The Never Weres

Last year the All-Star Game was played at Coors Field in Colorado. The starting left side of the infield for the American League was occupied by the Red Sox. Rafael Devers at third and Xander Bogaerts at short. The night before the game the fans at Coors got to see Trevor Story in the Home Run Derby, representing the hometown Rockies. Story was eliminated in the semi-finals and was not elected to the All-Star Game at the loaded NL Shortstop position like he had been in 2018 and 2019.

Story won’t need to worry about a crowded group at the NL shortstop position this year because he now plays 2nd base for the Red Sox, joining last year’s All-Stars Devers and Bogaerts. The Red Sox bolstered their lineup signing Story to a 6-year $140 million deal. Boston now has three former All-Stars in the infield. All in the middle of their prime, or in Devers’ case just entering it.

This signing doesn’t come without questions. Mainly, why sign a shortstop when you have a multi-time All-Star and two-time World Series winner in Xander Boagaerts already starting there? There are a few reasons. The most glaring one is that Bogaerts, who signed a team-friendly deal in 2019, can opt-out after this season. He will certainly do this to get the money he deserves as one of the top players at his position in all of baseball. Adding Story gives the Red Sox insurance in case Bogaerts ends up leaving in free agency. The second reason to sign Story is he can hit. Story has a career wRC+ of 112, which puts him 12% better than the league average. He has a career .868 OPS. In more standard terms he has 4 seasons of 20+ home runs and 20+ steals. A career-high of 37 home runs and 108 RBI.

Story trailed off a bit last season. He slashed .251/.329/.451. It was his worst offensive season since his first full season in the majors. He played most of the season with an injured elbow. This could have sapped him of his typical power. Also, the Rockies are a poorly run franchise that got rid of one of its top players in team history, Nolan Arenado, one year after locking him up for his career. (They also paid the Cardinals to take him) This has affected Story because he has no protection in the lineup. Teams will gladly pitch around him and let the other players in the lineup beat them. This is not going to be the case in a lineup that features Devers, Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez, and Alex Verdugo. Story will get pitches to hit and will pepper the Green Monster.

There is a stigma that goes with playing for the Rockies. The high altitude of Coors Field allows for offensive explosions. That is true but not in the way most people think. Most people look at it as Rockies players can hit in Colorado and nowhere else. The reason for this isn’t the player’s skill it is what’s called the “Coors Hangover Effect”. This is where a pitch doesn’t break like it should in Colorado and the next day they are on the road and that same pitch is breaking like a major-league breaking ball should. When you take the players out of the altitude for a full season, their splits tend to even out. Just look at D.J. LeMahieu and Nolan Arenado.

The Red Sox lineup is going to be stacked, especially with the production out of the infielders. If Tristan Casas can produce when he is called up or Bobby Dalbec continues to play like he did towards the end of last season this could be one of the most productive infields in recent memory.