Boston Red Sox: Grading the team after their fast 2021 start

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BOSTON, MA – MAY 6: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox poses for a photograph with the lineup card from his 1000th career game after a victory against the Detroit Tigers on May 6, 2021 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

The Red Sox Infield has Bogaerts, Devers and little else

Best to take the highlights first. Xander Bogaerts is an MVP candidate. A solid defensive player with an almost guaranteed 30 home runs and 100 RBI. Toss in leadership for extra bonus points. Right now Bogaerts is at a 1.7 fWAR and ranked the best in the AL.

Rafael Devers is a Statcast regular with distance, barrels, and exit velocity. Strip away all that and you have some noted run production. Home runs, doubles, RBI, and suddenly walks. Devers isn’t the worst defensive third baseman in the AL but he is close and the season is still young.

Now the low-lights.

Second base remains an issue for the Red Sox and probably will until the next ice age. What surprised me at a second glance is they are ranked sixth in the AL with a 0.8 fWAR. Marwin Gonzalez had taken most of the playing time with Christian Arroyo on the IL. Offensively and defensively, Arroyo has outperformed Gonzalez and has a nice 101 wRC+. Keep an eye on Jeter Downs. Arroyo keeps it up you should have a problem solved.

First base is a wreck and that is Bobby Dalbec. He is derailed. A miserable 33.3 K%. Just two home runs and a 54 wRC+. The Michael Chavis option will not give any oomph to this position. Mitch Moreland, you are missed for your glove and timely hitting.

Grade B-

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