Red Sox: Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley make for an elite defensive outfield
By Sean Penney
The Boston Red Sox have one of the game’s best defensive outfields, led by center fielder Jackie Bradley and right fielder Mookie Betts.
We spent so much time harping on the poor defensive play that the Boston Red Sox were getting at third base earlier this season that the tremendous efforts from their outfielders have gone somewhat overlooked.
It’s time that we gave this outfield credit for being among the elite defensively.
There’s no better outfield pairing than center fielder Jackie Bradley and right fielder Mookie Betts. The former has long had a reputation as a defensive wizard praised for his cannon arm and uncanny instincts that allow him to get a jump on the ball with highly efficient routes. The latter is a reigning Gold Glove winner who led the majors at any position with 32 defensive runs scored last season.
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Just over a third of the way through the season, Betts is on pace to challenge last year’s pace. He and Bradley enter the day tied for second among major league outfielders with 10 defensive runs saved.
Seattle’s Guillermo Heredia (11 DRS) and Jarrod Dyson (10) are the only outfield teammates that have saved more runs than the Red Sox duo.
Betts draws a lot of attention for what he produces at the plate but his work in the field is an equal factor in why he was the runner-up for the AL MVP award last year. As impressive as his offensive numbers are, the plays he’s capable of making with is glove are breathtaking.
What a catch by Mookie Betts! #RedSox pic.twitter.com/CQFkcjHADO
— Sean Penney (@spenney83) June 3, 2017
With Betts and Bradley patrolling the outfield there aren’t a lot of fly balls dropping in for hits.
Don’t forget about Andrew Benintendi either. The rookie doesn’t have the statistical resume of his teammates but he’s still been an above-average outfielder with 1 defensive run saved. Learning to play in the shadow of Fenway Park’s towering Green Monster is a tall task for a young player, yet Benintendi has adapted to it quicker than most expected. Benintendi is a natural center fielder capable of covering more ground than he’s asked to do playing in Fenway’s shallow left field beside Bradley, who seems to pull in every fly ball hit between them with a tractor beam.
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Red Sox outfielders collectively rank third in the majors with 18 defensive runs saved, although that total understates how well they have played.
Chris Young rates as one of the worst defensive outfielders in the majors with -4 defensive runs saved, despite playing in fewer than half of the team’s games. Young was once considered a very good outfielder early in his career but has slipped to slightly below-average in recent seasons. Based on his current pace this year, the 33-year old is either suffering a drastic drop-off or this is merely a mirage created by a small sample size.
Young’s poor outfield performance drags down the team’s collective rating, although his track record suggests he’ll improve. If we focus on Boston’s primary starting outfield trio they leap into elite territory.
A strong defensive outfield is a fly ball pitcher’s dream. That’s great news for the Red Sox, considering Rick Porcello, Eduardo Rodriguez and Chris Sale all rank in the top-25 in the majors in fly ball outs. David Price only recently made his season debut so you won’t find his name on that list, although he did record the 11th most fly ball outs last year. Drew Pomeranz has also historically been known as a fly ball pitcher, even if he hasn’t been among the league-leaders this year.
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The Red Sox pitching staff is in great hands with the Killer B’s of Betts, Bradley and Benintendi chasing down fly balls behind them.