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LOS ANGELES – The World Series Titles and Boston Championships will be in the future, the 2018 playoff run will be the David Price World Series.
He was the face of this postseason and the starting pitcher in two of the Red Sox biggest wins.
The veteran starting pitcher, whose tenure with the Red Sox has been rocky at times, redefined himself, his perception in Boston and his legacy as a baseball player while helping the franchise win another World Series.
After his third straight terrific postseason start, Price figures to get some of the loudest cheers, both when his Duck Boat pbades in next week's rolling rally and again when he's introduced on opening day in April.
He's not the guy with the big contract that did not deliver anymore. He's David Price – World Series Hero.
He cemented that on Sunday. We have three days left, and we have not seen it yet. At one point he'd set down 14 straight. Joe Kelly and Chris Sale were dominant in the eighth and ninth, but it was expensive.
The Red Sox needed him to be this guy. With Sale's health and its ability to face the rotation, Price badumed the role and all the attention and pressure that came with it.
After the game, the Red Sox fans behind the first base dugout chanted his name during the postgame celebration. He tipped his cap their way.
"I appreciated it, we have a lot of Red Sox fans still here celebrating," he said. "They showed me love, I showed it back."
Three weeks ago, his loss in Game 2 of the ALDS seemed like damning evidence that all beliefs were true. Was not tough enough. Could not handle Boston. Does not have the makeup for the postseason. Could not get out of the second day of the day and looked like a spiritually defeated man as he walked off the mound.
He was talking radio and reporters asked Alex Cora if he'd consider sending a price to the bullpen permanently.
Whatever switch he flipped before Game 5 in Houston changed the trajectory of his career. On three days left he cliched American League Championship Series with the best start and first win a starter in his postseason career.
Six days later he delivered again, with six World Series Game 2 and put Boston up 2-0 in the World Series. The trend continued Sunday.
As he read all of it, the lefty's emotions bounced around the magnitude of the moment sunk in. He was moved to tears when he was moved to a good teammate. He was reflective, relieved, joyful, wistful and even defiantly angry at the media for perceived past slights.
Most of all he seemed proud of what he had been a part of.
"I'm going to be able to do this now," he said. "And it's always a good feeling, it's just good to know."
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