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