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Episode Summary

The season ends, and the gloves come off. Jim Dalfino, Nick Face, and John Martinello break down the Yankees’ Wild Card demolition of the Red Sox, taking aim at the pitching changes, bullpen collapse, and lifeless offense discussed throughout the episode.

Sonny Gray’s comments about trust and Willson Contreras’ criticism of computer-driven decision-making fuel a larger debate: has Boston’s obsession with analytics damaged its clubhouse and championship ambitions? The crew also questions whether the team’s remarkable midseason turnaround masked deeper roster problems and bought the front office undeserved credibility.

Looking toward the offseason, the conversation turns to Roman Anthony’s health, failed prospect development, reclamation spending, and the need for a franchise-changing bat. From ambitious trade targets to difficult roster decisions, the message is clear: another winter of minor tweaks won’t cut it. The season finale closes with heartfelt thanks to the hosts, contributors, and fans who made year two of Red Sox Digest possible.

Key Takeaways

• The pitching decisions take center stage. The crew challenges Chad Tracy’s early hooks of Peyton Tolle and Sonny Gray and the repeated reliance on Eric Miller.

• Boston’s offense offered little resistance. The discussion highlights an attack that produced only two solo home runs during the series.

• Veteran frustration deserves attention. Gray’s remarks about trust and Contreras’ criticism of data-driven decisions raise questions about clubhouse confidence.

• The midseason surge may have concealed bigger problems. The hosts debate whether the hot streak delayed necessary organizational changes.

• The rivalry needs some fire. The panel contrasts the Yankees’ intensity with Boston’s apparent lack of urgency.

• Roman Anthony remains a point of disagreement. His injuries, long-term contract, and uncertain availability spark a heated debate about expectations.

• Prospect rankings aren’t enough. The crew argues that development must produce dependable major league players who help win games.

• A franchise-changing hitter tops the wish list. Tatis, Witt, and other elite players come up as hypothetical targets—not reported deals.

• An overhaul requires uncomfortable decisions. Established players and prized prospects should be considered in moves that meaningfully improve the roster.

• Leadership and organizational accountability matter. The hosts call for stronger veteran guidance and scrutiny of scouting, development, and medical operations.

Chapters

• 00:00 — Opening Rant: The Yankees End Boston’s Season

• 03:00 — Questionable Pitching Changes and the Game 2 Collapse

• 07:00 — Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and the Trust Problem

• 11:00 — The Crew Reacts: Analytics, Accountability, and False Hope

• 21:00 — Ben Rice, Cam Schlittler, and Boston’s Missing Rivalry Fire

• 30:00 — Fan Reactions and the Limits of This Roster

• 35:00 — Roman Anthony’s Injuries and Long-Term Expectations

• 45:00 — Trade-Deadline Rumors and the Search for Impact Talent

• 50:00 — Reclamation Spending and Failed Prospect Development

• 58:00 — Rebuilding Boston: Shortstop, Outfield, and Bullpen

• 64:00 — Superstar Targets and John’s Five-Step Offseason Plan

• 85:00 — Season Finale: Thanking the Crew and Red Sox Digest Fans

The season ends, and the gloves come off. Jim Dalfino, Nick Face, and John Martinello break down the Yankees’ Wild Card demolition of the Red Sox, taking aim at the pitching changes, bullpen collapse, and lifeless offense discussed throughout the episode.

Sonny Gray’s comments about trust and Willson Contreras’ criticism of computer-driven decision-making fuel a larger debate: has Boston’s obsession with analytics damaged its clubhouse and championship ambitions? The crew also questions whether the team’s remarkable midseason turnaround masked deeper roster problems and bought the front office undeserved credibility.

Looking toward the offseason, the conversation turns to Roman Anthony’s health, failed prospect development, reclamation spending, and the need for a franchise-changing bat. From ambitious trade targets to difficult roster decisions, the message is clear: another winter of minor tweaks won’t cut it. The season finale closes with heartfelt thanks to the hosts, contributors, and fans who made year two of Red Sox Digest possible.

Key Takeaways

• The pitching decisions take center stage. The crew challenges Chad Tracy’s early hooks of Peyton Tolle and Sonny Gray and the repeated reliance on Eric Miller.

• Boston’s offense offered little resistance. The discussion highlights an attack that produced only two solo home runs during the series.

• Veteran frustration deserves attention. Gray’s remarks about trust and Contreras’ criticism of data-driven decisions raise questions about clubhouse confidence.

• The midseason surge may have concealed bigger problems. The hosts debate whether the hot streak delayed necessary organizational changes.

• The rivalry needs some fire. The panel contrasts the Yankees’ intensity with Boston’s apparent lack of urgency.

• Roman Anthony remains a point of disagreement. His injuries, long-term contract, and uncertain availability spark a heated debate about expectations.

• Prospect rankings aren’t enough. The crew argues that development must produce dependable major league players who help win games.

• A franchise-changing hitter tops the wish list. Tatis, Witt, and other elite players come up as hypothetical targets—not reported deals.

• An overhaul requires uncomfortable decisions. Established players and prized prospects should be considered in moves that meaningfully improve the roster.

• Leadership and organizational accountability matter. The hosts call for stronger veteran guidance and scrutiny of scouting, development, and medical operations.

Chapters

• 00:00 — Opening Rant: The Yankees End Boston’s Season

• 03:00 — Questionable Pitching Changes and the Game 2 Collapse

• 07:00 — Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and the Trust Problem

• 11:00 — The Crew Reacts: Analytics, Accountability, and False Hope

• 21:00 — Ben Rice, Cam Schlittler, and Boston’s Missing Rivalry Fire

• 30:00 — Fan Reactions and the Limits of This Roster

• 35:00 — Roman Anthony’s Injuries and Long-Term Expectations

• 45:00 — Trade-Deadline Rumors and the Search for Impact Talent

• 50:00 — Reclamation Spending and Failed Prospect Development

• 58:00 — Rebuilding Boston: Shortstop, Outfield, and Bullpen

• 64:00 — Superstar Targets and John’s Five-Step Offseason Plan

• 85:00 — Season Finale: Thanking the Crew and Red Sox Digest Fans

There is no single transaction that explains how the Boston Red Sox got here.

It wasn’t one bad free-agent signing.

It wasn’t one bad trade.

It wasn’t Chaim Bloom alone. It isn’t Craig Breslow alone. And despite being the guy Boston eventually showed the door, it certainly wasn’t all Dave Dombrowski.

This has been building for six years.

And when you start putting the decisions next to each other, a pattern emerges.

The Red Sox haven’t necessarily refused to spend money.

They’ve spent an extraordinary amount of money trying to avoid spending big money on premium talent.

Nearly $129 Million in Reclamation Projects

Since 2019, Boston has committed approximately $128.5 million to what I would broadly classify as reclamation projects: injured players, pitchers returning from major surgery, aging veterans and players whose acquisition was essentially a wager that Boston could restore them to something resembling their former selves.

Here’s the list:

• Lucas Giolito — $38.5 million

• Walker Buehler — $21.05 million

• Patrick Sandoval — $18.25 million

• James Paxton — $10 million

• Corey Kluber — $10 million

• Liam Hendriks — $10 million

• Garrett Richards — $10 million

• Adalberto Mondesí — $3.045 million

• Marwin González — $3 million

• Matt Andriese — $2.1 million

• Joely Rodríguez — $2 million

• Collin McHugh — $600,000

Total: $128.545 million.

Not every one of those transactions was indefensible when it happened. That’s important.

Baseball teams should make calculated bets. Sometimes they work spectacularly.

But eventually, when you make enough of these bets, you have to examine the organizational philosophy behind them.

Giolito was a $38.5 million bet on restoring a starter who had struggled badly down the stretch before coming to Boston. Walker Buehler received $21.05 million as he attempted to rediscover the pitcher he had been before two Tommy John surgeries. Patrick Sandoval received $18.25 million while Boston knew he was recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Those three players alone represent $77.8 million.

That’s not dumpster diving.

That’s real money.

Boston Didn’t Stop Spending. It Changed How It Spent.

That’s an important distinction.

The criticism of Red Sox ownership is frequently reduced to:

“John Henry won’t spend.”

That’s too simplistic.

The more interesting criticism is what Boston chose to purchase with the money it did spend.

Rather than consistently paying the premium required for established stars in their primes, Boston repeatedly tried to find surplus value.

Find the injured pitcher.

Find the former ace.

Find the guy whose underlying numbers suggest he’s better than his ERA.

Find the player another organization has given up on.

Fix him.

Rehabilitate him.

Extract value.

Flip him.

It’s a perfectly reasonable component of roster construction.

It becomes a problem when it starts replacing roster construction.

But There Was Supposed to Be Another Half to the Plan

Boston could afford to take those risks because something much bigger was supposedly coming.

The kids.

For years, Red Sox fans heard about the next great homegrown core.

Roman Anthony.

Marcelo Mayer.

Kristian Campbell.

Kyle Teel.

Triston Casas.

These weren’t fringe prospects.

They were supposed to become the foundation of the next great Red Sox offense — young, controllable players who would allow Boston to allocate its financial resources elsewhere.

And to be fair, Roman Anthony has demonstrated why he was regarded as one of baseball’s elite prospects.

But as a group?

The offensive foundation Boston envisioned never materialized the way the organization needed it to.

Casas hasn’t become the dependable middle-of-the-order cornerstone Boston envisioned.

Mayer hasn’t transformed the lineup, and now is gone.

Campbell hasn’t become the offensive force Boston hoped for and is being avoided to being called up.

And Kyle Teel never got the opportunity.

Because Boston needed pitching.

So They Spent the Future They Had Spent Years Protecting

In December 2024, Craig Breslow finally acquired the frontline starting pitcher Boston desperately needed.

Garrett Crochet.

It was a terrific acquisition.

This isn’t an argument against trading for Crochet.

It’s an argument about why Boston eventually had to make that trade.

The price was substantial:

Kyle Teel — MLB’s No. 25 prospect

Braden Montgomery — MLB’s No. 54 prospect

Chase Meidroth — Boston’s No. 11 prospect

Wikelman Gonzalez — Boston’s No. 14 prospect

Four prospects.

Two of MLB’s Top 100.

Boston had spent years emphasizing organizational depth and prospect accumulation, only to eventually cash a significant portion of that capital in for the frontline pitching it had failed to acquire another way.

And Crochet was worth acquiring.

That’s precisely the point.

Boston finally reached the stage where prospects had to become currency.

Which Brings Us Back to Dave Dombrowski

Remember why everyone was told Dombrowski had to go?

The farm system.

He had supposedly left the cupboard bare.

Dombrowski was aggressive. He traded prospects. He prioritized winning at the Major League level.

And there absolutely were consequences to that approach.

But there was also a rather significant result:

A World Series championship.

Then Boston swung dramatically in the opposite direction.

Chaim Bloom arrived preaching sustainability, organizational depth, payroll flexibility and a replenished farm system.

The Red Sox weren’t merely trying to build another championship team.

They were trying to build a machine capable of producing them continuously.

Mayer came during Bloom’s tenure.

Anthony came during Bloom’s tenure.

Teel came during Bloom’s tenure.

Campbell came during Bloom’s tenure.

That was supposed to be the payoff.

Instead, Breslow inherited an organization with highly regarded prospects but significant holes on the Major League roster.

And now he’s increasingly being asked to do something that sounds remarkably familiar:

Trade prospects to fix the Major League team.

That’s the Real Indictment of the Bloom Era

This isn’t about whether Chaim Bloom drafted good players.

He did.

This isn’t about whether Boston rebuilt its farm system.

It did.

The question is what that rebuilding ultimately accomplished at the Major League level.

If an organization spends years prioritizing prospect accumulation and financial flexibility, eventually those assets have to produce one of two things:

Stars in Boston.

Or:

Stars acquired for Boston.

Instead, the Red Sox reached a strange middle ground.

They didn’t consistently purchase premium talent.

Their highly touted offensive core didn’t collectively become the foundation they envisioned.

They spent nearly $129 million betting on reclamation projects.

And eventually they had to begin trading from the farm system anyway.

And Now Comes the Most Dangerous Part

Boston has finally developed something this organization hasn’t possessed in a very long time:

Legitimate young pitching depth.

That should be the foundation.

For years we’ve watched this organization search desperately for pitching, develop very little of it internally and pay increasingly creative prices trying to manufacture it elsewhere.

Now they finally have it.

And because the offense still has significant holes, Boston faces the possibility of using that pitching capital to acquire bats.

Think about how backwards that is.

Spend years trying to develop pitching.

Finally develop pitching.

Then trade the pitching because the offensive pipeline didn’t produce enough offense.

That’s not sustainable roster construction.

That’s plugging one hole by digging another.

The Red Sox Don’t Need Another Reclamation Project

They don’t need another former All-Star coming off surgery.

They don’t need another $10 million pitcher who might become a $25 million pitcher if everything breaks perfectly.

They don’t need another offseason built around discovering value nobody else can see.

Sometimes the obvious answer is the correct answer.

Premium talent costs premium money.

If Boston believes this pitching staff and its young core are capable of competing for championships, then ownership should supplement them accordingly.

Don’t trade away the pitching infrastructure you’ve finally built simply because you’re unwilling to pay market price for offense.

Don’t spend another $40 million trying to turn three question marks into one star.

Go acquire the star.

Because after six years, we’ve seen where the alternative leads.

Boston protected the future.

Boston waited for the future.

Boston spent nearly $129 million trying to find shortcuts around premium talent.

And now Boston is increasingly spending pieces of that future to repair the present.

That’s not one bad offseason.

That’s how the Boston Red Sox arrived here.

This Is Where Ownership Has to Enter the Equation

Craig Breslow cannot manufacture an unlimited number of Major League players.

The farm system cannot fill every position.

Every prospect isn’t going to become a star.

And every trade requires something valuable going the other way.

There is one roster-building resource that doesn’t require surrendering Tolle, Early or the next wave of pitching prospects.

Money.

That’s where ownership has to participate.

If Boston has finally developed inexpensive, controllable pitching, that’s precisely when a large-market organization should be willing to spend aggressively elsewhere.

Young pitching shouldn’t become an excuse to spend less.

Young pitching should create the financial flexibility to spend more on offense.

That’s how the model is supposed to work.

Sometimes the Expensive Player Is Actually the Cheaper Player

This may be the biggest lesson of the entire $128.5 million exercise.

A $30 million player looks expensive.

A $10 million reclamation project looks clever.

Until you sign three of them.

Then another one the following winter.

Then another.

Suddenly the inexpensive alternative isn’t inexpensive anymore.

Look at Boston’s list again.

Giolito.

Buehler.

Sandoval.

Paxton.

Kluber.

Hendriks.

Richards.

Every individual move came with a justification.

Maybe he’ll get healthy.

Maybe he’ll return to form.

Maybe our pitching department can fix him.

Maybe the underlying numbers are better than the results.

Maybe we’re buying low.

Maybe we’ve discovered something everyone else missed.

Maybe.

Eventually, all those maybes become $128.545 million.

And that’s what gets lost when these transactions are evaluated individually.

The Red Sox didn’t avoid spending money.

They spent an enormous amount of it trying to outsmart the cost of certainty.

And when enough of those bets fail, you’ve accomplished the worst of both worlds.

You spent the money anyway.

And you still don’t have the star.

The Dombrowski-Bloom-Breslow Circle

That’s what makes the progression of these three baseball executives so fascinating.

Dombrowski aggressively spent money and prospect capital attempting to win immediately.

Boston won the 2018 World Series.

The organization then decided that model wasn’t sustainable.

Bloom arrived to rebuild what Dombrowski had depleted and create a sustainable pipeline.

He rebuilt the farm.

But the Major League results weren’t there.

Breslow inherited the prospects and the holes.

And now he’s being asked to convert some of those prospects into Major League talent while simultaneously trying to preserve enough organizational depth to avoid recreating the very situation Boston hired Bloom to repair.

That’s a hell of a circle.

And ultimately, it leads back above the chief baseball officer.

Because Dombrowski didn’t hire himself.

Bloom didn’t hire himself.

Breslow didn’t hire himself.

Ownership chose each philosophy.

Ownership approved the dramatic shifts between them.

And ownership ultimately determines whether Boston supplements its current roster with money or forces its baseball operations department to continue solving financial problems with baseball assets.

So What Did Six Years Actually Accomplish?

That’s the uncomfortable question.

Boston rebuilt the farm system.

That’s real.

Boston developed Roman Anthony.

That’s enormously important.

Boston has finally developed promising young pitching.

That’s potentially transformative.

There are legitimate accomplishments here.

But look at what happened simultaneously.

The Red Sox repeatedly avoided the top end of free agency.

They committed nearly $129 million to reclamation projects and bounce-back bets.

They waited for a homegrown offensive core that only partially materialized.

They eventually traded one of their most valuable catching prospects and three additional prospects for the frontline pitcher they desperately needed.

And now the temptation will be to trade more young talent to complete the offense.

At some point the strategy has to produce something more than flexibility.

It has to produce championships.

Don’t Make the Same Mistake Again

The Red Sox finally have something worth protecting.

Young pitching.

Build around it.

Don’t dismantle it simply because trading a pitcher is financially easier than signing an impact hitter.

That doesn’t mean every pitching prospect is untouchable.

Of course not.

If the right baseball trade presents itself, you make it.

But Boston should not enter another offseason with the philosophy that its young pitching inventory exists primarily to compensate for ownership’s unwillingness to purchase offense.

That’s backwards.

Keep Tolle.

Be extremely careful with the next wave

Determine which other young position players truly belong in the next championship core.

And then do something remarkably simple:

Buy what you’re missing.

Premium talent costs premium money.

That’s not a market inefficiency.

That’s baseball.

Because there comes a point where bargain hunting isn’t actually a bargain.

There comes a point where protecting prospects doesn’t matter if those prospects never help you win.

And there comes a point where spending $10 million here, $18 million there and $21 million somewhere else trying to outsmart the market becomes considerably more expensive than simply buying the player you needed in the first place.

Boston protected the future.

Boston waited for the future.

Boston spent nearly $129 million trying to find shortcuts around premium talent.

And eventually Boston began spending pieces of that future to repair the present.

That’s not one bad offseason.

That’s how the Boston Red Sox arrived here.

Now they finally have young pitching worth building around.

This time, don’t outsmart yourselves.

Spend the damn money and finish the team.

Until next time,

Jim

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All September, we were waiting to play a meaningful game. Well, on Tuesday night, that meaningful game arrived, but the Sox approach didn’t seem all that different from what we have been seeing from the “Sleepy Sox.”

Cam Schlittler was as dominant as we expected him to be, shutting out the Sox for 6.1 innings, allowing only two hits and one walk while blowing ten of them away.

The game was progressing pretty much as expected. Cam was going to deal, and it was incumbent upon Payton Tolle to match that electricity for as long as he could to try to give Boston’s offense a chance to catch a little lightning in a bottle and experience a moment of glory.

Unfortunately, Tolle wasn’t entirely up to that task. The young lefty pitched alright over the 4.2 innings he toed the rubber in the Bronx, but he wasn’t the force that Chad Tracy was hoping for.

From the start, it looked very touch and go for Tolle. He allowed a one-out double to Ben Rice in the first but was able to strike out Heliot Ramos and get Cody Bellinger to line out to end the threat.

In the second, Tolle surrendered hits to two of the first three men he faced but again appeared to be set up to get out of the inning unscathed when the nine-hole hitter, Austin Wells, came to the plate with men on first and second and two outs. Wells is a nice defensive catcher with a little bit of pop, but he was batting a dreadful .122 against left-handed pitchers and appeared to be just the guy Tolle needed at the plate at that time.

Unfortunately, Tolle threw a 1-0 sinker middle-in at only 92 MPH, and Wells cleaned it out for a base hit to right field that scored Lombard to give Schlittler and the Yankees the only run they would really need.

Tolle kept the Yankees off the scoreboard for the next 2.2 innings and appeared as though he would get the Sox through five innings trailing by only one run.

But Chad Tracy, or more likely, the computer that pumps out the analytical blueprint for how a Major League game played by the Boston Red Sox should be managed, decided differently.

With two outs, no one on base, and Ben Rice coming to the plate for his third at-bat of the game, Chad Tracy pulled Tolle to bring in another lefty, Erik Miller. The same Erik Miller who, over his last eight appearances in September, has looked a lot more like Wade Miller than Andrew Miller.

And so, on the third pitch of the at-bat, Miller threw a 96 MPH sinker middle-middle, and Rice deposited it into Monument Park. 2-0 Yankees, and that was pretty much it in the eyes of the Red Sox faithful.

What I didn’t expect was that it also represented the end of the game in the eyes of the Boston manager!

That is the only explanation I can come up with for why Alec “Game Ovah” Gamboa (thank you, Jim) entered a playoff game that was only 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning.

It was bad enough that Greg Weissert was called upon to pitch the sixth inning, but with the injury to Tyron Guerrero, I guess they needed someone to try to help bridge the gap from the starter to Whitlock and Chapman. But bringing in Gamboa can only be described as Tracy waving the metaphorical white flag.

Base hit, base hit, walk, base hit, and Boston was down 3-0, the bases were loaded, and most of Yankee Stadium hadn’t even made it back to their seats after running to the concession stand and restroom after “Take Me Out to the Ballgame!”

Gamboa out. Wyatt Olds in.

And to his credit, “The Marshal” did get a double play and flyout to limit the damage in the inning, but with the score 4-0 going to the eighth, the game was already DOA.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Yankees just added insult to injury when Ben Rice delivered his second homer of the game, this time a grand slam off Brayan Bello, to finish off the disaster, 9-0.

Punchless

We didn’t expect the Red Sox to do much against the soon-to-be American League Cy Young winner, but there was hope that this “juggernaut” of an offense that the newly extended President of Baseball Operations has put together would come through with more than two decent at-bats all game against him!

Adley Rutschman, in the top of the first inning, demonstrated what an actual professional at-bat by a Major League-caliber player looks like against a dominant pitcher. A ten-pitch at-bat that included four foul balls and a full count resulted in a base hit to the opposite field and provided a moment of hope to Red Sox Nation that maybe Boston did actually have a game plan to attack the Yankee ace and perhaps keep themselves in the game.

Fooled You!!!!

Schlittler struck out the next two hitters on seven pitches and went on to retire the next eleven batters in order.

With two outs in the fifth and the score 1-0, the second-best at-bat of the game came, thanks to Jarren Duran?!

Yes, Jarren Duran.

After going down 1-2, he managed to take two pitches up and away that he usually swings at nine out of ten times for balls. He fouled off the first 3-2 pitch he saw and then laid off another very close pitch on the outside corner.

A very nice at-bat from a most unusual suspect, but all for naught because Trevor Story swung at the first two pitches of his at-bat, fouling them both off, thus preventing Duran from stealing second base.

Not that he was actually trying, but hey, this is the “Small Ball Sox.”

Story eventually ended up flying out to center field, and as we know, that was about all she wrote.

Hanging Chad

Chad Tracy deserved all the praise he received for helping to resurrect the season this summer, but I fear that he might have been exposed on Tuesday night in the Bronx as he was outmanaged by Aaron Boone.

The same Aaron Boone who Yankees fans have been calling for the head of for years.

The decision to go to Alec Gamboa was very questionable, and then bringing in Wyatt Olds was a double down. I could have lived with that if he had just let the two of them finish up the game and take the beating that we all knew was coming once the game went to 2-0, let alone 4-0.

But why on Earth do you bring Brayan Bello into the eighth inning of that game when it was completely out of reach?

Are you trying to win, or are you just calling it quits?

Please, would some member of Red Sox management and/or the front office display a little bit of forward thinking for a change! I have made my views very clear that, for years, Boston’s “Plan” has always been simply half a plan, mainly based on reactionary thought as opposed to aggressive, forward-thinking thought.

Tuesday night was no different!

You spent all of September resting the players you thought were going to be crucial for the team to be successful in the postseason. Outside of the three starters scheduled to go in what could truly be the final three, if not two, games of the year, there are only three or four pitchers I want to see come out of the pen with a chance of being competitive and successful.

Brayan Bello is one of those guys and probably should have come in to start the sixth inning once they let Tolle complete the fifth. Then you go from there, hopefully down 1-0.

Instead, Miller comes in first, sketchy at best, and he failed.

Then you bring in Weissert. I don’t think anything more needs to be said about that guy, but credit to him for actually being successful in his inning on Tuesday.

Then you wave the white flag and go with Gamboa and Olds.

Why in the world do you bring Bello into the game there?

It was simply another reactionary move to a situation that was uncomfortable for the Red Sox.

We see that from ownership when they get booed at Fanfest: sign Devers.

We see it from the front office when they get made to look foolish in a negotiation with Bregman: overpay for Suárez.

Now we get the same thing from the manager.

Baseball requires intelligence and clear thought. It is pretty ironic that Boston leads the league in analytical consultants, has a PBO with a degree from Yale, and has a number of incredibly rich businessmen in its ownership group who clearly understand business and economics, yet when it comes to baseball sense...they lead the league in stupidity!

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Watch the full episode below 👇

Episode Summary

The Red Sox opened their Wild Card series against the Yankees with a disaster—and Nick, Thayer Doyle, and John Martinello aren’t letting anyone off the hook. The crew breaks down Payton Tolle’s early exit, questions Chad Tracy’s bullpen decisions, and debates whether Boston managed a postseason game with a September mindset.

Roman Anthony’s recurring hand injury adds another layer of frustration, while Cam Schlittler’s dominance exposes an offense struggling to generate meaningful opportunities. From Wilyer Abreu’s role in the lineup to Craig Breslow’s roster construction, the conversation tackles how Boston reached this point—and whether Sonny Gray can keep the season alive against Max Fried.

Key Takeaways

• Tolle’s removal drives the debate. The crew questions pulling him at 83 pitches while Boston remained within striking distance.

• The bullpen choices come under fire. Turning to Eric Miller, followed by less trusted relief options, leaves the hosts questioning the urgency of Boston’s approach.

• Schlittler dominates the discussion—and Boston’s lineup. The crew credits his performance and Aaron Boone’s willingness to let him keep pitching.

• Anthony’s hand injury raises bigger questions. The hosts debate his availability, the organization’s handling of his recovery, and what his exit means for the lineup.

• Abreu’s lineup placement reflects a deeper roster problem. The discussion asks whether Boston expects too much offense from a player better suited to a supporting role.

• The Yankees’ young talent delivers. The panel contrasts New York’s contributions with Boston’s missing or limited young players.

• Tracy and Breslow’s extensions spark frustration. The hosts acknowledge the regular-season turnaround while questioning postseason preparation and unresolved roster weaknesses.

• Game 2 demands urgency. The proposed path includes a strong Gray outing, aggressive baserunning, pressure on the Yankees’ defense, and timely power.

Chapters

00:00 — Opening Reaction: What Did We Just Watch?
03:18 — Why Pull Payton Tolle? The Bullpen Decisions
06:50 — Boone, Schlittler, and the Pitch-Count Debate
11:53 — Roman Anthony’s Injury and the Medical Questions
19:35 — Yankees Youth Delivers; Abreu Comes Under Fire
24:00 — An Overmatched Offense and a Miscast Lineup
28:28 — Why Didn’t Boston Turn to Franklin Arias?
30:12 — Tracy, Breslow, and the Extension Debate
35:57 — September Habits Carry Into October
41:54 — Game 2 Preview: Sonny Gray vs. Max Fried
54:06 — Anthony’s Availability, Roster Options, and Fan Reactions
1:03:32 — Final Takes: Put Pressure on the Yankees

The Red Sox opened their Wild Card series against the Yankees with a disaster—and Nick, Thayer Doyle, and John Martinello aren’t letting anyone off the hook. The crew breaks down Payton Tolle’s early exit, questions Chad Tracy’s bullpen decisions, and debates whether Boston managed a postseason game with a September mindset.

Roman Anthony’s recurring hand injury adds another layer of frustration, while Cam Schlittler’s dominance exposes an offense struggling to generate meaningful opportunities. From Wilyer Abreu’s role in the lineup to Craig Breslow’s roster construction, the conversation tackles how Boston reached this point—and whether Sonny Gray can keep the season alive against Max Fried.

Key Takeaways

• Tolle’s removal drives the debate. The crew questions pulling him at 83 pitches while Boston remained within striking distance.

• The bullpen choices come under fire. Turning to Eric Miller, followed by less trusted relief options, leaves the hosts questioning the urgency of Boston’s approach.

• Schlittler dominates the discussion—and Boston’s lineup. The crew credits his performance and Aaron Boone’s willingness to let him keep pitching.

• Anthony’s hand injury raises bigger questions. The hosts debate his availability, the organization’s handling of his recovery, and what his exit means for the lineup.

• Abreu’s lineup placement reflects a deeper roster problem. The discussion asks whether Boston expects too much offense from a player better suited to a supporting role.

• The Yankees’ young talent delivers. The panel contrasts New York’s contributions with Boston’s missing or limited young players.

• Tracy and Breslow’s extensions spark frustration. The hosts acknowledge the regular-season turnaround while questioning postseason preparation and unresolved roster weaknesses.

• Game 2 demands urgency. The proposed path includes a strong Gray outing, aggressive baserunning, pressure on the Yankees’ defense, and timely power.

Chapters

00:00 — Opening Reaction: What Did We Just Watch?
03:18 — Why Pull Payton Tolle? The Bullpen Decisions
06:50 — Boone, Schlittler, and the Pitch-Count Debate
11:53 — Roman Anthony’s Injury and the Medical Questions
19:35 — Yankees Youth Delivers; Abreu Comes Under Fire
24:00 — An Overmatched Offense and a Miscast Lineup
28:28 — Why Didn’t Boston Turn to Franklin Arias?
30:12 — Tracy, Breslow, and the Extension Debate
35:57 — September Habits Carry Into October
41:54 — Game 2 Preview: Sonny Gray vs. Max Fried
54:06 — Anthony’s Availability, Roster Options, and Fan Reactions
1:03:32 — Final Takes: Put Pressure on the Yankees

Watch the full episode below 👇

Episode Summary

The regular season is dead. Now it’s Red Sox–Yankees.

Jim Dalfino, Nick Face, and John Martinello look back at one of the strangest Red Sox seasons in recent memory and turn their attention to the Wild Card showdown at Yankee Stadium. After a 2–8 start, Alex Cora’s firing, Garrett Crochet’s injury, a ridiculous 32–5 summer run, and plenty of reasons to believe the whole thing could implode, Boston somehow arrives in October with a chance to knock New York out of the postseason.

The crew breaks down the Game 1 decision to start Payton Tolle, Boston’s pitching advantage, the questions surrounding Crochet’s possible bullpen role, and why the Red Sox offense may ultimately decide whether this postseason lasts two games or becomes something much bigger.

The biggest debate: Can this lineup stop swinging for the fences and rediscover the small-ball approach that fueled its best stretch of the season?

John sees a path to Boston winning the series in three. Nick and Jim are considerably less convinced. The conversation also turns to Braden Ward’s potential postseason role, bullpen deployment, defense, Aaron Judge’s health, and some painful memories from Red Sox–Yankees history.

Plus: Bronx-B-Gone™, Pinstripe™ Laundry Detergent, Short Porch™ Home Run Enhancement Spray, Bill Buckner, Aaron Boone, the 2004 comeback, and the eternal psychological damage that comes with being a Red Sox fan.

Tomorrow night, it finally begins. Boston. New York. Two wins to move on.

Key Takeaways

• Boston’s starting pitching is the strength of the roster, with Payton Tolle getting Game 1, followed by Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez if a Game 3 is necessary.

• The biggest concern is the Red Sox offense, particularly its recent inability to consistently capitalize with runners in scoring position.

• Jim argues Boston needs to rediscover the small-ball, pressure-oriented approach that helped fuel its remarkable 32–5 summer stretch.

• Nick has little confidence in the offense and predicts the Yankees will eliminate Boston in two games.

• John is considerably more optimistic and predicts the Red Sox will win the series in three.

• Garrett Crochet could become a fascinating postseason weapon out of the bullpen despite not facing Major League hitters for months.

• Tyron Guerrero’s absence creates questions about Boston’s sixth-through-eighth-inning bullpen bridge.

• John highlights how much better Boston’s primary pitchers performed against New York once several poor outings from fringe pitchers are removed from the equation.

• Braden Ward could become a postseason pinch-running weapon, although Nick questions throwing an inexperienced player directly into a playoff environment.

• Defense could decide an extremely close series, particularly if both teams struggle to score.

• Aaron Judge’s health could dramatically alter the Yankees lineup, but Boston still has to find a way to generate runs against New York’s pitching.

• The show closes with the crew revisiting decades of Red Sox–Yankees trauma—from Buckner and Boone to the unforgettable comeback of 2004.

Chapters

00:00 — The Regular Season Is Dead
03:20 — What the Hell Were the 2026 Red Sox?
08:15 — Injuries, Garrett Crochet & the Wild Card Roster
13:05 — Tolle, Gray & Suárez: Boston’s October Rotation
17:45 — Word of the Day: “Mystery”
24:30 — Boston Has to Rediscover Small Ball
30:15 — Martinello Minute: Why the Pitching Can Beat New York
37:20 — Bronx-B-Gone, Pinstripe Detergent & Short Porch Spray
41:10 — Series Predictions: Red Sox in Three or Yankees in Two?
47:00 — Buckner, Boone & a Lifetime of Red Sox Trauma
53:20 — Braden Ward, Defense & October Fundamentals
59:15 — Final Thoughts: Tomorrow Night, It Begins

The regular season is dead. Now it’s Red Sox–Yankees.

Jim Dalfino, Nick Face, and John Martinello look back at one of the strangest Red Sox seasons in recent memory and turn their attention to the Wild Card showdown at Yankee Stadium. After a 2–8 start, Alex Cora’s firing, Garrett Crochet’s injury, a ridiculous 32–5 summer run, and plenty of reasons to believe the whole thing could implode, Boston somehow arrives in October with a chance to knock New York out of the postseason.

The crew breaks down the Game 1 decision to start Payton Tolle, Boston’s pitching advantage, the questions surrounding Crochet’s possible bullpen role, and why the Red Sox offense may ultimately decide whether this postseason lasts two games or becomes something much bigger.

The biggest debate: Can this lineup stop swinging for the fences and rediscover the small-ball approach that fueled its best stretch of the season?

John sees a path to Boston winning the series in three. Nick and Jim are considerably less convinced. The conversation also turns to Braden Ward’s potential postseason role, bullpen deployment, defense, Aaron Judge’s health, and some painful memories from Red Sox–Yankees history.

Plus: Bronx-B-Gone™, Pinstripe™ Laundry Detergent, Short Porch™ Home Run Enhancement Spray, Bill Buckner, Aaron Boone, the 2004 comeback, and the eternal psychological damage that comes with being a Red Sox fan.

Tomorrow night, it finally begins. Boston. New York. Two wins to move on.

Key Takeaways

• Boston’s starting pitching is the strength of the roster, with Payton Tolle getting Game 1, followed by Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez if a Game 3 is necessary.

• The biggest concern is the Red Sox offense, particularly its recent inability to consistently capitalize with runners in scoring position.

• Jim argues Boston needs to rediscover the small-ball, pressure-oriented approach that helped fuel its remarkable 32–5 summer stretch.

• Nick has little confidence in the offense and predicts the Yankees will eliminate Boston in two games.

• John is considerably more optimistic and predicts the Red Sox will win the series in three.

• Garrett Crochet could become a fascinating postseason weapon out of the bullpen despite not facing Major League hitters for months.

• Tyron Guerrero’s absence creates questions about Boston’s sixth-through-eighth-inning bullpen bridge.

• John highlights how much better Boston’s primary pitchers performed against New York once several poor outings from fringe pitchers are removed from the equation.

• Braden Ward could become a postseason pinch-running weapon, although Nick questions throwing an inexperienced player directly into a playoff environment.

• Defense could decide an extremely close series, particularly if both teams struggle to score.

• Aaron Judge’s health could dramatically alter the Yankees lineup, but Boston still has to find a way to generate runs against New York’s pitching.

• The show closes with the crew revisiting decades of Red Sox–Yankees trauma—from Buckner and Boone to the unforgettable comeback of 2004.

Chapters

00:00 — The Regular Season Is Dead
03:20 — What the Hell Were the 2026 Red Sox?
08:15 — Injuries, Garrett Crochet & the Wild Card Roster
13:05 — Tolle, Gray & Suárez: Boston’s October Rotation
17:45 — Word of the Day: “Mystery”
24:30 — Boston Has to Rediscover Small Ball
30:15 — Martinello Minute: Why the Pitching Can Beat New York
37:20 — Bronx-B-Gone, Pinstripe Detergent & Short Porch Spray
41:10 — Series Predictions: Red Sox in Three or Yankees in Two?
47:00 — Buckner, Boone & a Lifetime of Red Sox Trauma
53:20 — Braden Ward, Defense & October Fundamentals
59:15 — Final Thoughts: Tomorrow Night, It Begins

So, is it possible that the Red Sox have been running their own version of Operation Fortitude all month long without us having any idea what is happening? For those of you who don’t have a clue what I am talking about, during World War II, the Allies developed two plans connected to the D-Day invasion. Operation Overlord was the official plan for the invasion of Normandy that we are all familiar with. Operation Fortitude was a ruse that involved providing the Axis with false information and even creating an entirely fictional U.S. First Army Group that was supposedly commanded by General Patton.

I say all that to offer up the possibility that what we thought was Craig Breslow’s plan to rest most of the roster and get the players prepared for a Wild Card round in New York might actually have been a smokescreen for the real plan of tanking the entire month so they could avoid New York altogether and play the winner of the Central as the final Wild Card.

As crazy as that might sound, the way the Red Sox have been playing and the way the schedule has unfolded might just give the theory some credence. Three games remain with the Cubs this season, and Chicago is still playing for its playoff life, so these three games are must-wins for them.

On the other end, the Guardians and White Sox are still battling for home-field advantage as the winner of the Central Division while also trying to lock up a Wild Card spot in the American League. The White Sox have three games remaining with the Rockies, and Cleveland has three in Kansas City. If the White Sox go 3-0, the Guardians go 2-1, and the Red Sox go 0-3, all very real possibilities, the scenario would play out with Chicago winning the Central, Cleveland becoming the second Wild Card, and Boston falling to the final Wild Card. It is amazing to think about, but could this really have been the plan?

I almost hope that it was because Boston’s offense has been rather pathetic down the stretch, even if the team hasn’t been playing many of its “main people.” With the impending monsoons this weekend, there doesn’t seem to be much hope of getting the bats heated up in time for the playoffs. Even if Contreras plays and guys like Rutschman and Rafaela are able to manage their lingering injuries long enough to play every day, the likelihood that they will present any type of sustained offensive threat is minimal.

Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better

There was a game on Thursday night, although I am not sure the Red Sox offense was aware that it has even begun yet. Nine scoreless innings and two hits later, Boston had lost another series and was vanquished by the same 1-0 score with which it had won the night before. Nick Sogard and Jarren Duran were the only Sox players to record hits in the game, and Boston managed to get only two men as far as second base the entire night.

From a pitching standpoint, Ranger Suarez pitched five nice innings, allowing only one run on an opposite-field home run by Angel Martinez that snuck just inside the Pesky Pole. Suarez allowed only three hits and one walk in his five-inning tune-up for the playoffs and was in control throughout the entire start.

Chad Tracy played musical chairs over the final four innings, giving Patrick Sandoval one last opportunity to infuriate the Fenway crowd, although he did manage to pitch a scoreless sixth inning. Erik Miller followed with a nice performance of his own, joining Guerrero, Whitlock, and Chapman as members of the bullpen whom Andrew Bailey really needed to see pitch well. Raymond Burgos then finished the final two innings.

The pitching ranged from good to excellent over the course of the three-game series, but the Guardians have an offense modeled more after this year’s Red Sox team than the Cleveland teams of the ’90s. Therefore, the fact that Boston surrendered only three runs over the duration of the series isn’t necessarily something to write home about, but it might actually be a precursor to what we see next week if this ruse of Craig Breslow’s comes to fruition.

Wouldn’t it be wild if the Sox really had been sandbagging all this time and intentionally neutered themselves offensively during this series to give Cleveland a false sense of security? I know it is nonsense. If nothing else, the last five years of front-office moves and non-moves have shown us that the only thing we know for certain is that the Red Sox do not have a long-term plan and are incapable of devising tactics as elaborate as the ones I have drawn up.

Please don’t blame me. I so badly want there to be a reason beyond the fact that the Red Sox really are just mediocre on the field and are run by incompetent stooges who act only as shills for the penny-pinching ownership group.

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Wednesday night at Fenway was hopefully a sneak peek at what a playoff game started by Sonny Gray might look like!

The right-handed starter earned his 18th win of the season by pitching six dominant innings in which he surrendered only four hits and one walk while striking out three Guardians. Gray was in control throughout the entire start and allowed only one runner to reach second base all evening. It was the kind of performance that could make even the staunchest Red Sox naysayer believe that Gray could give the Sox a chance next week in the Bronx.

After Gray departed, Chad Tracy began the carousel of dominant bullpen arms. Tyron Guerrero got the seventh inning, and after he walked the leadoff man, he punched out the next three batters without throwing a single pitch outside the strike zone. Garrett Whitlock got his familiar eighth inning, and although he allowed two runners to reach base, a masterfully spun 4-6-3 double play started by Andrew Monasterio dispatched the threat.

The ninth was locked down by Aroldis Chapman, who seemed to be a whole new man after his 10-day hiatus! The Cuban Missile struck out all three batters he faced while displaying a combination of 98 mph heaters and a devastating splitter that he used as the out pitch for all three batters.

While the pitching staff continued to do its usual thing, so did the offense, unfortunately! One run over eight innings despite collecting a dozen hits. As a collective, they were 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position, and all 12 hits were singles.

On a positive note, four members of the lineup came through with multi-hit games, including Jarren Duran, who scored the lone run of the game, and he wasn’t even in the starting lineup. Nick Sogard, Jahmai Jones, and Wilyer Abreu were the other three Red Sox players to collect two hits each, and only two members of the starting lineup went hitless.

Boston provided the sole tally of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when Duran led off with a single and advanced to second on a groundout by Durbin. With two outs, Monasterio came through with his first hit in almost a month!

One Step Forward and Two Steps Back

Wednesday night was also the night that Boston welcomed its All-Star center fielder, Ceddanne Rafaela, back to the field after his prolonged 10-day IL stint. The Gold Glover wasted no time reminding the Fenway Faithful just how important he is to Craig Breslow’s “Run Prevention” strategy by recording the first out of the game with a diving catch off the bat of the speedy Steven Kwan. He then went on to tie a record by recording all three outs of the inning on fly balls.

In the bottom of the second, he led off with a base hit to left field but was seen pulling up a little lame around first base and grabbing at the back of his leg. Although he remained in the game to run the bases, Chad Tracy and the trainer followed him out to center field before the top of the third inning and removed him from the game.

Combine this setback with the fact that Willson Contreras still hasn’t made his way back onto the field since being hit by a pitch on the hand, and all that rest and intentional time off might have been for naught, at least offensively.

Though Shall Not Pass….Ball

One thing that was most notable on Wednesday night was the skill level of Adley Rutschman behind the plate. In the same night, Rutschman handled four incredibly different pitchers with a style and grace that was so impressive that one wouldn’t have even noticed he was back there if they weren’t specifically looking for it.

The evening started with Sonny Gray, Boston’s best starting pitcher and a veteran righthander with pin point control and a variety of pitches that dart and move in every direction.

After catching Gray for six beautiful innings, he transitioned to the dynamic and powerful Tyron Guererro whose control can be as inconsistent as his fastball is dominate. After T-Rex walked the lead off man, Rutschman helped to bring him back into control where he relocated and proceeded to strike out the side on 14 pitches.

The eighth inning meant Garrett Whitlock, another righthanded pitcher, but one who succeeds with a combination of power and finesse, as his change-up could be his best pitch. Rutschman worked in tandem with the setup man and combined to maintain the shutout through eight innings.

The ninth inning was probably a demonstration of just how impressive Rutschman’s catching abilities are. Now granted I might be over emphasizing this because of what I saw from Connor Wong for the last number of games, but in that ninth inning, Rutschman was amazing.

Chapman had not pitched for ten days, and while the power behind the lefthanders fastball was not in the triple digits like normal, the ride to his arm side was amazing. Add to that, the diving nature of his split finger to both sides of the plate, and it could make for a nightmare for a catcher. Just ask Gary “the Butcher” Sanchez how difficult it is to catch Chapman!

Rutschman’s ability to handle all of the pitches that Chapman throws helps to give him even more confidence to throw those pitches with conviction, knowing that his battery mate will catch them or at least keep them in front of him. This is a very important aspect of Rutschman’s role this year since Chappy has displayed a little decrease in velocity and an increase in the reliance on his secondary pitches. That extra little bit of confidence that Adley has his back when he throws the splitter specifically, could have a direct impact on how the playoff games in October end!

Thou Shalt Not Pass…Ball

One of the most notable things on Wednesday night was the skill level of Adley Rutschman behind the plate. Over the course of the game, Rutschman handled four incredibly different pitchers with a style and grace that were so impressive that one wouldn’t have even noticed he was back there without specifically looking for it.

The evening started with Sonny Gray, Boston’s best starting pitcher and a veteran right-hander with pinpoint control and a variety of pitches that dart and move in every direction.

After catching Gray for six beautiful innings, Rutschman transitioned to the dynamic and powerful Tyron Guerrero, whose control can be as inconsistent as his fastball is dominant. After T-Rex walked the leadoff man, Rutschman helped him regain his control, and Guerrero proceeded to strike out the side on 14 pitches.

The eighth inning brought Garrett Whitlock, another right-handed pitcher, but one who succeeds with a combination of power and finesse, as his changeup might be his best pitch. Rutschman worked in tandem with the setup man, and the two combined to maintain the shutout through eight innings.

The ninth inning was probably the best demonstration of just how impressive Rutschman’s catching abilities are. Now, granted, I might be overemphasizing this because of what I saw from Connor Wong over the last several games, but Rutschman was amazing in that ninth inning.

Aroldis Chapman had not pitched for 10 days, and while the power behind the left-hander’s fastball was not in the triple digits as it normally is, the arm-side ride was amazing. Add to that the diving action of his splitter to both sides of the plate, and the combination could make for a catcher’s nightmare. Just ask Gary “The Butcher” Sánchez how difficult it is to catch Chapman!

Rutschman’s ability to handle all of Chapman’s pitches gives the closer even more confidence to throw them with conviction, knowing that his batterymate will catch them or at least keep them in front of him. This is a very important aspect of Rutschman’s role this year, since Chappy has displayed a slight decrease in velocity and an increased reliance on his secondary pitches. That extra bit of confidence that Adley has his back, especially when he throws the splitter, could have a direct impact on how Boston’s playoff games end in October!

O Captain! My Captain!

Congratulations to Chad Tracy, who had the interim manager placard removed from his office door the other day! Craig Breslow and the front office tabbed him as their new long-term guy with a three-year contract that will take him through 2029 and includes a club option for 2030.

It was well-deserved recognition for the man who took over a sinking rowboat so full of holes that it still carried him and the rest of the team well under the waves for quite a long time after he was named skipper. Yet, he managed to hold his breath long enough to help raise the ship before it hit the bottom. More impressively, he didn’t just keep the ship from completely sinking, he actually managed to get it sailing in the right direction and somehow into port with all of the passengers and crew still in one piece!

I don’t know just how successful a career Tracy is going to have, but I will admit that he was the right man for this particular commission. I wish him all the best as he tries to continue Captaining the USS Red Sox while Craig Breslow remains the Admiral!

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In the first game of September that truly had no meaning for the Red Sox postseason hunt, Boston dropped a 3-2 decision to the hungry Cleveland Guardians. While Boston has already locked up its spot in the Wild Card round, the Guardians are still battling the White Sox for the Central Division crown while trying to fend off Texas and Toronto for at least the final Wild Card spot.

This series should provide the Red Sox with an excellent litmus test to determine where they stand going into next week’s matchup with the Yankees. That is assuming Craig Breslow’s “rest them while you got them” plan hasn’t been altered to “tank to avoid the Yanks.”

Offensively, Tuesday night’s game was more of the same for the month of September. The bats could only muster a few runs, one of which came on a late home run, and they constantly failed with runners in scoring position.

Boston collected eight hits and two walks on the night but was only able to scratch across one run before Mickey Gasper hit his nightly home run, this time as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the eighth inning, to tie the game at 2.

To their credit, the Sox were able to manufacture their first run in the bottom of the second, thanks to two productive outs. Adley Rutschman doubled to lead off the frame, advanced to third base on a ground ball to second base by Caleb Durbin, and then scored on an Andrew Monasterio groundout. Besides those two moments, the team was again 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Peyton Tolle got the start for the newly extended Chad Tracy, and he pitched all right in what will most likely be his final start of the regular season. He completed 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs, but walked two Guardians and was touched up for eight hits. Tolle didn’t look all that sharp from the start, as the Guardians scored two runs in the second inning off the lefty by striking quickly with three hits to start the inning, followed by a walk. Tolle was able to induce a double play with the bases loaded to help stem the tide and limit the damage.

While Tolle wasn’t sharp, he did grind through his outing, finding ways to get the Guardians out that didn’t include his usual control and high velocity. He only struck out five batters but did pitch out of quite a bit of trouble, having allowed baserunners in every inning.

The major concern coming from the evening was Erik Miller’s continued lack of command and struggles out of the bullpen. Miller came into a tie game in the top of the ninth inning and gave up two hits and a walk, which led to Cleveland pushing across the eventual winning run. It was the fourth outing in a row in which Miller allowed a run and the fifth in which he walked at least one batter. This is a major concern for a pitcher who came to Boston with a reputation for wildness.

Seven Days Will Quickly Go

As I have said before, I think the September plan to get everyone rested and ready for the playoffs was the right thing for Craig Breslow and the front office to do. Pushing already exhausted and injured players unnecessarily through meaningless games down the stretch would have had very little value for the team’s overall chances of being successful in the postseason.

That being said, it is now time for Chad Tracy to stop with the altered lineups and varied pitching rotations and allow his team to get back into the swing. I don’t believe this team is talented enough to simply flip the switch when the lights are brightest next week and be successful. It is time to get back to playing the brand of baseball that made them one of the most exciting teams throughout the summer and will probably be the only chance they have of vanquishing the Yankees.

Ceddanne Rafaela needs to get back in the lineup and play the remaining games, as does Willson Contreras. The rest will be of no use if they enter the series against the power-throwing Yankees having done nothing but take a few practice swings in batting cages against friendly fire. It is also critical for the bullpen to return to its established roles and pitch on a regular basis. It is very possible that some of the issues we have seen with Miller and Whitlock have come from pitching with extended rest and in situations to which they are not accustomed.

As Yogi said, “Baseball is 90% mental, and the other half is physical.” We laugh, but that quote does bestow truth. Baseball is unlike any other sport in that the mental aspect plays such a crucial role in players’ success. Baseball players are creatures of habit, and when they are removed from that routine, for whatever reason, the potential for failure increases.

Boston is going into the Wild Card round in the Bronx as the perceived underdog. It falls upon Craig Breslow and Chad Tracy to put their players in a situation where they can be as successful as possible and not add to the already numerous foibles.

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Image courtesy of https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/3606455/guardians-beat-red-sox-helping-them-atop-al-central

You read that right, everyone!

A three-run homer by Yastrzemski clinched a playoff spot for the Boston Red Sox.....while they were losing to the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-1, at Tropicana Field.

Thankfully, Mike Yastrzemski was playing for the Atlanta Braves, and his three-run homer propelled the Braves over the Houston Astros, thus securing Boston’s spot in the postseason.

Whatever the method of clinching was, the most important thing is that they have made the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

Granted, the second Wild Card was not the professed goal of the front office, at least publicly, all winter. But with what we saw in April and May, the fact that we will still have a few more games to watch, podcasts to fight over, and articles to write means here’s too small victories.

As for the game itself, it was probably the second-to-last time we will have to see Patrick Sandoval in a Red Sox uniform, so again, a small moral victory. And since it was a Sandoval game, it was a scheduled loss, as they say.

Tampa got out early with a four-run first that sent all of Red Sox Nation scurrying to their phones, computers, and various streaming services to see if they could watch the Braves game and bring a little joy to their rainy Sunday afternoon.

Stop me if you have heard this before, but Sandoval had lots of traffic on the bases in the bottom of the first.

It started with a four-pitch walk to leadoff hitter Yandy Díaz, followed by a hit-by-pitch with two strikes to Ryan Vilade and a single by Junior Caminero to load the bases. Jonny DeLuca doubled in two runs, and then Chandler Simpson singled in two more to give Tampa a 4-0 lead before Sandoval had even recorded an out.

At that point, both Chad Tracy and Kevin Cash exited their dugouts, met at home plate, and conferred with the umpires. They agreed that the game was over, and while Major League Baseball doesn’t allow for forfeits, they would simply play out the rest of the game amicably.

The only stipulation Tracy asked for, and was graciously granted by the Rays skipper, was that the game not end in a shutout for the Red Sox. Cash countered that both teams could score one more run at a time of their choosing, and both parties shook hands and went back to their dugouts.

In typical Red Sox fashion, they held that run until the top of the ninth, when they could do it in grand fashion by allowing Trevor Story to extend his hitting streak with a solo home run.

T-Rex Returns

The only positive event that could be taken from the waste of time at the Trop was the return of Tyron Guerrero from the IL. Guerrero pitched a perfect eighth inning, striking out two Rays and topping out at 101 MPH. He threw 12 pitches, 11 of them fastballs, and 10 of those 11 were 100 MPH or greater.

The one that wasn’t was a paltry 99 MPH.

Maybe Notable

From an offensive standpoint, Roman Anthony and Caleb Durbin both had two hits apiece.

The game was meaningless for eight innings, but a hot streak for a hitter can come at any time and cannot be downplayed, given how difficult the sport really is and just how fragile a baseball player’s confidence can be.

Enjoy the Moment

Based on the pictures from Tropicana Field once the Houston game went final, we don’t have to worry about the Red Sox enjoying the fruits of their labor.

As I mentioned earlier, walk in, run in, beat the door down, or sneak in dressed as someone else while hiding under a breakfast cart, I don’t care! Just get into the playoffs.

Boston will be one of the 12 teams that gets to play at least two more baseball games in 2026 when the postseason begins in a weeks time. Eighteen other teams will be packing their stuff and scheduling tee times.

This is a kid’s game played by grown men, and it is supposed to be fun, at least for a little while.

I’m going to try to enjoy some of it, even if it is just the buildup to the series and the discussion prior to Cam Schlittler and Max Fried throwing back-to-back shutouts with 10 K’s each.

Challenge to the Readers

With that, I would like to offer up a challenge to the readers in the hopes of giving me something fun to do as I try to write the final six editions of the 2026 Boston Red Sox regular season.

If you have noticed, I have tried to incorporate various pop-culture references into articles or use them entirely as the theme for an article.

From the worlds of music, film, television, literature, art, or anything else, it doesn’t matter.

Please feel free to share a thought in the chat that you would like me to try to fit into one of these final six articles before we have to really dig into Red Sox-Yankees. I’ll do my best to make these games at least fun to read about.

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Images Courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/Giants/posts/san-francisco-will-always-have-much-love-for-forevergiant-mike-yastrzemski-/1588354799315566/ and https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/1983/10/02/one-last-fenway-round-for-carl-yastrzemski/XL5kyHbjiLLXgIQ96lta2O/story.html

The Red Sox are headed to the playoffs for a second straight year, but Jim Dalfino, Nick Face, and John Martinello have mixed feelings about clinching after a losing road trip. They debate whether Boston’s offense can survive a likely Wild Card matchup with the Yankees, how to order the starting rotation, and whether this roster is stronger than last year’s. The conversation turns to bench speed, bullpen and catching decisions, injured pitchers, and the front office’s spending on reclamation projects.

Takeaways

• Clinching is worth celebrating, but the way Boston finished left Jim and Nick uneasy.

• The group sees the offense as the biggest threat to a deep playoff run.

• Payton Tolle, Ranger Suárez, and Sonny Gray are the expected Wild Card starters; their order is up for debate.

• Playing the Wild Card series at Yankee Stadium makes Boston’s missed chances at a better seed sting.

• The bench needs a reliable late inning running option, prompting a discussion of Braden Ward.

• Bullpen health, the backup catcher, and the final roster spots remain unsettled.

Chapters

00:00 — The Red Sox clinch, but the celebration sparks a debate
04:30 — Is Boston strong enough for a playoff run?
07:50 — The Yankees’ pitching and Boston’s struggling offense
13:25 — How should the Red Sox order their Wild Card starters?
19:45 — Missed wins, playoff seeding, and another trip to Yankee Stadium
24:40 — Comparing this year’s infield with last year’s
30:15 — Outfield production and the Roman Anthony question
35:30 — DH choices, bench spots, and Braden Ward’s speed
41:15 — Chapman, bullpen health, and the playoff pitching roster
49:50 — The backup catcher debate: Connor Wong or Mickey Gasper?
53:10 — Injured pitchers and possible late additions
57:00 — Final thoughts on Patrick Sandoval and front office spending

So the starter-turned-reliever might actually be a starter again.

Brayan Bello threw eight impressive innings in just his second start since being called back up from Worcester in July. Bello allowed only one earned run on five hits while striking out 11 Rays, with his only mistake ending up in the left-field stands when Jonathan Aranda ambushed the first pitch of the fourth inning for an opposite field leadoff homer.

Bello was economical all game long, throwing only 93 pitches over his eight strong innings while allowing multiple baserunners in only two innings all afternoon.

With the recent decline of Jake Bennett and the obvious shortcomings of Patrick Sandoval, the rise of Bello is a much-needed shot of adrenaline for the Boston pitching staff.

While they will need only three starters at most for the Wild Card Round, a confident and effective Bello could be a tremendous asset out of the pen for Chad Tracy, especially as someone who can throw multiple innings from the right side with two of the three likely starters being left-handed.

From the offensive side, the only players of note were Roman Anthony, who had a clutch two-out, run-scoring double, Jarren Duran, who had two hits, and Caleb Durbin, who had two doubles but one not-so-intelligent stolen-base attempt.

In all, the Sox did collect eight hits, but five of them came from those three players. As a team, they struck out nine times and walked only twice. They also continued to struggle with men in scoring position, going 1-for-11 on the day, with Anthony’s double being the only successful at-bat.

In the ninth inning, another one of those guys Chad Tracy is going to have to rely on out of the pen let the team down again.

With the score tied at 1-1, Garrett Whitlock allowed a leadoff single to Junior Caminero and then, after recording the first out of the inning on a popup, surrendered another single to Chandler Simpson to put men on first and second.

Whitlock was able to strike out Victor Mesa Jr. for the second out of the inning, but not before Connor Wong’s defensive woes from the previous game crept up to bite them in the rear end again. A passed ball off Wong’s glove advanced the runners to second and third, and then a little bloop to right that landed just in front of Abreu marked the unfortunate end to a fantastic start by Bello.

Richie Palacios’s game-winner traveled all of 223 feet with a 65 MPH exit velocity, which somehow makes the ending even more irritating.

Controlled Aggression

When the Sox were playing their best baseball, they were running the bases aggressively, yet intelligently. When they were at their worst early in the season, they were aggressive then as well, but they were recklessly aggressive.

They tried to take extra bases needlessly, and those attempts usually ended up on blooper reels because of the stupidity that tended to ensue.

On Saturday afternoon, the poster boy for Controlled Aggression for the Red Sox slipped into that realm of stupidity when he tried to steal third in the ninth inning.

After legging out a double down the left-field line with one out in the ninth, Caleb Durbin found himself already in scoring position with the left-handed Jarren Duran at the plate.

On the mound was Bryan Baker, who has a 95-plus MPH fastball and, as a right-handed pitcher, doesn’t turn his back to the runner at second base at any time. With the count 2-1, Durbin thought he could get a jump off Baker and took off for third.

Unfortunately for him, the pitch was a 95 MPH heater just below the zone that Duran didn’t even offer at, and with him being a left-handed hitter, the throwing lane was wide open.

The throw beat Durbin by feet, and he was tagged out for the second out of the inning.

Of course, Duran laced a triple to center field on the very next pitch, but he was left stranded thanks to an excellent defensive play by Junior Caminero against IKF.

Controlled aggression is great.

Uncontrolled aggression gets you thrown out at third with one out in a tie game.

Playoff Atmosphere

One of the biggest knocks on how the Red Sox have approached September is that they are mailing it in and playing uninspired baseball down the stretch instead of preparing themselves for the playoffs.

Overall, I would say that argument is sound, and Boston has clearly been approaching most of the games this month with one hand tied behind its back.

That being said, these two games against the division-leading Rays have had a very distinct playoff feel to them, even if the Red Sox still have not employed their full roster.

The Rays’ pitching is very good, and their lineup has been present in full for both games, yet the Red Sox pitching has, for the most part, held it in check.

That is a very good sign for the playoffs, especially when you consider that Chad Tracy has thrown his number three and maybe his number four or five guy, depending on your level of trust in Jake Bennett, against Tampa. He has also yet to unleash the full power of his bullpen, using Miller, Whitlock, and Chapman in the spots in which they are most accustomed to pitching.

On the other hand, the offense has looked less than intimidating against the Rays’ pitching staff, and if you remove Roman Anthony, they would have scored only one run in the entire series.

So yes, there is work to be done around the batting cage over the next seven games.

The training staff has to put in some overtime to get Willson Contreras and Ceddanne Rafaela put back together again and back up on that wall because Lord knows they are going to need their offensive potential against the arms the Yankees are going to throw at them in a week and a half.

But remember, Craig Breslow and the talking heads in the front office said over the winter that the backbone of this club was going to be the pitching.

Given how that group has looked coming down the stretch, I sure hope they remember that they need to lift with their legs and not bend at the waist, because the load they are going to have to carry in October could be heavier than Sisyphus’s boulder.

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I thought for today’s article I would employ the assistance of the greatest band to come out of Boston to try to explain what happened.

Walk This Way

The Red Sox pitching staff endured a very strange game on Friday night to help secure the 84th win of the season. Together, they gave up only five hits and two earned runs while striking out nine Rays, but the issue came with the free passes.

Ranger Suárez walked five in his 5.2 innings, while Wyatt Olds walked two despite recording only one out. Greg Weissert, of all people, somehow managed to avoid the epidemic, but Erik Miller decided to double down on it with two walks of his own in the ninth.

Despite all of the free baserunners, the Red Sox withstood the challenge from the top team in the AL East and came away victorious. However, this is absolutely not a strategy that is going to fly in the playoffs, and if the Sox don’t get their control under control, it will certainly lead to a “Crash.”

Nine walks. Twelve Rays left on base. Still, Boston walked its way right out of Tropicana Field with a win and a magic number of one, thanks to the Texas Rangers’ victory over the Jays.

I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing

Connor Wong should certainly think about making this his motto moving forward if he wants to remain behind the plate in big games.

In the late innings of Friday night’s game, with Boston hanging on to a 4-1 and then 4-2 lead, Connor Wong kind of made a mess out of multiple pitches from Wyatt Olds and Erik Miller. More so Miller than “The Marshal,” but there were four wild pitches over the final four innings, with three of them coming in the ninth from Miller.

Granted, neither pitcher had great control, but Wong’s technique was sorely lacking behind the dish, including a crucial missed block on a slider in the dirt that would have been the final out of the game if he had managed to get some part of his body on it and keep it from going to the backstop.

All four pitches were correctly scored as wild pitches, but on a number of them, Wong simply did not move his body very much to try to block or receive the ball correctly. Miller’s slider can be nasty when it is on, and yesterday it and his fastball were moving all over the place, but Wong approached them like he had never caught Miller before.

Granted, I don’t know just how much Wong is going to be catching in the playoffs. To be honest, I don’t really care how much or how little Adley Rutschman hits. I have been very impressed with how well he has adapted to catching the Red Sox staff so quickly and the clear connection and confidence he has helped instill in them. I want him catching every inning of every game.

That being said, Rutschman is dealing with injuries, and there is a very real chance that Wong is going to have to strap on the tools of ignorance during the playoffs.

If and when that time comes for Wong to catch, I don’t want to have to close my eyes!

Back in the Saddle

A career-long 438-foot bomb to right-center field to lead off the game, followed by a two-out, two-run line-drive single with the bases loaded in the second, provided a little glimpse of what we saw before Roman Anthony was injured last fall, as well as during his WBC performance this spring.

The man is a gifted hitter, and as long as he can remain healthy, he is the one offensive player on this team who could single-handedly dominate a game like he did on Friday.

Three of the four runs Boston scored came because of Roman Anthony’s swings, and for a team that is devoid of a lot of impact players, they better hope that he is ready to start riding high.

Same Old Song and Dance

For the rest of the Red Sox offense, this game was more of the same. Four total runs on nine hits and two walks, yet they struck out eleven times.

Now take into account that three of the four runs came from the bat of Roman Anthony, and then mix in the fact that all four runs and seven of the nine hits came off the soft-tossing lefty starter, Ian Seymour, and we get more of the same from Boston’s bats.

They really cannot hit hard-throwing pitching.

Once Kevin Cash removed Seymour after five innings and turned to his bullpen, the Sox managed only two hits while striking out six times over four innings. And those weren’t even Tampa’s top bullpen arms. Those were the guys marked for mop-up innings and “let’s just try and keep the game close” jobs.

All year long, the team has relied on its pitching to pull it through, like it did again on Friday night. But if the bats don’t start knockin’ on pitches coming in a little faster than 92 MPH, it won’t really matter what the pitchers do because the Sox will be quickly locked out of the playoffs.

What It Takes

There were just a few glimpses of what it might actually take for the Red Sox to be successful in the coming Wild Card Series with the Yankees and, hopefully, beyond.

Twice Trevor Story reached base with fewer than two outs, and each time Caleb Durbin immediately followed with base hits through the wide-open right side of the Tampa infield. It was obvious from the moment Durbin stepped into the box that his approach was to go the other way, and he successfully executed it both times.

That was the strategy, along with aggressive baserunning and timely bunting, that worked so successfully during the summer hot stretch.

The main question is whether players like Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, and Adley Rutschman, who were not part of that summer stretch but will be in the Red Sox lineup in October, will be able to fit that mold, or whether their actual baseball talent will serve to complement the players remaining from that time, like Nick Sogard and Caleb Durbin.

If the Red Sox can mesh the aggressive small-ball style of July with some actual Major League talent and slugging potential, then October might be F-I-N-E, Fine!

If not, then Red Sox Nation will be hung out to dry for another offseason.

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Again, it doesn’t matter, but the Red Sox beat the Rangers on Thursday night, 4-3, and lowered their magic number to clinch a Wild Card spot to three.

The game looked like it would be more of the same down in Texas, as the Rangers jumped out to an early lead against Sonny Gray. A solo homer by Josh Jung in the first, followed by a pair of runs in the second that all stemmed from back-to-back walks to lead off the frame, had the Sox staring at a sweep at the hands of the Rangers.

Gray was able to regain his form and complete 6.1 innings, allowing only those three runs, but the offense appeared content to sit this game out for the majority of it. In fact, after the rocky beginning, Gray allowed just one more hit the rest of the night and kept the Red Sox within striking distance.

The Sox bats didn’t record a hit until the fourth, when Willson Contreras singled to right-center field. Two more scoreless innings followed until Boston was finally able to manufacture a run thanks to a pair of walks to Nate Eaton and Caleb Durbin, followed by a deep fly ball from Nick Sogard and then a slow fielder’s-choice groundout by Roman Anthony.

In the top of the eighth, Boston finally broke through for a crooked number, again thanks in part to some wildness by the Rangers’ pitching staff.

Wilyer Abreu worked a leadoff walk, and then Contreras was drilled on the hand by a pitch. After Adley Rutschman fouled out to first, Trevor Story got a breaking ball that didn’t dive quite far enough out of the zone and drove it over the left-field fence for his second hit of the day and a three-run homer to give Boston a 4-3 lead.

From there, Wyatt Olds, Alec Gamboa, and Garrett Whitlock combined to shut out the Rangers over the final two innings to secure Boston’s 83rd win of the season.

Some Good, Some Bad

Sonny Gray’s outing had a little bit of everything. It didn’t necessarily leave me with great vibes about his forthcoming playoff appearance, but at the same time, he showed some resilience and gumption to get into the seventh inning and keep the Sox in the game.

Gray will probably have one more start before he most likely pitches the opener at Yankee Stadium during the Wild Card round. Throughout the season, he has proven time and again that he is the leader of the staff with the injury to Crochet. We can only hope that he is up to the task of getting the Yankees out in their building during the playoffs.

Willllsooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

We just got the one right-handed bat in our lineup capable of putting a little fear into the opposition back, and now we have to wait and see how he responds after being drilled on the hand twice in two games.

Early reports are that it is just a bruise, but there are only nine games left in the regular season for Contreras to get back into the groove. And given the history of reporting by the medical staff, if the damage is more severe than they are letting on, the disadvantage Boston will face going into the Bronx could be even greater.

Oh, What a Relief It Is

A day after Erik Miller, one of the guys Chad Tracy and Andrew Bailey thought they could rely on, gave up the game in his one inning of relief, Wyatt Olds and Alec Gamboa managed to hold it down for Boston in a win.

For a large part of the summer, the secret to much of Boston’s success stemmed from the exploits of unlikely heroes. And it always seemed to be a different person every night.

In order for the Sox to be successful in the playoffs, it appears that it will require a few more Herculean feats from players we don’t expect.

I, for one, believe that “The Marshal’s” impact on this season is only just beginning. Hopefully, it’s for the good and not the bad or the ugly.

Who do you think will be the unsung hero if the Sox surpass the Yanks?

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The long September slumber continues for the Red Sox as they fall to the Rangers deep in the heart of Texas on Wednesday night. The second straight loss to Texas was Boston’s seventh of the month, one in which the sleepy Sox are playing .500 ball.

There are ten games remaining in the season, and Boston still holds a comfortable lead over the teams chasing them for a Wild Card spot. At this point, however, it feels like everyone is simply waiting for the calendar to flip to October.

As far as the game goes, there isn’t an awful lot to talk about, very much like the entire month.

Willson Contreras got the Sox off to a quick start with a two-run tank to left-center field in the first, but that hit accounted for two-thirds of the runs and one-third of the hits the team collected in total against MacKenzie Gore, Nate Eovaldi, and some other guy thrown in there.

The most concerning part of the game was the performance of Jake Bennett. Again.

He completed only 4.2 innings while allowing eight hits and three runs. Yes, he struck out seven Rangers, but everyone strikes out the Rangers, to the tune of 1,299 times this year.

Right behind the Bennett showing in the land of concern was Erik Miller’s three-run, one-walk, two-hit performance in the seventh inning. Miller entered the game with the score tied 3-3, but by the time he was done, Chad Tracy looked like he had just watched his home burn to the ground.

Yes, it is only one game, but it is the second consecutive game in which Miller has relinquished a run and the third in his last six.

If Boston is going to have any chance against the Yankees in the Wild Card round, pitchers like Miller, around whom Breslow and Tracy have developed their entire bullpen plan, must come through.

Not One Bennett More

We saw it coming!

Bennett has slowly but surely been showing signs of the extended innings and workload, and after Wednesday, I hope we have seen the end.

Bennett was in consideration to start a playoff game just a few weeks ago, and now it would probably be in Boston’s best interest to shut him down. He has not looked the same over his last few outings, and the possible reward of pushing him into the bullpen for the playoffs does not outweigh the risk of getting him hurt for the coming campaigns.

We’ve gotten enough out of Jake Bennett this season. Maybe it’s time to stop adding bricks to the wall.

Once More, For Old Times’ Sake

Yeah, the Sox lost, but how great was it to watch Nasty Nate dominate out of the bullpen one last time!

Eovaldi’s four shutout innings of one-hit relief brought back all the feels from that magical 2018 run. If only for one brief moment, Nate was able to give the Red Sox front office one last glimpse of what they could have had if they had just been willing to open up their wallets a few years ago.

The whistle of the fastball wasn’t quite there, but the visage of that confident warrior standing astride the rubber and staring down his opponent certainly was. And for just a few brief moments, it was easy to harken back to what October baseball can really feel like.

Hold.....Hold.....Hold

A September to Forget is almost over, but with ten games remaining, it might be time for the Red Sox to start revving up their engines in preparation for the Yankees.

As unattractive as it has been, the “put your feet up and watch the rest of the American League stink” approach has been a success. Important position players have been able to rest, and if Contreras’s homer on Wednesday is any indication, it has worked. The pitching staff has gotten some rest, and the bullpen hasn’t been overtaxed.

It is now incumbent upon Breslow and Tracy to determine the correct time to take off the parking brake and let it loose.

If they wait too long, there is a very real chance that the complacency that has become the new normal for the Red Sox might roll over into the playoffs. And as we have seen, this team struggles to beat good competition and good pitching even when they are firing on all cylinders.

I would hate to see what could happen if they went in hungover.

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The Boston Red Sox are 82–69.

They currently sit 9½ games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East, but more importantly, Boston still holds the second American League Wild Card position, 5½ games ahead of Cleveland with only 11 games remaining.

So no, the season isn’t collapsing.

But Tuesday night’s 4–2 loss to the Texas Rangers was exactly the kind of game that makes you start staring suspiciously at October.

Because we’ve seen this movie before.

Patrick Sandoval: Great Start…Until It Wasn’t

Patrick Sandoval struck out the first four Rangers he faced.

Fantastic.

Then apparently somebody reminded him this was a Red Sox game.

Texas scored four runs in the second inning, highlighted by an Elias Díaz two-run double and Corey Seager’s two-run single — technically a popup that Trevor Story nearly caught before it tipped off his glove.

Sandoval was finished after only 2⅔ innings, allowing all four Texas runs while walking two and striking out five.

The bullpen?

Basically perfect.

Boston relievers shut Texas out for the remaining 5⅓ innings.

Which makes the loss even more annoying.

The pitching staff essentially said, “Okay offense, we’ve cleaned up the crime scene. Now just score three runs.”

The offense responded by putting on oven mitts.

Nick Sogard Apparently Didn’t Get the Memo

Nick Sogard provided Boston’s entire offense with a two-run homer in the third inning.

That’s it.

Two runs.

Thanks for coming.

Meanwhile Jacob deGrom struck out eight over five innings, but this wasn’t exactly 1999 Pedro Martinez throwing baseballs through concrete walls. DeGrom needed 92 pitches to get through five innings, meaning Boston had opportunities.

And that’s what makes this game frustrating.

The Red Sox didn’t get dominated.

They got opportunities…

…and then repeatedly drove those opportunities directly into a telephone pole.

The Fifth Inning Was Peak Red Sox

Boston loaded the bases in the fifth inning without recording a hit.

Hit batter.

Catcher’s interference.

Walk.

This was baseball basically grabbing Boston by the collar and screaming:

“HERE. TAKE A RUN.”

Adley Rutschman grounded out.

In the eighth inning, Boston loaded the bases again before Jacob Latz struck out pinch-hitter Andruw Monasterio to end the threat.

According to an analysis of the game, Boston had 11 of the game’s 13 highest-leverage plate appearances and failed to record a hit in any of them.

That’s not ideal when the calendar says September 16.

Because playoff baseball is basically nine innings of high-leverage plate appearances.

And Here Comes October…

Boston’s playoff position remains strong.

But games like Tuesday night should concern anybody imagining this lineup facing elite pitching in a three-game Wild Card series.

Jacob deGrom.

Gerrit Cole.

Some psychopath throwing 99 with a slider disappearing into another dimension.

That’s October.

You’re not going to get twelve hits every night.

Sometimes you’re getting six.

Sometimes you’re getting four.

And when the bases are loaded, somebody has to drive the damn baseball.

Tonight: Bennett vs. Gore

Boston gets another shot tonight at 8:05 PM in Arlington, with rookie Jake Bennett (9–7, 3.69 ERA) scheduled to face Rangers left-hander MacKenzie Gore (8–11, 4.62).

This isn’t panic time.

Not even close.

But October is approaching quickly, and Tuesday night was a pretty good dress rehearsal for postseason baseball.

Elite starting pitcher.

Close game.

Bullpen keeps you alive.

Multiple opportunities with runners in scoring position.

And Boston went home with two runs and a loss.

At some point, “we had chances” has to become:

“We got the hit.”

Join the Conversation

Was last night just one bad offensive night, or are you worried this lineup is going to struggle when October pitching gets serious?

Drop your take in the comments, share this article with another Red Sox fan, and make sure you’re following Red Sox Digest for daily Sox news, reaction, rumors, and plenty of sarcasm.

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Watch the full episode below 👇

Episode Summary

The Red Sox took two of three from the Royals, powered by Payton Tolle’s dominant outing, Roman Anthony’s clutch hitting, and a big insurance knock from Trevor Story. But with Boston selling playoff tickets before officially clinching, the crew isn’t ready to celebrate just yet.

Jim, Nick, and John break down the Kansas City series, preview the difficult road ahead against Texas and Tampa Bay, examine the crowded American League playoff race, debate the AL MVP, and ask whether the Red Sox should extend Tolle this offseason—or make him prove it for another year.

Key Takeaways

• Payton Tolle opened Sunday’s game with an immaculate inning and finished with six scoreless innings and seven strikeouts.

• Roman Anthony delivered another clutch hit in a pressure-packed September situation.

• Trevor Story continued his strong production since returning, driving in two crucial insurance runs.

• Willson Contreras returned from the injured list and reached base three times.

• Boston won the series despite going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position Friday night.

• The Red Sox began selling postseason tickets before officially clinching, drawing plenty of ridicule from the crew.

• Texas has plenty to play for and a favorable remaining schedule, making the upcoming series dangerous.

• Boston may have the toughest remaining schedule among the American League playoff contenders.

• The crew remains divided over Boston’s chances of surviving a Wild Card series against the Yankees.

• Jim and Nick favor waiting another season before committing major money to Tolle.

• John argues Boston should explore a long-term Tolle extension immediately.

• The Red Sox have improved their playoff position, but nobody on the show trusts them enough to relax.

Chapters

00:00 Red Sox Digest Opening Monologue
01:42 Red Sox Take Two of Three From Kansas City
03:15 Friday’s Offensive Failure With Runners in Scoring Position
04:38 Ranger Suárez Settles Everything Down
05:52 Payton Tolle’s Immaculate Inning and Dominant Start
08:35 Nick’s Word of the Day: Playoff Tickets
13:05 Red Sox–Rangers Pitching Matchups and Predictions
18:40 Boston’s Difficult Remaining Schedule
25:10 Previewing the Tampa Bay Series
31:35 Cleveland, Chicago and the Crowded Wild Card Race
40:20 Who Should Win the American League MVP?
51:58 Should the Red Sox Extend Payton Tolle?
58:30 Viewer Comments, Yankees Matchup and Final Thoughts

The Red Sox took two of three from the Royals, powered by Payton Tolle’s dominant outing, Roman Anthony’s clutch hitting, and a big insurance knock from Trevor Story. But with Boston selling playoff tickets before officially clinching, the crew isn’t ready to celebrate just yet.

Jim, Nick, and John break down the Kansas City series, preview the difficult road ahead against Texas and Tampa Bay, examine the crowded American League playoff race, debate the AL MVP, and ask whether the Red Sox should extend Tolle this offseason—or make him prove it for another year.

Key Takeaways

• Payton Tolle opened Sunday’s game with an immaculate inning and finished with six scoreless innings and seven strikeouts.

• Roman Anthony delivered another clutch hit in a pressure-packed September situation.

• Trevor Story continued his strong production since returning, driving in two crucial insurance runs.

• Willson Contreras returned from the injured list and reached base three times.

• Boston won the series despite going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position Friday night.

• The Red Sox began selling postseason tickets before officially clinching, drawing plenty of ridicule from the crew.

• Texas has plenty to play for and a favorable remaining schedule, making the upcoming series dangerous.

• Boston may have the toughest remaining schedule among the American League playoff contenders.

• The crew remains divided over Boston’s chances of surviving a Wild Card series against the Yankees.

• Jim and Nick favor waiting another season before committing major money to Tolle.

• John argues Boston should explore a long-term Tolle extension immediately.

• The Red Sox have improved their playoff position, but nobody on the show trusts them enough to relax.

Chapters

00:00 Red Sox Digest Opening Monologue
01:42 Red Sox Take Two of Three From Kansas City
03:15 Friday’s Offensive Failure With Runners in Scoring Position
04:38 Ranger Suárez Settles Everything Down
05:52 Payton Tolle’s Immaculate Inning and Dominant Start
08:35 Nick’s Word of the Day: Playoff Tickets
13:05 Red Sox–Rangers Pitching Matchups and Predictions
18:40 Boston’s Difficult Remaining Schedule
25:10 Previewing the Tampa Bay Series
31:35 Cleveland, Chicago and the Crowded Wild Card Race
40:20 Who Should Win the American League MVP?
51:58 Should the Red Sox Extend Payton Tolle?
58:30 Viewer Comments, Yankees Matchup and Final Thoughts