The box score would have suggested the most innocuous of appearances. Garrett Richards went 5 2/3 innings in the Red Sox' 6-5 win over the Royals Monday night, giving up five runs on 11 hits.
Hardly the kind of outing that would make one run to the postgame Zoom interview session.
But since Major League Baseball's don't-do-it-or-else mandate to pitchers, Richards' existence has been a must-see ride.
In case you hadn't been paying attention, the pitcher had been a symbol of pitchers' angst over the past couple of weeks, making it perfectly clear (without making it perfectly clear) that he was about to live life in a completely different fashion than the previous 9 1/2 years.
Then came this one.
This included Richards' right arm taking deep dives into buckets of ice, the pitcher breaking out pitches he previously had no relationship with and, finally, the assertion of a teammate that this entire game of alterations had more to do with the mind than the molding of pitches.
“I think it’s all in Garrett’s head, more than anything," said the Red Sox' offensive star of Monday night, Hunter Renfroe, who helped countered the Royals' five runs in the first two innings with a pair of home runs.
"I think he doesn’t believe in himself. I think that’s kind of his biggest thing. I think if he just goes out there and pitches the way he’s able to pitch, I think he does fine. I think that’s more than anything. He’s a great pitcher. I think if he believes in himself, I think that’s half the battle. I think he’s still throwing 96-mph, he invented a changeup that’s a really, really good pitch for him and worked really well tonight. I think his curveball and slider are still there. I think he’s got to go up there and believe in himself and keep throwing the ball.”
Renfroe added, "That’s the No. 1 aspect. If you don’t have confidence in yourself, you might as well not even be playing the game. That’s kind of the way all good hitters go up there. If you have good hitters up there with good confidence, and are swinging the bat well and they know they’re swinging the bat well, that’s going to be trouble for the pitcher. And obviously same result for a pitcher, otherwise.”
What was initially a guessing game as to whether or not Richards would be falling in among the sticky stuff brigade has now become an off-the-rails reinvention.
There was now a changeup. Out of nowhere, a 63 mph curveball appeared. And, fortunately for the Red Sox, there was also something that hadn't been seen in almost three weeks -- a semi-confident pitcher for at least a few innings.
"I’m figuring it out," Richards said. "I’m starting to throw a changeup now, learn that this week on three days, and now I’m throwing a curveball at about 60 mph which is different for me. Just trying to figure out how to pitch again. Stay in the zone, be competitive and give us a chance to win. That’s the only thing I care about.
"I’ve never had to make this kind of change in my whole career. I’m just trying to make the best of it, and like I said, give us a chance to win.”
That he did ... albeit in somewhat bizarre fashion.
It's been eye-opening. It's been uncomfortable. And, admit it, it's been entertaining.
Welcome to the wild ride that has become Garrett Richards.