It's been a year of adjustments on Yawkey Way, with so many injuries you'd think the players have been throwing down in mosh pits every night instead of partaking in America's Favorite Pastime. From fluke foul balls to collisions with Adrian Beltre, the Sox have compiled a lengthy list of members on the DL.
But this isn't an article about those injured players. This is an article dedicated to the replacements. Those players who have stepped up for the ones who have fallen and have kept Red Sox Nation cheering and the win column growing … this article is for you.
Amid all the great plays and clutch performances made by these replacements, which player has been the best? Who has taken on the role of pushing the Boston Red Sox through tough times and kept the clubhouse and the Fenway Faithful optimistic? That decision, my friends, is up to you.
Has it been Bill Hall, whose replacement duties started in the outfield but more recently came to rest in the vacancy left by all-star second baseman Dustin Pedroia? Trying to fill Pedroia's shoes is difficult, but Hall has stepped in admirably all season long wherever he’s been needed. And who can forget the night he hit his sixth home run of the season against the Rays on June 29, his first night filling in for Pedroia? If that didn't lift the spirits of Sox fans across the Nation, I don't know what will. Hall is definitely holding his own with 20 RBIs and five doubles, giving the Sox the extra bat power when they need it.
Or is it Daniel Nava, who exploded onto the scene less than a month ago, but whose impact has been nothing short of miraculous? His grand slam in his first major league at-bat is something we'll never forget, and one would think to credit it to beginner's luck. But Nava continues to chug out clutch performances and displays composure at the plate like he's been playing in the bigs for years. In just 21 games, the youngster posts a .310 batting average with 22 hits and 14 RBIs. If anything, he's definitely given Sox fans something to smile about.
What about Darnell McDonald, whose service to the Sox has been just what they need … constant? He isn't flashy, he just plain gets the job done. Through 68 games played for the Boston outfield, McDonald bats .268 with 21 RBIs, and, like Hall, he started strong in his first game. After hitting a game-tying homer in the eighth and the game-winning single in the ninth, McDonald had the entire Red Sox fan base saying "I'm lovin' it!" It's those kinds of performances that have made this season so unexpected, and so great.
And who could forget the newcomers, Eric Patterson and Kevin Cash? Though they haven't been in Sox uniforms long, both have given solid contributions that prove they're here to help in any way they can. Patterson provides an offensive surge, and Cash carries a confidence behind the plate, both of which are key to what the Sox are missing right now. Their arrivals couldn't have come at a better time.
From the hill, we've seen two strong outings by newbie Felix Doubront. Though he's just 1-1 with a 4.22 ERA, if the Sox offense got behind him, we may see a few more W's coming his way. Both starts have been effective for Doubront, and he possesses an established pitching arsenal with great tenacity and poise from the mound. Could he be the key to keeping the Boston rotation steady?
There’s no denying that all these players have done their job in one way or another. They have knocked down the odds stacked against them. But who stands out among the rest?
Share your thoughts below. The best comments will be read on NESN’s Red Sox GameDay Live or Red Sox Final.
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