NEW YORK � Was Jackie Bradley, Jr. demoted to Triple-A Pawtucket because of off-field, coachability issues?

NEW YORK � Was Jackie Bradley Jr. demoted to Triple-A Pawtucket because of off-field, coachability issues?

�Absolutely not,� general manager Ben Cherington said.

Bradley�s demotion on August 18 was surprising less because it happened than because of when it happened. There were only two weeks left in the minor-league season, and the Red Sox could have sent Bradley down earlier in the summer, as his offensive struggles weren�t new.

There are members of the organization who wondered if Bradley grasped the urgency of his situation � if he realized how off his swing was and that it did in fact require some work. There are others who find the idea of Bradley being unreceptive to change an unfair criticism.

Cherington said Wednesday in the Bronx that the decision to demote Bradley was motivated strictly by his on-field performance in the batter�s box.

�The decision to send him down was based on our feeling at the time that he needed to develop a routine that worked for him, and it was going to be easier for him to do that in Pawtucket,� Cherington said. �I know that every player is going to respond differently to guidance. We know that Jackie has had a ton of success in his life as a baseball player. It hasn�t come as quickly for him, at least on the offensive side at the major league level, and that�s not easy for a guy to deal with.

�There�s never been an issue from the Red Sox�s perspective of whether he�s willing to work or whether he cares � anything like that. We�re trying to find the right way to reach every player, including Jackie, and then the player has to have a responsibility, too. That�s a relationship that we strive to reach. We want to build a good, functional relationship with any player. And if one is struggling it means we still have to work on that, but it had nothing to do with sending him down to Pawtucket.�

Bradley�s public comments about what he�s working on haven�t always jived with what the Red Sox have said he needs to work on. For instance, while several coaches have talked about Bradley needing to shorten his swing, Bradley called that �just talk.�

�I�ve heard that so many times,� he said on August 22. �The swing is short when you make contact and long when you miss it.�

Cherington talked about Bradley tweaking his routine and his work to better adjust to the majors.

�On the one hand, there is work, and then there is finding a way to excel and finding what works for you and what works for a player to excel at the major-league level,� the GM said. �Jackie has a routine that has worked for him to this point. And now he just had to find the way for him to be a little bit more successful offensively at the major-league level.�

Cherington reiterated that Bradley is expected to be back with the major-league club this month after Pawtucket finishes its season.

Twitter: @TimBritton