The Vaughn Grissom Lesson(s)
Somebody needed to step up for the Red Sox.
The pointed words from Alex Cora after Monday night's debacle at Steinbrenner would only go so far. The manager knew that, and so did his players. It was actions this team needed.
Thanks in large part to the player the organization had identified as the chief narrative-changer - Alex Bregman - the narrative was changed.
For starters, the Red Sox won, 7-4, over the Rays Tuesday night. Secondly they actually managed to score some runs in the process, going 9-3 when scoring three or more runs after living life at 0-8 when plating two or fewer.
Jarren Duran hit his first home run since Aug. 30 of last season. Rafael Devers' first-inning double ended an 0-for-13 skid. And this team that leads all of the majors in errors didn't make a single defensive miscue.
Then there was Bregman.
Knowing this would be his final game with the team before being placed on the paternity list, with his wife slated to give birth to the couple's second chid back in Boston, Bregman made sure his week was memorable on and off the field.
For the first time since his New Mexico high school days, the third baseman came away with a five-hit game, this time adding in a pair of home runs. It was his fourth career game with as many as four hits and four RBI.
"He has a few things in the upcoming days family-wise," Cora said. "To have a great day like this is kind of the beginning of a great week for him."
There have been plenty of positive pieces of Bregman's introduction to the Red Sox. In spring training it was the mentoring of the organization's top prospects, and the acclimation into all corners of the clubhouse. In the regular season he is now hitting .321 with a .929 OPS, the best of any third baseman in the majors.
Sure, he hadn't totaled four errors before May 19 since 2019 until he came hit the mark Monday. The dynamic that has pushed Devers to designated hitter seems to be a work in the progress. And the Sox are still one game under .500 heading into their 20th contest.
But, make no mistake about it, Bregman's presence is absolutely part of the solution, not part of the problem. That was no more evident than Tuesday night.