MLB NEWS

Red Sox go first to division-worst in 2014

The Sports Xchange

September 18, 2014 at 9:59 am.

Boston Red Sox catcher David Ross. Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

Check one of the Boston Red Sox’s recent box scores and it looks more like Triple-A Pawtucket’s lineup than that of the defending World Series champions.

The Red Sox aren’t headed back to the Fall Classic this year, though. In fact, at 66-86, they are almost certain to finish last in the American League East.

“It’s tough,” Red Sox veteran catcher David Ross. “You go from winning a World Series one year to having a bad record the next. It’s a little hard to believe.”

Manager John Farrell believes it. When it was suggested that perhaps this season was an aberration, Farrell dismissed the thought.

“The record we have, it’s what we deserve,” Farrell said. “We have not played well.”

Hitting bottom is something the Red Sox did just two years ago when they finished in last place in the AL East during Bobby Valentine’s lone season as manager. The Red Sox acquired Farrell, their former pitching coach, from the Toronto Blue Jays in a trade following that 2012 season and he guided Boston to its third World Series title in the span of 10 seasons.

As they play out the string, the Red Sox are already thinking about trying to go from last to first for the second time in three seasons in 2015.

“Obviously, that’s the goal,” Farrell said. “I know everyone in our clubhouse believes in our talent and we have a general manager in Ben Cherington, who is always looking to make moves that will make our club better. That gives me every reason to believe we’ll be very competitive again next season.”

The Red Sox began working on next season at the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline when they traded left-hander Jon Lester to the Oakland Athletics for left fielder Yoenis Cespedes, and right-hander John Lackey to the St. Louis Cardinals for right-hander Joe Kelly and right fielder Allen Craig.

Cuban center fielder Rusney Castillo made his major league debut Wednesday night, a little less than a month after he was signed to a seven-year, $72.5 million contract. The Red Sox believe Castillo will become a dynamic leadoff hitter with some pop while flanked by Cespedes and Craig in the outfield.

Add in holdovers such as designated hitter David Ortiz, first baseman Mike Napoli, second baseman Dustin Pedroia and shortstop Xander Bogaerts, and scoring shouldn’t be a problem. Rookie catcher Christian Vazquez has also won high marks for his defense.

On the other hand, the Red Sox need to replenish their rotation after the July trades and say they will be aggressive on the free agent market. Lester will be their top target but it seems unlikely he will return after turning down contract extension offers earlier in the year. Boston has more realistic chances at signing Kansas City Royals right-hander James Shields and Japanese righty Kenta Maeda.

“The one thing about this organization is you know there is always a commitment to winning,” Ross said. “I can’t imagine next season being like this one.”

AROUND THE HORN

–The Chicago Cubs have promoted three of their top hitting prospects to the major leagues since the All-Star break. Results have been mixed.

Center fielder Arismendy Alcantara has hit .212 with nine home runs and eight stolen bases in 61 games while middle infielder Javier Baez has a .171 batting average with nine homers and four steals in 42 games and right fielder Jorge Soler is hitting .358 with five homers and in 15 games. In addition to the low batting averages, Alcantara has struck out 75 times in 245 at bats and Baez has 77 strikeouts in 170 at bats.

“I would hope not,” Cubs manager Rick Renteria said when asked if he felt Alcantara and Baez would still be taking such wild swings and showing such raw aggression at the plate next season. “It would be impossible for me to say it’s not going to happen again but their skill sets are very good skill sets and we’re hopeful that they’ll be able to play well and make adjustments.”

Third baseman Kris Bryant is the most promising Cubs prospect and hit .325 with 43 homers in a combined 138 games with Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa while striking out 138 times in 594 at bats. Though the Cubs won’t admit it publicly, Bryant did not get a call to the major leagues this season because they don’t want him to start accumulating service time.

–The Minnesota Twins are last in the AL Central and three defeats away from a fourth consecutive 90-loss season. However, it appears they have found their potential cleanup hitter of the future in rookie designated hitter Kennys Vargas.

The 24-year-old switch-hitter has hit .292 with eight home runs in 44 games since making the jump from Double-A to the major leagues.

“He’s handled pretty much everything that’s been thrown at him to this point,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “He’s a strong kid. He can get away with a few things some other hitters can’t because he is so strong, but he’s had some great at-bats, especially with runners in scoring position. He’s laid off some really tough pitches against some really good pitchers and we’ve been impressed. Hopefully we can continue that.”

–Derek Jeter’s brilliant career is down to its final 11 days as the Yankees need a miracle to win the second AL wild card.

While it is baseball blasphemy to put Jeter in a negative light, the truth of the matter is manager Joe Girardi’s loyalty to his retiring shortstop has hurt the Yankees this season. Jeter has hit just .249 with three homers and a paltry .595 OPS in 135 games.

Sadly, it’s been a case of a player hanging on too long.

Senior writer John Perrotto is The Sports Xchange’s baseball insider. He has covered Major League Baseball for 27 seasons.