Alex Bregman Reveals Red Sox Offensive Philosophies

The Boston Red Sox offense has been in the news for its attention to detail. One broadcast showed an iPad with scouting information on San Diego Padres pitcher Robert Suarez. Tarik Skubal also mentioned how good the Red Sox are at picking up on tips.

Houston Astros pitcher Hector Neris took exception to the Red Sox’s preparation, getting into a spat with third base coach Kyle Hudson.

Finding pitchers’ tips can be difficult. Sometimes, it’s the smallest detail that gives away what pitch is coming. Preparation and scouting are areas they take pride in.

“Guys do a really good job of preparing before they go out and play,” third baseman Alex Bregman said. “The coaching staff, the players, everybody is trying to find a way to win every single baseball game.”

It’s not just pregame planning either. The team has done an excellent job of adjusting in games.

“Maybe we go into a game thinking we’re going to get pitched a certain way, and then the first time through the lineup he maybe threw a bunch of fastballs when we were looking for offspeed…we’ve done a good job of communicating after the first time through the order, like ‘hey guys, maybe we need to change our approach and think the other way,'” Bregman said.

The numbers back it up. When the Red Sox face a starter for the third time in a game, they have an .846 OPS. They’ve hit 20 home runs in 564 plate appearances, compared to 61 in 2123 plate appearances the first two times facing a starter.

Bregman, in particular, is hitting .326 the third time he sees a pitcher, although his numbers against starting pitchers are excellent across the board.