Having a Grand Time!

The Red Sox hit another grand slam last night. Incredibly, it’s their sixth one if the season. You may have heard, the Sox didn’t hit a single grand slam last season. Not a one.

You may have heard that mentioned once or twice.

It was one if the reasons that some people felt that the Ree Sox desperately needed a power bat over the off-season. It’s why people were so desperate to sign JD Martinez to bring that power. And, clearly, it worked.

Or, did it?

I have to admit, I’m not sure what really happened. It’s not like JD has hit six grand slams this season. Or, even six home runs. So, it’s not like adding him changed the whole production of the team. The grand slams are being hit by guys who were on the team last year. It’s nit like Bogaerts suddenly improved and is now a home run hitter. (OK, bad example with Xander. He is improved now that he’s healthy. But, he was healthy last April, wasn’t he?) The Sox changed managers, but I’m not sure what that would have done. Was John Farrell telling the guys, “you know what, when the bases are loaded, don’t hit a home run.”? Did Cora come in and say, “OK guys, when we have the bases loaded, let’s try and hit a home run”? Do you even want a manager to tell players to try and hit home runs?

Or is it just dumb luck? After all, the Sox ties an Expos record for most slams in April. You know, one of those powerhouse Expos teams. Oh right. Hitting a ton of home runs doesn’t always mean hitting a ton of grand slams. So I wonder if not hitting grad slams doesn’t mean not hitting lots of home runs.

Whatever the reason, whatever the explanation, the Red Sox are clicking. They have hit the most April grand slams in their history, and they had the most April wind in their history. There’s a chicken and the egg argument to be had, but it doesn’t really matter.

I’m just going to enjoy it!