Article: The Red Sox Beat Themselves in the Wild Card Round

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Sox were one game over .500 at 37-36 when Devers was traded. Then they played .584 ball the rest of the way at 52-37.

While Raffy's power was missed, runs per game didn't really change: 4.84 to 4.87 (source: another Sox site). What did change were runs allowed: 4.53 before, 3.88 after.

Pitching was the difference. The Sox were 17-7 in July and 17-11 in August (first dog days this decade they dogged opponents). In August, Giolito and Bello became elite: Gio 3-0, 2.39 in 6 starts; BB 3-1, 2.27 in 5 starts... crappy Crochet was just 2-1, 3.19 in 5 starts.

Since Raffy was a DH, how -- you may ask -- did him getting traded lead to improved pitching? Obviously, they were all uptight knowing the I-Me-My Guy was batting for them... once he was gone, the whole rotation relaxed, appreciative of other roster buds taking their swings.

[TedYazPapiMookie]

Facts about the recent errors since 2022 don't really match the above commentary about this year!!

Where were there significant error issues this year? (Data included below)

Catchers 16 errors are significantly up from previous 3 years

First base NOT AN ISSUE

Second base significantly up from previous 3 years

Shortstop up from 2024 but normal compared to other years.  Can't blame Story.  He was average.

Third base HUGE improvement with Bregman.  Devers was a true butcher.

Left field Duran adjusting to LF didn't raise the errors but he's far better at CF

Center field was by far the worst in years further supporting the idea that Rafaela should play RF so Duran can move back to CF his best position by far.

Right field saw a huge improvement which further invalidates Abreu's GG.  7 errors in 2024 and 5 errors in his partial season in 2025 main source of errors in RF.

Here is the hidden secret about errors in 2025.  Pitchers made 16 errors doubling the 2024 total.

So do we have a defensive problem that needs to be fixed?  Yes, but it's not significant.

First the catchers must improve, next, 2B must improve significantly and finally to improve the outfield defense Anthony must play LF, Duran CF and Rafaela RF.  The alleged Gold Glover in RF has provided far more errors than any other outfielder which blows up the myth of him being a good defender, especially as a platoon hitter.  His value is minimized by these two facts.

Isn't it great when you read REAL stats that show something completely different than what the blog is touting to be the truth!!!  Facts always ruin the opinions of amateurs pretending to be experts!! 

 

Catcher 

2025 - 16, 2024 -13, 2023 - 14, 2022 - 9

First base

2025 - 10, 2024 - 15, 2023 - 8, 2022 - 12

Second base

2025 - 19, 2024 - 15, 2023 - 16. 2022 - 9

Shortstop

2025 - 21, 2024 - 18, 2023 - 24, 2023 - 22

Third base

2025 - 15, 2024 - 19, 2023 - 22, 2022 - 18

Left Field 

2025 - 7, 2024 - 10, 2023 - 4, 2022 - 7

Center Field

2025 - 6, 2024 - 4, 2023 - 0, 2022 - 1

Right Field 

2025 - 6, 2024 - 13, 2023 - 8, 2022 - 5

TOTAL FIELDER ERRORS

2025 - 100, 2024 - 107, 2023 - 96, 2022 - 83

TOTAL PITCHER ERRORS

2025 - 16, 2024 - 8, 2023 - 10, 2022 - 12