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Red Sox Strut: Xander Bogaerts, Chris Sale show consistency is key

By Matthew Loper

May 7, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Andrew Benintendi (16) celebrates with shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) after his two run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
May 7, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Andrew Benintendi (16) celebrates with shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) after his two run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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The weekly article series where we examine the two players who deserve to strut their stuff for the Boston Red Sox. This week — Xander Bogaerts and Chris Sale. 

May 7, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Andrew Benintendi (16) celebrates with shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) after his two run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
May 7, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Andrew Benintendi (16) celebrates with shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) after his two run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /

If you want 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 Boston Red Sox had another interesting and drama-filled week which is now the norm and to be expected when they take on their AL East rivals in the Baltimore Orioles.

The big story after last Monday’s game at Fenway was Adam Jones telling the media that there was a racial slur directed at him from the bleacher area. This led to a full week of debates, articles and social media posts about what fans should do if they hear something like that in the crowd and the overall subject of racism in Boston – a city that has a shady past when it comes to dealing with minorities.

While the Adam Jones incident was bubbling all week, we also had the expletive laden reaction from Manny Machado on Tuesday night after Chris Sale threw a ball behind him. It was a wild scene at Fenway because the fans had just given Jones a standing ovation lending him their support in the wake of Monday’s horror show, then the next batter was Machado and Sale whizzed one by him. Machado was clearly unhappy and let the Sox know about it after the game.

Once that was all out of the way, and we could focus on actual baseball, the Red Sox had another up-and-down week but it definitely ended on a high note. Boston split the four game series with Baltimore and then took two games out of three from the Twins in Minnesota to claim a winning record for the week. The Red Sox remain right in the middle of the AL East with a 17-14 record. Once again, solid pitching from the Sox but they weren’t exactly tearing it up on the base paths early in the week. However, once John Farrell shook up the lineup over the weekend, the bats finally woke up.

Let’s take a look at who helped lead the Red Sox this week and who deserves a chance to Strut!

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