LOS ANGELES, CA — Who would have thought that the biggest story of MLB’s trade deadline thus far would not be about the trade the Dodgers made with the Tigers headlined by back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.
Instead, it is about the surging Boston Red Sox who came into Dodger Stadium over the weekend and bludgeoned the back-to-back World Series champions. Their sweep of Los Angeles across three games marked Boston’s first sweep of the Dodgers since June 18-20 of 2010 at Fenway Park and just the second time they have ever swept LA—9-4 Friday, 3-2 Saturday, and 8-4 Sunday.
“I just enjoy winning baseball games, and I’m not really paying attention (to the trade deadline). I’m really enjoying playing with my boys,” said center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela after hitting four homers in the sweep in Los Angeles.
“If somebody comes, we will welcome him with open arms. If not, we’ll keep winning baseball games with this team. That’s what we do.”
Yes, the bigger story is how this Red Sox club has become the scariest opponent in Major League Baseball today. On June 24th, their record was 32-46, and at the time, they ranked 29th out of all 30 Major League Baseball teams.
Ceddanne Rafaela belted four home runs over the weekend in Los Angeles, leading the Red Sox to a three-game sweep of the Dodgers for just the second time in franchise history and first since 2010 – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
After the three-game sweep of the Dodgers this weekend, Boston is now 60-51, and five games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the lead in the AL East division.
One thing that is very obvious to people watching this turnaround is the number of talented Latino players on Boston’s roster who are playing great winning baseball. They have shown power at the plate as well as the ability to play ‘small-ball’ when they need to move runners around the bases.
The Boston Red Sox have caught fire, going 21-4 in the month of July and 2-0 to start off the month of August – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Their defense has been at an All-Star level, and their pitching, both starters and relievers, has improved tremendously.
Here are the 13 Latino players on Boston’s active roster:
- Reliever Brayan Bello, Samana, Dominican Republic
- Reliever Aroldis Chapman, Holguin, Cuba
- Reliever Tyron Guerrero, Bocachica, Colombia
- Reliever Jovani Morán, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
- Starter Patrick Sandoval, of Mexican heritage
- Starter Ranger Suarez, Pie de Cuesta, Venezuela
- Catcher Carlos Narváez, Maracay, Venezuela
- First baseman Willson Contreras, Puerto Cabello, Venezuela
- Shortstop Andruw Monasterio, Caracas, Venezuela
- Right fielder Wilyer Abreu, Maracaibo, Venezuela
- Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, Willemstad, Curaçao
- Outfielder Jarren Duran, of Mexican heritage
- DH Romy Gonzalez, of Cuban heritage
Obviously, the Red Sox are made up of predominantly Latino players who know how to play this game. They are the ones responsible for the sudden emergence of a club that looks destined to overtake the AL East.
“I think we’re in a good spot right now, so we’ll see what happens,” right fielder Wilyer Abreu said of Monday’s deadline. “But I think whatever happens is going to be best for the team. We’re just going to have to keep playing baseball the way we’re playing.”
Yes, the Dodgers are once again getting whatever they want in the blockbuster trade for Skubal, but the bottom line is this:
Trades are always fun to talk about, but the production and what comes after on the diamond are the most significant factors in it all.
Boston, still trying to acquire a few players that can help them before Monday’s deadline at 6:00pm ET, have Latinos in the lineup taking care of business, so another move or two should only do more wonders to this club going forward.
Perhaps it’s another Latino, we shall see.
Follow us on Social Media for updates and exclusive content
Instagram: @latinosportsoficial
Facebook: Latino Sports
Twitter: @latinosports
