While everyone in Bostonor those of us with a soul at leastare a little sentimental over the departure of Kevin Youkilis, we have no choice but to turn the page and move on to the reality of the Red Sox situation.
It's a little scary; sort of a departure from what we've grown accustomed to in this era of superstars and big spending. But at the same time, it's a good scary; an eager scary. Like jumping out of a plane, or bungee jumping or streaking the field at Fenway.
Plus, it's a scenario that we've all spent the last two months begging for. We can't turn back now. The new era is upon us and the only thing to do is embrace it.
Will Middlebrooks23 years old51 career games144 career at-bats.
No longer the third baseman of the future, but the third baseman of the now. The guy the Sox will count on every single day, after only a small body of work and with little to no insurance on the back end.
It's like that cheesy cliche where the dad's teaching his kid how to ride a bike, running along side and holding onto the back while the little bugger pedals away. There comes a point where Pops knows all he can do is trust his own judgement and his child's ability, let go and hope for the best.
Yesterday afternoon, the Sox finally let go. Or more accurately, they finally found someone who would take Kevin Youkilis and allow them to let go. But either way, Middlebrooks is off. The keys to the corner are in his hands. And should be fun to watch him navigate the roads.
Boston Red Sox
Personally, I'm not too worried. It was one thing for Middlebrooks to come up after Youk's injury and run off a little hot streak. But after what he went through these past few weeks? To never be quite sure when he'd be in the line-up To have to deal with being at the center of the back and forth between Youk and the Sox To be smack dab in the middle of the never ending controversy about toxicity and playermanagerownership dynamics
And to still be hitting .326 with a .946 OPS?
That's a nice. That's a nice, indeed.
With Middlebrooks, the future is finally now. And I can't wait to watch it unfold.
Rich can be reached at rlevine@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Rich on Twitter at http:twitter.comrich_levine