David Price says he’s been saving postseason wins for the Red Sox
Such press gatherings are a standard part of the process for top free agent signings and trade acquisitions. For the acquiring team, it’s something of a public celebration for landing an impact player and a pat on the back for a job well done. As for the media, it provides an opportunity to snap a few photos of the superstar in his new uniform, ask a few questions and fish for a good quote or two.
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On the latter subject, the media typically comes up empty, as these press conferences generally produce only the most cliched and sometimes rehearsed responses. With Price though, it was expected to be different, and he did not disappoint, providing both entertaining material and genuine enthusiasm for the next chapter in his career.
Of course, among the first topics to be mentioned was Price’s postseason struggles, which have been well documented over the years. Price has now appeared in six different postseasons with three different teams, but has yet to earn a victory as a starting pitcher. Price has two wins in relief, including one for the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 4 of the ALDS this past season, but has historically struggled in his eight starts, posting a 5.37 ERA.
Those numbers are undoubtedly a concern for fans focused on big game performances, but it’s something Price assured Red Sox fans specifically they won’t have to worry about moving forward. Why?
See. That explains it. He’s just been saving them for Boston. It’s that simple.
Well, actually, it’s not, but it’s still a pretty good quote that establishes a positive outlook in the face of perhaps his lone blemish. It certainly won’t help him retain any fans in Tampa, Detroit or Toronto, but he’s obviously turned the page on those cities and is perfectly content leaving the past in the past. He sees a bright future in Boston, and he’s focused on winning here and now.
Piecing it all together, a winning pedigree, a bright future and a whole lot of money was the formula needed to win Price over, though certainly not in that order.
Price also turned heads on Friday selecting the No. 24, which officially cemented it as the highest paid number in Red Sox history.
Manny Ramirez was the other well paid No. 24. The number also belonged to Red Sox legend Dwight Evans.
As introductions go, Price’s was anything but formulaic or boring. His tenure in a Red Sox uniform figures to be anything but boring as well. The spotlight will be on him brighter than ever in Boston, but he’s physically and mentally equipped to handle the challenges this high-profile marriage presents. He said it himself, Boston expects a winner and he expects to win in Boston. Anything less will be considered unacceptable and will drive Price to dig even deeper to live up to his end of the deal.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
