Red Sox Strut: Pawtucket struts this week
Jul 29, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Hall of Fame player Pedro Martinez throws out the first pitch during his number retirement ceremony performed in Spanish before the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-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.
The Red Sox finished off a four game set with the Chicago White Sox and three games with the Tampa Bay Rays to go 3-4. The highlight was the retirement ceremonies for Pedro Martinez number – 45 – that has now been placed in right field. Pedro was a fairly decent pitcher in his Boston days and would probably be strut on a weekly basis.
For those in attendance we received a commemorative Hall of Fame plaque thanks to Gold’s horseradish. Somewhat prophetic since the Red Sox season has been horse – but not radish.
There were a few gems that surfaced for the week and that was primarily on the offensive end where Red Sox bats pretended they were facing Red Sox pitching and piled up some runs.
Jul 7, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman
Travis Shaw(47) singles during the second inning against the Miami Marlins at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Position Player:
The bats were certainly alive for the week with 44 runs in seven games. A number of players had significant contributions to their own personal stat line and to the team’s accumulation of that impressive run total – just ignore the pain of what the staff gave right back.
Mike Napoli had a pair of home runs – one a game winner – and five RBI.
David Ortiz hit .333 for the stretch with a home run and five RBI. Papi started July at .228 and is now up to .246.
Brock Holt, recovering from a knee tweak, played five games hitting .286 with three RBI.
When you are swatting .319 for the season you are always a potential strut and Xander Bogaerts continues to hit. This week it was .345 with eight runs scored. Never satisfied it is now surfacing about the lack of home runs from Xander’s bat. Like winning the lottery and complaining about the taxes.
Rusney Castillo has finally returned and hit .333 for the week with a home run and four RBI, while contributing all positives on defense.
The real strut for the week had a mere two games since being recalled, but what a two games it was for Travis Shaw. The left-handed hitter simply raked – especially on Saturday afternoon with a pair of home runs, five runs scored, three RBI and going 4-4. In the Sunday Loss, Shaw had a pair of hits to continue on an impressive roll.
So Shaw can strut and let’s hope it is not in Pawtucket.
Jul 25, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher
Steven Wright(35) delivers a knuckleball against the Detroit Tigers during the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Pitcher:
When your staff gets bombed for 46 runs in seven games it means a fairly thin group of potentials to get the strut of the week for any degree of moundsmanship.
Martinez did have a big game or two big games on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday Pedro tossed a single pitch to Jason Varitek and did have chants for him to return to the mound as Wade Miley gave up five runs in the first inning.
Miley did recover on Sunday with 6.2 innings, allowing two runs in a 120 pitch effort. That somewhat mitigates his performance of Tuesday, but that is not strut enough.
The bullpen had some moments that were occasionally strut worthy, but unfortunately offset by performances that were dreadful. Put Robbie Ross into that category and certainly Junichi Tazawa. No consistency, then no strut.
Eduardo Rodriguez labored along for five innings on Friday night in a no decision. Five innings with three runs and four walks. E-Rod had little, but hung on for 110 pitches.
Steven Wright is the strut for the week from the pitching department. A 30-year-old knuckleball specialist had a career game to even his season’s record at 4-4. The Pawtucket shuttle paid off for a game against the White Sox that broke another losing streak as Wright went seven impressive innings.
The damage was a two run shot by Jose Abreu in the first and that was it as Wright’s K-Ball was spinning magic for at least one night in an 8-2 Boston win. Wright struck out a career high eight while walking just two in a 116 pitch effort.
So Wright can strut around, but not like a K-Ball or it could be potential public intoxication.
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