The Boston Red Sox may “only” be 9.5 games out of first
place in the American League East, but they are in last place and have not come
close to matching their 2013 World Series winning success through 91 2014
games. In theory, they could still turn things around. However, this just
doesn’t feel like a team destined for great things, and it seems like the most salvageable
part of this year would be letting some of the organization’s excellent young
players get time on the field and see how they may fit into the future.
The Red Sox have already started shedding some of their
underwhelming veterans. Their moves to date include:
Left-handed pitcher Chris Capuano was sent packing
after early-season success turned to struggles.
Outfielder Grady Sizemore looked like a candidate to be a comeback
player, but a .215 batting average after 52 games ended
his chances of reclaiming a once starry career—at least in Boston.
A 76 OPS+ (100 is league average) in 72 games spelled
the end of catcher A.J. Pierzynski’s time with the team, barely half a
season into his first year with the team. Signed as a stopgap between the
present and the arrival of vaunted prospect receivers Christian Vazquez and
Blake Swihart, he wasn’t able to complete the bridge.
There are talented young players practically oozing out of
the pores of the Red Sox farm system. Despite the hype, it’ss likely that only
a small percentage will eventually transition to productive big
leaguers—especially in the tough Boston market. However, now is the time to
throw as many of these youngsters against the wall and see who sticks for 2015
and beyond.
The rest of the way in 2014 may be rough but it’s not like
the cupboard is bare. The team still has veterans like David Ortiz, Dustin
Pedroia, Mike Napoli and Jon Lester, who are productive leaders, and able to
potentially keep things interesting while helping break in the kids.
Here are the young guys I want to see get liberal playing
time over the last two-plus months of the season.
Vazquez: The man
with the golden
arm is much more known for his defensive work than his bat. On the other
hand, he has a .265 batting average in his minor league career and has
displayed some pop. With Swihart nearly ready, it will be good to see if the
23-year-old has the chops to be a starter, or if he will be better suited as a
backup.
Second
Baseman/Outfielder Mookie Betts: After hitting approximately .785 over the
past season and a half in the minors (Fine, it was only .326 but seemed much higher!),
the wonder kid was recently summoned to the majors for the first time. Although
he has already launched his first home run, he has also struggled at times.
Outfielder Jackie
Bradley Jr.: The 2011 first-round pick has a personality custom-made for
Boston. He comes across as such a positive guy and hard worker, yet has
produced just a .210 batting average in 118 major league games over the past
two years. He is already a strong defender, and continued regular playing time
will hopefully allow him to adjust and get on track to be a successful regular
in the Fenway outfield for years to come.
Utility Man Brock
Holt: About the only places he hasn’t played this year has been pitcher and
catcher, and he shouldn’t be counted out for making an appearance or two at
those positions before it’s all said and done. Although he has hit .311 this
year, his future seems best suited as a jack-of-all-trades.
Shortstop Xander
Bogaerts: Still just 21, he has gone through flashes of brilliance and
periods of iciness that could frost a thousand beers. Despite the unevenness,
there is no doubt he is a star in the making. 2014 is the perfect time for him
to work out the kinks and get a full season under his belt—kinks and all.
Pitcher Rubby De La
Rosa: Somewhat of a throw-in in the massive 2012
trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the hard-throwing righty is showing he
can be quite an asset. He has been dominant in six major leagues starts this
year, posting a 2.89 ERA and punching out 33 batters in 37.1 innings while
flashing a mid-to-high 90s fastball. He is a serious candidate for the 2015
starting rotation if he can maintain his success over a longer stretch this year.
Despite being in his fourth big league season, he is still only 25 and still
figuring out exactly what he is as a pitcher.
Pitcher Brandon
Workman: Up and down from the minors all year, the right-hander has pitched
effectively in Boston in both starting and relief roles. Another possibility to
join the starting rotation next season, it would be great to get him some more
seasoning to ensure he is ready for the rigors ahead.
Pitcher Anthony
Ranaudo: The 24-year-old right-hander appears ready to be tested in the
majors. He is dominating at Triple-A, posting a 9-4 record with a 2.66 ERA in
18 starts. He doesn’t get nearly the same amount of press as other Red Sox
prospects but his results indicate he could have value moving forward, and it
would be great to get a peek at what he might bring.
Third Baseman Will
Middlebrooks: Technically no longer a prospect, he is still only 25 and only
two years removed from an abbreviated
rookie campaign that saw him put up an excellent 121 OPS+. Plagued by injuries
since then, he has had a hard time staying on the field and sustaining
consistent production. Having already proven he can play with the big boys, it’s
way too soon to give up on him. Finishing out the 2014 season healthy and
getting on track at the plate would be a great way to possibly firm up his spot
in the Boston lineup as a 25-30 home run threat for years to come.
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