Matt Strahm Calls Eric Hosmer The Ultimate Glue Guy
How will Eric Hosmer fit in with his new Red Sox teammates? On paper, it seems to be a perfect fit. Since trading for Hosmer, the Red Sox are at least competent at first base. Something they couldn’t say before.
Current and former teammate Matt Strahm says that Hosmer is the ultimate glue guy. It doesn’t matter what clubhouse he walks into, Strahm says Hosmer is a guy you want on your side:
VIA The Bradfo Sho:
“I’ve been fortunate enough to be on his team every season I’ve been in the big leagues, so I’ve been with three different organizations and shared the field with him every year,” Strahm said (4:49 in player above). “His presence, from what I’ve experienced, is unmatched. Just his professionalism and how he carries himself. He’s also a very good vocal leader as well as lead by example. He’s, in my opinion, he’s the best of both worlds.”
“I remember in 2018, A.J. Preller called me before signing him and asked me about him, and I’m like ‘Bro, there’s nothing on him. Whatever you’re looking for, it’s not there. He is what everyone says he is. He’s been the glue in every clubhouse I’ve been in,’” Strahm said.
“He just does a great job of keeping the team connected. He does a great job of bridging the gap from players to coaches, coaches to front office. He works well with everyone,” Strahm continued. “Like I said, you could interview all 30 teams, I don’t think you’re gonna find a bad word about him. He’s an unbelievable human and I’ve been very fortunate to spend every season with him.”
“Last year, I don’t think he got enough credit. I think he got drug under the rug last year with the media out in San Diego with the whole trade deadline thing,” Strahm said. “He did a great job of individual team meetings. That s–t don’t bother him because he is so professional. We’re all human, so of course, obviously, if your life’s gonna get uprooted and all that, stuff happens, you’re dealing with stuff, but to see him come to the field everyday and still be professional, which I don’t think got broadcasted enough of how well of a job he did that with what he went through last trade deadline. It speaks volumes of his character, in my opinion, of how professional he is that he puts the boys and his work first.”
“I felt like more of the guys were bothered of the rumors than Hosmer was himself. He is that important to a clubhouse and you can’t measure that,” he said. “No analytics guy has that measurement of what a person’s personality can bring to a team and how it can help out others.”
Talk about a ringing endorsement for Hosmer? The Red Sox have been gaining some ground in the Wildcard race since the deadline. We’ll see if the Hosmer addition makes enough of a difference for it to matter.
Side Note: I just did a cool video project on Chaim Bloom. Check it out here!
