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.
With two outs in the ninth inning and a man standing at second base, Will Middlebrooks fought through arguably the best at-bat of his young, major league career.
The battle went on for what seemed like 15 pitches — more like eight in reality — and saw Middlebrooks fight off a mix of fastballs and sliders like he’d been in the league for years. Yet when it came to the final result, a slow-rolling grounder to third base ended the threat for Boston.
The lack of execution was more than just a single incident, though, rather it seems like a budding trend. Middlebrooks became just the most recent case of Red Sox players failing to capitalize on big moments, as the losses from each of the past two nights were blatant displays of Boston’s penchant for missed opportunities.
On Thursday, the Red Sox were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and they may have even got worse on Friday, as the Boston bats combined for a 3-for-14 effort with RISP. Those are some seriously shameful statistics and only goes to further prove the point that this team is in serious need of a clutch presence.
Bobby Valentine has recognized the issue, and even directly referenced his team’s inability to come up in the big moments after Friday’s loss.
“We had good at bats early, we had some chances,” Valentine said, referencing the late-inning disparity. “Then we just didn’t have good at-bats.”
Carl Crawford was the closest thing to offensive consistency for the Sox on Friday, finishing 3-for-5 with a double and a three-run home run. It was a coming out party of sorts for the maligned outfielder, as he seemed to finally break out of his slump against left-handers — Minnesota starter Brian Duensing is a lefty. But leading off the 10th, Crawford was once more nowhere to be found.
It’s at least reasonable to expect that Crawford can’t carry the load entirely on his own, but then at least the likes of Adrian Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia or Jacoby Ellsbury should have done something. The trio was a combined 0-for-5 with three strikeouts after the Sox four-run fourth inning, and each of them came to the plate with an opportunity to drive in runs at least once in the final innings.
Cody Ross immediately recognized that it’s not just about the overwhelming talent on the roster, though, openly admitting that the team just isn’t finding the means necessary to win.
“There’s a difference between a talented group and a winning group,” Ross said after the game. “Talent can only go so far. You have to find ways to win.”
The talent is inarguable, they may have the largest collection of talent in the major leagues as a matter of fact. But when it comes to pure production, the Red Sox may also be the most disappointing roster in the majors as well.
Talent can be impressive and it can certainly draw big crowds and sell out ballparks, but without the production what is the real value in a collection of high-priced, highly-touted superstars?
Last summer’s success is proof that this team is absolutely capable of tearing off 15 of 20, or better even. But without the necessary will, that burning desire or the chemistry of an intent group, this team will remain on it’s current path to mediocrity.
It’s not a pretty sight to see, and it’s definitely not what Red Sox Nation is hoping for, but when seemingly simple opportunities for a win present themselves like it did on Friday they need to be captured. Otherwise, the Red Sox are realistically no better off than the Kansas City Royals.
And it will be a cold day in Boston when that’s the case.
