Red Sox second base problems evident at an indispensable time
The Red Sox’s weaknesses remain in effect at the second base position, with particular lineups. Ian Kinsler’s lack of effective at-bats has stood out.
With the Boston Red Sox season approaching its final and defining destination, each player on the team has to pull out all the stops in order to help Boston secure the coveted World Series title, in order to put the cherry on top of a record-setting season.
Boston’s team is one of the greatest in the franchise’s illustrious history. There are world-class talents all over the place, with everyone capable of performing on any given night. There have been specific weaknesses at different times of the year, but the strengths of this team definitely outweigh these weaknesses.
Second base was always going to provide some doubt for Red Sox fans. With the beloved, clubhouse leader and 2007 AL MVP, Dustin Pedroia, sidelined for nearly the entire 2018 season due to injury, the Red Sox have had to make do with other options that have had to fill in for Pedroia.
The 2018 regular season saw a platoon at second, between World Series Game One hero Eduardo Nunez and ALDS cycle hitting Brock Holt. The Red Sox acquired Ian Kinsler from the Los Angeles Angels on July 31 in order to strengthen the infield and provide more depth to the roster. Kinsler is an accomplished defender and has been an All-Star on four occasions. However, at the older age of 36, Kinsler hasn’t performed as well as the Red Sox hoped he would from the plate, this postseason.
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Although he had a solid ALDS, batting .308, he was sloppy at the plate, only collecting 2 hits in 4 games in the ALCS. Tuesday nights’ World Series opener saw him go 0-for-4 with 2 strikeouts. Kinsler has looked off at the plate recently and there have been times when a swing of his, on a pitchers count, has looked nowhere near the ball.
With Nunez moving over to third base more this postseason, the Red Sox have focused on two options at second base – Kinsler and Holt. With Alex Cora favoring Kinsler, rather than Holt, when facing a left-handed pitcher, it hasn’t worked out as effectively as other decisions he has made. Cora’s decision to field Holt in game 3 of the ALDS, where the Sox blew out the Yankees 16-1, proved to be sensational, as he hit for the cycle. It was one of the coaching decisions which will be applauded the most this season. It may be time for him to consider playing Holt against left-handed pitchers, rather than just right-handers, as he has shown much more ability with the bat than Kinsler has, this season and postseason.
Other options for Cora include that of superstar right fielder Mookie Betts. Betts has played second base in the past, both in the minors and vaguely for the Red Sox, filling in. Betts is a sensational fielder and definitely has the ability to perform at second. However, taking the best right fielder in baseball out of his position at this stage of the season, at the games biggest stage, would be a huge decision for Cora to decide upon.
It remains evident that Holt is a far better option than Kinsler when facing righties. But, perhaps, Nunez can also be considered at second base. This would allow for impressive youngster Rafael Devers to take over at third base, outrightly.
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Cora has plenty of options, while the likely sources for second base come from Holt and Kinsler, in the continued platoon, other options will, surely, be considered, as Boston need to have a player capable of getting on base at every position during the remainder of the World Series to really push for the title. Nunez hasshownd his ability this postseason to do so, and so has Holt.