Red Sox historic trials and tribulations at third base
By Rick McNair
Has the Boston Red Sox third base issue been resolved with Rafael Devers? A look back at some failures and success at third base.
Even the best of teams sometimes have a hole in the lineup. Sometimes it is a weak bat covering a strong glove or that can be flipped. Other times it is just mediocre play and then management commences a search to find some baseball Spackle to fix and repair. For the Boston Red Sox, that hole has been third base for several seasons.
The 1946 championship Red Sox were at the bottom of the statistical barrel in the American League at third base with a .224 average. So – as mentioned – even in the best of times.
The latest and greatest from our farm system is Rafael Devers, who has burst upon the scene with a flurry of extra base hits. Only 20-years-old the word around the camp fire is Devers is the key – the solution – the Spackle needed.
The need is quite apparent since in the time frame from 2012 to the present the Red Sox are dead last in the American League in offensive output at third base. Defensively the Red Sox are 14th in that period so they have matched lousy defense with awful offense. Ah…consistency!
Now for a look at some of the players who have drifted through to play third for Boston. I started in the 1950’s and go to the present with my own rating system.