The Red Sox Need To Play Alex Verdugo Everyday
It’s no secret that the Boston Red Sox have gotten off to a very rough start this season. The team started their 60-game marathon by losing two out of three to the lowly Baltimore Orioles.
Since then, they have been swept in their two game series with the New York Mets. That puts their record at a lackluster 1-4 through the first five games. The pitching has been the biggest issue, but Boston’s bats have also been very quiet since their 13 run explosion on opening day.
There is still hope that Boston can turn this thing around, but there isn’t much. Their rotation is horrendous and it probably won’t get better any time soon, especially with Eduardo Rodriguez dealing with the complications of contracting coronavirus.
A 27 year-old athlete has heart problems because of Covid-19. Anyone not taking this disease seriously is risking their life and that of their loved ones. https://t.co/IRR2KDYGrf
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) July 27, 2020
Simply put, this team isn’t good. There is no way that they will be able to compete with the New York Yankees, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles Dodgers of the world.
With that being said, Boston should be putting its young guys out there every single game. And by, “young guys” I am talking specifically about one player: Alex Verdugo.
Yes it has only been five games, but manager Ron Roenicke sat Verdugo on opening day because the Orioles were throwing out a lefty in Tommy Milone. That move really struck a nerve with me .
First of all, Verdugo is a former top prospect who can hit lefties. Last season Verdugo hit southpaws at a .327 clip. Does that say “sit this guy” to you?
| Split | G | GS | PA | AB | R | H | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vs RHP | 97 | 268 | 242 | 30 | 68 | 33 | .281 | .336 | .471 | .807 | |
| vs LHP | 55 | 109 | 101 | 13 | 33 | 16 | .327 | .358 | .485 | .843 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/29/2020.
You can argue Verdugo should sit because of the back injury that ended his 2019, but, according to him, he is 100%.
Second of all, as the main return in the Mookie Betts / Dodgers deal, don’t you want to see what you have? Unless Boston’s willing to accept that they traded a former MVP for a platoon guy, I don’t see why he shouldn’t be out there everyday.
Finally, the outfield for next year is not close to being set. Jackie Bradley Jr. and Kevin Pillar are free agents this upcoming offseason. Who knows what is going on with Andrew Benintendi’s performance. Verdugo is one of the only guys that HAS to be penciled in the outfield for 2021.
His swing is way too pretty and his batting aptitude way too high to be approaching 1000 plate appearances as a .275 BA, .349 OBP, 103 wRC+ hitter.
Not turning on the middle-middle and down and in pitches as he did early in his career: pic.twitter.com/QEmXfZy9ro
— Red Sox Stats (@redsoxstats) July 26, 2020
So in a shortened season, where the Red Sox clearly look like an inferior team, what is the point of sitting Verdugo? There is none.
– Jarrod Ribaudo (@Jribs53)