One of the best Red Sox hitters of all time believes Boston could serve itself well by getting back to basics.
Wins have been hard to come by for the Red Sox, who saw their bats go pretty quiet last week. A 19-run run outburst last Friday might have distracted some from the fact that Boston scored three runs or less in six of its last eight games.
One of those listless offensive performances was Monday when Alex Cora’s club squandered a quality start from ace Garrett Crochet in Milwaukee. But after the 3-2 defeat, Hall of Famer Jim Rice suggested how the Red Sox could turn the tide and start doing more damage to the scoreboard.
“We’re hitting the ball in the air, but we’re not hitting the ball hard,” Rice said on NESN’s “Red Sox Extra Innings.” “One thing, you got to know the situation. You got to be able to make some kind of adjustment. Know the situation, be quick with the bat and hit the ball to the right side. …You’re in a little slump right now, so what do you have to do? You got to play small ball. You can’t play big ball. Why? Because you don’t have big ball hitters.”
Boston probably would be wise to heed Rice’s advice, as it entered Tuesday with only three players who’ve hit more than seven home runs this season. And one of those thumpers is Alex Bregman, who will be on the injured list for extended time.
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Should the Red Sox lean into a small ball approach, it could allow the club to utilize its athleticism to a greater extent and wreak havoc on the base paths. While the best teams in baseball these days typically hit a ton of homers, Boston definitely should consider going against the grain after playing mediocre baseball for two months.
