Red Sox Strut: There Were Best Players Of The Week?
Jul 20, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter
David Ortiz(34) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
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.
There were ‘best’ players of the week, this week? Isn’t it more like the ‘least worst’?
It’s hard to argue with that assessment, if that’s what you were thinking when you chose this article to read. The Boston Red Sox find themselves in a complete funk before and after the All-Star Break, losing their last five games. The losing streak has pushed them back to nine games behind the American League East division leaders the New York Yankees.
C’mon, guys! Really? The Yankees? It’s one thing to lose to them; it’s another to be so far behind them in the standings.
A hitter and a pitcher tried their hardest in the last seven games for that not to happen. Nobody in Boston likely feels like strutting anywhere right now, but these guys should be looked upon as some inspiration:
Jul 20, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) hits a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Position Player: David Ortiz
I know, I know. He’s not playing a position as much as he’s playing a role of designated hitter. However, Ortiz has swung the bat pretty well for the Red Sox, lately.
The team needs leadership, especially by example. Ortiz had very good at-bats against the Los Angeles Angels, making them throw more pitches than they may have wanted. He hit a home run and two RBIs with a slash line of .333/.333/.533 in 15 at-bats. Even with speedy studs like Mookie Betts and Brock Holt on the team, Ortiz was the only player to cross home plate twice after the All-Star Break.
Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts looked to be taking the Strut award again, and away from Ortiz, with hitting a slash line of .429/.400/.500; however with the small sample size, his advantage only amounted to a single hit more. Ortiz amassed a home run and an RBI more than Bogaerts, while both men struck out three times.
Yes, I know, I’m really digging the bottom of the barrel.
The Red Sox went 22-for-127, which amounts to a .173 team batting average. That is the worst team batting average in both major leagues. Oddly enough, they are just behind the fourth place team in the A.L. East the Tampa Bay Rays, whom have a .187 team batting average but also have five more wins than Boston.
If the Red Sox are going to get back into the hunt, they will need to follow Ortiz’s example and extend at-bats as far as they can, or they won’t be strutting very far.
Jul 17, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
Wade Miley(20) pitches against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Pitcher: Wade Miley
If anyone questions this choice with another starter, I may need to pull off my left arm just to have something to throw at you. Miley’s start against the Angels was exactly the opposite of everyone else’s: it was good.
Miley threw 101 pitches, 57 for strikes, and allowed zero runs on … yes, I said ZERO runs. Can you believe it? No runs were scored on the Red Sox for seven full innings that Miley pitched. He only allowed one hit. No, I’m not messing with you. Seriously, he only gave up one hit, walked two batters, and struck out six Angels. Yes, in the same game; it’s not a miracle, I swear.
If it wasn’t for Koji Uehara gift-wrapping a home run to All-Star MVP Mike Trout in the bottom of the ninth, and the fact that the Red Sox couldn’t sniff a run of their own to save their lives, we would be talking about the only victory any of the starters had in the last five games.
The key was Miley’s strategy. He kept the ball very low all game, unlike his fellow teammates on the mound. Miley earned nine groundball outs, instead of trying to strike everyone out. Rick Porcello was the closest starter to Miley with five strikeouts. Allowing three runs, two earned, is not the end of the world. However, the two home-run blasts that Porcello gave up take him right out of the equation, this week.
With Clay Buchholz injured and no trade for another starter made, as of yet, Miley is an island all of his own. He may not want to strut, but he did his job and deserves the recognition.
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