A Realistic View of the 2025 Red Sox: Part II

[mvp 78]

2 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Yankees bats have suddenly caught fire and we know the O's are playing a lot better.

If somebody gave me 3-5 in these next 8 games I might have to take it.

Eww!

[drewski6]

On 8/18/2025 at 8:36 AM, mvp 78 said:

You love calling me out, but at least find the post and quote me exactly. That's NOT what I said. 

Saying that things might get hot in Texas isnt particularly confrontational.

[Bellhorn04]

8 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Eww!

It wouldn't be a disaster.

 

[moonslav59]

20 minutes ago, oldtimer said:

You're saying Cora has no input on roster decisions? I don't believe that is the case or should be. I'm for at least getting to the playoffs this year, not in a few years. When I see decisions and moves that don't help the team reach that goal, I start wondering why. Results have to count. How many years have we waited and been fed the line, wait until next year. Add another unfortunate loss last night to the frustration. Toro's still in the lineup and went 0 for 6. C'mor choose files...on Brez and Cora. No more excuses, 

I think Cora does have "influence," but it's Brez who makes the final decision on who is on the 26.

I'm as frustrated as anyone, but I do not think this year was the same. We had SP'er depth 10-12 deep and needed everyone, plus adding May. (Trading Priester was a mistake, but not part of any sham, as I called it.)

1B depth was a major concern, and it bit us in the A$$. Was that JH being cheap? (Maybe.)

I thought we built a competitive team, and JH opened his wallet. Bregman got the highest AAV in Sox history. We traded for Crochet and then extended him. We signed what turned out to be the best closer in MLB, but let roast Cora and Brez alive, because he missed on 1B and 2B, with mayer getting hurt, Campbell sucking and DHam turing from a decent fWAR guys, last year to DFA material.

Overall, I think we made a major effort to get competitive, this year, and last time I looked, we are still ahead in the WC race. I'll be pissed, if we miss out, and I fully expect more improvements, this coming winter, or I will be as loud as anyone about any shortcomings in 2026.

I am far from giving up on 2025. This team has shown resiliency, over and over, and I'm leaving the door open to see if they continue with that aspect of their make-up. If others choose to give up and pout or complain, fine. I'm not there, yet.

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Saying that things might get hot in Texas isnt particularly confrontational.

It's been brutal, here. Some days the heat index is over 110. It is often still 90 at 7 or 8 pm.

[Kimmi]

6 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Sox are 9-8 in the best August they've had this decade. But the way they are playing now -- not hitting at all, and pitching just badly enough -- the final week of the month will be crucial.

Up next: four-game series in the Bronx, another four in Baltimore. To hang in there and avoid an annual spiral, Boston needs to go 4-4. Seems reasonable, but we all know that it will be a total grind to split in enemy territory, 

I am nervous about our upcoming series against the Yankees and the Orioles.  Despite supposedly being past the brutal part of our schedule, it's not getting any easier.  You can bet the Yankees will be looking for redemption.  A 4-4 road trip will be a mild success.

[Kimmi]

6 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

The Sox have had several bad stretches, this year, and always bounced back. I'm not sure this means we have 1 or 2 more bounce backs in us, but for those who swear that what has happened, so far is doomed to repeat itself, why close the door on more bounce backs?

Because the 2022, 2023 and 2024 teams faded away, at the end?

1. We lost 4 in a row in April, then won 5 straight.

2. Mid April, we lost 6 of 8, then won 6 of 7.

3. We ended April losing 3 straight, then winning 3 straight.

4. May saw much of the same: lose 5 of 6 and win 4 of 5, We ended May losing 6 of 7, including a 5 game losing streak.

5. We started June losing 3 of 5, making it a long stretch of losing 9 of 12, then won 8 of 9 and 10 of 12. We followed that with a 1 and 7 stretch before heading into the start of our best stretch of 2025.

6. From June 30th to July 13th, we went 12-1. We certainly aren't that good, but we aren't this bad, either. We then lost 4 of 5 before going on another nice stretch into August, going 10 and 2. Since August 5th, we have gone 4 and 8, and the SKY IS FALLING!

IMO, we will have some more nice stretches and some more not-so-nice ones. There should be some hope we have a little more nice than not nice, going forward, but with the way the AL is this year, we might sneak in playing just over .500 the rest of the way, but beating our rivals more than we lose to them.

It's hard to stomach when your team is going through one of these bad stretches, but it happens to all teams.  A team will look like toast, then the next thing you know, they've won 8 of 10 and they're right back in it.  Or vice versa.

The Red Sox are one of the best teams in the AL.  They are in control of their own wildcard berth.  They just have to avoid the late season collapse.

[Kimmi]

6 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Yankees bats have suddenly caught fire and we know the O's are playing a lot better.

If somebody gave me 3-5 in these next 8 games I might have to take it.

I'm hoping for at least 4-4, but I would not be overly disappointed with 3-5.

[moonslav59]

14 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

I'm hoping for at least 4-4, but I would not be overly disappointed with 3-5.

4 of the 5 losses cant be to the Yanks, if we do go 3-5. (Same with 4-4)

[Kimmi]

7 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

4 of the 5 losses cant be to the Yanks, if we do go 3-5. (Same with 4-4)

I agree.  I'm really hoping we can at least split with the Yankees.

[moonslav59]

We have not been great on the road, so things look bleak, but I think this team has grit.

I guess we'll find out.

HOU, SEA and TOR already lost, today. NYY plays at TBR, tonight. We gain by not playing.

[moonslav59]

Sample sizes can be deceiving, and this one may be more so that the recent 10 game one, but here are the best records since June 30th:

32-10 MIL

29-15 TOR

27-15 BOS

26-16 KCR

25-19 SEA

25-18 SDP

24-19 CLE

Other notables:

23-20 BAL

22-21 DET

21-22 TEX

20-22 NYY

19-23 HOU

19-21 NYM

19-22 LAD

14-28 TBR (worst)

Since July 26th

18-3 MIL

23-15 DET & KCR

15-7 SDP

14-9 PHI & BAL

13-9 BOS

Worst records since AUG 6:

2-10 TEX

3-10 CWS

4-10 MIA

4-9 PIT

4-8 BOS & SFG

 

 

[harmony]

5 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

We have not been great on the road, so things look bleak, but I think this team has grit.

I guess we'll find out.

HOU, SEA and TOR already lost, today. NYY plays at TBR, tonight. We gain by not playing.

The Mariners are clinging to the final Wild Card slot after going 2-7 on a tough, tough road trip to play the Orioles, Mets and Phillies.

The remaining schedule might favor the Mariners:

https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds

 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

10 hours ago, Kimmi said:

It's hard to stomach when your team is going through one of these bad stretches, but it happens to all teams.  A team will look like toast, then the next thing you know, they've won 8 of 10 and they're right back in it.  Or vice versa.

The Red Sox are one of the best teams in the AL.  They are in control of their own wildcard berth.  They just have to avoid the late season collapse.

I would replace 'one of the best' with 'one of the least worst.'

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

5 hours ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

I would replace 'one of the best' with 'one of the least worst.'

That edit is not half-bad.

[moonslav59]

The Yanks almost blew their game to the worst team in MLB over the last few weeks- the Rays. They let up 2 in the bottom of the 9th, after having a perfect game going through 6 IP.

Some other contenders lost.

SEA is 1.5 GB HOU, who is reeling. (HOU is one up on us.)

WC

69-57 NYY

68-59 BOS

68-60 SEA

-2.5 KCR (-3 from BOS)

-3.0 CLE (-3.5 BOS)

I'm calling TEX, LAA & TBR out of it, until they have a streak or something.

[moonslav59]

The Password has been called up!

Abreu to the 10 Day IL.

[moonslav59]

My guess is Fitts will be demoted when Slaten is ready.

This pen could be pretty damn good:

Chapman

Slaten & Whitlock

Wilson & Weissert

Bernardino & Matz

(Hicks is out of options, so I guess we are stuck with him.)

[mvp 78]

11 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

My guess is Fitts will be demoted when Slaten is ready.

This pen could be pretty damn good:

Chapman

Slaten & Whitlock

Wilson & Weissert

Bernardino & Matz

(Hicks is out of options, so I guess we are stuck with him.)

Justin Wilson DFA any day now... Very over due! 😎

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Justin Wilson DFA any day now... Very over due! 😎

That 3.68 FIP in his last 7 games is horrific. (4.33 in last 16)

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

That 3.68 FIP in his last 7 games is horrific. (4.33 in last 16)

Mon dieu! 

[notin]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Mon dieu! 

Whats with all the French posts today?

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Mon dieu! 

Alors, tu préfères Hicks. Compris.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Whats with all the French posts today?

Que pasa?

[notin]

24 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

My guess is Fitts will be demoted when Slaten is ready.

This pen could be pretty damn good:

Chapman

Slaten & Whitlock

Wilson & Weissert

Bernardino & Matz

(Hicks is out of options, so I guess we are stuck with him.)

The Sox bullpen does lead the American League in ERA, even with Hicks.  

[mvp 78]

Just now, notin said:

Whats with all the French posts today?

I just saw the other two and figured it fit here. Canadians aren't visiting FL anymore, they may as well visit TS. 

[notin]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

Alors, tu préfères Hicks. Compris.

Non.  Mon fauteuil est plein du fromage.  Navets! Grenouilles!!

[notin]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I just saw the other two and figured it fit here. Canadians aren't visiting FL anymore, they may as well visit TS. 

I figured some channel somewhere was streaming a Savoir Faire marathon…

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

45 minutes ago, notin said:

Whats with all the French posts today?

French Post and bacon. Delicious.

[moonslav59]

Are we still boycotting French Fries?