Adrian Beltre would like your attention please

Written by Rob Munstis | 27 May 2010

With Lackey in a funk and Garza the Red Sox killing Llama on the hill, I wasn't very optimistic about yesterday's game.

But Adrian Beltre had no interest in a simple series win. He pretty much single-handedly beat the Ray yesterday and gave the Sox a sweep of the first place Rays - in their own home.

Beltre's solo shot on the 2nd put the Sox up 1-0 and then he padded that lead with 3-run ding dong in the 3rd and a 2-run triple in the 9th - just for fun. Overall he was 4 for 5 with 2 HR, 3B, 3 R and 6 RBI.

David Ortiz also hit a homer, his 10th of the year, but Beltre was the hero of the day.

Beltre now leads the time in BA (.341) and RBI (33). He's one double behind Pedroia with 14 and has 5 homers on the season - after not hitting any dingers in April. Some of you may be surprised at Beltre's 2010 numbers, certainly his batting average is leaps and bounds higher than anyone would have guessed, but I had high hopes for Adrian when we made our 2010 predictions this offseason:

This may sound like I'm typing with my rose-colored glasses on, but I really think that Beltre is going to surprise a few people this season. Along with playing for a new team, Beltre will be playing for a new contract in 2010. And as if that wasn't motivation enough, the Sox still haven't trade Mike Lowell... if Beltre struggles out of the gate and Lowell is still on the roster, Lowell could start stealing at-bats.

Bottom Line Projection: 530 AB, 22 HR, 32 2B, 65 R, 65 RBI, .270, .775, 9 SB

Right now, Beltre is on pace to hit well over .300, with 15 homers, 99 RBI and 42 doubles... but I expect to see more ding dongs now that he seems to have found his stroke again. Beltre is still on pace for 90+ Ks, should he log the projected 530 at-bats I listed above, but he's found a way to hit for average despite swinging aggressively. If he can maintain that delicate balance, he will be a bigger offensive threat than most of us expected...

... and he'll have me thinking about a contract extension.

ps. Lackey grabbed another win last night, but continued to give up too many hits (8) and too many walks (4).