The weekly article series where we examine two players who deserve to strut their stuff for the Boston Red Sox. This week – Mookie Betts, Craig Kimbrel.
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.
This past week has done no favors to the Boston Red Sox in the standings, as they dropped four of their last six games.
Pitching has been a problem of late, which seems unusual given the talent that this team has on the pitching staff. Injuries have shortened the rotation depth, forcing them to rely on fringe options like Kyle Kendrick. Naturally the results will be skewed by a spot starter getting lit up, although the bullpen has been battered around lately as well.
That was the case in Sunday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Starter Drew Pomeranz exited after only three innings with left triceps tightness. The game was still in reach at the time, only for the bullpen to meltdown by allowing nine runs over the final six frames.
While the overall results have been a disappointment, there have been a few silver linings in the form of outstanding performances. Let’s take a look at which players have put themselves in the conversation to Strut this week.