The fact that their ailments crop up just as the offense begins to slump is no coincidence. However, one area that may suffer just as much in the coming days is the defense.
While some of the numbers would suggest it’s been a rather mediocre year at third base for Kevin Youkilis, those who watch him on a daily basis see a good, if not great, defender. Some of his physical issues, first the hip and now the back, may have something to do with him not being considered an elite third baseman this year.
To his left for the majority of the games has been Marco Scutaro, again a guy who won’t win any Gold Gloves this year but still ranks as a solid shortstop, both statistically (11th out of 47 American League shortstops in UZR) and with the naked eye. He’s not the defender he once was, but he makes most of the plays he should.
In their absence (Scutaro has missed four straight games due to a sore back, the same type of injury that has landed Youkilis on the DL), the Red Sox will use a heavy dose of Jed Lowrie at third and Mike Aviles at shortstop.
While both are capable, they may represent slight downgrades in an infield that has sparkled defensively this season. Boston ranks as one of the finest defensive teams in all of baseball (its UZR rating of 41.5 is second only to Arizona), in large part because of the foursome that has patrolled the infield most nights.
What makes the club like Lowrie is his ability to play all over the place. However, he is not a dynamic defender at any spot, as evidenced by his team-high 13 errors this season in only 60 games in the field.
Aviles has pretty good range but he is making just his 140th career start at shortstop Thursday night in Kansas City. Also, his versatility may see him needed at other positions going forward.
Both fill-ins were involved in some misplays the other night against Tampa Bay, a team that outplayed Boston defensively all series long. Although great defensive players remain at several other positions, that sort of disparity could continue for the Red Sox while Youkilis and Scutaro remain sidelined.
