Red Sox: World Series could be a last chance opportunity for some players
By Rick McNair
The Boston Red Sox move on to face the Dodgers and for some players, this may represent the last career chance at a World Series ring as their careers wind down.
The World Series is something special for players and fans, but getting there is just part of the quest since winning the World Series is the ultimate goal. Winning teams are remembered and losing teams usually end up in the historical dustbin.
Before playoffs and even after the playoff system started, players of remarkable talents and abilities could go their entire career without getting to the World Series. Rod Carew, Ernie Banks, Ken Griffey jr., and Luke Appling never made it, but did make it to Cooperstown. And the “best” player in baseball – Mike Trout – is still waiting with a one and done (.083) appearance in the postseason. Then there is getting there just once and losing such as Ted Williams or more than once like Carl Yastrzemski.
The Boston Red Sox now have three players who may be facing their last chance.
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Ian Kinsler was last an All-Star in 2014 and can still play excellent defense, but the 37-year old’s bat is starting to show its age. Kinsler slashed 14/48/.240 for a split season between Boston and the Angels with his Boston average at .242. Kinsler stabilized the second base defense and that most certainly was needed with the absence of Dustin Pedroia.
Kinsler has been to the World Series twice – both with the Texas Rangers – and on both occasions watched the on-field celebrations from the disappointing perspective of the losers dugout. After 13 seasons the soon to be free agent may be facing his last opportunity at getting a ring.
The Red Sox needed a right-hand bat that had some respectable power and went north to Toronto and acquired Steve Pearce. Pearce performed as advertised and was an excellent compliment to the left-hand hitting Mitch Moreland. Pearce will also be a free agent and will be 36-years-old next season.
Pearce has certainly made the rounds being on the roster of every American League East team in his 12-year career, but time in winding down for Pearce who slashed 11/42/.284 in 2018. Most certainly a talented bat could find a place somewhere on an MLB roster in 2019 and even Boston, but it could also be the end of a career and what a way to end – with a ring.
Great defense is certainly a valuable asset especially at catcher, but you have to at least come close to hitting your weight and Sandy Leon is a big guy. Leon hit just .177 for the season and his partner in defense – Christian Vazquez – hit just .207. Leon may be quite vulnerable to roster manipulations and could be faced with another career release.
Good defensive catchers stick around despite their poor offensive production and look to David Ross for the 2013 championship team or Doug Mirabelli in 2004 and 2007, but Ross and Mirabelli both had some sting that Leon is missing. For Leon, this may be the last career highlight.
Next. Expect Betts to break out offensively in World Series. dark
Baseball is strange and has no guarantees for a string of winning seasons and more World Series appearances. The younger talent on the Red Sox may look back in their retirement years at 2018 being the only opportunity. Despite the high level of talent things go wrong or opposition improves so it is best to take full advantage of the opportunity since for some it may be the last chance and reflecting back it may have been the only chance.