vegasbob

This is probably not a popular theory but your opinions are welcome. It is premised on the surmise that the Red Sox would be hard pressed to prevail over Seattle or Houston in a 3 game away series. to advance to the ALDS Would the team , at all levels FO included, be better off furthering the fade and just miss the WC 3 or sneak in with a headfirst slide , only to get flushed asap in the WC round ? The first failure option could force an even harder look at players, Cora/coaches, and roster margins based on the ongoing disappointments . It could influence FA spending for yet another key hitter , probably 1B or DH. Or is it better to squeak in, play 2, maybe 3 games, then go home ? This would give the organization cover for moves/lack of moves in '25 and still declare it a huge success. I'm thinking Sam Kennedy here. You know deep down the Sox do not have , right now, the pitching nor lineup depth to compete for the championship level. A small feel good moment, get these guys the look and feel of playoff ball , vs the disappointment/failure motivation of just missing out ? Which choice would you put on the 2025 Red Sox ?

This game tonight with Crochet up on the mound is the most important . Sox need to win at least 4 of the 9 to be there on the last day. Crochet will get 2 shots at securing wins for them. Whether Giolito or Bello can do anything to contribute is a crapshoot. The BP has got to be weary of warming up in the third to come in with bases juiced in the 4th. Can any position player, including DH, actually work the round bat on the round ball in a productive manner ? We will se, just don't look back over the past 15 or so games. Until you are playing an elimination game, it is never a true must win, but I say tonight is as close as you can get without being on the lose and go home spot.

One of the things we see is that the Sox have developed a number of now experienced utility players, some with possible upside. Gonzalez, Sogard, Hamilton , Eaton, even Wong plus Refsnyder as a platoon OF'er all have certain skills, speeds , positional flexibility and situational usefulness. Yoshida is the opposite , given his limitations and failure to hit well in his shoulder recovery year. BUT, they are not the lineup core of a winning team. And the 26 man active roster only has room for 2 IF's, 1 catcher, 1 OF/1Bman . Plus you have Mayer ostensibly ready again in '26 , along with clown Casas. One of Breslow's challenges in the off season is how to take advantage of this lower depth to get a consistent solution at catcher and 1B . Do it Craig.

Lots of stones being thrown at Breslow and a few towards Cora for the team's seeming underperformance so far in September. Is it injuries or just players of low upside and minim al skills.? Or is it red Sox fate, karma , bad luck or the curse of the Devers ? Here's what is known: In games 11 and 10 (to go) the Sox started their #2 and #3 pitchers in key games, at Fenway ( home cooking/sleep in own bed) , against a team about 10 games below .500 and vs pitchers with upper mid level ERAs. Giolito and Bello pitched poorly, ineffectively, gave up runs early and turned it into BP games. Failures by 2 Non-injured, veterans in key moments . Cora and Breslow had little directly to do with those failures. The hitting lineup continued a team wide ( x-Story and Duran) slump. Cora pushed his buttons for PH'ers who also failed significantly . The current state of the WC chances are on the players at this time. Yes, Breslow should have divined better players but he's only human , not the Oracle of Delphi. My point---It is up to the 26 to determine if the are going to succeed in each individual, mano a mano interaction and win . Get after it, red Sox

With 11 and 10 games to go vs a marginal. A's team the Sox gave the ball to their version of #2 and #3 pitchers. who were NOT injured or recovering Both performed poorly. Did the pressure get to them ? Or was it just karma. chance , overdue ?? Then the lineup hitters failed against upper mid ERA opposing pitchers. Doesn't make me a Guardian rooter but does make me evaluate the players first and FO/ Cora a distant second.

A correct summary of what actually happened. Schiraldi and Stanley were the equivalent of Wilson and Weissert recently. But that was Game 6. Sox still had 27 outs to prevail and failed to do so.

It will ! It will end a season that had periods of hope and potential . Regrettably. the gas tank is dry. No excuses for Bello or Gio and now Bregman not showing up.

Another awful loss. Can't lose more than 9 more. so there's that

Narvaez has become an auto out

Lowe. Wong , and Hammie to save us in the 9th. Feeling better already. Seriously, another Fenway game with little hitting

Gonzo now 0-12 in crunch time. Bregman about as bad

Story, at least. doesn't quit but covers his run scoring error. Still down by 2 because it was a solo

It is a poor, weak performance all around but Bello led it and the hitters want to just go to TB for the sun

Rafaela finally hits a fair ball right into a DP.

A path forward in the playoffs looks like a pipe dream here. It may be better for them to miss with another September fade if it forces better off season actions. Reaching WC#3, losing 2x in Seattle or Houston will be an excuse to not address weak spots like backup catcher and 1B

Story with another routine grounder butchers the throw to give up a 2 out run. Pretty sad

.333 or 3-6 will be more likely based on the energy level observable in today's game. . Just not seeing anything to create some momentum. The last 9 outs have been very quiet.

Interesting note that Story can actually opt out after season end Combined with Bregman's opt out. and Mayer's lack of availability '26 could be a new set of issues

Tolle-road rolls them over

Dull and lifeless. Bello gone. like Gio. early in a key game. Did Abreu fail in his rehab at a key time?

And Wong is still a beer chaser

Lowe appears to be who he has become

Sox used to do those splits in recent years. Not now. however.

Routine groundball but Bregman can't bend low enough. Story tries to save it but throws away. Bello walks the world. gutless effort, when it counts. Another bullpen game coming

Sox hit bloops and bleeders and tweeners. Try a 3 run jack now.