Editor's note: NESN.com is going to tell the story of the 2012 Red Sox in Bobby Valentine's words. Each game day, we will select the best Valentine quote that sums up the day for the Red Sox.
BOSTON — With just a little bit of a hitch as he starts moving his weight, and a fierce uppercut that produces a ton of backspin, Cody Ross has a swing that's undoubtedly perfect for Fenway Park. Throughout the course of the 2012 season the outfielder has peppered the Green Monster with high-arcing fly balls to prove it.
He's also hit a few over the Monster, too.
After Ross' three-RBI Monday afternoon in a 5-1 win over the Kansas City Royals, it begs the question of where the Red Sox would be without the slugging outfielder and former NLCS MVP. And now, with Adrian Gonzalez out of town and David Ortiz quite possibly missing the remainder of 2012, Ross is that much more important to a Red Sox lineup that still has pride to play for.
Ross' game Monday was sort of a microcosm for what the 31-year-old does so well — making the necessary adjustments while still sticking to a successful game plan. For Ross, that meant taking the pitches that were coming from Royals starter Luke Hochevar, but still staying true to that giant uppercut.
"[Hochevar] threw Cody five curveballs in the first inning and struck him out," recalled Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine after the contest. "Then with men at second and third he didn't throw a curveball until he had two strikes on him, and he hit it off the wall for two RBIs. That's a hitter making in-game adjustments, batting fourth, rising to the occasion as he has all year. He's been a really good player for us."
And if you thought that Ross hit that third-inning, two-RBI single off the Monster so hard that he knew it was coming, well, you'd be exactly right. Beyond the physical ability, Ross' veteran sense enables him to out-think the opposing pitcher, at times.
"After my first at-bat he made me look pretty bad," said Ross. "He's got a really good
curveball. I figured at some point I was going to see it again, luckily
it was a good one to hit."
When asked about Ross' future with the Red Sox, Valentine unsurprisingly bristled, showing his admiration for the player without openly speculating about the thought process of upper management. However, the message seemed to be clear: the Red Sox would likely be totally lost without Ross holding down the lineup throughout all the ups and downs of 2012.
"Those are discussions down the road, no doubt about that," said Valentine. "I don't know where we'd be this year without him. We'd probably be with the same void next year without him, but we'll wait until we get down the road on that one."
Either way, at this point it would be hard to imagine Ross in another uniform, or, more accurately, playing in another ballpark half the season. The feeling is mutual as well, as not only do the Fenway Faithful and Fenway Park itself seem to love Ross and his uppercut swing, but Ross recognizes he's found a natural home, too.
"My swing has always been like this," said Ross. "I finally found a place where it actually works."
And how well it does work in Fenway.
