All-Star Game displays Red Sox changing of the guard

The 40-year-old David Ortiz batted cleanup in Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game, immediately followed by Xander Bogaerts fifth, then Mookie Betts seventh and Jackie Bradley Jr. ninth.  All four Red Sox starters reached base, highlighted by Bogaerts' double...

When doesn't #Xman hit? Congrats on an #ASG double! ❌ https://t.co/egOblqRauT pic.twitter.com/kafg5MmBY5

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) July 13, 2016

...and Ortiz's ceremonial exit after being pinch-run for:

Respect. #ASGhttps://t.co/UD0ICIwYmX

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) July 13, 2016

What stood out most to me though, is how this All-Star Game perfectly represented the transition from the ballclub's storied recent history to what is hopefully a very bright future:

This photo of Ortiz + Xander is called Passing of the Torch. Prints available on my website in time for the holidays pic.twitter.com/KT7ywpogrC

— Rich Levine (@rich_levine) July 13, 2016

If only Mookie had been hitting sixth and was standing on the top step of the dugout...

Xander Bogaerts & Mookie Betts are the 2nd pair of teammates 23 or younger to start the ASG as position players: pic.twitter.com/BmWYMGiCzZ

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 12, 2016

Those other two guys seemed to work out pretty well for the Sox.


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