Before Tuesday night’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Boston Red Sox activated Masataka Yoshida from the injured list following a brief rehab stay in Worcester. The appropriate move was to assign Garrett Cooper. Thank the baseball gods. Since Triston Casas was placed on the 60-day injured list in late April, we’ve seen absolutely TERRIBLE play at first base. Tell me I am mistaken about Garrett Cooper being an NPC in the lineup. The smallest of blips in a transaction, the least perceptible at the bat and on the field. He was a warm body who took a roster place. Tell me I’m wrong; Dom Smith has been much more annoying.
I’ll start with the obvious: his defense is exhausting to watch. Let us start with yesterday night’s game. Top of the fourth inning, two on, two down. Enmanuel Valdez receives a ground ball, which is a little difficult to hit. All Dom Smith needs to do is catch it, and the inning ends with the game tied: What is Smith even doing here? I understand not wanting to be in the running lane, especially with David Dahl, not the fastest gentleman, approaching you. However, you must do better than that. Not only one, but two runs were scored, and it seemed like a crushing blow. The strange part is that he doubles down on his inability to catch this ball after