“I had no idea,” the Red Sox manager, Alex Cora, said a few days ago when asked about Rafael Devers taking groundballs in practice sessions. While it came as a surprise to fans that the manager was unaware of what was happening inside the camp, the team’s CEO, Sam Kennedy, has now revealed something interesting.

For a player who should be the centerpiece of a long-term vision, Devers instead finds himself in the middle of a miscommunication. And once again, the Red Sox are left grappling with more questions than answers.

Initially, it was a debate over whether Devers should stick at third base or transition to another role. He was eventually pushed to DH, where he was going good but when he was seen taking grounders during a practice session, it raised eyebrows.

Will he not play as DH anymore? Is he coming to the infield? Cora was clueless while acknowledging that he also had no idea about Devers taking groundballs. But Kennedy knew. “We know that if the time is right and we need him, he’ll be there,” the Red Sox CEO told NESN.

What does that mean? Devers taking the grounders is not random, as per the team’s plan. Yes, he will continue to play as a DH, but keeping him ready for the other roles is equally important. Good strategy by the Red Sox!

But, why was the team manager not aware of his DH taking grounders?

As confirmed by the man himself, Alex Cora, most responsible for knowing his roster inside and out, was completely unaware of a major pregame event involving Rafael Devers. That didn’t just reflect a lapse in communication, but a deeper fracture in the chain of command at the Red Sox. Are the team manager and the CEO on the same page?

The Sox are still in a risky position, sitting with a 33-36 record in the AL East. The season is entering deep, and a late insurge is needed hereon to lift the October dreams. However, the team finds itself in a tricky situation, concerning the fans.

But what about Devers? How has his recent form been?

Rafael Devers is spitting fire as a DH

A lot was discussed earlier in the season about Rafael Devers struggling as a DH. But that narrative? It’s long gone. You see, the Red Sox slugger is on an absolute tear now, putting up numbers that silence every doubter. With 14 home runs and 57 RBIs already under his belt, Devers isn’t just heating up; he’s spitting fire.

What’s more, fitness concerns that once hovered over him have been buried just as deep as his latest flyballs. Devers currently leads all of MLB with 69 games played this season, a testament to his improved conditioning and consistency.

His ninth-inning home run in Boston’s 11-7 win over the Yankees was his 30th HR against the Pinstripes, coming in just 113 games. The 28-year-old is much ahead of the yesteryear Red Sox legends like David Ortiz (125 games) and Ted Williams (146 games) in that regard.

With Devers continuing to excel at the plate, the Red Sox face an increasingly important decision regarding his long-term role. He seems to have got his staple place as a DH, but his groundball practice is what is making things confusing. Now, it is up to the management to come up with the best decision for the team. What’s your take on the situation?