Mike Aviles Continues His Emergence as Leadoff Hitter for Red Sox

by abournenesn

Apr 25, 2012

Mike Aviles Continues His Emergence as Leadoff Hitter for Red SoxThere's been heaps of criticism concerning Bobby Valentine's managerial decisions this season. At times, it's been warranted.

But there's one move the Red Sox skipper made that has paid off handsomely — tapping Mike Aviles to hit leadoff. Since filling in for Jacoby Ellsbury, the shortstop has been crushing the ball for Boston, going 15-for-40 with three homers.

He had his best game in the 11-2 win over the Twins on Tuesday, tallying a 4-for-5 performance with one home run and two RBIs. His two doubles also ignited Red Sox rallies, and he scored three times on the night.

"I got a couple pitches to hit, and I was fortunate enough not to miss it," Aviles told reporters after the game. "We had a rough home stand, and it's a matter of plugging away."

Aviles has been the team's sparkplug ever since.

With his scorching numbers at the plate, Aviles issued a reminder about why Ben Cherington was so adamant about keeping his bat in the lineup. At one point in the offseason, the Red Sox general manger asked Aviles to practice his skills in the outfield.

That vision also paved the way for the Red Sox to trade former shortstop Marco Scutaro to the Rockies in exchange for Clayton Mortensen and financial flexibility. Little by little, Scutaro is becoming a distant memory for the Red Sox.

It's also a testament to Aviles' early power surge, a streak that he developed when he was called on to lead off against Tampa Bay. He's well on his way to eclipsing his career-high in homers (10), which he recorded as a rookie in 2008.

"Hitting is contagious," Valentine said in Minnesota. "When Mike Aviles or David Ortiz has it, it seems to be spreading."

Before the switch, Aviles' history as leadoff hitter in Kansas City indicated that he would be bound for success. He also changed his approach, opting to become more aggressive at the plate.

Through 16 games, it's been working.

Have a question for Didier Morais? Send it to him via Twitter at @DidierMorais or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

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