Nick Green has been so hot at the plate of late that as of today, his .459 SLG is three points better than A-Rod’s. And though no one would say he’s an MVP candidate — that would go to Jason Bay — in the 44 games he has started, the Sox have a 31-13 record. With a record like that, one could say Nick Green is on his way to becoming the next Alex Cora, who also was steady at multiple infield positions and a solid contact hitter. But it’s much too early to give him that title.
Terry Francona will have some interesting decisions to make when Lowrie finally returns from the DL. Between Lugo, Green and Lowrie, who stays and who goes? And when Dice-K returns, the same question can be asked of Smoltz and Penny.
With the Sox owning one of the best records in baseball as of now, there is no rush to permanently settle issues at shortstop or in the starting rotation. And with Big Papi hitting five HRs in June and batting over .300 for the month, worries about him and the DH spot are starting to subside as well.
But Sox fans, don’t count on a smooth ride to the AL East title just yet. With 93 games to go in the Red Sox regular season, the rollercoaster carts are just now getting warmed up.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
It should be noted that Nick Green's walkoff HR against the Braves was his second career walkoff HR, the first being five years against the Red Sox ... when he was with the Braves.
I love stats like that.
2 - Tony
The "fatigue" issue with Dice K is the same thing that landed him on DL last season.