With the season over, the final Sox offensive stats are in, and they are not good. 634 runs (11th in the AL). 123 homers (12th), a .316 OBP (8th). a .369 slugging percentage (14th). 1337 strikeouts (a club record). a .237 average with runners in scoring position (last in the league).
The stats are more baffling when you examine the 2013 totals, including 97 victories and a World Championship. The team was picked in spring training for 90 wins and ended up with 71.
A recent Peter Abraham piece in the Globe cites several factors. The team’s inability to replace free agents Jacoby Elllsbury and Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Injuries to Shane Victorino that limited him to 30 games. Nagging problems for Mike Napoli and Dustin Pedroia that decreased their power. There are, of course, many other reasons.
A factor less known is issues on the coaching staff. Lead batting coach Greg Colbrunn suffered a brain hemorrhage before a game on June 4. He spent nearly two weeks in a hospital, part of it in serious condition, before returning to his home in South Carolina. Colbrunn later came back to the team, but only on a part-time basis. In his absence, assistant coach Victor Rodriguez assumed the spot, with minor league man Tim Hyers at number 2.
Colbrunn recently resigned, citing his health and family concerns. There are several other candidates, including former Sox catcher Rich Gedman, and Texas hitting coach Tim Magadan, who was in Boston from ’07 to ’12.
The new coach, whether in a one or two-tiered situation, has a lot to deal with. Confidence among batters seemed way down most of the season, with clutch averages very low. It appeared most serious in young players like Will Middlbrooks, Jackie Bradley Jr, and Xander Bogearts. As I have written before, failures among vets like Pedroia puts unneeded pressure on the newbies. Re-establishing a positive attitude will go along way toward digging (again) out of last place.
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