Red Sox alternate history: 2014-15
By Rick McNair
May 31, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Will Middlebrooks (11) hits a two run home run during the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Will Middlebrooks morphs into Butch Hobson in his prime.
Hobson had a nice three year run that produced 75 home runs, 285 RBI and an average of .259. Would Middlebrooks provide the same type of production? Unfortunately the answer was no.
Middlebrooks had some injury issues that may have contributed to his Boston demise and, of course, the pressure situation that is Boston certainly doesn’t help. So Middlebrooks was sent out of town and now is in San Diego, where he is managing to show some glimpse of a return to promise.
The failure of Middlebrooks resulted in the Red Sox tossing 95M to Pablo Sandoval. That is 95M that could have been directed elsewhere. Middlebrooks represented a huge potential power bat that never materialized in Boston. Also, we lost Jenney Dell.