Marco Scutaro is one tough cookie.
After Matt Holliday charged into second base –– as Scutaro attempted to
turn a double play –– he took out the Giants second baseman with a
gruesome slide that would've knocked out most players.
While Scutaro eventually missed the final four innings, he stuck around
long enough to contribute in Game 2 of the National League Championship
Series against the Cardinals and deliver a three-run single that
propelled San Francisco to a 7-1 victory.
There was uncertainty surrounding the status of Scutaro's health in between
Games 2 and 3. But it was no surprise on Wednesday afternoon, when
the 36-year-old was slated to start at second base and bat second.
It's the type of toughness that Scutaro demonstrated in two seasons with the Red Sox. During his tenure in Boston, he constantly battled through injuries and thrived during the team's lowest points of the season.
Back in 2010, he managed to set career highs in games played (150) and
hits (174) while battling excruciating shoulder pain for the majority of
the year. In order to stay on the field, he tweaked his mechanics to
avoid the disabled list.
When the Red Sox collapsed in September 2011, Scutaro was one of the few
that continued to produce. He went 36-for-93 at the plate and hit .387
–– third best in the American League during that time.
Scutaro was known and respected for his scrappiness. As a result of his
style of play, Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington initially received
heaps of criticism when he dealt Scutaro to the Rockies in exchange for
Clayton Mortensen.
Upon arriving in Colorado, Scutaro's mental toughness was tested. His
performance dipped in 95 games for the Rockies, as he batted .271 with
four home runs and 30 RBIs.
Once the Rockies shipped Scutaro to the Giants at the trade deadline, he
found his stride. Through 65 games, the veteran eclipsed his totals
from Colorado, belting three homers and 44 RBIs while hitting .362.
In two seasons, the Red Sox certainly came to appreciate Scutaro's play.
And now, on the biggest stage in baseball, the world is finally
learning about his heart and resiliency.
