Red Sox Roundup, Oct 1: Wild Card, Gray's Frustration, 2027 Outlook

[Talk Sox]

Here is some of the latest Red Sox analysis from around the internet. The roundup covers the Wild Card Series against the Yankees, manager Chad Tracy's decisions, Sonny Gray's frustration, the team's 2026 season revival, and the Red Sox's post-playoff plans.

• Gray frustrated by hook, wanted Tracy to 'live or die with me' (MLB.com). Notes Sonny Gray's frustration with manager Chad Tracy's early hook in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series, citing his strong third-time-through-the-order performance and his belief that he should have faced Cody Bellinger.
• Red Sox’s Remarkable Revival Deserves A Look Back After Painful Yankees Exit (NESN). Looks back at the 2026 Red Sox season, highlighting their 55-29 turnaround after June 24, a 15-game winning streak tying a 1946 franchise record, manager Chad Tracy’s permanent hiring, and key contributions from Sonny Gray and Wilyer Abreu, while noting the impact of Roman Anthony’s injury and the Wild Card Series loss to the Yankees.
• Problems were myriad, but early hooks by new manager Chad Tracy were among major Red Sox missteps (Boston Globe $$$). Argues that first-year Red Sox manager Chad Tracy made poor in-game decisions by removing starters Sonny Gray and Payton Tolle too early in both games of the AL Wild Card Series, relying on analytics and leading to a 18-2 series loss.
• Yankees humiliate, eliminate Red Sox in Wild Card for second straight year (Boston Herald $$$). Notes the 2026 Red Sox's Wild Card elimination by the Yankees, highlighting their offensive struggles, lack of home-run power, and poor managerial decisions, including pulling Sonny Gray early and using Garrett Crochet in his first game since April.
• What's Next for Red Sox After Playoff Loss vs. Yankees? Breaking Down Offseason Plan (NESN). Notes the Red Sox's need to improve offensively after an 87-win season ended in a playoff loss to the Yankees, highlighting free agents like Sonny Gray and Garrett Whitlock, and potential targets such as Seiya Suzuki and Brandon Lowe.

[southpaw777]

Overall 2026 was a pretty wild ride. Lots of lows, a couple months of highs, then back down again ending with a thorough dog walking by the NYY. Good times, bad times. We saw Tolle and Bennett take major steps forward and I’m excited to see them next season. Made some trades that didn’t help us down the line and depleted the farm system in doing so. I don’t mind trading most prospects, but they should be more balanced for what we’re getting back. Also made some decent moves that should help us moving forward. The draft was another solid one for Breslow.

for the season, overall it was a C  for me. Could have done better/more, but also did some good things moving forward. 

we have a pretty solid starting four as it stands right now. We just need a good middle/back rotation RHP like Gray this season, although he turned out to be our Ace this year. A well deserved paycheck. I like his competitiveness.
the bullpen is set at closer and we can fill in whatever is needed. No big deal there.

we NEED more 280-300BA guys in the lineup. We need more guys that can come through with men on base on a consistent basis. There’s too many streaky hitters in this lineup. Also, If we can find 30hr bat that would be dynamite too. 

I Like the Tracy extension overall. I really hope they realize that not trusting the horses you rode to the show once you got there was NOT the right way to go. Gray was 💯 right. They should have stuck with him and Tolle and TRUSTED them. Not saying they would have won, just saying it was painfully bad game planning to not let your top two starters go through the lineup again. They did it all season. 

this group of guys are good and likable and Tracy is a good manager. Overall I believe they can, and have to make the necessary adjustments and improvements in the lineup and in their game planning for the playoffs or it’ll just be the same thing we’ve seen the last two seasons. there will be a number of key names who’s contracts will be up after the 2027 season. A LOT of money off the books. 
itll be interesting to see if we even have a 2027 season…

ok, grab your golf clubs boys! on to the offseason!
 

[iortiz]

I think this is the worst PO Red Sox team I have ever seen, and is not even close. They weren't even competitive. It was a complete slaughter, massacre and humiliation. What an embarrassment. 

[mvp 78]

17 minutes ago, iortiz said:

I think this is the worst PO Red Sox team I have ever seen, and is not even close. They weren't even competitive. It was a complete slaughter, massacre and humiliation. What an embarrassment. 

How I'd rank other bad playoff teams: 

2009: Swept by the Angels

2005: Swept by the ChiSox

1990: Swept by the A's Part 2

1995: Swept by the Indians

2016: Swept by the Indians Again

1988: Swept by the A's Part 1

 

[drewski6]

41 minutes ago, iortiz said:

I think this is the worst PO Red Sox team I have ever seen, and is not even close. They weren't even competitive. It was a complete slaughter, massacre and humiliation. What an embarrassment. 

Worse than last year?

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

6 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Worse than last year?

I was thinking about that.  Last year I thought that was the worst lineup I've ever seen in a playoff game. Then I saw this year's team.   

[mvp 78]

24 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Worse than last year?

Last year they won a game and were very close to winning the series.

[drewski6]

8 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Last year they won a game and were very close to winning the series.

Prob the difference is Cora vs Tracy, lol.  Feels like this years team was more talented.

[drewski6]

Also didnt limp in with no momentum last year like we did this year.

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Prob the difference is Cora vs Tracy, lol.  Feels like this years team was more talented.

On paper, they were more talented. In September, they were far more injured and just struggling to get by. 

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

On paper, they were more talented. In September, they were far more injured and just struggling to get by. 

Theres something off.  Roman seems like he doesnt want to be there.  Contreras is talking s***, Gray is talking s***.  After the hot streak, the vibes were pretty bad.  I think that also contributed to us not being as potent as we should have been on paper.

Contreras keeps talking about how data and computers shouldnt make decisions, and Breslow might trade him too.  We dont feel like much of a "team"

[mvp 78]

I think Roman is frustrated with his health. 

Willson's hot/cold energy is frustrated with losing.

Gray is outta here. 

I think the push/pull with analytics is harder on the older players. As they phase out of the game, we'll probably stop hearing players complain about it as all the younger guys have been raised on it. 

[drewski6]

17 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I think Roman is frustrated with his health. 

Willson's hot/cold energy is frustrated with losing.

Gray is outta here. 

I think the push/pull with analytics is harder on the older players. As they phase out of the game, we'll probably stop hearing players complain about it as all the younger guys have been raised on it. 

Lot of negative energy, and I think if it was Sept 1, we would keep going how we've been going (bad vibes, no offense).  It doesnt feel like we are a team who only needs to make small tweaks, but it feels like we are a team who will only make small tweaks.
 

My fear is that they run back mostly the same positional group, and we have a bottom 10 offense again next year.  ANd I dont think many posters here even care.  Just as long as we stay sound defensively.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

If the FO had waited until the off-season, I seriously doubt Tracy would have been hired as manager. 

His mismanaging in the PO's neutralized whatever good he accomplished in the reg season. Tracy would have been Grady Littled.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

3 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

If the FO had waited until the off-season, I seriously doubt Tracy would have been hired as manager. 

His mismanaging in the PO's neutralized whatever good he accomplished in the reg season. Tracy would have been Grady Littled.

The way Tracy disrespected Gray I doubt Gray will be a Sox next season.

[drewski6]

4 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

If the FO had waited until the off-season, I seriously doubt Tracy would have been hired as manager. 

His mismanaging in the PO's neutralized whatever good he accomplished in the reg season. Tracy would have been Grady Littled.

I think Breslow feels vindicated by the idea of Tracy being a success.  If Tracy is over-credited, than that means that Breslow had the balls to get rid of Cora, and it makes him look good for making that swap....

[Randy Red Sox]

47 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I think Roman is frustrated with his health. 

Willson's hot/cold energy is frustrated with losing.

Gray is outta here. 

I think the push/pull with analytics is harder on the older players. As they phase out of the game, we'll probably stop hearing players complain about it as all the younger guys have been raised on it. 

what pitchers are rehabbing from TJ or similar Breslow can find to replace Gray who should have been extended mid season?

[Behindenemylines]

1 hour ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

The way Tracy disrespected Gray I doubt Gray will be a Sox next season.

Tracy pulled both Tolle and Gray way too early. By the end of the season the bullpen was a shell of itself. Both were close games until Tracy went to the middle innings pitchers. Injuries to Slaton and Guerrero, and Miller and his control issues did the middle innings pitchers in. He needed 6 plus innings from both of them and pulled them for lessor pitchers way too early.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

I think Roman is frustrated with his health. 

Willson's hot/cold energy is frustrated with losing.

Gray is outta here. 

I think the push/pull with analytics is harder on the older players. As they phase out of the game, we'll probably stop hearing players complain about it as all the younger guys have been raised on it. 

Sounds about right.

Before the last game, I thought Gray would want to come back. I'm not sure how long he holds a grudge, but the grudge was well founded. He only had 70 pitches, was on extra rest and had not been hit all that hard- other than the HR. No BBs.