It’s impossible to look at Alex Verdugo’s current run and not think it might be, at least partially, the product of a kick in the caboose from his manager.
Alex Cora doesn’t believe that’s what triggered the tear, though.
Miffed with Verdugo’s level of effort running to second base in a loss to Cleveland on June 7, Cora responded by pulling him and benching him the next game. In the 11 games since, the outfielder is hitting .375 with a .944 OPS. He has three walks and as many strikeouts, plating seven runs while scoring eight of his own.
That has coincided with the Red Sox winning eight of their last 11 games, climbing back into the American League playoff picture in the process.
“I think Alex has been probably our best player the whole season,” Cora said Wednesday in his weekly appearance on Gresh & Fauria. “It just happened that in one play that happened, we didn’t feel the effort was the proper one in a play that probably changed the game.
“It’s not the first time we’ve done that. I think it’s the first time it has gone public, and I don’t believe in the public embarrassment. I think if you do it in the dugout, in the clubhouse, the players see it and you’ll be embarrassed by that. It just happened that it went public and people talk about it. But the conversation was very simple. He understands."
The benching was a cloud over what has otherwise been a hugely successful campaign for Verdugo, who might get his first All-Star nod this season.
While conventional wisdom might suggest that the benching was Cora pushing the right buttons with a player, he disagrees.
“We have high expectations for Alex. He’s probably as complete a player as we have,” Cora said. “He’s been elite defensively this year – I think he’s leading the American League in defensive runs saved in right field. Baserunning-wise, a lot better than last year. We’ve got him as a plus runner as far as WAR.
“Offensively, we all talk about (Masataka) Yoshida and if you look at the numbers, they're right there. He and Alex are very similar in those skill sets.
“(Verdugo) understands and I don’t think this is what got him going. I do believe he was seeing the ball well, taking his walks, and mechanically he was a little bit off. He took advantage of the good weather in Boston and hit the ball the other way and got locked in again, and he’s having a good series in Minnesota.”
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