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Josh Winckowski: Wrigley Field Pales In Comparison To Fenway Park

Trey Daubert / MLB / July 3, 2022

Josh Winckowski: Wrigley Field Pales In Comparison To Fenway Park

Ah, the age old debate; Which ballpark that’s older than anyone alive is better? Are you a Wrigley Field or Fenway Park guy? The Sox may have lost 3-1 today but starting pitcher Josh Winckowski is out on Wrigley Field. Boston’s rookie right-handed prefers his home ballpark.

“A little underwhelming,” Winckowski said. “Fenway kind of has a presence to it. I really didn’t get that here, to be honest. I said to my mom last night, this place is very stock standard, if you ask me. I didn’t really feel anything, to be honest. It kind of just felt like another ballpark.”

I may be a little biased here but Fenway just hits different. I’ve never felt the kind of vibes I get from Fenway in any other stadium. It’s not just a stadium. It’s a way of life. Wrigley is on the bucket list but topping Fenway feels pretty impossible. Karl did his ballpark rankings a while back. He listed Fenway one spot ahead of Wrigley but give it a read anyway.

By the way, this Winckowski is good, or at least has been so far anyway. He sports a 1.96 ERA in his last four starts. The pure stuff looks good. Not a ton of heat but the slider has some serious bite. It’s a real out pitch. Combine that with the change up and cutter… it’s hard not to like his odds.

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If many recall, Winckowski was traded to Boston in the Andrew Benintendi deal. A trade I was on record for not being in favor of for the Red Sox. Benintendi for the record is having a very good year (.308 BA in 74 games so far) but there is a chance this deal winds up working out for Boston. Benintendi will hit free agency next year and Boston has several years of control with Winckowski. Freddy Valdez (flier young minor leaguer) and Franchy Cordero also came over in that trade. Even Cordero has shown signs of becoming a serious first basemen (check out his savant page).

Get in the comments. Is it Fenway or Wrigley? What is your favorite ballpark? Let us know.