Pawtucket Red Sox Ides of July review: The bats

Jun 26, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (25) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Jackie Bradley was named to the IL All-Star team and has used up organization travel expenses traveling up and down I-95. Remember a few seasons ago when the great debate was service time? JBJ is represented by agent evil – Scott Boras – and the picture “down the road” was all about money. Now? A .133 average for Boston this season and repeated failures with the “Big Club” have effectively erased service time talk.

In Pawtucket Bradley is performing exceptionally well. The average has dipped somewhat from the high .330s to .308, but is easily in the league top-ten. The key change is greater contact with fewer strikeouts and a few more walks. JBJ never hit above .300 in Double-A and Triple-A, so that is an improvement.

Bradley’s return to Boston is entirely dependent upon need. The Boston outfield has a multitude of options as discussed by BSI’s Brandon Nickel, so a Bradley can just rack up some 3A time until movement takes place. Bradley probably needs an extended stay at the MLB level to see if his new-found skill level is real or an illusion. Apparently he will not get that trial in Boston.

If you didn’t know Bradley’s past history and saw him play you would ask “Why is that guy here?”