Three ways Stephen Drew has been valuable this World Series
Sam Galanis
Contributing Writer
Every time Stephen "Walking Strikeout" Drew has come to the plate this World Series, I’ve cringed. I mean, in 15 at-bats, he’s struck out seven times. Even his one RBI is from a sacrifice fly. And his one hit? Just ask Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina about that one.
But if he can’t hit, why does Farrell keep putting him in the lineup? Well, this is one reason:
For all the Stephen Drew haters I have just one question: Do you really want Will Middlebrooks out there instead? If your answer to that question is yes, then here are some reasons to sway you the other way. (Also, if your answer is yes, you may want to seek help.)
1) Imagine this situation: It’s late in the game. The score is tied. The Sox have runners in scoring position. Middlebrooks is having an off night, and he’s due up. But you have a left-handed reliever on the mound. You can’t put in Stephen Drew. So pinch hit someone like Mike Carp, and then put Drew in to play defense after the inning, right? Wrong. If Carp doesn’t get it done, you just wasted him. And then you’re still stuck with Drew, possibly in extra innings even. Either that or you make someone play a position that they don’t usually play. But if you have that same situation and you started Drew, Middlebrooks can be fresh off the bench, and might just come up with something. That’s a long winded way of saying that it’s better to have Middlebrooks off the bench than Drew. As mediocre as Middlebrooks has been, it’s better having someone who might hit than someone who is pretty much guaranteed not to. Next time Drew strikes out, play that situation in your head. You’ll feel a little better. I promise.
2) Defense, defense, defense. Stephen Drew is a good defensive shortstop. He’s a much more disciplined defender than batter. He rarely makes errors, which is something the Sox have struggled with during the World Series. Maybe he can’t bring in runs, but he sure can stop them, which is equally as important, if not more. Just because almost every high school coach and sports analyst has exhausted the phrase “Offense wins games, defense wins championships” doesn’t make it any less true.
3) This.
I don’t think I need to explain.
Comment or follow me @_SamMG
Contributing Writer
Every time Stephen "Walking Strikeout" Drew has come to the plate this World Series, I’ve cringed. I mean, in 15 at-bats, he’s struck out seven times. Even his one RBI is from a sacrifice fly. And his one hit? Just ask Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina about that one.
 |
| GIF courtesy of BuzzFeed Sports |
But if he can’t hit, why does Farrell keep putting him in the lineup? Well, this is one reason:
 |
| GIF courtesy of BuzzFeed Sports |
For all the Stephen Drew haters I have just one question: Do you really want Will Middlebrooks out there instead? If your answer to that question is yes, then here are some reasons to sway you the other way. (Also, if your answer is yes, you may want to seek help.)
1) Imagine this situation: It’s late in the game. The score is tied. The Sox have runners in scoring position. Middlebrooks is having an off night, and he’s due up. But you have a left-handed reliever on the mound. You can’t put in Stephen Drew. So pinch hit someone like Mike Carp, and then put Drew in to play defense after the inning, right? Wrong. If Carp doesn’t get it done, you just wasted him. And then you’re still stuck with Drew, possibly in extra innings even. Either that or you make someone play a position that they don’t usually play. But if you have that same situation and you started Drew, Middlebrooks can be fresh off the bench, and might just come up with something. That’s a long winded way of saying that it’s better to have Middlebrooks off the bench than Drew. As mediocre as Middlebrooks has been, it’s better having someone who might hit than someone who is pretty much guaranteed not to. Next time Drew strikes out, play that situation in your head. You’ll feel a little better. I promise.
2) Defense, defense, defense. Stephen Drew is a good defensive shortstop. He’s a much more disciplined defender than batter. He rarely makes errors, which is something the Sox have struggled with during the World Series. Maybe he can’t bring in runs, but he sure can stop them, which is equally as important, if not more. Just because almost every high school coach and sports analyst has exhausted the phrase “Offense wins games, defense wins championships” doesn’t make it any less true.
3) This.
I don’t think I need to explain.
Comment or follow me @_SamMG
