Time is of the essence for Will Middlebrooks.
The Red Sox are using the final two-plus weeks of the regular season as an evaluation period. An incredibly important offseason awaits, and some of the biggest questions facing Boston center on third base.
It would be a huge gamble for the Red Sox to enter next season with Middlebrooks plugged in as their everyday third baseman. In fact, it would require turning a blind eye on the developments of the last two seasons, which have been extremely frustrating, especially on the heels of Middlebrooks’ breakout 2012.
Middlebrooks’ 2013 season was so disappointing that improvement seemed inevitable for 2014, yet things have only gotten worse. The 26-year-old is hitting .189 with two homers, 19 RBIs and a .257 on-base percentage in 54 major league games. He has battled injuries and has struck out in 29.7 percent of his plate appearances.
There’s no way the Red Sox could feel good about entering 2015 with Middlebrooks penciled in as their clear-cut, hands-down, all-or-nothing starter at the hot corner. Optimistic? Sure. But not 100 percent confident.
Such a reality is why the Red Sox would like Middlebrooks to play winter ball. It’s also why a good showing down the stretch is paramount. There’s only so much Middlebrooks can do to prove himself over the final couple of weeks — 15 games don’t erase two seasons — but a flash of potential is exponentially better than no flash at all.
Middlebrooks took a step toward salvaging his season Thursday by collecting two hits in a 6-3 win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. He also walked, produced an RBI and scored two runs.
“He had a good night tonight — on base three times, couple of key base hits, one to give us the go-ahead RBI,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said after the victory. “Probably one of the better nights he’s had in quite some time tonight offensively.”
Middlebrooks’ two-hit performance marked only his sixth multihit game of the season. It was his first since Aug. 29. He hit the ball hard on three occasions, though, offering a glimpse of his ability to impact the baseball.
“It was good, man. It was fun,” Middlebrooks said. “I just want to get out there, have some fun, play ball and help us win a game somehow.”
Consistency, of course, has been the issue with Middlebrooks. He’s been unable to stay healthy, and it’s hindered his play to the point where the Red Sox must decide whether they can count on him in their quest to return to contention. That doesn’t mean giving up on Middlebrooks. It just means ironing out reasonable expectations en route to constructing the best lineup possible for 2015.
Would a Middlebrooks/Brock Holt platoon provide enough firepower? Has Garin Cecchini positioned himself to leapfrog Middlebrooks on the organizational depth chart before Opening Day? Do the Red Sox need to address their third base situation externally via trade or free agency?
Those are the types of questions facing the Red Sox. Middlebrooks might not be able to answer them before the clock runs out on 2014, but he certainly can elevate his stock and help restore whatever confidence has been lost over the course of two tumultuous seasons.
Middlebrooks still boasts tremendous potential. It’s time to tap into it.
