Trevor Story hasn’t quite performed like a $140 million player in his tenure with the Red Sox, and it’s seemingly nearing a breaking point this season.
Story’s struggles have peaked recently, and manager Alex Cora has gone as far as trying to “disconnect” his shortstop from the team’s games.
“Disconnect him today. Maybe tomorrow. And keep working,” Cora said Sunday regarding his plan for Story. “It’s not a lack of working. It’s been a lot. And maybe just kind like back up and just watch the game from a different perspective.”
Cora elected to give his shortstop the day off on Sunday in Boston’s 5-1 loss to the Orioles, and while he explored possibly sitting him on Monday too, Story was in the lineup batting seventh and playing shortstop against the Brewers in the Red Sox 3-2 loss.
Cora’s goal was to alleviate some of Story’s stress.
“Just relax and clear your mind,” Cora said. “Hopefully that benefits him.”
Well, the day off didn’t miraculously fix Story, but he did finish Monday’s game with a base hit, a walk and a run in his four plate appearances — which is more than he can typically say he accomplished as of late.
Over his last 28 games before Monday, the 32-year-old Story was just 14-for-111 (.126) and was batting only .227 with a .607 OPS across the entire season.
The former Rockies star was a two-time All Star and Silver Slugger in his six seasons with Colorado.
He posted a .272 batting average and an .863 OPS in his Rockies career, a far cry from his current .229 and .667 through his tenure in Boston.
The Red Sox will need things to start clicking for Story as Monday’s loss put them two games below .500.
“We know what’s going on,” Cora said. “Just a matter of hopefully it happens in the game. So we’re working hard.”
