Red Sox: Cleaning out miscellaneous offseason news
By Rick McNair
The Boston Red Sox focus for fans and team is naturally on the roster building that will take place. However, there are little tidbits that have surfaced to provide some interesting
As the main focus now shifts to the construction of the Boston Red Sox team for 2018 other smaller issues surface that deserves at least some cursory attention. The lead note will be one that impacts the fans – safety.
According to a WCVB article, the Red Sox intend to expand protective netting at Fenway Park. Plans are not yet finalized, but the team plans on having the netting extend to third base and to first base in the vicinity of “Canvas Alley.” The Red Sox will also invite ticket holders to take a spring break to see the new extensions.
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The ongoing minor league facility drama has been the development of a new baseball stadium for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox or PawSox. McCoy Stadium is on life support and the stadium issue and potential move of the PawSox have been a never-ending story.
The latest venture in ballpark design was a project by a group of Yale graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in architecture. The design fits into the former Apex Department Store site and will keep the team in Pawtucket. The issue, however, is not one of design – this one looks great to my baseball eye – but financing.
The new stadium issue has surfaced repeatedly since the Larry Lucchino group assumed control of the PawSox. Last summer Worcester was mentioned as a potential landing spot and that story and a history of the stadium debate can be found here.
The legend of Mookie Betts continues to grow with his recent bowling of a perfect 300 game in the PBA World Series of Bowling event. This summer Betts also demonstrated another passion as he is now a licensed pilot. As far as bowling I will really be impressed if Mookie tosses a 300 game with candlepins.
The Red Sox had some remarkable defensive plays during the season and especially the outfielders. Betts won another Gold Glove and Jackie Bradley can be a highlight film. The Red Sox lost out in postseason rewards and they did again with the best defensive play.
Austin Jackson made a remarkable catch against Hanley Ramirez at Fenway Park to take away a home run. Jackson did a cartwheels in the bullpen that may have scored straight 10’s in Olympic Gymnastics. Jackson was honored with the MLB Best Defensive Play.
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JBJ may have lost out in the defensive awards, but he takes home the proud papa and his daughter the cuteness awards. MLB picked up Bradley’s Twitter post of Bradley and his young daughter Emerson watching Disney’s Moana together.
Whenever I see AFL my mind quickly reverts to the American Football League and the enjoyment of watching a wide-open football game, but then the baseball part of what is left of my brain cells shouts “Arizona Fall League.”
The fast-rising Michael Chavis earned a shout out from MLB on his championship game performance. Chavis along with Bryce Brentz hammered 31 home runs in the minor league system in 2017. Chavis is just 22-years-old and a very compact right-handed hitter. What should be noted is Chavis did it as a first baseman – a switch the Red Sox made for obvious reasons.
The passing of Bobby Doerr has resulted in a blaze of stories regarding the Hall of Fame Doerr. Just how good was Doerr? Despite my age, I never saw Doerr play, but I had a world of input in the late 1950’s from those who did see Doerr. Opinions I quickly learned to respect.
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Doerr retired at 33-years-old due to significant injury issues and his “numbers” certainly could have accelerated with three or more seasons. Even in his last season, Doerr was an All-Star. This was one fine person and baseball player.