This whole thing looks eerily familiar.
While most would agree this year’s version of the Boston Red Sox’s offense features more talent than last year’s unsuccessful lineup, the club is learning that success at the plate isn’t guaranteed. Sure, the Red Sox have assembled a talented bunch, but Boston currently looks like a team in need of a spark.
“We’re looking at different combinations,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said after Sunday’s 5-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. “In this series alone, everybody was on the field.
“I don’t know if we’re looking at a complete lineup shakeup. We need guys just to perform as they’ve done for many years — nothing more, but perform like they’ve done over a long track record at the major league level.”
One can’t blame Farrell for backing his guys. It’s a group loaded with established veterans, and the Red Sox theoretically are better-positioned this season to turn things around offensively than they were last season. Signing Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval to contracts totaling close to $200 million was supposed to ensure such.
There comes a point, however, when confidence turns into blind faith. And while the Red Sox should be afforded a longer leash than usual because of the experience up and down their lineup, as well as their early-season offensive success, it became clear during their 10-game swing through Toronto, Oakland and Seattle that some form of change is necessary. The lineup tweaks alone speak to that reality.
What, then, can the Red Sox do to infuse energy?
Calling up Rusney Castillo seems like a good place to start.
Sure, the Cuban outfielder has battled various injuries since signing with the Red Sox last August. And sure, he might be behind everyone else because of both the ailments and his ongoing adjustment to baseball in the United States.
But let’s keep in mind this is a 27-year-old veteran — not a 19-year-old prospect, like Yoan Moncada — and Castillo already showed an ability to perform at the major league level last season, albeit in a small sample. And oh yeah, he’s also working under a seven-year, $72.5 million contract at Triple-A.
Sending Castillo to Pawtucket to begin the season made sense, even if it was a bit troubling given how well he performed down the stretch in 2014 and at the tail end of spring training. The Red Sox were committed to Shane Victorino, they wanted to see what they had in Allen Craig and it was reasonable to expect that Daniel Nava would continue to produce against right-handed pitching.
Now, six weeks later, with Boston’s wheels stuck in the mud and the most glaring offensive hole to date being located in right field, it’s a different story.
Even if Castillo is going to make some mistakes related to inexperience, let them happen at the big league level. The Red Sox are better off accepting those growing pains while also enjoying the fruits of his labor — his power, his speed, his defense — than sticking to the status quo and expecting everything to magically change. One player doesn’t solve everything, but he definitely can help the cause.
If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. You hail a cab — or whatever — and send him back down I-95 for some more seasoning. No harm, no foul. But at least you took a proactive approach to fixing this thing.
Standing pat just seems like a ho-hum alternative with the Red Sox ranking near the bottom of the league in several offensive categories and 2014’s futility still fresh.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
