Fansided

5 reasons for Boston Red Sox fans to not freak out

By Joshua Sadlock

BOSTON, MA. - APRIL 15: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox strikes out during the fifth inning as Jesús Sucre of the Baltimore Orioles throws the ball during the MLB game at Fenway Park on April 15, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Matt Stone/Digital First Media/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA. - APRIL 15: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox strikes out during the fifth inning as Jesús Sucre of the Baltimore Orioles throws the ball during the MLB game at Fenway Park on April 15, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Matt Stone/Digital First Media/Boston Herald via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 14: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox runs after hitting a single during the ninth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on April 14, 2019 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 14: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox runs after hitting a single during the ninth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on April 14, 2019 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

4. J.D. Martinez has been raking

Boston outfielder/DH J.D. Martinez just might be the best overall hitter in baseball. Leaving defense out of the equation, the 31-year-old is one of a handful of players a manager would choose to send to the plate with the game on the line. He is a dominant power hitter who uses all fields, stays within himself and actually struck out less than once per game last year while posting an OPS over 1.000. That’s unheard of in today’s game.

It’s been more of the same this season from Martinez, who has taken his game to an entirely different level since being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks at the deadline in 2017. The Red Sox scooped him up on a five-year, $110-million deal that now looks like a massive steal. Martinez hit .330/.402/.629 last year with 43 home runs and 130 RBI. Through 18 games this year, he is hitting .338/.408/.554 with three home runs and nine RBI.

The Red Sox struggled at times offensively in 2017 after sending David Ortiz off into the sunset. The lineup was missing that big presence in the middle, and the addition of Martinez filled that void. He has the ability to carry a lineup, which makes it easier for everyone around him to produce.

Offense hasn’t necessarily been the issue for the Red Sox during their slow start, but it is still reassuring to see the team’s big slugger in the middle off to another MVP-caliber start. This lineup is more than capable of carrying a mediocre pitching staff.

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