Xander Bogaerts is the Best Shortstop in Baseball

Boy, it seems like I could write one of these every day for a different Red Sox player. (Well, maybe not for Travis Shaw...but almost everyone.) The Sox are blessed with some incredible talent on the team these days. And it's young talent, when you look at Mookie and JBJ and now Xander. There's a lot to be excited about for Red Sox fans.

Of course, Xander might be the best of the bunch. I looks like he's certainly the most consistent. And, consistent in a good way. Not in a "Well, he has no power, but you can count on his five home runs a year" type of consistent. Look at him compared to the other two I mentioned. Remember when Jackie had that super hot streak, and took over the lead in the American League batting race? Did anyone even know that the person he passed was Xander? Bogaerts was just plugging along, doing his thing while everyone else reached their highest peaks. Right down to having a super long hitting streak just when Bradley had a slightly longer one. He didn't hit three home runs in a game or two in the first two innings like Mookie did...twice. Xander was just there getting his hits and driving in his runs.

He's not an elite defender. But, he's a very good one. You expect him to get to balls and make plays. He may not end up on as many highlight reels as the young outfielders do. But, he does everything you want from him.

Like running the bases. When he went first to third on a groundout to second base yesterday, it was just the latest in a long line of great baselining decisions. I've joked on twitter often that Xander is apparently in scoring position at first base. He's scored from first on a double more than anyone I can remember. They always say that base running is the sort of thing that doesn't show up in a box score. But, Xander is doing it so well, that I think it is. Not just the scoring from first. But, plays like yesterday where he scores on a sacrifice fly after taking that incredible extra base.

Imagine if Jeter had done something like that.

But, really, think about that play. The easy response to it is to say he was planning it all along. He saw the shift, and knew he could give it a try. Mookie did it earlier in the year on a stolen base. But, unlike on a steal, Xander wasn't controlling the play. When you attempt a steal, you know where the play will be. You know where the defenders are. You know that throw is going to second base. You know all that before you run. Xander didn't. He had no idea where the ball was going until it was hit. And even after that, he didn't know how close the play would be since the Twins fumbled around with the ball a bit. He probably should have been out by ten feet. But, he wasn't. He had to decide at the last minute if he was going to have to break up a double play, or not. He had to look to make sure nobody was going to be covering third base. He had to look to make sure that the person taking the throw at second wasn't going to be able to sweep a tag on him as he ran by. He couldn't decide any of that before the play. He could have had an idea. "If the situation presents itself, I'm going to try it..." But, he had to make a lot of decisions on the fly to make sure the situation was there. He never hesitated.

And, here's the interesting question. The play at second was incredibly close. If he slides in like usual, does he make it to the bag in time? I'm not so sure he does. I think the thought of running hard and going to third actually got him to second base in time. 

So, Xander is hitting with some power. He's hitting for a high average. He's driving in runs. He's scoring runs. He's making all the plays in the field. He's stealing bases. He's taking the extra base. He's doing the things that don't show in a box score so well that they're starting to show in the box score. It's easy to see why he's the best shortstop in baseball.

Not sure it's even close.

Papi Memory

2004 World Series Game 1

There was some debate recently about clutch hitters. In an interview with the EEIdiots, John Farrell was asked about the idea that “clutch hitters” don’t actually exist. Statheads generally subscribe to this theory. There are no clutch hitters. They just perform to their normal levels all the time. Farrell tended to agree with this, and said that David Ortiz was just able to stay calm and do what he always does in clutch situations.

One of the problems I’ve always had with the “clutch” hitter discussion is defining just what, exactly, a clutch hitter is, and what constitutes a clutch situation. Most people refer to clutch situations as being late and close. Games after the seventh inning with a one run lead, for instance. Or, if the batter is the tying run. Whatever it may be. But, sometimes, I would argue, clutch situations don’t fit a historical definition. Sometimes they can show up in the middle of games. Or, maybe the first inning?

Take the first inning of the 2004 World Series. Is that a clutch situation? The Red Sox had just come off a huge series win against the Yankees. (Some of you may remember just how that all went.) There was talk that the ALCS was really the biggest win in franchise history. It may not have been that, but it was a huge win. A huge emotional roller coaster. Some worried that the Sox would be completely drained by the time they faced the Cardinals. It had happened to the Yankees just the season before. After an emotional seven game series against the Sox, they had nothing in the tank for the Marlins, and they were pushed aside.

Would that happen to the Sox? After all, the Cardinals had the most wins in the league that year. They were a good team that would require all the Sox had in order to be defeated. Was there anything left?

Then David Ortiz hits a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning. Yup. There was something left in the tank.

An absolutely clutch first inning home run. It proved to the entire team, and the Cardinals for that matter, that he wasn’t done. He was still there to carry the Sox if they needed him. He wasn’t spent. 

It was just the first inning of the first game, but it absolutely set the tone. The Sox would go one to hold the lead for at least some of every inning that series. (How crazy is that. Not only did they never trail. But, it was hardly ever even tied. The Sox led at some point during every single inning.)

So, today’s Papi memory is a clutch first inning home run. The crazy part about Papi is, that this wasn’t even his most clutch first inning homer. I’d say that happened a few days prior.

But that’s another story.

Dirty Water. In San Francisco.

You may recognize the woman in this picture as Bernadette. Her frequent photo contributions to this blog and its Facebook page have definitely made it a better place to visit. I'm always amazed and flattered with how often Bernadette remembers to take pictures for Section 36. Whether she's at Fenway, or at the gym, or even on the beach in Playa Del Carmen! It's that kind of dedication that makes Bernadette a true Friend of the Blog. I think you should definitely check her out at One Busy Bee and everywhere else she is on social media.

But, Bernadette has another role. She happens to be an Operating Partner and Events Director at "Dirty Water," a restaurant and bar in San Francisco. 

The Red Sox are, obviously, visiting San Francisco this week to play the Giants. Since there may be Red Sox fans visiting the area, we thought it would be a good idea to let people know about Dirty Water. After all, with a name like that, Red Sox fans have to at least stop by. Right?

Just look at some of what Dirty Water has to offer.

52 beers on tap and 100 bottles of wine to choose from! 

So, if you find yourself on Market Street during your time in San Francisco, swing by Dirty Water and give it a looksie. And if you happen to bump into Bernadette while you're there, let her know that you too would often Rather be in Section 36. Oh, and tell her she should wear the Section 36 tank top more.

It looks great on her!

Green Grass

There's an old saying that applies to the Red Sox these days. "The grass is always greener on the other side of fence. Until you get there, and see that it's artificial turf"

That quote has come to mind a lot lately. Especially as it applies to the Red Sox pitching staff. Now, I'll bet the first to admit that the staff did not exactly shower itself in excellence this weekend. Maybe even the past week. But, some of the tweets I saw made me think that people just don't get it. "We can't win meaningful games with this bullpen!" "This rotation is killing us!" "If this rotation doesn't improve, the Sox can't win anything."

Now, again, I'm not saying the pitching staff is perfect. It's the "can't win" portion of those comments that get to me. Let's take a look at the situation that the Red Sox currently find themselves in. They sit in a virtual tie for first place in the American League East, a mere .003 behind the Orioles. They have the second most wins in the American League, one behind the Rangers. So, clearly, they can win with this pitching staff. In fact, since they have put Clay Buchholz in the bullpen and Joe Kelly in the minors, some would say the rotation is actually better than it was with them in it. So, they have won games with a rotation worse than what they have now. They have also won games with the bullpen they currently have. A lot of games. More than almost anyone else in the league. So, why do people think they "can't win"? 

Are they focused on the "meaningful" portion of the tweets? I'd argue that since more than a third of the season is gone, the fact that they're still at the top of the division is very meaningful. I'd say that two months of wins have meaning. 

So, are you talking about the Playoffs? September? Are those the "meaningful" ones? Well, so far the Sox have played six games against Cleveland, and seven against Baltimore. So, the other teams that would be in the playoffs have made up almost a quarter of the Red Sox schedule thus far. I'd say the fact that they're still putting up wins is a good sign. And if you want to get really specific and say that the playoffs are all that matter, the pen and rotation will be much different. Joe Kelly won't start in the playoffs. So, the fact that he imploded won't affect the rotation in "meaningful" games. 

So, yes. The Red Sox staff has had a rough stretch. There have been a few garbage outings. But, if you're saying it's going to kill the Sox when Koji sometimes has a bad inning, then you're never going to be happy. Could he blow a playoff game? Of course he could. So could Kimbrel. Jonathan Papelbon threw a terrible game once. Marino Rivera blew two saves in two playoff games on the same day. Sometimes people have bad innings. Since the Sox are at the top of the league, clearly other teams are having bad innings too. And bad games. And bad stretches. It happens. It happens to the Sox. It happens to the Orioles. It happens to the Cubs. The good teams overcome the bad spots. Just like the Sox have overcome theirs.

So having a bad inning in May doesn't not mean the team can't win with that pitcher. Or group of pitchers. 

Especially when you can clearly see that they have been doing exactly that.

For the past two months.

Mookie Betts is the Best Right Fielder in Baseball

Here's the crazy part of this post. I wanted to write it yesterday, for obvious reasons. But, couldn't get the time to. But, I figured it would still be relevant if I wrote it a day or two later.

Then Mookie goes out and hits two more home runs in the first two innings of the very next game!

Of course, you know the specifics. Five home runs in his last two games. A diving catch that would make Jackie Bradley Jr jealous. Base running excellence. He's been doing everything.

Not bad for a player once called the most blocked guy in baseball. Which I suppose is a lesson. Sure, it may look bleak if you're a middle infielder in the Red Sox organization, with Dustin Pedroia and Xander Bogaerts taking your spot. But, if you can play you'll never be blocked. You'll force the team to find you a spot. Reminds me of when someone asked Nomar's minor league manager if he could play a position other than shortstop. After all, the Sox already had John Valentin. The manager's response? "I don't know who you've got playing short up there, but I'd suggest seeing if he can play somewhere else." (or something like that.) The good ones make you make room.

And Mookie is one of the good ones. He has this incredible power for someone of his size. Reminds me a bit of Hank Aaron. (Now, wait, hear me out.) Arron wasn't a huge guy. Maybe huge for his day, but he was just 6', 190 or so. But, he was known for his incredibly strong wrists. (Some have speculated it was because he held his hands upside down on the bat when he hit...left hand on top...until he was at a very high level.) You know who else I bet have some pretty strong wrists? Professional bowlers. Is there a connection between Mookie's bowling prowess and his hidden power stroke? I have no idea. But, I bet it's more likely than it being because of his ability to solve a Rubik's Cube.

Whatever the reason, Mookie is a lot of fun to watch. at the top of the order. Not only is he setting the table for the hitters behind him, like a good lead off guy should, but he's doing some clearing of his own. The hitters at the bottom of the order are scoring more runs because Mookie's driving them in. It's creating a wonderful turnover point in the order, and really adds to its depth.

It also makes it a whole lot of fun to watch.