Sorts of Sports

Red Sox Can't Win World Series

The Boston Red Sox are doing a huge injustice to David Ortiz, thus they won't come close to winning the World Series. The Sox are in the midst of a 1-5 streak against the National League. They have played San Diego, Pittsburgh, and now Philadelphia, and they look really bad. Maybe it is because their 5-8 batters are hitting .122, .239, .149, and .277. Oh forget the World Series, these guys might miss the playoffs.

The playoff race will come down to a game or two and these are the games that will make a difference. Forget the fact that interlegaue play is unfair, because the AL is at an advantage using a DH, but the Sox are completely botching this and it is miserable to watch. How do you bench, arguably, a top five MVP candidate in David Ortiz for a stretch of, what is now, four games? First, aknowledge that he is MVP material, batting .317, 17 HR, 48 RBI. Secondly, look at his June, .315, 5, 21. Then look at how they are replacing him, by putting Darnell McDonald in his place, batting .122 this year. This is amazing, pure stupidity.

Let me address those who think, "Where would both he and Adrian Gonzalez play?" Gonzalez can play right field. You mean to tell me that his incapability to throw balls to the infield would hurt this team more than help if both he and Oritz were playing, while Ortiz played first? Are you serious?! Let's just say that Gonzalez cost the Sox 1 run per game by not getting those diving catches, and that is a HUGE number. That is saying is defensive WAR is -1 which is asinine to say that.

To start, look at JD Drew, the Sox regular right fielder. This year JD Drew's rdis (a sabermetric stat that explains the total number of runs saved defensively, by position, based on the average fielder, over the course of the season, is 5.) That means Drew will save the team 5 total runs this year on defense. His range factor is 2.3 this year (whereas the someone like Torii Hunter is 4.15). Those are miserable numbers for Drew in right field. Essentially, he is easily replaced defensively.

Secondly, for those that are worried that Gonzalez might get injured playing right field, get real. He might get injured driving to the park more times than he would playing up to nine games in right field. The risk is so minute that the reward of playing Ortiz in the middle of the order is infinitely better. The Sox are averaging 2.25 runs per game with Oritz out of the lineup. Ortiz's offensive WAR this year is 2.3, which isn't that great, but Gonzalez is only 3.7, while JD Drew is -0.1. Also, for the record, the Sox are averaging 5.2 runs per game, with Ortiz in the lineup.

To summarize, this doesn't bode will for the Sox in the World Series, assuming they would make it that far. What are they going to do? Honestly? Again, secondly, how is this going to effect David Oritz when he returns to the lineup? Give him close to two weeks off and that could be detrimental to his play and the Sox play. Am I missing something here? What is going on?? Why is David Ortiz not playing first base? He has a borderline OPS of 1.000 which is unheard of, considering only five players in MLB have an OPS above 1.000 and only five players for their entire career have an OPS over 1.000. I am dumbfounded.

I'm on the border of screaming and boycotting this Sox team. Mark my words, if the Sox don't make the playoffs, this is the reason why. This is absolutely ridiculous. Get Ortiz in the lineup, now! Just more stats: Ortiz is batting .346 vs LHP and .296 vs RHP and .354 when the Sox win while just  .250 when they lose. Need I say more?