Red Sox Strut: Week One

The Boston Red Sox had a very eventful first week. Here at BoSox Injection, we feel the need to talk about which Red Sox players really strutted their stuff for the faithful fans.

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In fact, this article is the first of a weekly series, where we will take an opportunity to reflect and judge who one position player and one pitcher were the best in the last seven days. It can be a starting pitcher or one from the bullpen. Each article in the series will appear at the same time, each Monday, to give readers a chance to tune in to what our writers think about the past week.

Now, to fully understand what the Red Sox Strut is, it means to have reason to walk with a confident, proud air around you. Some people mistake it for vanity, arrogance, or being pompous. This incorrect assumption is not what we mean. The Strut is about knowing that your deeds showed off your amazing skills to the baseball-loving public.

Apr 6, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop

Hanley Ramirez

(13) rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam home run at Citizens bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Position Player

There wasn’t much doubt about the first pick of this article series being the man in left field.

Hanley Ramirez let it be known that he will be a force to be reckoned with, this season. Over the course of seven days, Ramirez has recorded three home runs and seven RBIs, with a .320 batting average in 25 at-bats. The 31-year-old native of the Dominican Republic almost launched two grand slams against the Philadelphia Phillies, one being caught on the warning track that almost won the game for the Red Sox.

The only player to have even close to the same results, with nearly the same number of at-bats, was shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who is hitting .407. However, multiple factors kept the young man from usurping Han-Ram’s thrown, this week. Ramirez’s on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS) was at 1.013, while Bogaerts held his own with .985. Bogaerts walked three times to Ramirez’s lone free trip to first base, but also struck out three times to only two from the victorious, explosive winner of this week’s Strut.

The fact remains that when Ramirez is healthy, he is the one name on the Red Sox lineup that screams ‘showstopper’, second maybe only to designated hitter David Ortiz, the face of the franchise, himself. We will have to see how long that health lasts. Baseball is a long season.

Apr 11, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher

Joe Kelly

(56) pitches during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Pitcher

If it wasn’t for his last game, against the New York Yankees, likely Clay Buchholz would have made it to the top of the list. However, a severe breakout of seven runs in the bottom of the first inning nixed any plans of that happening.

Instead, and possibly a feel-good angle to the story, starting pitcher Joe Kelly takes the prize as best pitcher, this past week.

From possibly not even starting till mid-April, due to biceps strain in his right pitching arm, Kelly made his official start to the 2015 season in excellent fashion. He started seven full innings of work, allowing only a single run and two walks, while striking out eight Bronx Bombers, to earn the victory.

After so many injuries that forced his former team, the St. Louis Cardinals, to trade him to Boston, it had to be devastating for him to earn a 4-2 record in 10 appearances for his new team, at the end of last season. Kelly’s ERA ballooned to 4.11, while giving up 32 walks to only 41 strikeouts.

This comeback has to feel good to Kelly, even if it is only one game, and to the Red Sox brass, who made the trade because they had faith in the 26-year-old from California. Home may be on the other side of the country, but Kelly has plenty of reason to have the Strut.

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