The Boston Red Sox need something to spark their lineup for the 2020 season. That duty could fall to the dynamic duo of Michael Chavis and Bobby Dalbec.
There’s still a bit of stink hanging over Fenway Park after the decimation that was the 2019 season. Months after becoming champions of the baseball world the Red Sox found themselves in third-place purgatory with no end in sight. One bright spot from the season was the debut of rookie sensation Michael Chavis.
The Ice Horse would soon become a fan favorite due to his hustle and ability to smack a baseball to the moon. Some injury issues would slow his rookie campaign and end his season early. Now that he’s getting healthy and ready for 2020, he could once again be the spark in the lineup.
Another name that has gotten Red Sox Nation excited about this upcoming season is that of Bobby Dalbec. Much like Chavis, Dalbec is a powerhouse infielder than can smack the cover off the ball. With the vacancies at first and second base, both have a strong chance to become everyday players in 2020. Having Alex Cora as their manager can only boost their odds as the former infielder is a wealth of knowledge.
We all know what the superstars like Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez are capable of when they’re on their game, but they can’t do it on their own. Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers each had breakout seasons in 2019 and proved they could take the mantle if Betts and Martinez ply their trade elsewhere. The duo put up numbers that the baseball world hasn’t seen in some time, or at any time to be honest.
Adding Chavis and Dalbec into the lineup to complement Devers and Bogey in the infield could create one hell of a problem for opposing pitchers. As of this writing, we know that J.D. will be back with the Red Sox for 2020 and Mookie has yet to be shipped off, so I’ll continue as if both will be on the team.
Having those six in the starting lineup every day and figuring in what Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Christian Vazquez can offer, this offense should be historic.
You may be saying that I’m giving the youngsters a little too much credit considering how untested they are. Chavis proved he could hang at the Major League level despite his injuries and a few slumps. When he was firing on all cylinders he was white-hot and was swinging at beach balls.
The second baseman put up a .254/.322/.444/.766 line with 18 homers and 58 RBI. The big issue is one we’ve seen with power-hitters time and time again, the strikeouts.
In 347 at-bats, Chavis whiffed 127 times, that’s not very good. Especially considering he drew just 31 walks in that same time span. The righty needs to work on his patience and eye at the plate during winter ball and Spring Training. If he can get the strikeouts under control then his eagerness at the plate can become a serious weapon for the Red Sox.
Dalbec split his 2019 season between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket where he proved to be an asset to both teams. A combined .239/.356/.460/.8.16 campaign got a lot of attention from Red Sox Nation. The first-baseman also tallied 27 dingers and 73 RBI through 135 games. Much like Chavis though he tends to fill up the strikeout column having finished 2019 with 139.
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Now I know those numbers may not be jumping off the screen but they’re beyond positive when you look at their potential. Getting them in the lineup as much as possible in 2020 could do wonders for abilities, as more reps will only benefit their experience levels.
Looking at the potential lineup for the Red Sox ahead of 2020 leaves little to the imagination as we’ve seen how this movie plays out. First, there was the epic 2018 blockbuster that set box office records. Then came the 2019 sequel that couldn’t live up to its predecessor and was a flop at the theaters.
As far as Chavis and Dalbec are concerned, the outlook is pretty optimistic. Ian Browne of MLB.com listed Chavis as a lock for the Opening Day roster with Dalbec as a strong possibility. If the duo has a strong showing in Spring Training I can’t imagine a world where both aren’t on Cora’s lineup sheet.
The Red Sox are in dire need of a spark after the disappointment that was the 2019 season. There was so much hope for the squad after what they were able to do in 2018 and they just couldn’t live up to the hype. Bringing in some new blood to freshen things up could work wonders, especially a pair of players as talented as Michael Chavis and Bobby Dalbec.