Collateral Damage

Perhaps the biggest victim of the Sad Sox collapse is Eloy Jimenez, he of the homerun swing and multiple injuries. Eloy showed a world of promise his first two seasons, in 2019 and 2020. His rookie year, he hit 31 homers in 122 games. The injuries started piling up in 2021, and, well, now he’s gone, shipped off to Baltimore and demoted to the minors last month. Go on the Orioles’ website to their 40-man roster; Eloy is the only one wearing his cap to the side. New organization, same Eloy, which is too bad. If he’s ever going to reach anything close to his potential, Jimenez needs to grow up, which was never required of him with the Sox. Ex-manager Rick Renteria wasn’t afraid to bench players, including Yoan Moncada and Tim Anderson, and he probably would’ve grown tired of Eloy’s “Hi, Mom!” routine had he not been fired after the 2020 season. Tony LaRussa, of course, couldn’t be bothered to show Eloy right from wrong. LarRussa let the man-child be. And now Eloy’s stuck in Norfolk, uncertain what the future holds.