In the here-and-now, the Red Sox' decision-making last winter and into spring training couldn't have been more suspect.
They re-signed two postseason heroes who have given them almost nothing this season. They failed to replace two veteran relievers in the bullpen. And they committed to a long-term deal for a starting pitcher who was coming off a second-half injury last season, and is again on the shelf after his worst season in the majors.
But for all the missteps they made, one move can't be second-guessed a bit: giving Xander Bogaerts a six-year contract extension with an vesting option for a seventh season. To the contrary, the way things have played out, it may go down as their smartest decision in years.
It's not yet September, and already, the shortstop is enjoying his best season. On Wednesday night, in the 7-4 drubbing of the Colorado Rockies, Bogaerts smacked two homers, giving him three for the two-game series.
The homers also gave him 30 for the season and lifted him to the 100 RBI mark for the second straight season.
To put those numbers into some historical context, Bogaerts:
- Is only the fourth shortstop in franchise history to hit 30 or more homers in a season. The others: Vern Stephens, Rico Petrocelli and Nomar Garciaparra.
- Became the third Red Sox shortstop to ever hit 30 homers and knock in 100 runs in a season. Garciaparra did it and Stephens did twice.
- Joined Garciaparra as the only shortstop in Red Sox history to hit 30 or more homers and 40 or more doubles in a season.
- Made himself the fifth shortstop in MLB history to hit 40 or more doubles, 30 or more homers and have 100 or more RBI in a season. The others? Trevor Story, Miguel Tejada, Alex Rodriguez and Cal Ripken Jr.
- Will soon join Rodriguez as one of two shortstops in baseball history to ever hit 30 or more homers and 50 or more doubles (Bogaerts, who doubled in his final at-bat of the night) has 46.