Red Sox: End of 2018 BoSox Injection roundtable discussion
By Sean Penney
What was the top defensive play on the year?
Brendan: The Benintendi diving catch in the ALCS. The catch not only saved the ALCS for the Sox, as it gave them a 3-1 lead which is night and day to the 2-2 it could’ve been. But when he got up, that roar sent a chill down my spine. These guys weren’t gonna lose. And it was the AP Play of the Year!
Rick: Plenty of great plays and the one I pick was not the “best”, then there are the circumstances surrounding the play. Game four of the ALCS in the ninth inning and Kimbrel has fallen apart – again. Minute Maid Park is going nuts and Bregman hits a two-out sinking liner to left – Benintendi makes a do-or-die play and in this case, it was do, and Red Sox get an 8-6 win.
Josh: The best defensive play was Benintendi’s gem in Game 4 of the ALCS. Not only was it a spectacular, JBJ-esque play, but it also saved the game and perhaps the series and season.
Robert: Benintendi’s catch to end Game 4 of the ALCS could have changed the course of the postseason. He took a huge risk by completely laying out. If that ball gets by him, three runs score and the Astros win to tie the series at two games apiece. But instead, he makes the catch, the game is over and the Red Sox are one game away from the World Series.
Steve: Benintendi in Game Four of the ALCS. With that catch by Benintendi, they were one win away from the American League Pennant. Alex Bregman was up with the bases loaded in the ninth inning against Craig Kimbrel. Bregman hit a shot into left field but Benintendi’s diving catch to save the season for the Sox was an all-timer. It’s going to be a catch that people will be talking about for a long time. Kimbrel was about to blow it but the defense behind him didn’t let that happen.
Rudi: Benny’s ALCS catch that put the Red Sox ahead 3-1 instead of evening the series at 2-2 remains so important.
Jason: No doubt the top defensive play of the year is Benintendi’s diving catch in the ALCS to win the game. Kimbrel made a lot of Red Sox fans nervous in that 9th inning, but Benny saved us all, saving the game and potentially the season. Sox very well could’ve not made it to the World Series if he didn’t catch that.
Hunter: Benintendi’s catch in Game Four of the ALCS. If he doesn’t make that catch, the Houston Astros score three runs and tie series 2-2. Instead, Benitendi dove for the game-winning catch and the Red Sox took a commanding 3-1 lead and never looked back.