Red Sox Strut: Mookie Betts, Craig Kimbrel earn top honors of the week
By Sean Penney
Position Player Candidates
The bats have started to come alive ever since the 17-run explosion in Minnesota. Boston is averaging a respectable 4.5 runs over their last six games, with Sunday’s loss serving as the only instance in which they failed to score at least four runs over that stretch.
Catcher Christian Vazquez continues to swing a surprisingly hot stick, collecting 5 hits in 10 at-bats and drawing a pair of walks. He’s managed to keep his batting average at a robust .364 for the season, but only appeared in three of the team’s six games. Only one of those hits went for extra-bases and he failed to drive in a run.
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Xander Bogaerts went 8-for-24 over the past week and now sits fifth in the league in hitting with a .339 batting average. The star shortstop is still seeking his first home run of the season, although the four doubles he tallied last week could be a sign that his power is coming around.
Veteran second baseman Dustin Pedroia continues to be a steady presence in the lineup, going 7-for-23 with four doubles and three walks last week. Pedroia seems to be revitalized by the move back to his familiar spot in the No. 2 hole, where he’s hitting .325 in 40 at-bats this season. The success he enjoyed in the lead-off spot late last season didn’t carry over to 2017, but he’s back on track since manager John Farrell adjusted the top of the lineup.
Deven Marrero gets a shout out as well for being the savior the Red Sox needed at third base. He’s been inserted into the lineup lately based primarily on his defense. The revolving door that the Red Sox have used at the hot corner has been atrocious in the field, so the sure-handed Marrero would be considered an upgrade regardless of what he did at the plate. Surprisingly, he’s been solid offensively, hitting .273 and collecting the first two doubles of his career.