With this Red Sox team the stars are pretty obvious. On the offensive side, you have Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogaerts as well as others that have excelled. On the defensive side, there are guys like Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi making amazing catches left and right. For the pitching staff, you have Chris Sale and David Price leading the way. But one guy that gets forgotten about more often than not is Brock Holt. Just in case you were one of the Red Sox fans that forgot about Holt too, here are a few reasons to love the utility man.
His On Field Ability
It’s not like Brock Holt is one of the worst baseball players we’ve ever seen. In fact, he is pretty good. Remember, Holt was the only member of the 2015 Red Sox team to make the All-Star team. During the Red Sox World Series run last season he was a big part it. In the regular season he hit .277 with seven home runs ,along with 46 RBI’s. Remember the game three rout of the Yankees in the ALDS at Yankee Stadium last season? Yeah, Holt hit for the cycle that game. The batting averages in the ALCS and World Series might not have been great for Brock. But it seemed like when the Red Sox needed a big at bat from him, he would make something happen. Also, Holt is having a good year so far this season with a .317 average. In other words, Brock Holt is a valuable asset to the Red Sox.
His Personality
Brock Holt has one of the best personalities on this Red Sox team. Where do I even begin with the examples to show this? The first one has to be the J.D. Martinez hugs. Every single time J.D. Martinez hits a home run, Brock Holt is right there to greet him. On social media, Holt is as funny as they come. He doesn’t mind commenting on anything from Mookie Betts style choices to the popular “Section 10 Podcast” account, and everything else in between. Brock is as genuine as they come and has been a great clubhouse presence for the Red Sox.
His Generosity To Charity
Brock Holt of the @RedSox is a world champion and @MLB All-Star, but the role he's played for children at the @DanaFarber Cancer Institute's @TheJimmyFund may be even more impressive.
— MLB Players Media (@MLBPlayersMedia) July 12, 2019
Just look at the tweet above. Holt has no problem with donating to charities such as the Jimmy Fund. He was the Red Sox representative for the Roberto Clemente award in 2018. So, that says a lot about Holt’s character. No matter what the charity case is, Brock is one of the first guys to be ready to contribute anything necessary.
In Conclusion
Brock Holt is one of the hidden gems on this Red Sox team. It always helps to have a good locker room presence, which he definitely is day in and day out. But, he also can contribute on the field by playing multiple positions and swinging the bat. So thank you Brock for all you’ve done for the Red Sox thus far in your career! It would be nice to see the utility player finish his career in a Red Sox uniform.
Brock Holt is an awesome enigma. He was an All Star on a last place team, averaged .255 or lower in half his seasons, and had the only Cycle in the long history of the MLB playoffs.
Holt’s story is one of perseverance, major highs, and frustrating lows. What can we look forward to in 2019?
A Parade Of Obsticles & Injuries
Here is a list of names that the Red Sox have put in Brock Holt’s way since he came over in 2013 from the Pirates: Jose Iglesias, Will Middlebrooks, Brandon Snyder, Jonathan Herrera, Ryan Roberts, Pablo Sandoval, Mike Carp, Daniel Nava, Grady Sizemore, Kelly Johnson, Allen Craig, Carlos Rivera, Jemile Weeks, Josh Rutledge, Deven Marrero, Chris Young, Ian Kinsler.
And why so many, with only Iglesias as a true everyday player on the way up or in his prime? The dreaded DL. In August of 2014 Holt got a concussion. This injury would lead to another concussion in May of 2016, and essentially losing all of 2017 with Vertigo as a result. He had knee tightness in 2015, a hamstring strain in April of 2018, and was spiked in the knee in July of 2018.
The bottom line is he can’t be hit in the head again, but the chances are slim. Pitching inside is a lost art these days, and playing with consistent teammates reduces the chances of a fielding collision. Holt’s other injuries are garden variety MLB injuries that have shown no ill effects.
Skills
When Brock was called up in 2013, the book on him was spot on:
“Maximizes tools with instincts and all out effort. Focuses on making contact with a short, simple stroke. Knows how to run the bases and can steal a bag from time to time.”
Baseball HQ minor league analysis
Here are the types of things Brock Holt can do when he is maximizing his tools:
Hit .281 with a .331 OBP in 2014, including 12 steals and finishing 8th in Rookie of the Year voting. He played 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, and OF that year.
Despite the team paying Pablo Sandoval and being overlooked, Holt had a .886 OPS by early July, hit for the cycle in June, and was an All Star. Tightness in his knee, and the emergence of Travis Shaw, led to a lost end of that year.
After coming back from his concussion in 2016 he had a 1.389 OPS vs right handers before losing time to Andrew Benintendi’s rookie year.
2018 saw him start hot before injuring his hamstring, then he had a 14% walk rate (that’s elite) by July before getting spiked and losing time to Rafael Devers.
In August of 2018 he had a .348 OBP as he was still seeing the ball well, and a .917 OPS in August and September as his power returned.
In the World Series run he had the Cycle against the Yankees, and threw in another double and a stolen base along the way.
He’s hitting .313 with .917 OPS in spring training.
In summary, he walks, has good pop, steals a bag now and then, and makes good contact.
Give Him A Chance
There is much consternation in Red Sox Nation about the state of the minor league system. When players like Shaw, Benny and Devers matriculate in consecutive years that will happen. While Brock will never hit 30 home runs, like Shaw has and Devers should, his all around power more than plays. Players don’t hit for more than one Cycle in their career without legit power. He might never have the ceiling of Andrew Benintendi’s future multiple batting champ skills, but he’s not far behind with the contact to hit .280 or higher. And his ability to take a walk will always keep him on the bases and scoring runs.
This is the skill-set of a very talented major leaguer. The Red Sox should not feel the need to backfill in case of Dustin Pedroia’s rehab going awry.
Give him a chance at 500 at bats and this is the year he puts it all together. Think Bill Mueller in the 9 hole in 2004, or Nunez on his best days.
Plus, we all need more joy in our lives right?
(Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
When last we gazed on the 2018 Red Sox, the view was majestic. But the 2018 season is over, and second base is a need. Could Marwin Gonzalez meet that need?
On The Roster Now
For over 10 years, Dustin Pedroia was the guardian of second base and the second spot in the batting order for the Red Sox. Before the dark times, before Manny Machado.
But let’s not be too harsh. Machado’s spike and the aftermath, it could be argued, ended with the Sox getting Alex Cora. That’s a great thing!
Pedroia is making a lot of money. He’s on the books for an average of $13.75 million until 2021. And that would be fine if he could play. But the outlook is extremely iffy. He had knee cartilage restoration surgery in late 2017, followed by arthroscopic surgery to remove scar tissue in late July of this year.
I’m not a doctor, I don’t even play one on the Boston Sports Extra website, but because of those knee surgeries, I’m not hopeful for a full recovery.
Eduardo Nunez and Brock Holt are the remaining possibilities at second base. But Nunez is a DL stint waiting to happen, while Brock Holt provides limited returns the more he plays.
Look, I love me some Brock Holt, but he’s averaged 89 games a year for the past 3 years. He’s not reliable for a full season.
Can Marwin Gonzalez play 2B?
Gonzalez is what’s known as a super utility player. Think Ben Zobrist. He has played 1B, 2B, SS, and OF for the Astros over the past few years, and done well. His 3-year averages are 140 Games, 28 Doubles, 17 Home Runs, and a .778 OPS.
He has been held back from a set position because of the team he’s been on. The Houston Astros have MVP candidates at Second Base in Jose Altuve, and at Short Stop in Carlos Correa. In his career, Marwin Gonzalez has spent 54% of his time at either Short Stop or Second.
I think Gonzalez can definitely play Second Base, but why would he come to the Sox?
The Alex Cora Connection
Because of Alex Cora. Even the most casual observer could see the difference over a full season and in the playoffs that Alex Cora makes. It’s no mistake his teams have won the World Series two years in a row. And Marwin Gonzalez knows Cora from their time together last year with the Astros.
Even if Pedroia comes back, Holt gets playing time, and somehow Nunez stays healthy, Alex Cora knows how they communicate with the team effectively. Gonzalez’s versatility would be put to cooly efficient use by Cora in those circumstances.
The Cost
MLB Trade Rumors pegs Marwin Gonzalez as the 16th best free agent and estimates he will garner a 4 year, $36 million dollar deal.
These are the types of players I believe the Red Sox will go after because of their substantial payroll. The Luxury Payroll Tax is a complicated matter that will be addressed at a later time. But after all the arbitration numbers for the entire All-Star Outfield, as well as Xander Bogaerts, the Sox will be well into Luxury Tax territory.
Less expensive players like Marwin Gonzalez would go a long way towards solidifying the roster and getting the Red Sox back to the playoffs in 2019.
The 2018 World Champion Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 and cemented their status as the most dominant team in baseball.
Steve Pearce
This was a win that felt inevitable from the first pitch. Thanks to World Series MVP Steve Pearce it pretty much was.
Over 3 at bats at the end of game 4 and the beginning of game 5 Pearce was unstoppable. 2 Home Runs, a Double, and 6 RBI. He threw in another homer in the 8th to put the cherry on top of this Championship.
Turns out that kind of performance puts you shoulder to shoulder with MLB Legends. Here’s a couple of facts that stand out.
Steve Pearce joins Babe Ruth in 1927 and Lou Gehrig in 1928 with at least one home run and three RBI in back to back World Series Games.
Pearce, Ruth, and Ted Kluszewski are the only players in history to have a multiple home run game at age 35 or older in the World Series
Pearce told Andrew Benintendi before the series started that he wanted to win World Series MVP so he could go to the owners’ box at a Patriots game and sit with Bob Kraft and Bon Jovi. Mission accomplished my man.
I thought this World Series would invoke Legends, little did I know Steve Pearce would join them.
David Price
David Price dopped the mic on his postseason failures for all time. In this game he went 7 plus innings, 1 run, 5 strikeouts. Doing that on full rest would’ve been beyond outstanding.
But he didn’t just out-duel Clayton Kershaw, he did it on shortest of short rest. He pitched in 4 out of the 5 World Series games. In the game he didn’t pitch he warmed up. On the biggest stage he had the best stretch of his career.
Alex Cora on David Price: “David loves to be ready to compete on a daily basis. He enjoys being available, and he was available the whole time. (He texted) Count on me, use me, he just wanted to compete.”
Chris Sale: “I’m gonna tell my grand kids about (playing with) David Price.”
Here’s some pretty sweet play by play that shows David Price’s joy.
Chris Sale punches out Manny Machado. More on this in a moment.
Christian Vazquez runs to Chris Sale and look who gets there next.
What a moment for David Price, just look at his face!
Live it up David, you earned it.
Chris Sale
This says it all when it comes to what Chris Sale means to this team. Look at his teammates as he comes out of the bullpen to start the 9th inning last night.
I didn’t see Craig Kimbrel getting a standing ovation by his teammates coming into any games this post season.
And the way he had Manny Machado flailing on that immaculate slider. Satisfaction of the highest order.
Alex Cora
All night in the post game it was a Song of Alex Cora from all the players and ownership. Because he put the players in a position to succeed. He communicated at an all time level. He was outstanding at every little thing.
Alex Cora has been the Night’s King since Hardhome: All out aggressive and piling up wins.
He’s pulled all the right levers this postseason and he was on his game last night.
Steve Pearce batting third? Check. David Price batting in the top of the eighth? Check. Bring in Chris Sale who will probably need surgery next week to close? Check mate.
He has won the World Series as a player, a bench coach, and now a manager.
Ownership
Take a bow guys. 4 Championships in 14 years. They cleaned house after last year and chose the right guy in Alex Cora. These guys are good.
Nathan Eovaldi
A quick word about iron man Nathan Eovaldi. Take it away John Henry: “I mean he set us up, so that for the next two nights our bullpen was in good shape, and their wasn’t, that was the difference.”
It could be said no Eovaldi, no World Series Championship.
It took 18 innings, but the Red Sox lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 in World Series Game 3. A heart breaker for the Red Sox. This puts the Sox up 2-1 in the series and still in the cat birds seat for a World Series Championship.
Eduardo Nunez’s Wild Ride
It’s Eduardo Nunez’s world and we’re all just living in it. It was the top of the 13th inning. The score was 1-1. On a bad ankle and knee he was beat up and pushed around in the batter’s box. He had Brock Holt, who had walked after an 0-2 count, standing at first. During the wild pitch that lead to Nunez’s adventure, Holt scampered to second.
The Red Sox Break Through
After a visit from the trainers and Alex Cora he settled in and waited for a pitch from lefty Scott Alexander. The pitch came in and he swung, a little nubber into no man’s land in front of the mound. The first baseman, Max Muncy, broke for the ball, but the pitcher got there first.
Even gimpy, Nunez got down the line and did what you are never supposed to do. He slid. Amazingly, wonderfully, Alexander’s throw went beyond the grasp of second baseman Kiki Hernandez, who was covering first. While all that was going on Brock Holt went from second to home to take the lead 2-1.
The Dodgers Come Back
By this time the lineup Alex Cora had was make shift at best. Christian Vazquez, catcher, was at first and Eduardo Nunez, pulling a Willis Reed, was at third. Nathan Eovaldi, the supposed Game 4 starter was pitching. Max Muncy walked on a questionable check swing call ball four.
The next batter, Cody Bellinger, skied a foul ball towards the stands on the third base side. Nunez sprinted over and caught the ball, barreling into the stands.
With 2 outs, however, Yasiel Puig hit his own ball into no man’s land. Ian Kinsler was in the game to run for JD Martinez earlier in this game. A bad decision by Cora, one of his very few. Kinsler barely got to it at second base and threw wildly to first. Vazquez didn’t have a chance.
Muncy scored to make the game 2-2.
Jackie Bradley Jr.
A brief timeout to raise up Jackie Bradley Jr. The whole reason the Red Sox were in that position in the first place was because of him. There were two outs in the top of the 8th and the Dodgers closer, Kenley Jansen, was on the mound.
The score was 1-0 Dodgers after an outstanding outing from rookie Walker Buehler. No matter, JBJ knew what to do.
Many questioned his spot in the lineup. Not Boston Sports Extra. His solo Home Run set up the extra inning theatrics.
Nathan Eovaldi
With Nathan Eovaldi doing yeoman’s work the score remained 2-2 into the 18th inning. Yeoman’s work doesn’t cover it.
Eovaldi pitched the most pitches in relief in world series history. He pitched 6 plus innings of 1 run ball on short rest, along with the unearned run from the Kinsler error.
Max Muncy took him deep for a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 18th.
This game pushed well into October 27th. If that date is familiar to you as a Red Sox fan, it should be. That was the date in 2004 The Curse was destroyed. So today isn’t all bad.
It’s pretty hard to believe it’s been 14 years since we’ve had a playoff series featuring Major League Baseball’s premier rivalry. The Red Sox and Yankees will kick off their first postseason matchup since 2004 later tonight, and on paper it looks to be a doozy. Two 100-win juggernauts. Over $400 million in combined payroll. Stars all over the diamond. History everywhere. I can’t wait.
I’ll be breaking down both sides of this series, and then picking a winner at the end. But before we get into all of that, let’s take a little trip down memory lane:
Okay, glad we got that out of our systems. On to the good stuff.
Starting Lineup
The Red Sox led the majors in just about every major offensive category this season. They placed first in total runs, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, and wOBA. Boston was led by MVP-caliber seasons from Mookie Betts (.346/.438/.640) and JD Martinez (.330/.402/.629), though the Sox received significant contributions from others as well. Andrew Benintendi improved dramatically on his rookie campaign. Jackie Bradley Jr. slashed .282/.349/.502 over his final 284 plate appearances after a dismal start. Xander Bogaerts finally shook off his second half demons to post a career year.
And yet, there are some holes, and question marks (specifically at second base, third base, and catcher). Meanwhile, the Yankees offense is just as potent, if not more so. The Bronx Bombers tied the Dodgers for the best wRC+ in baseball (the Red Sox were a close 3rd). They also broke the Major League record for home runs in a season, with 269. That last one is a big point in the Yankees favor, as teams who hit more HR tend to have more success in October.
The slugging starts with Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, who both homered in Wednesday’s Wild Card game. Luke Voit has been a revelation at first base, where his 188 OPS+ over 148 PA has lengthened an already long lineup and provided a boon desperately needed after poor seasons from Greg Bird and Gary Sanchez. That’s not to mention the production from rookies Miguel Andujar and Gleybar Torres. Plus, Brian Cashman was able to throw former NL MVP Andrew McCutchen into the mix in August.
The Sox have a great offense, but it feels like New York’s is a bit more formidable for this time of year.
Slight Edge: Yankees
Starting Pitching
Here’s how the first three starting pitching matchups seem to be shaking out:
Game 1 – J.A. Happ vs. Chris Sale
Game 2 – Mashiro Tanaka vs. David Price
Game 3 – Rick Porcello vs. Luis Severino
That certainly feels like it favors the Red Sox. Three AL Cy Young Award winners should be enough to tip this category in Boston’s favor. That is, until you include each pitcher’s career postseason ERA…
Game 1 – J.A. Happ (3.72) vs. Chris Sale (8.38)
Game 2 – Masahiro Tanaka (1.44) vs. David Price (5.03)
Game 3 – Rick Porcello (5.47) vs. Luis Severino (4.50)
Look, I get it. Postseason baseball is a small sample size, and past performance isn’t always indicative of future performance, especially in that scenario. But it’s hard to feel too confident, given Price’s non-Rays playoff history, Porcello’s inability to keep the ball in the yard, and Sale’s dip in velocity since returning from multiple summer DL stints. The Yankees starters might not have the same upside, but they certainly feel less volatile. The Happ acquisition continues to loom large. He’s undefeated since joining the Yankees, and has a career 2.98 ERA against the Red Sox. If he can beat Sale in Game 1, it’ll be a bad omen for the Sox’s chances through the weekend. I’m choosing to trust that the Red Sox starters are ready to turn a corner this postseason, but I don’t feel great about it.
Slight Edge: Red Sox
Bullpen
I’ll save you the suspense. This is a huge win (obviously) for the Yankees, and will likely be the deciding factor should the Yankees come out on top. The Red Sox bullpen, while much maligned over the past month, has actually been perfectly above average this season. Craig Kimbrel still looms at the end of games as a premier closer, and rebounded from a mid-summer swoon with a 13 appearance stretch where he allowed only 3 hits and 1 earned run between 8/12 and 9/21. Still, a 4 run implosion in his second to last appearance of the year against the lowly Orioles bumped his ERA to 2.74, the second worst mark of his career.
The rest of the Sox bullpen is fine. Solid, unspectacular, and far from reliable (unless you’re really into the Matt Barnes Experience).
The Yankees ‘pen, conversely, reads like a damn All-Star team. There’s Chapman and Britton. There’s Betances and Robertson. Chad Green may not have as big of a name as his teammates, but he might be the most consistent of the bunch. New York can trot any and all of these guys out there in a high leverage situation, and be reasonably comfortable that the outcome will be in their favor. They led the league in reliever fWAR, and while the Red Sox have had their share of come-from-behind wins this year, they’ll be hard pressed to overcome any substantial deficits in this series.
Major Edge: Yankees
Bench X Factor
Steve Pearce has been a terrific mid-season addition for the Red Sox, providing a boost at a premium offensive position as Mitch Moreland struggled down the stretch. But Brock Holt is the guy here. He can play nearly every position on the diamond, and had perhaps the best all-around season of his career. Holt slashed .277/.362/.411 with a 109 OPS+ this year, and had plenty of clutch moments off the bench:
Holt had 5 hits in 15 pinch-hitting plate appearances, 4 of which went for extra bases. Alex Cora will almost definitely call his number in a tight spot again this series, and Holt will need to deliver.
For the Yankees, Austin Romine *should* be the starting catcher. But, because the baseball gods would never want to deprive us of the joy of watching Gary Sanchez trot after yet another passed ball, he’s stuck in a platoon. If Aaron Boone is smart, he’ll put his best lineup on the field. Fingers crossed nobody gives him a heads up.
Edge: Red Sox
Manager
Cora has been a breath of fresh air for the Red Sox off the field and in the clubhouse this season. After two years of underachieving relative to their talent, the Sox took off under their first year manager’s watch. Cora hasn’t been perfect with his in game decisions, and it does seem like he lingers with guys a bit longer than I would like. However, he’s been excellent as rookie managers go on the whole.
I’ll just say I don’t get the same vibe from Boone, and leave it at that. Plus, I kind of miss Joe Girardi and his binder.
Edge: Red Sox
The Pick
I really want to pick the Yankees. While I think the Red Sox are a better team overall, and better suited for a full 162 game slate, New York feels built for the postseason, especially a short series. The bullpen discrepancy is a major check in the Yankees favor. In a series that figures to be as tight as this one, such an advantage is a major red flag for Boston.
But screw that. What’s the point of writing for a Red Sox blog if you don’t think the best regular season team in franchise history can make it out of the first round?
The 2018 Red Sox lineup is absolutely loaded. Two MVP candidates at the top of the lineup in Mookie and J.D., a left fielder who’s hitting over .290 with a .372 on base percentage. One of the best, if not THE best shortstop in the game is Xander Bogearts, a man who’s having a career with an OPS not far from .900. Steve Pearce has an OBP of .400 and an OPS well over .900 since arriving in Boston. Jackie Bradley Jr.’s been one of the hottest hitters on the team over the last month. Mitch Moreland is having a solid season, and the list just goes on and on. However, there is someone on this team who doesn’t get as much love as he deserves. His name is Brock Holt.
Brock Holt first arrived onto the scene several years ago after he was traded from Pittsburgh. Holt turned into a super utility man, playing everywhere around the diamond at any time. In 2015, a year where the Red Sox were in last place, Brock had a career year. He would end up being voted in as the only Red Sox All-Star that season, which would start the “Brock Star” nickname for him.
In 2016, he had another solid season as a utility man, but then suddenly there was a problem. Holt started having symptoms for vertigo, which is a sickness that makes you feel dizzy and sick often. It affected the way he played and made it much more difficult to hit or do anything baseball related. There were times the last couple years that Holt couldn’t even track the ball while playing catch. It was that bad. Holt didn’t have a good year in 2017, and many wondered if he would be able to make the roster in 2018. Well, he did, and the Red Sox are glad he did.
Holt can play any position effectively. In 2018, Holt has played second base over 50 times, shortstop 20 times, and a combined 32 games at every other position. He has an OBP of .348 and an OPS of .718. Now here’s the thing: Holt certainly isn’t one of the top hitters when he’s in the lineup. He’s not someone who the opposing pitchers should fear when he comes up to the plate. He is what he is, he’s a solid guy to have on your bench to call upon to either play any position on the diamond, or in a pinch hit situation. And more often than not, he’ll come through.
Now that you see what he does on the field, let’s go more into what he does off of it. Holt is the ultimate cheerleader of this team. Anytime you see him during a game when he’s not playing, he’s dancing or smiling or just doing something to cheer his boys on. Whether its singing during rain delays or dancing in the dugout, Brock just always makes you laugh.
You also can’t forget about the awesome moment that takes place in the dugout every time J.D. Martinez hits a home run.
Everybody loves Brock. All of his teammates and most of the fans. The smart ones, at least. He’s a super utility guy who can play any position. He hits pretty well and is a great presence in the clubhouse. He is the perfect guy for this team and only makes them better. The postseason is getting closer and the team is starting to figure out what the roster will look like. It’s hard not seeing Holt on it with what he means for this team. It only looks more and more likely we’ll be seeing even more of him in October, which is a great thing.
The 37 year old infielder becomes an asset in multiple ways after being called up on Sunday night.
As Announced Tuesday afternoon, Brandon Phillips will be the first Red Sox player to don the number 0. He has finally got his shot at the major leagues for the first time this season. He claimed the last spot on the 40 man roster. His last major league game was on September 30, 2017 as a member of the Los Angeles Angels. Against the Oakland Athletics, he went 1-4 with a strikeout. While tearing it up in AAA Pawtucket, what does he bring to the table?
In Pawtucket, he sported a .302 batting average with 4 home runs, 19 runs batted in, with 1 stolen base and 45 hits. During his 38 games with the club. He has been showing us all along that he still has the offensive pop in his bat, and the speed underneath his feet to help move this Red Sox offense along.
While having great experience from his major league career, he can share his words of wisdom to the younger core of infielders this team has. Rafael Devers, Ian Kinsler, Brock Holt, Eduardo Nunez, and even Dustin Pedroia can learn a thing or two from Brandon Phillips.
Devers can especially get some inside knowledge of his throwing hiccups. While learning how to overcome these difficulties at such a young age. Pedroia can learn about dealing with consistent injuries. As we all know, Phillips had dealt with several injuries throughout his career as well. He is still playing at a high level at age 37.
His Versatility.
He has played at almost any position in the infield. He knows what each position demands, physically and mentally. His presence has made a nightmare scenario for most teams even worse. It will be interesting to note if he is used as a rest guy for now. As a 162 game season requires the need for a rest day here and there. The toll is heavy.
He comes up the same day Devers is taken off the dl. How will Alex Cora manage this? He said that he is very excited to have a veteran guy like him around. It will be fun to watch moving forward.
While he may be in action as soon as the first game against the Atlanta Braves Tuesday night, it remains to be seen how he will preform in his comeback. As one could only speculate the emotions tied to his first performance back to where he hit his stardom, and became a household name.
With a fair amount of talent currently on the disabled list, how is this team filling the absences? How are these “role players” preforming under the pressure of expectations from Boston fans and media?
In recent weeks the Red Sox have placed numerous everyday players on the disabled list. The versatility of the bench was questioned, and put to the test. How have these players preformed? What will their roles look like once these players come back from injury at full strength?
The starting rotation
It’s no secret that the starting rotation has taken a beating this season. Despite the pile of injuries it seems like they are pitching better than ever. With Cy Young candidate Chris Sale back on the 10 day disabled list with shoulder inflammation, one man has truly risen to the occasion. Haters rejoice to none other than David Price.
Another starting pitcher that seems to have been unnoticed is Eduardo Rodriguez. After being on the dl for a while due to an ankle injury. Rodriguez has finally made a few rehab starts. He made a rehab start against the New Hampshire Fisher cats on Monday. He threw 63 pitches (39 for strikes) in four shutout innings, including 8 strikeouts.
A huge contributor in his absence is Brian Johnson. Although his last start was a rocky one, over his last 7 he sports a 3-1 record, with a 4.01 ERA to go along with 11 walks, 33 strikeouts in 33.2 innings pitched. While his numbers don’t justify just how well he has performed in the rotation, expect to see him in a Hector Velazquez role once E-rod comes back.
Infield questions??
With Ian Kinsler being reactivated last Friday, the team had some backups in store. Brock Holt and Eduardo Nunez have stepped up big this season. Holt is hitting a modest .265 with 3 homers and 32 rbi’s in 86 games this season. in his 52 starts coming at second base, he has zero errors (1 all season). He is the definition of a true utility player. He has been one of the few shining stars in that position with Dustin Pedroia still fighting his nagging knee injury.
The other player who has made contributions at second is Eduardo Nunez. The 31-year-old has played 74 games at the position. With a .257 average, 7 homers, 38 rbi’s Nunez has been consistent this season. While he thrives more in the left side of the field, he has been a good player in the lineup. The team also has guys like Brandon Phillips and Tzu-Wei Lin in the minor leagues waiting for their shot.
Christian Vazquez has been working with Sox legend Jason Veritek while recovering from a pinky injury. In the meantime, Sandy Leon and Blake Swihart have played nicely. Leon gets the majority of reps behind the plate. While his offensive numbers are not worth mentioning, his defense stands out. He currently has a catchers ERA of 3.13 in 69 games behind the plate. Along the way he even received a personal endorsement from former CY Young winner Rick Porcello.
Blake Swihart hasn’t seen much time in the majors this season. Most appearances have come from pinch hitting. While he hasn’t been a huge factor this season, he still brings versatility if and when the team calls his name. Truly a team player.
How does this affect the team chemistry moving forward? Will this translate to a deep playoff run? Find out soon!
With the MLB Playoff races still heating up, the Red Sox are guaranteed a spot in the hunt for October. Who will be on the playoff roster?
While there are 40 games still to be played, the hunt for October glory has already crossed the minds of fans nationwide. The postseason roster will look very similar to the active roster, but there will be some shake ups in my predictions.
Starting rotation:
1. Chris Sale: The Cy Young award candidate will be the ace of this team in the playoffs. While he has had more rest under new manager Alec Cora, fans hope to see a different Chris Sale than this time last season.
2. Rick Porcello: Probably one of the most underrated players on this team, the former Cy Young award winner has had a phenomenal year. He has had an excellent command of his sinker, and forced more groundball outs than last year.
3. David Price: Although Price has had zero success as a starter in the playoffs throughout his career, this year seems different. Price has been more efficient, and a overall better pitcher than in recent memory.
4. Nathan Eovaldi: Although he has never been a prime time starting pitcher, he has proven to the Red Sox organization that he is ready to take on a big role throughout the duration of the playoffs. If he can even pitch as well as he has in his first 2 starts, don’t sleep on him.
Bullpen:
Although the bullpen has been under performing lately, they still have more depth than a lot of teams in the league.
Matt Barnes, Heath Hembree, Tyler Thornburg, Ryan Brasier, Joe Kelly, Hector Velasquez, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Craig Kimbrel ( closer).
These guys have solidified their roles in the bullpen. It would be hard to imagine the team calling up someone from the minors to fill in, besides an injury or two, towards the end of the regular season.
Infield:
(Catchers) Christian Vasquez, Sandy Leon. ( First Base) Mitch Moreland, Steve Pearce. (Second base) Ian Kinsler, Brock Holt, Eduardo Nunez, Blake Swihart. ( Third Base) Rafael Devers, ( same utility guys from second and shortstop.) ( Shortstop) Xander Bogaerts.
Designated Hitter:
J.d Martinez, ( Pearce and Moreland as rotates)
Outfield:
Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr, ( Martinez.)
As previously stated, my prediction looks similar to the current roster (besides a couple of minor tweaks.) What are your thoughts? Comment or simply tweet me @kyle_porch. Follow me and bostonsportsextra to stay in the news with the most up-to-date coverage.
