Tag Archives: Boston Red Spx

Andrew Benintendi

Andrew Benintendi: Man on Fire

The Red Sox three starting outfielders have very different starts to the 2018 season. Mookie Betts has been perhaps the best player in baseball while Jackie Bradley has been a liability with the bat. However Andrew Benintendi, who has one of the highest ceilings of the Red Sox young core, has started to come into his own. The former Arkansas Razorback started the season struggling. But over the last twenty-three games he has hit his stride giving the Red Sox a lethal one-two punch at the top of the lineup. Benintendi was expected to take on a big role in the Red Sox offense and lately he’s shown why.

Benintendi’s Cold Start

Entering 2018, Andrew Benintendi was coming off a rookie season in which he finished second in Rookie-of-the-Year voting. He started out that impressive season on fire. However, this season has not been as easy for the former first-round pick. Through the Red Sox first twenty one games Benintendi batted .218 with a .706 on-base percentage. He was hitting with little power as three of his five home runs on the season have come in his last fifty eight at bats. Benintendi was streaky with the bat last year going into into slumps every other month. He has emerged from this slump as one of the hottest hitters in baseball.

Andrew Benintendi

Photo Credit Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Benintendi Breaks Out

Over his last twenty three games the Red Sox left fielder has hit .340 with a .959 on base percentage. This has raised his average on the season to .275 and ops to .816. In his last fifteen games he has fourteen runs batted in. He now has the third most RBI on the team. His power has been on display as Benintendi hit home runs in both of the Red Sox last two games. This has been a welcoming sign for the Red Sox as his bat makes the Red Sox lineup much deeper. Even though Benintendi struggled with the bat, his defense was still exceptional.

Andrew Benintendi

Photo Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Can Benintendi Keep This Up?

As a rookie, the former first-round pick showed why the Red Sox have high expectations for Benintendi. The key will be consistency and avoiding prolonged slumps. Hitting behind Mookie, he will get plenty of opportunities to drive in runs.  Over the last twenty three games he has been the player everyone expected. With Benintendi hitting his stride, the Red Sox become a more dangerous team offensively.

The Silver Lining to the Sox Quiet Offseason

UNEVENTFUL OFFSEASON IN BEANTOWN

Yes I understand, you are disappointed that the Red Sox did pretty much nothing this offseason. And yes, I know the Yankees added Giancarlo Stanton to an already scary lineup. And yes, I know the world is ending, but is anyone else seeing the beauty in all of this? Does it remind you of anything? Something like oh I don’t know, 2013? Perhaps 2004? They Yankees have once again assembled an All-Star team thanks to their disposable income. All while the Sox management sat on their thumbs since October. Well let me just say, oddly enough I have a terrific feeling about this year.

DISAPPOINTING 2017 SEASON

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bostonherald.com

2017 was supposed to be Boston’s year. Sure, there was the astronomical loss of David Ortiz but the offense was still expected to be pretty good as it featured a plethora of young talent in Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers. The Pitching staff looked great on paper as it featured reigning Cy Young winner Rick Porcello, Chris Sale, David Price and Drew Pomeranz. Unfortunately, they all had their ups and downs. As we all know, the season ended in a disappointing four game series loss to Houston. The disappointing ending to the season led to a lot of hate on the Sox young core and pitching staff. It began to feel as though the future of this franchise was not so bright after all and that the spotlight had once again been stolen by the Evil Empire.

PRESSURE SHIFTS OVER TO THE BRONX

Well I gotta say I am a little relieved that the spotlight is on the Yankees now. The Sox are being counted out before the season has started and it is a thing of beauty. The Red Sox are young and pretty inexperienced. I think last year the pressure to become some sort of super team may have gotten to them. They showed flashes of great baseball but ultimately were not quite ready. I think the lowered expectations may actually be exactly what this young group needs to thrive. Also, the young core has already experienced a gut wrenching, humiliating playoff elimination to learn from. Come next October they will do anything to avoid duplicating that traumatic experience.

MULTIPLE PLAYERS POISED FOR A BOUNCE-BACK SEASON

Image result for betts and bogaerts

nbcsports.com

An important thing to point out is the unlikelihood of nearly every player having another poor offensive season. Mookie, Hanley, Bogaerts, JBJ, Moreland and even Benintendi can all do better. Benny had a great year for a 22 year old kid, but I am positive he can hit better than .271. Everyone in Boston knows Mookie is capable of a whole lot more than his 2017 performance yet he still hit .264 and drove in over 100 runs, that is saying something. I don’t think I need to mention Hanley here as we all know his season was one to forget. If those three guys can do what they are capable of with other contributions from Pedroia, Nunez, Bogie, JBJ, Moreland and Vazquez, then this offense can easily return to top 10 form.

HURRY UP 2018

So basically, the hell with what the Yankees look like on paper, they still have to win games. It will be fun watching them fold like a two dollar lawn chair under pressure. The media will be all over them for under performing while the under dogs in Boston fight and claw their way into the playoffs with a full head of steam. The reason I am so confident about this season is because the parallel I see with the 2013 team. Once again, we are coming off a disappointing season, only this time no fried chicken was involved. And again, the expectations are low for a gritty team in a city that thrives off being underestimated. Talented team plus being overlooked by division rival? sounds like a recipe for success. LET’S GO SOX. #WinDanceRepeat.

 

 

*Featured picture credit goes to overthemonster.com*

*Questions or comments? find me on Twitter @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*