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BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 9: Hanley Ramirez #13 of the Boston Red Sox bats during Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park on October 9, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Houston Astros advance to the American League Championship Series. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

8. Power outage in Boston

For the second year in a row, the Boston Red Sox were kings of the AL East. For the second year in a row, the Boston Red Sox were eliminated in the ALDS. With the New York Yankees gearing up with another dynasty in the making, Red Sox fans are rightfully concerned about the state of their team.

The first year without David Ortiz anchoring the lineup saw the Red Sox struggling to find their identity. The team still hit for a relatively high average, scored enough runs, avoided strikeouts and drew walks, but the power numbers were among the worst in the league. The Red Sox finished 14th in the AL with a slugging percentage of .407 and were dead last with 168 home runs. Playing 81 home games in Fenway Park alone should be enough to keep a team from hitting the fewest home runs in the league.

Two players seemed to be affected by the loss of Ortiz more than the rest of the Red Sox lineup. Mookie Betts and Hanley Ramirez book-ended Big Papi last year and combined for 61 home runs and 224 RBI. In 2017, Betts and Ramirez combined for only 47 home runs and 169 RBI. Ramirez has been streaky in his three years in Boston, but Betts is a budding superstar who finished second in the MVP vote in 2016. His OPS should not fall nearly 100 points after the subtraction of one teammate.

With the Yankees loading up, the pressure is on Red Sox GM Dave Dombrowski to make an aggressive move to counter the acquisition of Giancarlo Stanton. The most obvious fit is J.D. Martinez, but there has not been much movement towards getting a deal done.

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