A Major or Minor Will

By Scoop Fox

Is the Will-Big Papi Connection over?

If you're a Boston Red Sox fan, then you are probably jumping for joy now. They're currently sitting pretty at 71-49, first in the AL East and three games over the Tampa Bay Rays. Red Sox Nation should be thrilled, considering that their team finished 69-93 last year amidst a season of turmoil, coup-de-tats, injuries, and Bobby V. But yet with all the success of this season, there's still that big gaping problem over at third base. 

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At the beginning of the season, Will Middlebrooks was starting in the hot corner. But after suffering from injuries and a really bad slump, Middlebrooks was shipped down to Triple-A Pawtucket on June 25th. In his 44 games on the farm, Middlebrooks was batting a decent .269 (47-for-175), with 10 HRs, and 34 RBIs. (In 53 games in Boston, Middlebrooks was batting .192 (39-for-203), with 9 HRs, and 25 RBIs.

His defensive prowess has improved as well. In 119 chances, Middlebrook had 36 putouts, 79 assists, and 4 errors for a fielding percentage of .966%. (In Boston, Middlebrooks had 29 putouts, 94 assists, and 8 errors for a fielding percentage of .939% in 131 defensive chances)

Yet with all that improvement in his play, the Red Sox continue to keep Middlebrooks down in Pawtucket. Instead of calling him up, they decided to go with the likes of INFs Brock Holt and Brandon Snyder to play third base. If that wasn't bad enough, Middlebrooks is now splitting time at third with SS Xander Bogaerts, who everybody in the Red Sox organization believes could be a star at the major league level. Though he’s doing all the right things and saying the right words now, it seems like the Red Sox don't want Middlebrooks in the majors. Then it will be only a matter of time before Middlebrooks starts to get antsy and say he’s had enough and doesn't want to be here.

So I present to all of Red Sox and Paw Sox nation with this: If you were Red Sox General Manager Ben Cherrington, would you promote Will Middlebrooks back into the majors and to regain his role as the starting third baseman for you squad? Or do you believe Middlebrooks is fine where he is and would rather go with somebody else at third base?