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| (Boston Red Sox Photo By Michael Ivins) |
David Price will make his 22nd start tonight as a member of
The Carmine Hose. Suffice it to say that—other than his post-season work—this could be the biggest start of his career. So far, the Red Sox have paid $1,476,190.40 for
each one of his first 21 starts. The results have been a pedestrian 9-7 record, with a 4.51 ERA. While he
has struck out a
ton of hitters (145), he's also faced more batters than anyone else in the American League (573). In addition, he's given up more hits (143) than innings pitched (135.2)—
not the sign of an elite hurler. If Price could simply perform to his capabilities, the Red Sox wouldn't need to drain their farm system for
another ace. So, tonight on the
Left Coast, Price faces a
really bad Angel team—but one that still has
Mike Trout and
Albert Pujols in its lineup. All he needs to do is just—in the words of another sport's coach—
"do his job". Can he go out and dominate tonight—or will it be another post-game interview where he (to his credit) re-states the obvious? Red Sox fans don't want honest self-assessments of failure. They want their $1,476,190.40's worth.
Tonight.
