Boston Red Sox: Carl Crawford and the 12 Biggest Red Sox Goats in September

So as we all know the Boston Red Sox committed one of the most disappointing collapses in Baseball history. I am not going to bore you with all the information about how many games they were up and how impressive of a comeback it was by the Tampa Bay Rays but I will sit here and tell you that there are some major culprits which played into the collapse.

Here is a list of the biggest goats for September.

The Importance of Pitching

Most of the players on this list are pitchers. If you actually look at the numbers, the offense didn’t put up poor numbers. In fact, five Red Sox players hit over .300 for the month of September, and two others still had decent enough months (Ortiz: .287/.396 1.00 BB/K, but only one HR; Reddick: .271). So if seven of the everyday players played well enough for the month, then how in the world did this happen?

Looking at the numbers of the pitchers is absolutely revolting. The Red Sox lost a playoff berth because of their pitchers, there are no buts about it.

They say that pitching is the most important aspect of winning, and this September showed that tenfold.

Jon Lester

Let us start at the top of the rotation. Jon Lester (who helped carry my fantasy team to the finals, only to fall flat on his head and help me lose). Other than his month of May (and of course September) Lester’s worst pitching month carried an ERA of 2.78, and his worst BAA was .214.

He had been consistent up until September, where he posted an atrocious 5.40 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and .282 BAA. September was the only month in which he did not have a winning record (he was 1-3), and he really helped blow their chances alongside the rest of the staff.

Josh Beckett

Like Lester, Beckett had had quite the season. Beckett’s decline actually began in August (3.89 ERA), but exploded in September with a 5.48 ERA and .267 BAA.

Like Lester, it was the only month of the season in which he did not post a winning record (1-2), and he really helped blow their chances alongside the rest of the staff.

John Lackey

Although he has been a goat all season, Lackey was especially bad in September. Believe it or not, he averaged more than a run per inning (9.13 ERA), a WHIP over 2.00 and could barely strike anyone out (5.47 K/9). Not much else to say, he was a goat all year and became a super goat in September.

He really helped blow their chances alongside the rest of the staff.

Tim Wakefield

What a nice guy that T-Wake is. Too bad at the young age of 45 he had to start four games for the Red Sox in a playoff race. You can’t really fault the guy much, but a 5.25 ERA won’t cut it when racing for the playoffs.

He really helped blow their chances alongside the rest of the staff.

Erik Bedard

Bedard only started three games for the Sox in September, but he still did not produce in those starts. Coming back from an injury, he posted a 5.25 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and .306 BAA. That just will not get it done in the AL East.

This ends the rotation that is up on the bostonredsox.com website. If you combine the ERA of these five studs, you get a gorgeous 6.13 ERA. Now that’s a playoff team.

Kyle Weiland

The 25-year-old did not fare well in his September call-up. Weiland started three games (pitched in five in total) and put up terrible numbers. His 7.36 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 10/11 BB/K ratio had many wondering what Epstein was doing, and if this was the best option as a September starter in the thick of a playoff race.

Andrew Miller

Like Weiland, this once-heralded, forgotten prospect did not pitch well in September. He lost both games he started, and pitched in five total games, posting an impressive 11.70 ERA, 2.50 WHIP and a ridiculous .372 BAA. .372!

Let me repeat that.

.372 BAA.

Not much else to say here…

Onto the relievers!

Daniel Bard

The young closer-in-waiting pitched in 11 games in September. He was 0-4 with three blown saves and three holds. His numbers were impressive, with a 10.64 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 9 BB in 11 IP.

He actually didn't pitch as badly as those numbers suggest, as he gave up 5 ER in 1 IP on September 7th. Take that away, and his ERA drops from 10.64 to 7.20. Still gross, but not as gross. 

Jonathan Papelbon

Of the whole list, he was the most reliable. But the fact that he had as many saves (two) as he had blown saves (two) for the month, coupled with the fact that he blew it on the last game of the season means he deserves to be on this list. He only gave up runs in three of the eight games he pitched in, but they were crucial.

I find that closers are like offensive linemen; you only really talk about them when they blow their assignment (save or block).

Now onto the few fielders that deserve to be on this list.

Jed Lowrie

I didn’t find that Lowrie was that bad in his 14 games in September, as he battled through injuries. But when you bat a paltry .140 for the month, you need to be named, even though he had more HRs than Ortiz in almost half the games (14 vs. 26).

Jarrod Saltalamacchia

Like Lowrie, Salty put up some decent power numbers for the month, but a terrible .162 AVG nets him on this list. Another main reason he makes the list (even though he had three times the number of homers that Big Papi had in eight fewer games) is due to his grotesque 27.00 K/BB ratio. 27!!!! Somehow I found a picture where he isn't striking out!

And now for the final player on the list…I am sure you all know who I am talking about…

Jacoby Ellsbury

Ellsbury had a terrible September. He only hit .358 with 8 HR and 21 RBI. Ellsbury only had 43 hits in 27 games.

Clearly you know that I am kidding and I believe that Ellsbury had one of the three best statistical seasons in the majors.

Now for the real finale.

Carl Crawford

Surprisingly enough, Crawford’s September wasn’t atrocious, even though it seemed so as you tuned in. Crawford had a line of .264/.295 with 24 hits in 23 games. However, like Salty, he had a terrible K/BB of just over five, and he only stole one base in the month!

Crawford’s goat-ness ran deeper than his numbers, and the missed catch on the final play of the game was a microcosm of the Boston Red Sox' season.

Close…just not good enough.