Roman Anthony is absolutely tearing it up for the Boston Red Sox since coming back from his rehab assignment, posting a ridiculous .455/.500/.909 slash line in his five games. He’s got 2 homers, 2 doubles, and a triple in that stretch. Seriously, the guy is on fire! He’s showing everyone why he’s considered such a vital piece for their offense right now, and the numbers don’t lie about his impact since rejoining the team.
Anthony’s Bat Is Blazing Hot, But Where Are The RBIs?
Talk about a performance! Anthony’s been back for only five games and his raw hitting numbers are insane. We’re talking 2 dingers that went over the wall, 2 doubles ripped into the gaps, and a triple to boot. Get this, he’s already 5th on the Red Sox in position player bWAR, which is wild considering he’s played way less than most, only 16th in total games on the roster. You’d think a guy putting up those kind of offensive stats would be driving in runs left and right, bringing his teammates home. But here’s the kicker, and it’s a huge head-scratcher for Boston: he’s only got 2 RBI this week, and both of those came on his two solo home runs. That means every other hit, every time he’s gotten on base, there hasn’t been anyone there to score. It’s a fantastic individual effort, but does it maximize the team’s scoring potential? That’s the big question right now.
The Sogard Solution?
So, with those solo shots piling up, what’s the deal for the Red Sox? On one hand, you don’t mess with a hitter who’s getting on base with such consistency. A guy with Anthony’s OBP is exactly what you dream of having leading off an inning. You want your best on-base threat at the top of the order to get things started. But then you look at those solo blasts, and you can’t help but think: what if he had guys already on base? Production with the bags empty, while still good for the scoreboard, just doesn’t hit the same as when you’re clearing the bases or moving runners into scoring position. And the Red Sox actually have a prime candidate who could step into that leadoff role and make Anthony’s at-bats even more impactful: Nick Sogard. Since he rejoined the big leagues in late July, Sogard has been putting up a rock-solid .368 OBP, accumulating 21 walks and 9 doubles in his 34 games. Imagine Anthony stepping up to the plate with Sogard already hanging out at second base, ready to score on a single! That’s an RBI machine waiting to happen for Boston, potentially unleashing even more offense.
While the Red Sox are trying to figure out how to maximize a red-hot bat and shuffle their lineup for optimal scoring, it was a rough day for us here in the Emerald City. Our Mariners couldn’t get it done against the Athletics, dropping a tough one 7-4. We need to see our guys come back strong and put some more Ws on the board, reminding everyone what this team is capable of, no matter what lineup changes are happening elsewhere in the league.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Over the Monster.
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