Felger & Massarotti TWO PLAYERS contributing to Red Sox ROUGH START - Breaking Balls with Tony Mazz
Apr 7, 2026
A breakdown of two players whose hitting and pitching flaws are hurting the Red Sox early in the season. One slugger’s homer splits and trouble with high velocity are analyzed. A reliever’s poor location and blown late-inning chances are highlighted. The piece connects those issues to Boston’s rough 2-7 start.
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Trevor Story Vulnerable To High Velocity
- Trevor Story struggles with high velocity fastballs despite solid overall numbers last year.
- Massarotti shows Story hit 20 of 25 homers on offspeed or breaking pitches, and he mistimed a key at-bat versus a high-90s lefty that led to a strikeout.
Key Late At-Bat Illustrates Story's Limitation
- In a late-game two-on nobody-out spot, Story saw multiple high-velocity pitches and fouled then swung through a slider to strike out.
- Massarotti notes Story opened in the box to handle inside heaters but still couldn't put the ball in play to tie the game.
Bogaerts Has Been Better Since Leaving Boston
- Comparing post-Boston careers, Xander Bogaerts has outperformed Trevor Story in availability and WAR since Bogaerts left.
- Massarotti points out Bogaerts' higher OPS, more homers, RBIs and even stolen bases over the period.