While the success of the Free Trevor Bauer movement has yet to be determined, Operation Liberation-of-Will-Middlebrooks has just come to fruition. The logjam is over and baseballs are about to start flying in a big way.
In the year of Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, and Yu Darvish, Will Middlbrooks has been stubbornly elbowing his way into Rookie of the Year conversations for nearly a month. The way he’s gone about it is the stuff of motivational speeches. Called up when starter and Gold Glover Kevin Youkilis went down with another back injury, Middlebrooks hit the ground running and hasn’t looked back. (It should be noted he was slashing .333/.380/.677 with 7 bombs (including 4 in consecutive games) and 27 RBI in 24 games at AAA Pawtucket, but his numbers in the Bigs are nearly as lofty: .326/.365/.583 with 9 jacks and 34 RBI in 41 games.) But what the stats don’t show—that makes the line all the more impressive—is that since Youkilis came off the DL 31 days ago, Middlebrooks was a part-time player.
Those times are over. With Youk taking the black, joining Kenerko and Dunn on the wall in a welcoming Chicago lineup, Middlebrooks is Boston’s everyday third baseman. That should only mean bigger, better numbers going forward, especially as he figures to shift up to the 5th (or depending on Bobby V’s lineup du jour, occasionally 3rd or 4th) spot in a Boston lineup that is gathering steam. In a craft as rhythm-based as hitting, Middlebrooks’ recent production is really something to marvel at, and the prospect of consistent playing time promises even gaudier numbers. With Middlebrooks’ surrounding lineup and power output thus far, it’s not inconceivable that one Mike Trout rough patch could make the ROY race a whole lot more interesting.
Even if Trout maintains his current pace, consistent playing time at least affords Middlebrooks the opportunity to go out and make a run at Trout on equal footing. After all, to this point Middlebrooks has only had about 2/3 the at-bats. Now these two have the whole second half to battle it out.
On Sunday, Kevin Youkils made his final start in a Red Sox uniform. It was a very emotional day for him, his teammates, and the fans. After sitting 3 straight, Youkilis played third, displacing Middlebrooks. However, instead of sitting the rookie, Bobby Valentine elected to give everyday DH David Ortiz the day off and start Middlebrooks as the DH. Not only that, Middlebrooks hit third, ahead of Adrian Gonzalez, who hit fifth, and Cody Ross who hit cleanup (and homered twice).
Middlebrooks represents a changing of the guard in Boston and he’s part of the dawn of a new era in baseball overall. Along with Trout and Harper, Middlebrooks is the first of the next generation of stars. In Boston, Youkilis leaves David Ortiz as the the only remaining member of the curse-busting 2004 squad, and his departure futher hastens the end of that epoch (which began with the departure of Manny Ramirez). We’re now a full two generations from the days of Pedro Martinez and Nomar Garciaparra. With Middlebrooks breaking the ice, the likes of Ryan Lavarnway, Jose Iglesias, and even Bryce Brentz might not be too far behind.
Kevin Youkilis’s last few weeks as a Red Sox were less than glamorous, but if that’s what had to happen for the rookie to take over, so be it. Until he’s joined by his fellow youngsters though, Middlebrooks will have to keep his head down and keep mashing. He’s just the kind of young talent the Red Sox want to build around, and a strong finish would do well to dampen the bitter taste of losing an icon. I fully expect him to leave Sox fans’ mouths watering.
-Ari Glantz
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