Boston Red Sox Academy Awards

Just who on the Boston Red Sox would win an Academy Award? Let’s look at a few possibilities.

Academy Awards are being presented on February 28th in picturesque and dysfunctional Hollywood or somewhere in the general vicinity. I will not watch. I never do, but I will let curiosity get the best of me and scan the results in the paper the next day.

I happen to be a fan of the Tony Awards, which I never miss. I love the theater or as the snobbish say “The legitimate theater” – a term which goes back to 17th century England. I especially enjoy the musical theater and have ever since by mother dragged me to see “Damn Yankees” with Gwen Verdon and Ray Walston and the magnificent choreography of Bob Fosse. But I diverge.

Back to Oscar.

Who on the Boston Red Sox would get an Oscar? What categories could one place a Red Sox player in?

Best Actor: A no doubt and baseball slam dunk – David Ortiz. The face and spiritual leader of the Red Sox. And in his “role” few have done it for so many years with such perfection – especially when the chips are down and you need someone to “chew the scenery” and Ortiz does that in the post season as well as anyone.

Best Supporting Actor: Xander Bogaerts was certainly on the “B List” in 2014 with a series of underwhelming performances that had Rotten Tomatoes giving the thumbs down. But the talent was there and it showed in 2015 with a “Best in class” for the shortstop position. A BABIP off the charts and some fine glove work that made audiences and critic take notice. Expect a future Best Actor Award.

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Best Directing: Goes to Torey Lovullo who took over the directing role from John Farrell. Lovullo subbed with an excellent understudy performance and managed to get the production done with a managerial record that was above the magical .500 plateau. Expect Lovullo to take his directing skills to either another company or stay with the Red Sox – who he has signed with.

Best Picture Award: The picture of a rotund Pablo Sandoval in spring training of 2015. The picture was repeated in 2016.

Best Production Design: When a production falters, as in back-to-back last place finishes, it is time for a change of pace and that means Dave Dombrowski. Brought in from another company when he resigned or was fired, DD has made a series of moves designed to get the production back on center stage.

Best Visual Effects: What’s not to love about the circus – especially the acrobats? The Red Sox have one called Jackie Bradley who performs his defensive maneuvers with panache. Need a highlight? Just watch JBJ perform some outfield magic. Now will the other part of his performance catch up to that skill?

Award For Best Story: In 2015 it was Brock Holt as the best story and the only Red Sox player to made the All-Star Team. Who will be the best story for 2016?

Best Animated Short: Is anyone more animated than Dustin Pedroia? His impishness is actually an endearing feature as is his bombastic bravado to other players, both on and off his team. For some reason, it has the opposite impact that it would with other players and seems to get chuckles and smiles.

Pedroia wears his emotion openly and is always available for a quote – usually one that can be placed in the outrageous category.

Academy Juvenile Award: The Red Sox hit a prospect home run in 2015 and this award is shared by many. Blake Swihart, Travis Shaw, Henry Owens and Eduardo Rodriguez can divvy it up any way they can. In the past, this award has been rather sparse in the recipient category but expect a long list of nominees in the next few seasons.

Best Live Action Short: Short they have in Mookie Betts (5’ 8”) and the film is just beginning. A surprise in 2014 with an exceptional performance that only was built upon in 2015. Expect this talent to be a contender for a multitude of awards.

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Fame and Philanthropy Award: The owners of the team certainly have two areas that should be noted: One is the strong connection to local and national charities that are supported by the Red Sox Foundation and the other is the payroll that is now the third highest in baseball.

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