An excellent piece from Jeff Sullivan at *Fangraphs* about how Bogaerts efforts to stay back and drive pitches the other way has impacted his plate coverage (and, as a result, his hitting overall.) I especially like Sullivan’s suggestion that Bogaerts’ power should start coming back as he gets more and more comfortable with this new approach.
I *will not* get my hopes up. I *will not* get my hopes up…
> The Sea Dogs had a game postponed this season due to the cold — an April contest when the field froze overnight and couldn’t thaw the next day in 35-degree temperatures. Bogaerts got off to a slow start in the cold in April, but it lasted only 10 games. After going 7-for-41 those first 10 games, Bogaerts hit .432 the rest of the month.
> That experience in Portland helped prepare Bogaerts for this time of year in Boston and St. Louis. The game-time temperature for Game Two of the World Series was 49 degrees — three degrees warmer than Opening Day at Hadlock Field. It’s supposed to be about 48 for the first pitch in St. Louis Saturday night.
The time in Maine definitely seems to have paid off. Bogearts has been raking during the series.[^fn1]
[^fn1]: Which has really stood out with the rest of the Sox hitting so poorly.
If you want to read more about Xander Bogaerts[^fn1], check out these stories:
* Marc Normandin at *Over the Monter* [briefly gives his take on the events from last night](http://www.overthemonster.com/2013/10/9/4819552/red-sox-playoffs-xander-bogaerts-comes-up-huge-twice).
* Alex Speier at *WEEI* on [why Xander is made for these kinds of games](http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/alex-speier/2013/10/09/hes-made-these-kinds-games-xander-bogaerts-arr).
* Chris Girandola at *ESPN Boston* on [Farrell changing his mind about pinch hitting for Drew with Bogaerts](http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/32043/change-does-bogaerts-farrell-good).
[^fn1]: Easily one of the heroes of last night’s game.
Tim Britton at the *Providence Journal* writes about the development of Xander Bogaerts’ approach at the plate:
> The only thing crazier than this team mutating from 93 losses to a berth in the ALCS is that the Sox would get there on the back of their precocious prospect’s patience. Bogaerts putting the Red Sox in the ALCS with a home run? That was somehow more plausible at season’s start than what transpired at the Trop Tuesday night
I had no idea that Bogaerts took so few walks coming into this year. I just assumed he had his current, patience approach his whole career. For last night at least, it looks like his new approach paid off.
> “I really showed myself today that I can play in that [bench] role, so today was pretty huge,” Bogaerts said. “Until today, I wasn’t sharp at all. I just went back to my leg kick, and I got some new bats. It’s a credit to the bat.”
This game showed why Bogaerts was such a highly rated prospect. It was really fun to watch him shine.
I am hoping I get to see Bradley Jr. and Bogaerts tonight.[^fn1]
[^fn1]: Along with Will Middlebrooks, of course.