Huge need to power up
Have to deal with big flaw in offense
SEATTLE — There were so many ceremonies and celebrations last season it was impossible to forget David Ortiz was slugging his way into the sunset.
His retirement didn’t catch the Red Sox off-guard. It didn’t come without advanced notice. This team knew the void it had to fill this offseason.
Decisions were made, moves were executed, a roster was constructed. This is, by and large, the offense the front office intended to put on the field.
So who’s to blame for its underwhelming and inconsistent run production?
Is it a flaw of design, or a failure of execution?
Five days before the trade deadline, the Red Sox’ problem seems to be a little of both, and the clock is ticking to adjust accordingly.
“I think initially there might have been a thought of a little bit more power,” Sox manager John Farrell said. “And I shouldn’t say that power is a direct correlation to runs. We felt like the runs scored, while up to four or five days ago we were fifth in the American League, felt like this was a top-five offensive type of team. And yet, when we’ve gone through streaks, it’s been kind of the extreme. We’ve gone through those streaks for a period of games where two, three (and sometimes) zero runs has been on the board. We just felt like we’re capable of maybe a higher run total to date.”
The Sox opened last night second in the American League in hits and third in batting average. They were third in stolen bases.
However, they were sixth in runs scored.
Run scoring has been inconsistent. The Sox averaged 3.88 runs per game in April, then 5.68 in May and 4.46 in June. So far in July, they averaged 6.00 runs in their nine games before the All-Star break, but only 3.25 runs in the first 12 after.
That’s been the story of the offensive season, wild fluctuations that have kept the overall run total at a respectable level, while leaving the Red Sox prone to extended stretches when they can’t hit enough to keep even a strong pitching staff afloat. Too often, they have longed for the three-run home runs that just never show up.
“This is an offense that relies on 1 through 9 and not built around a big swing of the bat,” Farrell said. “The key for me is that we’ve got to still remain relentless with tough at-bats finding a way to get on base. That’s what, to me, creates the energy. It gives us opportunities to run the bases smart but aggressively. But, yet, when we’re making early outs, that’s not giving us that opportunity.”
Ten Red Sox hit at least seven home runs last year, and seven of those hit at least 15. Only two of those players — Ortiz and Travis Shaw — are not back with the team this season.
Those two combined for 54 home runs last season, 38 of them by Ortiz, who led the team.
How have the Red Sox made up for that missing thump? Mitch Moreland and Andrew Benintendi are on pace for almost exactly 38 home runs between them, basically using two players to produce the thump of one.
Again, the Red Sox knew that would be an issue. They’ve never suggested that one player would or should make up for Ortiz’ missing offense, instead they looked to make up the difference in the aggregate by substantially upgrading the pitching staff with Chris Sale and improving the defense with Moreland and Benintendi.
Perhaps that would have worked if the remaining Red Sox had hit for the power the team expected, but Hanley Ramirez is on pace for roughly 26 home runs, four fewer than last year. Mookie Betts is on pace for 27, three fewer than a year ago.
Those are relatively minor drop-offs compared to other would-be run producers.
Jackie Bradley Jr. is on pace for 19 home runs after hitting 26 last season. Xander Bogaerts is headed for nine or 10 after a career-high 21 last season. Dustin Pedroia is also on pace for nine or 10. He hit 15 a year ago.
Even role players Chris Young and Brock Holt, who combined for 16 home runs last season, are off the pace from a year ago. Young has hit just five home runs as his power against lefties has vanished, and Holt is still looking for his first home run after having his playing time diminished by vertigo symptoms.
Some of these problems were predictable, some were not, but the trade deadline looms, and that won’t catch the Red Sox off-guard either.
There’s time to address what could be a fatal flaw of design and execution.
“I know every effort is being made to do just that,” Farrell said. “Who that means or what name is attached to that, that I don’t know yet.”