Mitch Moreland is a survivor.
He joined the Red Sox in 2017 after seven years in Texas to help fill the void left by David Ortiz’s retirement. The following winter, when baseball players mumbled about team-mates and talents like JD Martinez remained unsigned in spring training, Moreland read the market perfectly by signing a two-year $ 13 million extension to ensure he would not be in the cold to stay.
He made his first All-Star team in 2018 and blew the postseason pivotal homer, a pinch-hit three-run blast that led the Red Sox to a Game 3 victory over the Dodgers. He returned last year for what appeared to be his Swan song from the Red Sox, and burst out of the gate before injuries limited him to 91 games.
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It turns out he went nowhere. He signed a one-year, $ 3 million dollar January deal with a club option for 2021 in January, and all he has done since then is keep the Red Sox pressing in the wide open American League.
On Sunday, that meant once in the second homer to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead over the Blue Jays, and again in the ninth to give them a 5-3 walkoff victory.
At 6-9, the Red Sox beat the White Sox only by two games for the eighth and final AL wild card spot. With the pitching inconsistent until this weekend and the offense in hibernation since opening, the Red Sox have Moreland to thank for not already being buried.
“I mean, we have a lot of great players here,” Moreland said. “All of them stepped up at one point or another and did their part to carry the team. It has not just been one man as the next. We have a lot of great players.
“If you see the ball right, that’s obviously helping the team. Everyone will do that, even at some point this year. Boys will get on the roll. I’m glad I’m able to step up and help tonight, but I do not approach it that way and I do not think they do either. Once they get into that groove, we’ll be fine. “
How essential has Moreland been? He hit .323 with a team-leading six homers and 12 RBIs. Only three players have hit more homers this year – Aaron Judge (8) of New York, growing San Diego superstar Fernando Tatis (8), and Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos (7).
Meanwhile, the rest of the Red Sox offense is in first gear, as it can even turn the engine around. Andrew Benintendi hits .056. Rafael Devers is at .175 and JD Martinez .196. After a hot start, Jackie Bradley Jr. dropped to .238.
The Red Sox need the Morelands of the world to deliver until the mainstays find their form. It’s a role he’s previously filled – he hit eight homers last April when the Red Sox shook otherwise – but his production is normally limited by injuries.
Manager Ron Roenicke recently admitted that Moreland’s legs were confused, which explains in part why he only started eight of the team’s 15 games. The Red Sox used him in a plateau, mostly with right-hand man Michael Chavis, to ease the wear and tear.
“Of course I always have to fight some nasty stuff here and there,” he said. “Do I want it different? Yes, I would feel great every day. Sometimes the legs are a bit heavy and I have to figure it out. (Roenicke’s) did a great job communicating with me and we are a good team.
“We are solid by the way, so different guys can come in and pick up the team as well, and we have to realize that it will take everyone to get us where we need to be.”
If the Red Sox hope to reach the playoffs, then the big guns need to start doing their part. In the meantime, Moreland will help keep her head above water.
