Will Middlebrooks and Xander Bogaerts

The future of the Red Sox left side of the infield was on display earlier this week in San Francisco. Will Middlebrooks played solid in the field, even at 2B, & he did homer off of Barry Zito yesterday. He has a hit in every game since being back. I'm just OK with his bat because Middlebrooks has looked pretty bad in a few AB's as well. I think the jury is still out, but I'm glad he is finding his power stroke again & driving balls to all fields. I think Will gets nervous when Farrell moves him up in the order, but maybe more playing time will straighten that out. The X man, on the other hand, hasn't hit the ball out of the infield & stranded a ton of runners on Tuesday night. Bogaerts played well enough in the field & did make one real nice play on a high chop. You have to chalk up his early AB's to nerves &, like Middlebrooks, he should have more quality at-bats as time goes on. With Stephen Drew hitting so well Farrell will have to be creative to get the X man playing time. But given the crazy double-switches that managers pull in the NL, I'm sure he will find a spot for X. Middlebrooks & Bogaerts are learning on-the-job during a tight pennant race. They are being put into the fire & this experience will pay dividends down the road. The future is now.