Jarren Duran Might Be Turning the Corner At the Plate In August

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, Alex Mayes said:

I'm actually expecting him to come crashing back to earth sooner than later and, ultimately, be moved to the bench once Anthony is back.

Duran should sit vs LHPs, anyway. When Anthony returns one will likely DH vs RHPs, which is close to 70% of all games.

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

If Mead returns and is deemed ready to rock, we may have to say goodbye to Jahmai.

Just for fun, JJ or White?  I think JJ is better, and maybe clearly better, but White provides a few more options.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

16 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Just for fun, JJ or White?  I think JJ is better, and maybe clearly better, but White provides a few more options.

Jones' batting average on the Red Sox is clearly better: .478 to White's .286 (in their 27 and 22 Boston plate appearances). That's about it.

White's sheer speed gives him a clear edge on the bases and in the outfield. Jones has a negative dWAR the past three seasons.

[Nick]

On 8/22/2026 at 1:16 PM, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

We have no idea the adversity a guy like Duran faces every single day of his career.

We only hear or read about the obvious issues like going public about his metal health or getting suspended for using bad language with a heckler.

But there have to be so many other instances. Same with Contreras -- who it was reported yesterday had an exchange with a fan for not running out a grounder at the end of the game.

On a New England talkshow a few fans sitting close to the action called in with more details -- one sent her phone video -- about what happened. Contreras was actually speaking to a loudmouth who was continually swearing at Red Sox players in the dugout. One of them was Duran, who to his credit chose not to confront the guy, who was with a kid. 

Contreras had security escort the blowhard to the exits, while fans in the section applauded. He was sticking up for his teammates.

I think booing a professional baseball player is okay. But buying a ticket does not give a fan to use abusive language towards a player. Not good for the player nor the fans around it. 

[moonslav59]

Thinking of Duran, a Springsteen song comes to mind...

One step up and two steps back

[Michigan Adam2]

Curran should feel very lucky. To get as many ab's as he has and played this poorly is flukey.  There is really only one thing Curran has done well this year, and that is clutch hitting. He has certainly made the most of the few hits and on base chances he has had.  Last night's GS is a perfect example. For a guy with a 267 obp to have as many hr, rbi and sb as he has is pretty impressive. When/if Anthony y, masa, and mead return ready to go durran shouldn't see the lineup. 

[JoeBrady]

MLB-R this morning-

He leads the league with 17 RBI in the ninth inning or later (h/t ESPN Insights on X).

Obviously there is some luck to that, but still pretty impressive.

[Bellhorn04]

You can see that Duran has a funky little mechanical routine that is all about timing, and I'm sure he has spent countless hours on it.

[Bellhorn04]

1 hour ago, Michigan Adam2 said:

Curran should feel very lucky. To get as many ab's as he has and played this poorly is flukey.  There is really only one thing Curran has done well this year, and that is clutch hitting. He has certainly made the most of the few hits and on base chances he has had.  Last night's GS is a perfect example. For a guy with a 267 obp to have as many hr, rbi and sb as he has is pretty impressive. When/if Anthony y, masa, and mead return ready to go durran shouldn't see the lineup. 

Sorry but gotta disagree.  Duran was very good in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and that's why the Sox stuck with him.  I think he was having some severe mechanical issues with his swing, and hopefully he has now figured it out.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

28 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Sorry but gotta disagree.  Duran was very good in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and that's why the Sox stuck with him.  I think he was having some severe mechanical issues with his swing, and hopefully he has now figured it out.

Duran's batting stance leaning back away from the plate is kinda scary and unique, but sometimes it works for him.

Who else in MLB history has that much strength and energy to waste holding himself up from falling over before unleashing into his swing?

Maybe it's Jarren's own chill strategy he developed to prevent himself from diving too early into every pitch (or the Driveline cops warned him to drive bent over or get pulled over).

[Alex Mayes]

2 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Sorry but gotta disagree.  Duran was very good in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and that's why the Sox stuck with him.  I think he was having some severe mechanical issues with his swing, and hopefully he has now figured it out.

His hands right now are almost identical to how they were in 24, so that's promising. As this site's certified 'Duran should have been traded yesterday' guy, I 100% get why he wasn't dealt after 24 even if that's when I started being really vocal about it needing to happen. He should have been traded either at the deadline last season or in the offseason but even with his lack of production for most of this season, I am glad he's been around with Roman and now Masa going down. 

[Alex Mayes]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Duran's batting stance leaning back away from the plate is kinda scary and unique, but sometimes it works for him.

Who else in MLB history has that much strength and energy to waste holding himself up from falling over before unleashing into his swing?

Maybe it's Jarren's own chill strategy he developed to prevent himself from diving too early into every pitch (or the Driveline cops warned him to drive bent over or get pulled over).

I forget who it was because I meant to make a note of it and forgot to do it, but someone who played for either the Giants or the DBacks does the same weird little lean back.

[moonslav59]

Why did he try to tweak what was working?

[JAG]

On 8/23/2026 at 9:52 AM, notin said:

 
Since Anthony is getting activated in September, he could be platooned with Jones at DH while White plays LF vs LHP in a platoon with Duran…

I think Anthony and Story are coming back Friday, isn't there a rule about being eligible for the postseason the player needs to be active prior to September 1st? 

Duran will lose playing time between Roman and Mickey playing. I also think Duran won't be here next year. He is a good player that needs a new team out of the spotlight of Boston.

[JAG]

On 8/23/2026 at 9:52 AM, notin said:

 
Since Anthony is getting activated in September, he could be platooned with Jones at DH while White plays LF vs LHP in a platoon with Duran…

I think Anthony and Story are coming back Friday, isn't there a rule about being eligible for the postseason the player needs to be active prior to September 1st? 

Duran will lose playing time between Roman and Mickey playing. I also think Duran won't be here next year. He is a good player that needs a new team out of the spotlight of Boston.

[mvp 78]

7 minutes ago, JAG said:

I think Anthony and Story are coming back Friday, isn't there a rule about being eligible for the postseason the player needs to be active prior to September 1st? 

No, the rule is that the player has to be on the 40 man roster (or 60 day IL) prior to September 1. A player not on the 40 man as of that day may be used to replace an injured player via petition to the Commissioner's Office. 

[Bellhorn04]

3 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Why did he try to tweak what was working?

Sometimes guys tweak to try to get a little better but it messes them up instead.  Or maybe he tweaked when he was in a slump.  Who knows.  Hitting major league pitching is just really freaking hard, right?

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Bellhorn04 said:

  Hitting major league pitching is just really freaking hard, right?

Yup! I couldn't even hit good HS pitching.

Baseball has always been my favorite sport, because it's so damn hard. I was really good on D and baserunning, but that's not enough to advance.

I'm glad Duran is coming around. It's a great time to find your groove- now, just don't lose it!

[JoeBrady]

14 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm glad Duran is coming around. It's a great time to find your groove- now, just don't lose it!

And therein lies the problem.  Everyone gets hot and cold.  And they general have decent rides in one of the other.  With Duran, it's hard to know if he'll have 5 HRs in two weeks, or 5 hits in two weeks.

[Duran Is The Man]

25 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Yup! I couldn't even hit good HS pitching.

Baseball has always been my favorite sport, because it's so damn hard. I was really good on D and baserunning, but that's not enough to advance.

I'm glad Duran is coming around. It's a great time to find your groove- now, just don't lose it!

me either. but i could throw a nasty slurve.

[Alex Mayes]

8 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Why did he try to tweak what was working?

One of my biggest complaints about Duran is that he's a constant stance tinkerer. He finds something that works then when he has a down game, he makes drastic changes to his approach and spirals.