The Boston Red Sox have enjoyed a veritable embarrassment of
riches over the past decade, winning three World Series titles and somehow
still possessing one of the most highly-regarded
farm systems in all of baseball. Despite all the positivity, the 2014
season has been quite the grind thus far, with the young players on the roster sitting
squarely in the spotlight when any discussion
about what is going wrong comes up. Surprisingly, not only are these struggles
a good thing, they are just what is needed to help sort out who should be part
of the future and who should think about renting instead of buying.
In particular, Boston has three young players who were given
roles as regulars this season but have not yet put all the components together
to fully establish themselves as future cornerstones. This includes:
-25-year-old third baseman Will Middlebrooks is in his third
big league season but is very much a study in progress. A tremendous rookie
season in 2011 was derailed by a wrist injury. He battled physical ailments and
inconsistency last year, even spending time in the minors to get himself back
on track.
In 2014, Middlebrooks has appeared in 21 games, hitting just
.197 with two home runs and nine RBIs. He is already on his second disabled
list stint of the season, most recently suffering a fractured
finger that will keep him out for an indeterminate amount of time. His
powerful right-handed swing is tailor-made for cozy Fenway Park. On the other
hand, his difficulty staying healthy, and an aggressive plate approach that has
resulted in a lot of strikeouts and few walks have prevented him from emerging
as the hot corner mainstay.
-21-year-old shortstop Xander Bogaerts made a splash in the
majors last fall, playing well in a late-season call-up and then batting an
impressive .296 in the playoffs, which earned him major playing time (including
subbing for Middlebrooks at third base) in the World Series.
So far in 2014, Bogaerts has had a few challenges in the
field (4 errors) and is hitting a rather pedestrian .269 with two home runs, seven
RBIs and 38 strikeouts in 41 games. However, a closer look indicates that
everyone should be quite pleased with his progress. He has an excellent .369
OBP; his 108 OPS+ is nearly identical to last year shortstop starter Stephen
Drew’s 111, as pointed out by Ron
Juckett; and the best part is that he is just a few years removed from sitting
in daily home room.
-Finally, there is outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. After a disastrous
2013 that saw him hit just .189 in a variety of trials in Boston spanning 37
games, it appears he is much on the same track this year. In 41 games, the
left-handed batter is hitting .205 with 13 RBIs and 43 strikeouts.
Fortunately, it’s not all bad news for Bradley, as the
24-year-old plays a spectacular defensive outfield and has 16 walks and 10
doubles, with the latter number placing him second on the team behind only
second baseman Dustin Pedroia.
All three of the aforementioned youngsters arrived with
much-discussed pedigrees and high expectations. Although none of them have
become stars or are putting up video game numbers, it is way too early to start
considering them lost causes. What’s needed most is patience and the comfort
with the idea of mediocrity in the interim- both for the players and the team
as a whole.
After finishing a putrid 2012 season with a 69-93 record,
the Red Sox went out and hired a new manager in John Farrell and reshaped their
roster with players known for their high character and ability to keep a light
and fun clubhouse. Some homers and eternal optimists may have thought them
contenders from the outset, but in reality it was tough to peg them as more
than an entertaining 85-win team. The fact that they went on to win the World
Series is a classic example of playing with house money.
Coming off such success, the team and its fans are obviously
hungry to keep the good times rolling. Unfortunately, that may not be congruent
with the development of these youngsters, whose progress should be considered
vital for the future. Even if only one or two of them reach their full
potential, the Red Sox will come out ahead.
Prospecting in baseball is usually a crapshoot, as some sure
shots fizzle while stars can come out of nowhere. If a team makes a true commitment
to a youth movement, then it is difficult to put time constraints on when
everything is supposed to come together. In baseball, some of the best learning can come from the tough times. Repetition and learning from mistakes are powerful tools in honing the fine edges of a player, and the Red Sox three are sharpening their blades as we speak.
The Red Sox kids may be going through
some growing pains now, and are doing few favors in contributing to a favorable
2014 outcome, but in the long run it could all be for the best. With the heady
days of 2013 still visible in the rear view mirror for fans it may be difficult
to accept a detour, but in the end it may be the best way for Boston to get
where it needs to go when it comes to long-term success.
Statistics obtained from BaseballReference.com.
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