The Boston Red Sox continue to play middling baseball and sit at 40-40 on the season. On the defensive side of things the team has struggled a lot, including in Tuesday nights 10-1 loss to the Miami Marlins. On Wednesday’s Felger and Mazz, Mazz had some interesting comments on the Red Sox defense.
The worst Red Sox defense he’s ever seen?
“We’re in the business of superlatives. We’re in the business of hyperbole. So let me tell you this: I have come to the conclusion, I me personally, I have come to the conclusion this might be the worst defensive team I’ve ever seen the Red Sox have. Worst defensive Red Sox team I’ve ever seen. And I’m not joking. The errors in one thing, and by the way, officially, incredibly, the Red Sox made zero errors in that game last night, which is a separate story unto itself, so let’s put that aside for the moment. But just say this….how many misplays would you say there were in that game last night? I’m willing to put the number at somewhere in 8 to 10, somewhere in that area in terms of misplays. First of all, Verdugo overthrew the cut off man on the play at the plate and gave up second base. That’s a missed play. Jarren Duran in left field missed a ball that was at the base of the wall. Misplay. Duvall in center field misplayed a ball. I don’t know if he could have had it, but even so, he’s not a center fielder. He shouldn’t be out there. Devers and Hamilton on the left side of the infield between them had four or five of them, and Casas had one at first base. That’s just off the top of my head. That’s like ten or close to it! Ten misplays. And as I’m looking at them on the field and I say, Well, Duran can’t really play the outfield. I mean he’s gotten better, but that’s because he was completely inept the year ago. He’s still not good. Duvall’s not a center fielder, he should be playing left or right. They have more players with performance defects than I can possibly remember them ever having. And I don’t know any other way to put it. And this ties in directly to the whole Chaim Bloom approach of being able to find these guys that are in other organizations. You know why you were able to get the David Hamilton’s of the world? Because he can’t throw. He can’t throw! And the Brewers know it when they sent him your way. Why is it that all these guys they get from other organizations all come with performance defects like they’re some sort of dented tomato can on the reduced rack at the grocery store?”
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 27: Garrett Whitlock #22 of the Boston Red Sox reacts during the third inning against the Miami Marlins at Fenway Park on June 27, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images)
