Until Red Sox DH Rafael Devers moves to first base, he will continue to endure snide comments from all corners of baseball. While that may not seem fair, it’s par for the course. With his overt reluctance to change positions, the designated hitter becomes fair game for those who want to voice their displeasure in every manner possible.
The baseball media is a wholly different operation than its basketball and football counterparts. Baseball, as one of the oldest sports in America, holds a far different place in the minds of many who cover it, almost a reverence. As a result, those who dare to thumb their nose at conventional thought could incur the verbal wrath.
Rafael Devers’ Reluctance to Change Positions Earns Snappy Clapback from Reporter
If you watch baseball or discuss the sport, you hear about the unwritten rules of baseball. These archaic notions attempt to maintain a historical order and balance to the game. Now, with every new generation, a certain distance from the gatekeeping aspect of the game arrives. Many of the modern players prefer more freedom than their predecessors.
Thanks to players like Curt Flood, who sacrificed for free agency, the players flipped the script on the owners, seizing control of their destiny. Tangentially, Devers operates on the same tradition-bucking thoughts. He does not want to play first base, explaining why on numerous occasions. Like it or not, Devers holds quite a bit of influence.
After winning a slew of awards, the Red Sox rewarded him with a ten-year deal. As a result, the contract length, on the surface, grants him the right to say no. This rankles the sensibilities of many. For example, the three-time All-Star won the American League Player of the Week. Devers currently bats .285 with a .407 on-base percentage.
Currently, he’s on pace to eclipse 25 home runs and 100 runs batted in. Meanwhile, MLB insider Bob Nightengale decided to draw a line that featured Devers.
And Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman, who voluntarily moved from first base to third base for 16 games in 2017 playing for Atlanta, wins the NL Player of the Week award. https://t.co/5mTCPnrk5W
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale)
Freeman’s and Devers’ situations do not mirror each other in the slightest. First, Freeman was a positional player at the time he made the move. Devers hasn’t picked up a glove at all this season. While presumably easier than third, playing first does require extensive reps in an attempt to work on footwork.
Second, Freeman only played 17 games at the hot corner, while the Red Sox need Devers to man the base for the next five months. Lastly, Devers feels like the team blindsided him with signing his replacement, Alex Bregman. He didn’t expect to move to designated hitter. Yet, he took one for the team.
Now, they would need to ask him to move again. Asking your best player to change positions once isn’t an issue. Then, asking him to move again, in the eyes of Devers, looks presumptuous, and he will not make this easy. Overall, the Freeman comparison doesn’t hold water and lacks context.