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Charlie Hoke

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Blog Entries posted by Charlie Hoke

  1. Charlie Hoke
    How much does erstwhile Red Sox Alex Verdugo have left in the tank?
    He hasn't played since last summer in 2025. Despite signing a minor league with the Padres this spring, he has yet to play a minor league game.
    With a -0.3 (Wins above Replacement) WAR in 56 games with the Braves in 2025, Verdugo has declined from a 2.7 WAR high with the Red Sox in 2023.
    So will he get a chance to play on the Padres minor league jersey of the year winning team, the El Paso Chihuahuas or will he seek to play elsewhere?
     
     
  2. Charlie Hoke
    Top prospect, Roman Anthony, has been called up by the Red Sox to play in the show. How will he perform? Is he here to stay in the big leagues, or will he need more seasoning again in the minors?
    Will he stick for the whole season?
    Roman Anthony: Batting (2022-2025)
    Year Tm Lev G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB 2022 Salem A 10 43 37 2 7 2 0 0 5 0 0 5 4 .189 .279 .243 .522 9 2022 Red Sox Rk 10 40 35 5 15 2 0 0 7 1 0 4 4 .429 .475 .486 .961 17 2023 Portland AA 10 44 35 10 12 4 0 1 8 3 0 8 6 .343 .477 .543 1.020 19 2023 Greenville A+ 54 245 204 41 60 14 3 12 38 2 1 40 75 .294 .412 .569 .981 116 2023 Salem A 42 202 158 27 36 9 1 1 18 11 6 38 38 .228 .376 .316 .693 50 2024 Worcester AAA 35 164 131 33 45 12 1 3 20 5 2 31 31 .344 .463 .519 .982 68 2024 Portland AA 84 376 323 60 87 20 3 15 45 16 5 48 96 .269 .367 .489 .856 158 2025 Worcester AAA 58 265 212 45 61 9 2 10 29 3 3 51 56 .288 .423 .491 .913 104 Minors (4 seasons) Minors 303 1379 1135 223 323 72 10 42 170 41 17 225 310 .285 .402 .477 .879 541
    Just sit right back and hear a tale about two other top outfield prospects, for what might be in store for Roman Anthony. Both of these prospects were highly regarded center fielders with 5 tool ability, but it took 5 seasons for one to reach his potential, while the other is just entering his fifth MLB season. Players with five tool potential are the most complete position players with top tier abilities in these five areas:
    Hit for Average Hit for Power Speed Fielding Arm Strength and Accuracy The first is former Red Sox Brady Anderson. He was the top AL East Division prospect in 1988 and was the opening day center fielder and Boston lead-off hitter, starting in 41 of Boston’s first 49 games, but only hit .230 before being sent down to the Pawtucket AAA minor league team.
    In the heat of a pennant race in 1988, Boston traded Brady Anderson and Curt Schilling to the Baltimore Orioles for Mike Boddicker.This was a trade that the Red Sox would regret though not at first.

    From 1988-1991, Brady  Anderson set a record for playing more than 60 games in the field for 4 seasons straight while batting .231 or less, but broke out in 1992 with an All-Star 5.2 WAR season, leading the league in plate appearances as the Baltimore Orioles lead-off hitter, a role he held for the next 9 seasons, while becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs in one season,1996, and stealing 50 bases in another,1992.
    Anderson averaged 3.3 WAR/year, peaking at 6.9 WAR in 1996 with his 50 home run season, during which he became, at the time, only the second major leaguer after Willie Mays to have a 50 HR/20 SB season.
    Although Mike Boddicker helped bring two AL East Division titles in 1988 and 1990, and Curt Schilling, of course, returned to bring two World Series titles to the Red Sox in 2004 and 2007, the trading away of Brady Anderson lost the Red Sox an all-star center fielder and leadoff hitter.
    From 1992 to 2001, Brady Anderson was the Orioles lead-off hitter and centerfielder compiling these offensive numbers. We'll never know what he would have brought the Red Sox had he not been traded.
    Brady Anderson: Batting (1992-2001)                         Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 1992-2001 28-37 BAL 33.2 1410 6363 5338 919 1411 292 56 199 668 258 83 807 957 .264 .372 .452 .824 116 .374 117 Avg per Season 3.3 141 636 534 92 141 29 6 20 67 26 8 81 96               Avg per 162 Games 3.8 162 731 613 106 162 34 6 23 77 30 10 93 110              
    In 2025, Jarred Kelenic, the other former prospect, is in his fifth year. Originally with the Mets, Kelenic was part of the 2018 trade between the Mets and the Mariners for veterans Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cano.
    In 4 years, Kelenic has shown some major league ability but not enough. He has averaged 95 games/year over the past four seasons with the Seattle Mariners and Atlanta Braves.

    Kelenic almost matched Brady Anderson’s record of 4 years of a .231 or lower average while playing over 60 games in the field. In his 2nd season, he played only 50 games in the field, and in his 3rd season, he hit .253.
    However, Kelenic was optioned to the minor leagues on April 28, 2025, potentially derailing his major league career.
    Below are their stats for their first four years. 
    Brady Anderson took 5 years to mature to become a solid offensive threat. Jarred Kelenic may yet still. 
    So do you think Roman Anthony will be more like Jarred Kelenic or Brady Anderson?
    Brady Anderson: Batting (1988-1991)                         Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 1988-1991 24-27 BAL,BOS 2 390 1273 1081 139 237 42 11 10 88 53 17 135 210 .219 .313 .306 .619 77 .300 76 Avg per Season 0.5 98 318 270 35 59 11 3 3 22 13 4 34 53               Avg per 162 Games 0.8 162 529 449 58 98 17 5 4 37 22 7 56 87                                                               Jarred Kelenic: Batting (2021-2024)                           Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 2021-2024 21-24 ATL,SEA 0.7 383 1423 1284 154 273 61 6 47 154 31 13 125 432 .213 .284 .379 .663 86 .292 85 Avg per Season 0.2 96 356 321 39 68 15 2 12 39 8 3 31 108               Avg per 162 Games 0.3 162 602 543 65 115 26 3 20 65 13 5 53 183              
  3. Charlie Hoke
    Under current MLB labor bargaining rules, teams generally have control of players until a player has accrued more than 6 years of MLB service. This ensures that teams have a reasonable amount of time to benefit from developing a player in their organization. Players who excel can enter arbitration after 3 years and sometimes after two years if they qualify under the "Super Two" rule of being in the top 22% of service time. 
    Arbitration can be an adversarial process where the player submits a salary offer versus a team offer, where both sides have the incentive to promote in the player's case or discount in the team's case, a player's performance. Bad feelings incurred during arbitration often linger and affect future relationships.  To avoid potentially contentious arbitration, often teams will lock up players with contracts earlier to buy out arbitration years and even some free agent years in advance. This has the benefit of the team securing a player whose rising performance may command a higher salary. Conversely this gives players earlier security for their playing career.
    The Red Sox have signed Roman Anthony, Brayan Bello, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Garrett Whitlock to long term contracts avoiding arbitration. Garrett Crochet, who was arbitration eligible has also been locked up. Several free agent years being bought out, 4 for Roman Anthony (through 2030), 3 for Ceddanne Rafaela (through 2032) and one for Garrett Crochet (through 2032). 
    With the core locked up for the near future, will the Red Sox be able to leverage this to post-season success?
  4. Charlie Hoke
    Who holds the single season record for RBIs for a shortstop? You may think it would be held by a Hall of Famer like Honus Wagner, Ernie Banks or Cal Ripken, or a recent retired star like Alex Rodriguez, Miguel Tejada, or Derek Jeter, but no, the record is held by Red Sox Vern Stephens and was set in 1949.
    That year, batting behind Ted Williams, Vern Stephens had 159 RBIs and it was the first of two consecutive years when Stephens tied for the league lead in RBIs. This RBI total was the highest in the major leagues for 50 years until Manny Ramirez surpassed it with 165 in 1999.
    From 1948 to 1949, Vern Stephens had three of highest RBI single season MLB totals for a shortstop. Only one other shortstop, Alex Rodriguez, has 3 seasons in the top ten and Alex was aided by the 162-game schedule. 
    Vern Stephens started his MLB career with the St Louis Browns, leading the league in RBIs in 1944 and the Browns to the pennant that year.  However, he would add more offensive and defensive accomplishments with the Red Sox.
    Top Single Season RBI totals by Shortstops


    A consistent offensive performer Vern played good defense as well, leading the league in assists 1947-1949, double plays in 1949 and fielding percentage in 1945. His advanced metrics also show that he was one of the top players at the time, with 6 seasons in the top 10 for both offensive and defensive WAR.
    Traded to the Red Sox before the 1948 season, Vern played 5 years for the Red Sox where he was paired with Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr, but the Sox could not do better than 2nd place twice during his time falling short by a single game in 1948 and 1949.
    Vern's production tailed off after he turned 30, finishing his career with stints with the St Louis Browns, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox. At 35 he was out of major league baseball and at the age of 48 he died of a heart attack.
    Based on Similarity Scores | Baseball-Reference.com, Vern's top 5 comparable players include 3 Hall of Famers and one not yet eligible to be elected as of 2025.
    Similar Batters to Vern Stephens 
    Bobby Doerr (890.7) Hall of Fame Tony Lazzeri (888.2) Hall of Fame Bret Boone (887.5) Chase Utley (879.2) Not yet Eligible as of 2025 Joe Gordon (870.1) Hall of Fame  
    Yrs WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+   Vern Stephens (1941-1955)                               15 Yrs 46.3 1720 6497 1001 1859 307 42 247 1174 25 22 692 685 .286 .355 .460 .815 119 .379 119   Bobby Doerr (1937-1951) (HOF)                               14 Yrs 51.3 1865 7093 1094 2042 381 89 223 1247 54 64 809 608 .288 .362 .461 .823 115 .377 116   Tony Lazzeri (1926-1939) (HOF)                               14 Yrs 47.6 1740 6297 986 1840 334 115 178 1194 148 82 869 864 .292 .380 .467 .846 121 .383 121   Brett Boone (1992-2005)                                 14 Yrs 22.8 1780 6683 927 1775 366 28 252 1021 94 53 552 1295 .266 .325 .442 .767 101 .342 101   Chase Utley (2013-2018) (Not yet eligible)                           16 Yrs 64.6 1937 6857 1103 1885 411 58 259 1025 154 22 724 1193 .275 .358 .465 .823 117 .368 120   Joe Gordon (1938-1950) (HOF)                               11 Yrs 55.6 1566 5707 914 1530 264 52 253 975 89 60 759 702 .268 .357 .466 .822 120 .372 118 Bill James, the famous baseball historian and analyst, had stated in his 1994 book, Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame?, that the Hall of Fame may have erred by inducting only one half of the Yankees double play combination when the voters only elected shortstop Phil Rizzuto, but not second baseman Joe Gordon, and similarly for the Red Sox, when only second baseman Bobby Doerr was elected, but not shortstop Vern Stephens.. Likewise with the 2017 election of Tiger's shortstop Alan Trammell to the Hall of Fame, his infield teammate second baseman Lou Whitaker has also been neglected.
    Although on the one and only Pre-1943 Veterans Committee Baseball ballot in 2009, Stephens has not been considered since. On that same ballot in 2009, Joe Gordon was elected to the Hall of Fame to join his Yankee teammate Phil Rizzuto.
    Is it now time to consider Vern Stephens again for election to the Hall of Fame?
     
     
  5. Charlie Hoke
    Missing out getting free agents Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber may be disappointing at first but a long-term saving grace for the Red Sox.
    Pete Alonso opted out of a 2-year $54 million contract with the Mets to sign a 5-year $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles as he enters his age 31 year.
    Entering free agency, Kyle Schwarber elected to stay with the Phillies on a 5-year $150 million contract entering his age 33 year.
    From Baseball-Reference.com, the most similar player to Pete Alonso is Khris Davis.
    Here are their stats through their age 30 seasons.
    Khris Davis: Standard Batting (2013-2018)
                                      Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 2013-2018 25-30 MIL,OAK 11.7 775 3058 2726 425 676 143 8 193 497 18 5 261 814 .248 .320 .519 .839 126 .362 128 1414 81 per Season 25-30 MIL,OAK 1.9 129 510 454 71 113 24 1 32 83 3 1 44 136 .248 .320 .519 .839 126 .362 128 236 14 per 162 gms 25-30 MIL,OAK 2.4 162 639 570 89 141 30 2 40 104 4 1 55 170 .248 .320 .519 .839 126 .362 128 296 17 Pete Alonso: Standard Batting (2019-2025)
                                      Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 2019-2025 24-30 NYM 23.3 1008 4316 3763 580 951 183 8 264 712 18 4 419 984 .253 .341 .516 .857 135 .367 135 1942 108 per Season 24-30 NYM 3.3 144 617 538 83 136 26 1 38 102 3 1 60 141 .253 .341 .516 .857 135 .367 135 277 15 per 162 gms 24-30 NYM 3.7 162 694 605 93 153 29 1 42 114 3 1 67 158 .253 .341 .516 .857 135 .367 135 312 17 From Age 31 onwards, Khris Davis only lasted three more years and hit only 28 more home runs.
    Khris Davis: Standard Batting (2019-2021)
                                      Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 2019-2021 31-33 OAK,TEX -0.9 205 746 668 81 144 21 1 28 93 0 0 67 203 .216 .291 .376 .667 81 .293 82 251 18 per Season 31-33 OAK,TEX -0.3 68 249 223 27 48 7 0 9 31 0 0 22 68 .216 .291 .376 .667 81 .293 82 84 6 per 162 gms 31-33 OAK,TEX -0.7 162 590 528 64 114 17 1 22 74 0 0 53 160 .216 .291 .376 .667 81 .293 82 198 14 Another cautionary tale for the Orioles might be their own Chris Davis who played from 2008 to 2020 and hit 241 home runs through his age 30 season and only 54 afterwards How will Pete Alonso perform through his contract through his age 35 season?
    Kyle Schwarber entering his age 33 season has a career similar to Dave Kingman who was most known also for his home run power and low average. 
    Dave Kingman: Standard Batting (1971-1981)
                                    Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 1971-1981 22-32 CAL,CHC,NYM,NYY,SDP,SFG 16.1 1243 4666 4192 592 1011 166 23 292 779 71 42 388 1244 .241 .308 .501 .809 122 .367 121 2099 86 per Season 22-32 CAL,CHC,NYM,NYY,SDP,SFG 1.5 113 424 381 54 92 15 2 27 71 7 4 35 113 .241 .308 .501 .809 122 .367 121 191 8 per 162 gms 22-32 CAL,CHC,NYM,NYY,SDP,SFG 2.1 162 608 546 77 132 22 3 38 102 9 6 51 162 .241 .308 .501 .809 122 .367 121 274 11                                                   Kyle Schwarber: Standard Batting (2015-2025)
                                    Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 2015-2025 22-32 BOS,CHC,PHI,WSN 19.9 1291 5384 4544 800 1050 175 14 340 784 37 19 764 1527 .231 .346 .500 .846 127 .363 126 2273 53 per Season 22-32 BOS,CHC,PHI,WSN 1.8 117 490 413 73 96 16 1 31 71 3 2 70 139 .231 .346 .500 .846 127 .363 126 207 5 per 162 gms 22-32 BOS,CHC,PHI,WSN 2.5 162 676 570 100 132 22 2 43 98 5 2 96 192 .231 .346 .500 .846 127 .363 126 285 7 Dave Kingman played for 5 more years ending his career with 442 home runs.
    Dave Kingman: Standard Batting (1982-1986)
                              Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 1982-1986 33-37 NYM,OAK 1.3 698 2763 2485 309 564 74 2 150 431 14 7 220 572 .227 .290 .439 .730 104 .330 102 1092 53 per Season 33-37 NYM,OAK 0.3 140 553 497 62 113 15 0 30 86 3 1 44 114 .227 .290 .439 .730 104 .330 102 218 11 per 162 gms 33-37 NYM,OAK 0.3 162 641 577 72 131 17 1 35 100 3 2 51 133 .227 .290 .439 .730 104 .330 102 253 12                                                                                                       The Phillies also have the precedence of signing another powerful slugger, Ryan Howard to a 5-year extension for $125 million after his age 31 season.. Here's his performance through his age 32 season with 300 home runs. After age 32, Howard only hit 82 home runs in the final three years of his contract.
    Ryan Howard: Standard Batting (2004-2012)                                 Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 2004-2012 24-32 PHI 18.3 1098 4701 4054 661 1100 200 17 300 920 12 4 565 1306 .271 .364 .551 .915 135 .388 133 2234 82 per Season 24-32 PHI 2 122 522 450 73 122 22 2 33 102 1 0 63 145 .271 .364 .551 .915 135 .388 133 248 9 per 162 gms 24-32 PHI 2.7 162 694 598 98 162 30 3 44 136 2 1 83 193 .271 .364 .551 .915 135 .388 133 330 12                                                   With an average value of $30 to $31 million per year for a 1st baseman and designated hitter, the Orioles and Phillies are paying premium prices for two positions low on the defensive spectrum and where careers go to end. The home run hitting skills of Alonso and Schwarber are among the most perishable of skills with age.
    Combined with their historically low batting averages and high strikeout rates, it is unclear that both will continue to produce at high levels for the rest of their contracts.
    Long term contracts tend to become big liabilities in their later years as performance declines as it inevitably will with age.
    Even thought these contracts appear to have secured Alonso and Schwarber for the Orioles and Phillies for the next five years, this may not prevent the players from being moved as circumstances change. Schwarber will vest in his 10 and 5 rights[1] after this season in 2026 and gain full veto rights over trades, and Pete Alonso has a limited no-trade clause which may limit the Orioles and Phillies ability to move these players elsewhere.
    Losing out on these two players especially with their trade protections basically is probably a burden the Red Sox are glad to have avoided. What do you think?
    [1] https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/10-and-5-rights
  6. Charlie Hoke
    How will a future expansion an realignment with 32  MLB impact the Red Sox?
    Two new teams bringing the total to 32 teams aligned in 8 divisions of four in two leagues will allow 4 division winners and 3 wild cards to play in the post-season.
    This is an increase of one additional playoff team from the current 3 divisions of 5 teams anointing one division winner and 3 wild cards in the current structure.
    The Red Sox would likely be in a division with the Yankees, but the 2 other teams would be chosen among the Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Tampa Bay Rays. 
    With 32 teams, a proposed schedule could be this.
      Current Proposed Division Games 13  x 4  = 52  14 x 3  = 42 League Games 6  x  6,  7 x 4  = 64 6  x 12 = 72 Inter-League Games 3  x  14, 4 x 1= 46 3  x 16 = 48   162 games 162 games # of Games x Opponents
    This structure will emulate the NFL structure with the top seeded division winner getting a 1st round bye and with three rounds of playoffs before the World Series.
    Should they stick with the current AL league structure or move to a more geographic league independent structure?
    AL Orientation Geographical Rivals Mixed Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Yankees Yankees Yankees Yankees Orioles Phillies Mets Orioles Tampa Bay Nationals Phillies Nationals So who would you want to be in the division with the Red Sox?
  7. Charlie Hoke

    Keeping the Playoff Window Open

    By Charlie Hoke,


    Great Sox
    Returning to the post season for the first time since 2021, the 2025 Sox ended the year losing the American League Wild Card Series to the Yankees. Is the playoff window still opening?
    With a strong base of young players: Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Garrett Crochet, Carlos Narvaez, Brayan Bello, Kristian Campbell, the Sox are well positioned for the future, but veteran talent is thin with only Trevor Story, Jarred Duran, Lucas Giolito,  Masataka Yoshida and Aroldis Chapman producing at high levels.
    Winning teams often blend veterans and youngsters to produce a sum greater than the whole. Finding that balance is critical to success and there is no sure formula to win the World Series.
    For 2026, the Red Sox will likely seek the quick fix of trading or signing free agents to get what they need which are corner infielders and starting pitchers. 
    In previous championship years, the Red Sox were able to assemble winning rosters most judiciously through trades and free agency, but also from the emergence of prospects.
    2004 started off with a trade for Curt Schilling and was bookend-ed by the trading away of Nomar Garciaparra for Orlando Cabrera from the Montreal Expos and Doug Mientkiewicz from the Minnesota Twins.
    2007's foundation was set with Dustin Pedroia's rookie year and by the 2005 trade for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell from the Florida Marlins primarily for prospect Hanley Ramirez. 
    2013 was set up by pre-season signing of Shane Victorino and Mike Napoli which solidified right field and 1st base and combined with the full maturation of Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury,
    2018 featured the full blooming of Xander Boegerts, Rafael Devers, Mookie Betts bolstered by the free agent signing of J.D. Martinez and earlier trades for David Price, Rick Porcello, and Chris Sale in prior years.
    What will the Sox do to keep the playoff window open for years to come?
  8. Charlie Hoke
    Small decisions had big impacts in the 2025 World Series. What if one choice had gone the other way?
    Hobbling from a late regular season knee injury, Bo Bichette played gamely throughout the Series for Toronto and was pinch ran for late in games and often replaced by Isiah Kiner-Falefah, a former gold glover for base running and defensive ability.
    In the third inning of Game 7, Bo Bichette hit a 3-run homer off of Shohei Ohtani to give Toronto an early lead.
    In the final inning of Game 7, down by one run and after Vladimir Guerrero's leadoff double, Bo Bichette would have been up, but instead Isiah was the batter, having pinch run for Bichette in the bottom on the 9th with the score tied.
    The bat was taken out of Isiah's hands as he was asked to bunt Guerrero over to third, using up the Blue Jay's 25th out, and successfully moving the tying run to 3rd.
    This is a move that many teams make as getting a runner in to score from 3rd base with less than 2 outs is a percentage play. However late in a game, this sacrificed one of Toronto's remaining 3 outs in the game.,
    The bunt was successful, but the Dodgers set up for a double play with a walk to the next batter.
    Had Bichette stayed in the game, would he had changed the Blue Jay's decision to bunt in that circumstance?
    Bichette was hitting .348 with 6 RBIs in the World Series and was the league leading hitter at .381 with runners in scoring position and 94 RBIs during the regular season.
    Would the Dodgers have pitched to him or walked him and put the potential winning run on base in the bottom of the 11th inning with a 1-run lead?
    When last on base, Bichette was the potential winning run, but his slowed running ability meant he was only able to move station to station or one base at a time and might not be able to score easily. Since it was the bottom of the 9th with the score tied, Toronto was playing to win and elected to pinch-run with a nimbler runner, but lesser batter, Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
    Was that potential winning run worth worsening Toronto's hitting lineup if he did not score and the game continued?
     
     
  9. Charlie Hoke

    The pressure of being a star

    By Charlie Hoke,


    Great Sox
    When you're the perennial All-Star and lauded as the team's superstar, you may feel you need to do it all.
    October 2, 1978, down by a run in the tiebreaker game to see who would go on to the ALCS, the Red Sox had two men on with Carl Yastrzemski at the plate [1] with 2 outs facing Rich Gossage.
    Gossage's first pitch was low for the ball. The second pitch was popped up as Yaz could not hold up his swing and Yankees 3rd Baseman Graig Nettles caught the box for the final out. Left on deck was catcher Carlton Fisk. With Gossage having already pitched 2 1/3 innings, should Yaz have waited to take another pitch and try and get on base and let someone else be the hero?
    October 20, 2025, down by a run, the Mariners are down to their last out against Toronto and All-Star center fielder Julio Rodriguez is at the plate against Toronto closer Jeff Hoffman.
     
     
    On a full count, Rodriguez swings and misses on a low and outside pitch to end the game while catcher Cal Raleigh on deck. [2] Would it better serve the team to take the walk and let Cal Raleigh, who hit 60 home runs during the regular season have a shot?
    Often, a player particularly a superstar wants to make an impact and try and do it all, but baseball is a team sport and while one player can dominate a game, you win as a team.
     
    [1] YAZ SIR, GOOSE WAS YANK HERO
    [2] Julio Rodriguez's awful final AB will haunt the Mariners all offseason
  10. Charlie Hoke
    Do you put the go-ahead run on base and walk a dangerous hitter to load the bases or do you pitch to him?
    In game 7 of the 2025 ALCS, the Mariners with a two-run lead, faced a decision with 1 out, runners on 2nd and 3rd and George Springer at the plate. 
    With 22 previous post-season home runs and 2 more during the 2025 ALCS, Springer a right handed hitter was facing Eduard Bazardo who had not lost a game for the Mariners all season,, yet Bazardo had thrown 15 pitches over 2 innings the day before.
    With lefty Nathan Lukes on deck for Toronto, Bazardo would be disadvantaged facing Lukes had he intentionally walked Springer.
    Because of the three batter minimum rule[1], a lefty reliever could not have been brought into face Lukes after Bazardo had entered the game.
    Earlier in MLB history, a new pitcher could be inserted and face a single batter maximizing the lefty/lefty or righty/righty matchups, but since 2020, the three batter minimum requires relievers to stay in longer,
    With that in mind, the decision to matchup righty/righty and not put the winning run on base over-rode the fear of facing the dangerous hitter.
    In matchup between batter and pitcher, one will win, and in this case, the batter triumphed with George Springer hitting a go-ahead 3-run homer to give Toronto a lead they would not relinquish and the AL pennant. 
    Would you have chosen differently?
    [1] MLB's Three Batter Minimum Rule
     
  11. Charlie Hoke
    Eduard Bazardo, one of 4 remaining ex-Sox players and the only pitcher on still contending teams, will have a chance to play in the 2025 World Series. He plays a vital role for the 2025 Seattle Mariners coming out of the bullpen to preserve leads [1]. 
    Signed as an international free agent in 2014 at the age of 19, Bazardo steadily rose through the minor leagues peaking as the 19th best prospect on the Sox and appeared poised to join the Sox in the majors but a lat injury on May 19, 2021 landed him on the 60-day disabled list. Coming back in 2022, Bazardo pitched in 12 games, posting an ERA of 2.76 over 16 1/3 innings, but elected for free agency after the season.
    After a brief stint in Baltimore, Bazardo was acquired by the Mariners in 2023 and split time in the minors and majors in 2024, before becoming a mainstay in the Mariners' bullpen. He led the Mariners relievers in innings pitched at 78 2/3 and recorded 12 holds.
    The change of scenery gave Bazardo that chance to hone his craft and now has him poised on the cusp of a World Series.
    [1] How the Mariners found Eduard Bazardo and turned him into a bullpen force | The Seattle Times
  12. Charlie Hoke
    When is the right time to take a starting pitcher out of the game? Who earns the right to stay in a game?
    In the current game, it is rare for a starter to complete a game. With the availability of bullpen specialists and detailed metrics analysis on pitch counts, platoon advantages, and individual matchups, managers now opt to bring in a reliever for a starter before a starter is ready to leave.
    In game 4 of the 2025 ALCS playoffs, veteran Max Scherzer all but chased his manager back to the dugout in the 5th inning with a verbal drubbing. [1] Scherzer, the winner of two World Series titles and 3 Cy Young awards had earned his right to choose his own exit and finished the inning and got 2 more outs in the 6th before leaving and winning the pivotal game 4 of the ALCS.
    It's been said it's better to take someone out too early then too late. In this case the Blue Jays succeeded by letting Max Scherzer finish the 5th inning and continue on to the 6th. With a 4-run lead and Scherzer's pedigree, it wasn't too much of risk.
    In the past the Red Sox have waited too long with a starter and it cost them. 
    In 2003, in the 7th and final game of the ALCS against the Yankees, Pedro Martinez had a 3-run lead on the Yankees but left in to start the 8th inning and gave up 3 runs before being removed, with the Red Sox ultimately losing in 11 innings. [2]
    When do you think is the right time to remove a starter?
    l1] 'I Thought He Was Gonna Kill Me': Blue Jays Manager John Schneider on Mound Visit With Max Scherzer
    [2] 2003 American League Championship Series (ALCS) Game 7, Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees: October 16, 2003 | Baseball-Reference.com
  13. Charlie Hoke

    Let the Rookie win

    By Charlie Hoke,


    MLB
    Rookies have made an impact in the post season for both good and bad. Is it wise to trust a rookie during the Playoffs and World Series?
    Of the remaining 2025 Playoff teams, there are 3 rookies on the Brewers, 1 on Toronto and 1 on the Dodgers.
    Milwaukee Brewers
    Issac Collins, OF
    Caleb Durbin, 3B
    Jacob Misiorowski, RP
    Los Angeles Dodgers
    Rori Sasaki, RP
    Toronto Blue Jays
    Trey Yesavage, SP
    In Game 2 of the ALCS, Trey Yesavage started and pitched until the 5th inning only giving up 3 runs before he was lifted with 2 men on in a tie game. The bullpen subsequently gave up the lead pinning Yesavage with the loss. Will he get another chance if the series goes further?
    In Game 1 of the NLCS, Both Issac Collins and Caleb Durbin were starters with Issac Collins scoring the only Brewers run off of Dodgers reliever, Rory Sasaki, who had previously saved 2 games in the NLDS. The Dodgers went to the bullpen with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning and were able to close it out for Sasaki.
    Will the rookies continue to shine on the biggest stage or will more veteran experience be more telling?
  14. Charlie Hoke

    The 4 Out Save

    By Charlie Hoke,


    MLB
    In the first games of the 2025 Wild Card Series, two winning teams had their closers pitch multiple innings and it paid off. Most managers are reluctant to use their closers for more than one inning for fear of injury, overuse, or some other reason that belies the optimal strategy of using your best closer in the most highly leveraged situations.
    In Game 1 between the Red Sox and the Yankees, Aroldis Chapman came in the bottom of the 8th inning with a one run lead and the tying run at first to face the Yankees #9 hitter, José Caballero, and despite balking the runner to 2nd, gets Caballero to fly out. 
    In the top of the 9th, Alex Bregman drives in an insurance run to make it a 2-run lead before the Yankees get their final at bats.
    Staying in the game for the 9th inning, Chapman made it even more exciting by giving up three straight singles to load the bases with no outs.
    In his only multi-inning appearance during the regular season, Aroldis Chapman came in the 7th inning against the Phillies on July 23, 2025, holding a one run lead getting the last out but then giving up a game tying home run in the 8th inning, a game which the Sox would win in 11.
    However, despite spotting the Yankees 3 base runners, Aroldis Chapman strikes out Giancarlo Stanton swinging, gets Jazz Chisholm on a flyball and then Trent Grisham on a swinging strikeout and the Sox take a 1 game lead in the Wild Card and a save goes in the books for Chapman,
    Likewise in Game 1 between the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians, Tigers closer Will Vest came into the game with 2 outs in the 8th inning to successfully save the lead in a 1 run game. This was not an unfamiliar situation for Vest who had 16 multi-inning appearances and 3 multi-inning saves during the regular season.
    Currently, the closer pitches only in the final inning of a close game to nail down a victory, however, simply using a closer with such strict consistency is not the best strategy.
    In the past, relievers often went multiple innings and the multi-inning save was more common. 
    In yesterday's two wild card games, the closer game in early to deal with the potential tying run on base already. Aroldis Chapman faced the #9 hitter and Will Vest faced the #2 hitter in their respective opponent's lineups. Getting the out here was crucial to holding the lead. With the top of order and heart of the orders coming up, Chapman and Vest would face the best batters of the Yankees and Indians.
    In both cases, the win probability for the Yankees and Indians edged up to 23% and 26% in the bottom of the 8th and managers Alex Cora for the Red Sox and AJ Hinch for the Tigers made the call to the bullpen for their closer to take the mound for an early entrance and it paid out with victories.
    Will more closers be used earlier and to get more than 3 outs to nail down games?
     
  15. Charlie Hoke
    Mookie Betts and Kyle Schwarber, two ex-Red Sox, face off in the 2025 National League Division Series. Would the Sox have been better off keeping them instead of letting both go?
    Mookie Betts was traded away before the 2020 season for Jeter Downs, Alex Verdugo, and Connor Wong. Of the three, only Connor Wong remains now as a Red Sox, playing catcher. Betts had turned down a $300 million extension from the Red Sox resulting in his trade before his final contract year with the Red Sox. The Dodgers subsequently signed him to a 12 year extension for close to $400 million.
    Kyle Schwarber played part of 2021 and left after the season as a free agent, signing a 4-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, a contract that finishes this year.
    Mookie since leaving the Red Sox has won two World Series and had 6 consecutive post-seasons with the Dodgers.
    Schwarber has led the Phillies to 4 consecutive post-seasons and one World Series after leaving the Red Sox.
    Would the Red Sox have gotten to the playoffs in the past few seasons had those two elite top of the order players remained?
  16. Charlie Hoke
    History suggests that managers in the first full season with a team have a good chance of winning the World Series.
    In Red Sox history, the following first year managers all won World Series in their first full season with the team:
    Jake Stahl (1912)
    Ed Barrow (1918)
    Terry Francona (2004)
    John Farrell (2012)
    Alex Cora (2018)
    Honorable mentions should go to Dick Williams who led the Red Sox to the 1967 pennant in his rookie manager season and to Joe "Walpole Joe" Morgan, who won two American League East Titles in his 1st and 3rd years as manager.
    "There can be only one."
    - Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez (Highlander)
    Only one remaining playoff team in the 2025 Division Series has a manager in his first full season:
    Dan Wilson, Seattle Mariners, 90-72 record and the #2 seed in the American League. 
    Will Dan Wilson's first full year as manager bring Seattle its first World Series championship?
  17. Charlie Hoke

    The Boston/New York Express

    By Charlie Hoke,


    Great Sox
    Players moving between the Red Sox and the Yankees has been as common and frequent as the express air shuttle between the two cities.
    Of the 251 players who played for both teams, here’s some of the most significant switches. Which team has come out ahead?
    2024: The Cuban Missile Soars!
    Signing Aroldis Chapman as a free agent is one of the more prescient moves by the Sox. A closer who has won two World Series and having played 7 seasons with the Yankees, at the age of 37, Aroldis Chapman is on the verge of setting the Red Sox record for the lowest ERA for a reliever. With a history of acquiring closers, Boston has secured Chapman's services for 2026 and will have an option for 2027 as well.

     
    2024: A starting catcher as last
    Carlos Narváez was traded for Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz in December, 2024 and has become the Red Sox starting catcher has played stellar defense and has also hit 11 home runs through August 24, 2025, while Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz has rapidly ascended from A to AA in the minor leagues with stellar performance.

    Year Tm Lg Lev Aff W L ERA RA9 G GS IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO WHIP H9 HR9 BB9 SO9 SO/W 2022 2 Teams 2 Lgs Rk-A BOS 0 3 1.88 3.52 13 10 38.1 31 15 8 0 15 0 42 1.20 7.3 0 3.5 9.9 2.8 2022 Salem CARL A BOS 0 0 1.50 1.50 2 2 6.0 3 1 1 0 3 0 6 1.00 4.5 0 4.5 9 2.0 2022 Red Sox FCL Rk BOS 0 3 1.95 3.90 11 8 32.1 28 14 7 0 12 0 36 1.24 7.8 0 3.3 10 3.0 2023 Salem CARL A BOS 6 3 2.60 4.07 14 14 55.1 43 25 16 4 27 0 51 1.27 7 0.7 4.4 8.3 1.9 2024 2 Teams 2 Lgs A-A+ BOS 5 5 2.91 3.91 21 20 89.2 65 39 29 5 43 0 102 1.20 6.5 0.5 4.3 10.2 2.4 2024 Greenville SALL A+ BOS 2 1 3.77 4.08 7 7 28.2 18 13 12 4 18 0 29 1.26 5.7 1.3 5.7 9.1 1.6 2024 Salem CARL A BOS 3 4 2.51 3.84 14 13 61.0 47 26 17 1 25 0 73 1.18 6.9 0.1 3.7 10.8 2.9 2025 2 Teams 2 Lgs A+-AA NYY 9 6 2.28 2.92 22 21 126.1 85 41 32 3 50 0 146 1.07 6.1 0.2 3.6 10.4 2.9 2025 Somerset EL AA NYY 3 2 2.32 2.95 7 7 42.2 33 14 11 2 13 0 47 1.08 7 0.4 2.7 9.9 3.6 2025 Hudson Valley SALL A+ NYY 6 4 2.26 2.90 15 14 83.2 52 27 21 1 37 0 99 1.06 5.6 0.1 4 10.6 2.7 All Levels (4 Seasons)       20 17 2.47 3.49 70 65 309.2 224 120 85 12 135 0 341 1.16 6.5 0.3 3.9 9.9 2.5 Stats for Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz from Baseball-reference.com through August 26, 2025
     
    2024: Alex Verdugo cut loose three years in a row
    Signed for 5 years, Alex Verdugo was traded to the Yankees after year 4 for 3 players:  Nicholas Judice, Richard Fitts and Greg Weissert.  Despite getting to the 2024 World Series with the Yankees, Verdugo was again allowed to leave as a free agent, signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves, was called up in April, but released in July, 2005. Will his trifecta of new teams be the end or will a fourth team take a chance on him?

     
    2013: 7 phat years followed by 7 lean ones
    7 productive years with the Red Sox and two World Championships for Jacoby Ellsbury attracted the Yankees who outbid the Red Sox with a 7-year contract with an 8th year option. However, Jacoby's production was leaner during his Yankee years and saw Jacoby released before his contract was up.

     
    2006: The Caveman shaves
    After 4 years and 1 World Series win, Johnny Damon heads to New York, shaves his beard to abide by the Yankees’ grooming code, and plays for four more years and one more championship, missing one other Red Sox championship during that time.

     
    1996: The Rocket lifts off
    After 192 wins, 3 20+ win seasons, and 3 Cy Young Awards, Roger Clemens left as a free agent in 1996 as Boston management believed he was in the "twilight" of his career. Signing with Toronto, Clemens won the Cy Young award in back-to-back seasons before being traded to Yankees.
    Two World Series championships, another 20-game winning season, three other World Series appearances, one with his hometown Astros, and two more Cy Young awards, 7 total, the most all-time, rounded out Clemens' career. 

     
    1996: Mike Stanton fortifies the pen
    After 1.5 seasons with the Red Sox, Mike Stanton was traded to the Rangers and then signed with the Yankees starting a streak of 6 years in the post season and 3 World Series championships. A 19-year career showed that a talented lefthander is always in demand.

     
    1993: Chicken Dinners in New York
    A 5-time AL batting champ with the Red Sox, Wade Boggs had a .369 career average in Fenway, the highest all-time, but after his 1st sub-.300 season in 1992, Wade Boggs was not re-signed and entered free agency. Boggs left Boston and joined the Yankees, winning two World Series, and then played his final two seasons in Tampa Bay, collecting his 3,000th hit. Wade Boggs was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2005.

     
    1986: The Hit Man for the Groove
    Don Baylor, a former MVP, was traded for Mike Easler in an exchange of designated hitters. In exchange for future Cy Young award winner John Tudor, Easler came over from the Pittsburgh Pirates and hit .313 with 27 home runs and 91 RBIs in 1984, but his production dropped the following year. As a right-handed batter, Baylor was better suited for Fenway Park and hit 31 home runs, bringing heart of the order offense and clubhouse leadership that contributed to Boston's winning the AL pennant in 1986.

     
     
    1978: El Tiante goes out
    Luis Tiant won 122 games and was a 20+ game winner 3 times for the Sox but was only offered a 1-year contract after the 1978 season. Instead, he took a two-year deal with the Yankees and a 10-year post-playing deal as a Yankee scout, leaving as a free agent. A viable Hall of Fame candidate, Luis was on the BBWAA ballot for 20 years and was on 6 Veteran Committee ballots but never achieved that honor before passing away at 83 in 2024.

     
    1977: The Bear can’t get over the mountain in Fenway
    Hoping to reverse the trend of giving players to the Yankees, the Red Sox signed Mike Torrez as a free agent who was fresh off a World Series win with the Yankees after the 1977 season. It almost paid off as Torrez led the Red Sox to a tie at the end of the 1978 season and started the tie-breaking 163rd game. Leading 2-0 with two outs in the 7th inning, Torrez served up a 3-run homer to Bucky Dent, giving the Yankees a lead they would not relinquish. Winning 60 games for the Red Sox over 5 years, Torrez’s first year, 1978, was the only year the Red Sox came close to the post-season.

     
    1972: “Why pitch 9 inning when you can get just as famous pitching 2?”  Sparky Lyle
    Debuting in 1967, Sparky Lyle missed the World Series due to a sore arm. He emerged as the Red Sox closer in those first 5 MLB seasons. Before the start of the 1972 season, Sparky Lyle was traded for 1st baseman Danny Cater and shortstop Mario Guerrero. Arriving in New York, he became their closer and was the first reliever to win the Cy Young Award in 1977 and that year was the first of back-to-back world championships for him and the Yankees.

     
    1930: Red Yankee
    Red Ruffing was traded for a backup outfielder in 1930 and $50,000. Although he lost 20 games twice for the Red Sox, he won 20+ games 4 times in a row for the Yankees winning 6 World Championships and 7 pennants. Red Ruffing was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1967.

     
    1921: Waite Hoyt from Schoolboy to Aristocrat
    Starting his professional career at the age of 15, Waite Hoyt joined Boston for his major league debut. After his first two major league seasons in Boston, Waite Hoyt was traded in an 8-player deal in 1921 to the Yankees, where he led them to 6 pennants and two world championships.  A popular broadcaster after his playing days, Waite Hoyte won 237 games, all but 10 of them with Boston and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969 by the Veteran’s Committee.

     
    1919: The Bambino for Nannette
    The most well-known player move was Babe Ruth. After 6 years in Boston and 3 World Championships, the Bambino was sold after the season in 1919 to the Yankees for $100,000 to help fund the first stage production of the play that would become the musical No No Nanette. This sale allegedly started the curse of the Bambino which resulted in the Red Sox never winning the World Championship again for 86 years.

     
    1919: Mays to the Yankees
    After two back-to-back seasons where he won more than 20 games (22 and 21) and pitching on two World Series champions in 1916 and 1918, Carl Mays was shipped mid-season in 1919 from the Red Sox to the Yankees for $40,000 and two other players. Carl Mays went on to win 26 and 27 games for the Yankees and helped take them to two more World Series. Carl Mays is infamous for throwing the pitch that killed batter Ray Chapman in 1920, the only major league player killed during a game.



    So who do you think has done better, the Sox or the Yankees in exchanging players over the years?
     
     
     
  18. Charlie Hoke
    Hall of Famer Jim Rice set a record that may never be broken. As a rookie in 1975, Rice, together with Fred Lynn, shared the nickname the "Gold Dust Twins" for their great performance and future potential. Jim Rice fulfilled that promise with consecutive spectacular seasons from 1977 to 1979, achieving a feat that had not been done before or duplicated since.

    During 3 consecutive years, 1977, 1978, and 1979, Jim Rice is the only player in MLB history to achieve these 5 statistical accomplishments:
    39+ home runs ( 39, 46, 39 )
    200+ hits ( 206, 213, 201 )
    100+ Runs scored ( 104, 121, 117 )
    100+ RBIs ( 114, 139, 130 )
    .300+ Batting Average ( .320, .315, .325 )
    The only players who had the same number or more such seasons, though nonconsecutively were Lou Gehrig with 5 and Rogers Hornsby and Babe Ruth also with 3. Only Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig and Chuck Klein had even two such seasons back to back, with others achieving these totals twice over their career, but never consecutively, Only Jim Rice has done this 3 seasons in a row.
    Achieving each of these stats is an achievement itself, but hitting all 5 in one season is extraordinary. A player has to be able to hit for average and power while also being part of a strong offense who can get on base in front of him and drive him in afterwards.
    Will anyone ever tie or break this record? 
    Here's a list of all the players who have hit these numbers in the same season.
    NAME YEAR LEAGUE TEAM AVG H HR R RBI Babe Ruth 1921 AL NYA .378 204 59 177 171 Rogers Hornsby 1922 NL SLN .401 250 42 141 152 Babe Ruth 1923 AL NYA .393 205 41 151 131 Babe Ruth 1924 AL NYA .378 200 46 143 121 Rogers Hornsby 1925 NL SLN .403 203 39 133 143 Lou Gehrig 1927 AL NYA .373 218 47 149 175 Chuck Klein 1929 NL PHI .356 219 43 126 145 Chuck Klein 1930 NL PHI .386 250 40 158 170 Rogers Hornsby 1929 NL CHN .380 229 39 156 149 Hack Wilson 1930 NL CHN .356 208 56 146 191 Lou Gehrig 1930 AL NYA .379 220 41 143 174 Lou Gehrig 1931 AL NYA .341 211 46 163 184 Jimmie Foxx 1932 AL PHA .364 213 58 151 169 Jimmie Foxx 1933 AL PHA .356 204 48 125 163 Lou Gehrig 1934 AL NYA .363 210 49 128 165 Hal Trosky 1936 AL CLE .343 216 42 124 162 Lou Gehrig 1936 AL NYA .354 205 49 167 152 Hank Greenberg 1937 AL DET .337 200 40 137 183 Joe DiMaggio 1937 AL NYA .346 215 46 151 167 Stan Musial 1948 NL SLN .376 230 39 135 131 Al Rosen 1953 AL CLE .336 201 43 115 145 Hank Aaron 1959 NL MLN .355 223 39 116 123 Frank Robinson 1962 NL CN5 .342 208 39 134 136 Hank Aaron 1963 NL MLN .319 201 44 121 130 Billy Williams 1970 NL CHN .322 205 42 137 129 Jim Rice 1977 AL BOS .320 206 39 104 114 Jim Rice 1978 AL BOS .315 213 46 121 139 Jim Rice 1979 AL BOS .325 201 39 117 130 Ellis Burks 1996 NL COL .344 211 40 142 128 Mo Vaughn 1996 AL BOS .326 207 44 118 143 Larry Walker 1997 NL COL .366 208 49 143 130 Mike Piazza 1997 NL LAN .362 201 40 104 124 Albert Belle 1998 AL CHA .328 200 49 113 152 Alex Rodriguez 1998 AL SEA .310 213 42 123 124 Mo Vaughn 1998 AL BOS .337 205 40 107 115 Vinny Castilla 1998 NL COL .319 206 46 108 144 Todd Helton 2000 NL COL .372 216 42 138 147 Alex Rodriguez 2001 AL TEX .318 201 52 133 135 Alfonso Soriano 2002 AL NYA .300 209 39 128 102 Vladimir Guerrero 2002 NL MON .336 206 39 106 111 Albert Pujols 2003 NL SLN .359 212 43 137 124 Adrián Beltré 2004 NL LAN .334 200 48 104 121 Vladimir Guerrero 2004 AL ANA .337 206 39 124 126 Miguel Cabrera 2012 AL DET .330 205 44 109 139 Ronald Acuña Jr. 2023 NL ATL .337 217 41 149 106 Source: https://BaseballAlmanac.com 
  19. Charlie Hoke

    The Post-Season Prize Pool

    By Charlie Hoke,


    MLB
    The regular season is over and now the post-season begins.
    So how much do the playoff teams get for getting into the postseason?
    Gate receipts from the guaranteed post-season games form the player pool of money. The guaranteed games are the minimum number of games in each series that must be played to determine the winner. This would be 2 games for the Wild Card Series, 3 for the Division series, and 4 for the League Championships and World Series games.
    60% of these receipts from all of these games form the pool and then the money is divided between the winning and losing teams as follows:
    World Series Winner..................................36%
    World Series Loser....................................24%
    League Championship Series Losers (2)...............24%
    Division Series Losers (4).............................13%
    Wild Card Series Losers (4) ............................3%
     
    The players on the team then divide the pool into full shares, partial shares, and separate cash awards. 
    In 2018, when the Red Sox won the World Series, the total player's pool was $88,188,633.49.
    The Red Sox 36% share of the pool was $31.747.908.06, which was divided into:
    66 full shares @ $416.837.72 each
    10.025 partial shares
    8 cash awards
    In this case, full shares went to most players who played during the year, the front office staff, and coaching staff. 
    Partial shares and cash awards were issued to others as determined by the players
    Sources:
    MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement (2022-2026)
    MLB Sets Postseason Shares Record Of Over $88 Million For 2018
  20. Charlie Hoke
    When asked to move positions, why is there is a natural reluctance? From a team perspective, it seems like an ego issue, but it may be more complex than that. During Spring Training of 2025, Rafael Devers was moved to Designated Hitter to allow newly signed free agent Gold Glove 3rd baseman Alex Bregman to play the Hot Corner.
    At the age of 28 and having played regularly at no other position than 3rd base, Rafael Devers balked at becoming a full-time designated hitter. He viewed this as criticism of his defensive ability and initially refused the move to a hitting only role. 
    Some designated hitters claim to lose focus by not playing out in the field and perhaps Devers experienced some of the same initially, but he regained his offensive form with his potent bat and had a solid batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage of .272/.401/.504 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs through 72 games with the Red Sox.
    In his own words
    However, after Red Sox starting 1st baseman, Tristan Casas, went down with a season ending injury in early May, when asked about moving to 1st base, Rafael said,
    "I know I'm a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can't expect me to play every single position out there. In spring training, they talked to me and basically told me to put away my glove. I wasn't going to play another position other than DH. Right now, I don't think it would be an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position."
    He further clarified,
    "Now, they should do their jobs essentially and hit the market and look for another player. I'm not sure why they want me to be an in-between," Devers said. "Next thing you know, someone in the outfield gets hurt and they want me to play in the outfield. I know the kind of player that I am, and that's where I stand." [1]
    Devers wants to be respected as a player and not treated as an injury-fill-in whenever the Sox had someone get hurt. Injuries are a fact of any professional sport, and having experienced injuries while playing 3rd base, Devers is possibly worried about getting injured playing an unfamiliar position and not being as capable initially. 
    Protecting himself on Social Media
    To a degree, Devers wants to protect his reputation and in this age of social media and ubiquitous recording of every action, Devers is perhaps worried about showing up on a highlight or low light clip showing a bad performance. 
    With regards to the mental load on him, Rafael may know himself best and doesn't want to take on learning a new position, while at the same time remaining a topflight hitter.
    He also wanted the Red Sox to seek a permanent solution versus the uncertainty of moving him around the diamond and field as circumstances demand. 
    Ultimately it is a team that needs to be managed and built into a cohesive whole to win consistently. Rafael Devers in his comments felt that management was treating him like he could be plugged in anywhere without regards to his capabilities or injury risk.
    Perhaps the issue could have been defused with a longer-term view from both Rafael and the Red Sox management. Players eventually move along the defensive spectrum right to left as they age and lose athleticism in the field.
    Moving down the Defensive Spectrum
    The Defensive spectrum idea was introduced by baseball analyst, Bill James in the early 1980s and indicates that defensive skill is more of a premium as you move left to right, and most players move right to left as they age.
    Designated hitter – First baseman – Left fielder – Right fielder – Third baseman – Center fielder – Second baseman – Shortstop – Catcher [2]
    For Devers, he was moved immediately from 3rd base to Designated hitter and not offered the chance to try any positions in between during Spring Training.
    Depth is important for any team and so as the Red Sox planned their depth chart for the season, there should have been anticipation on what to do in the case of injuries and give players reps and opportunities in the Spring to get ready for their roles or potential roles.
    No Flexibility
    By locking Devers into a DH role, the Red Sox, were essentially hard coding him into that role with no flexibility until something happened.
    With the number of moving parts involved in any baseball team from injuries (Alex Bregman went on the IL on May 24), recovery from surgeries (Masataka Yoshida's shoulder is not 100%, thus precluding him from playing in the field and forcing him to DH), slumps, and streaks, a team has to have flexibility to adjust to circumstances.
    Contract status also plays a role as teams can't not play the star with the large contract. Devers was always going to be playing; the question was where.
    If the Sox had set him more at ease and perhaps told him that he was so valuable and capable that he would always be in the lineup, rather than saying we're moving you to DH because your bat is so much more valuable than any contribution in the field, perhaps he would still be a Red Sox.
    What do you think?
     
     

     
    Sources
    [1] https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45059014/rafael-devers-tells-red-sox-move-first-base (Originally published May 8, 2025, retrieved July 9, 2025)
    [2] Defensive spectrum - Wikipedia
  21. Charlie Hoke

    Six Down Years

    By Charlie Hoke,


    Great Sox
    If your batting average declines each year for 6 years straight, can you stay in the big leagues?
    Although there are many new and more advanced statistics, batting average is still a useful measure of a player's ability.
    Is 6 consecutive years of declining batting average irreversible?
    Red Sox Dave Stapleton, an infielder who played from 1980-1986, is the only MLB player who played at least seven years whose batting average declined each year throughout his career. [1]
    From a high of .321 in his rookie debut in 1980, Dave's batting average declined every year to a nadir of .128 in 1986.
    Dave Stapleton, Boston Red Sox (1980-1986) Batting
      Age Team Lg WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 1980 26 BOS AL 3 106 449 61 144 33 5 7 45 3 2 13 32 .321 .338 .463 .802 113 .357 108 1981 27 BOS AL 1.3 93 355 45 101 17 1 10 42 0 4 21 22 .285 .325 .423 .747 109 .346 111 1982 28 BOS AL 0.6 150 538 66 142 28 1 14 65 2 4 31 40 .264 .305 .398 .703 87 .315 81 1983 29 BOS AL -1.6 151 542 54 134 31 1 10 66 1 1 40 44 .247 .297 .363 .661 76 .299 67 1984 30 BOS AL -0.2 13 39 4 9 2 0 0 1 0 0 3 3 .231 .286 .282 .568 55 .253 33 1985 31 BOS AL -0.3 30 66 4 15 6 0 0 2 0 0 4 11 .227 .271 .318 .590 59 .279 56 1986 32 BOS AL -0.9 39 39 4 5 1 0 0 3 0 0 2 10 .128 .171 .154 .325 -10 .154 -32 7 Yrs 2.0 582 2028 238 550 118 8 41 224 6 11 114 162 .271 .310 .398 .707 90 .320 84 162 Game Avg 0.6 162 564 66 153 33 2 11 62 2 3 32 45 .271 .310 .398 .707 90 .320 84 Dave Stapleton, Boston Red Sox (1986 and Career Totals) 1B Fielding Stats 
            Pos G CG Inn Ch PO A E DP Fld% lgFld% Rtot Rtot/yr RF/9 lgRF9 RF/G lgRFG 1986   BOS AL 1B 29 5 85 86 79 7 0 10 1.000 .991 -1 -13 9.11 9.42 2.97 9.33 1B (7 Yrs) 1B 318 270 2547 2815 2593 201 21 266 .993 .992 11 5 9.87 9.87 8.79 9.78
     
    Dave Stapleton is most well-known for what he didn't do than for what he may have done.
    In Game 6 of the 1986 World Series with the Red Sox leading by 2 in the bottom of the 10th inning, he was not inserted as a defensive substitution at 1st base, something that had been done throughout the regular season and the playoffs, coming in 25 times during the regular season and in all 7 winning playoff games (4 in the ALCS and 3 in the World Series) in 1986.
    The losing play of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series [2] was on an error by the Red Sox 1st Baseman, which allowed the New York Mets to score the winning run and consequently forced a World Series Game 7, which the Red Sox also lost.
    Had Dave Stapleton been playing in the field in that 10th inning, would that same result have occurred, and would the Red Sox have won the 1986 World Series subsequently?
    Would a 1986 World Series win by the Red Sox helped him to continue his career? It's interesting to speculate on how one bouncing ball could have changed the course of history for a team and its players.
    As it was, 1986 was Dave Stapleton's final season at the age of 32.
    For him, 6 years of decline was not recoverable.
     
    In his 6th down year
    In 2025, another player has seen his batting average decline year after year for 6 years.
    Tim Anderson, a former AL batting champion, silver slugger, and 2-time All-star has seen his batting average drop 6 straight years since winning the 2019 AL batting crown. It was not an errant ball, but perhaps an errant brawl that has symbolized Tim Anderson's decline. when he exchanged punches with Jose Ramirez after a dispute on the basepaths on August 5, 2023.
    In his age 32 season, Tim Anderson was just released by the Los Angeles Angels on May 31, 2025.
    Is this the end of the line for Tim Anderson?
    Tim Anderson Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Angels (2016-2025) Batting
      Age Team Lg WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 2016 23 CHW AL 2.3 99 410 57 116 22 6 9 30 10 2 13 117 .283 .306 .432 .738 100 .326 101 2017 24 CHW AL -0.3 146 587 72 151 26 4 17 56 15 1 13 162 .257 .276 .402 .679 81 .305 82 2018 25 CHW AL 3.9 153 567 77 136 28 3 20 64 26 8 30 149 .240 .281 .406 .687 87 .308 88 2019 26 CHW AL 4.2 123 498 81 167 32 0 18 56 17 5 15 109 .335 .357 .508 .865 128 .369 128 2020 27 CHW AL 2.5 49 208 45 67 11 1 10 21 5 2 10 50 .322 .357 .529 .886 140 .382 140 2021 28 CHW AL 4.5 123 527 94 163 29 2 17 61 18 7 22 119 .309 .338 .469 .806 118 .357 123 2022 29 CHW AL 1.3 79 332 50 100 13 0 6 25 13 0 14 55 .301 .339 .395 .734 109 .332 105 2023 30 CHW AL -1.8 123 493 52 121 18 2 1 25 13 2 26 122 .245 .286 .296 .582 62 .263 56 2024 31 MIA NL -1.5 65 234 16 50 3 0 0 9 4 4 7 68 .214 .237 .226 .463 29 .204 15 2025 32 LAA AL 0 31 83 8 17 3 0 0 3 1 1 3 29 .205 .258 .241 .499 40 .224 31 10 Yrs 15 991 3939 552 1088 185 18 98 350 122 32 153 980 .276 .307 .407 .714 94 .316 93 162 Game Avg 2.5 162 644 90 178 30 3 16 57 20 5 25 160 .276 .307 .407 .714 94 .316 93 Tim Anderson Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Angels (2024-2025 and Career Totals) Fielding
    Season Age Team Lg Pos G CG Inn Ch PO A E DP Fld% lgFld% Rtot Rtot/yr Rdrs Rdrs/yr RF/9 lgRF9 RF/G lgRFG 2024 31 MIA NL SS 63 59 537 245 66 170 9 34 .963 .972 -1 -2 0 0 3.95 3.82 3.75 3.77 2025 32 LAA AL 2B 16 12 125 65 23 40 2 14 .969 .982 -1 -10 1 10 4.54 4.03 3.94 3.97 2025 32 LAA AL SS 15 8 101 50 20 28 2 9 .960 .976 1 9 1 12 4.28 3.73 3.2 3.67 10 Yrs   981 913 8443 3822 1294 2384 144 517 .962 .973 -51 -7 -25 -4 3.92 3.9 3.75 3.84 SS (10 Yrs) SS 963 899 8300 3751 1268 2342 141 503 .962 .973 -50 -7 -26 -4 3.91 3.89 3.75 3.84 2B (2 Yrs) 2B 18 14 143 71 26 42 3 14 .958 .982 -1 -11 1 8 4.28 4.03 3.78 3.97 With above league average range factor per 9 innings (RF/9) and averaging 0.4 dWAR over the past two years.  Tim Anderson can still be a defensive asset for a team.
    As an example, struggling Tigers' shortstop Javier Báez in the midst of 4 declining seasons of batting average, among other performance drops, had the opportunity to get a new lease on his career by moving to centerfield to start the season. While also playing 2nd base, shortstop, and 3rd base, Javier upped his batting performance and was selected to the AL all-star team as a starter as an outfielder.
    Tim Anderson also had some reps in the outfield during Spring training but never started there in the regular season. With his previously shown talent, will Tim Anderson get a chance to reverse this six-year decline?


    Sources:
    [1] "Dave Stapleton". Sons of Sam Horn. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved February 23, 2007.
    [2] 1986 World Series - Wikipedia
  22. Charlie Hoke
    Carlton Fisk's first 11 years of a 24-year Hall of Fame Major League Baseball career was with the Red Sox, where he was the Rookie of the Year in 1972, a 7-time All-star, and in the top 10 of the MVP voting 3 times.
    Fisk may be the best Red Sox catcher ever, but who else had great careers while catching for the Red Sox? 
    Carlton Fisk (1969-1980)
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 39.5 1078 3860 627 1097 207 33 162 568 61 26 389 588 .284 .356 .481 .837 126 .385 127                                   Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk hit the iconic 1975 Game 6 World Series 12th inning walk-off (wave-off) homer. With the Red Sox he was Rookie of the Year in 1972 and won the Gold Glove. A Three-time silver slugger and 11-time All-star in total, Carlton Fisk holds the AL record for years playing catcher at 24, and finished with 3 more top 20 MVP voting results, his highest being 3rd in 1983 with his division winning White Sox.

    Jason Varitek (1997-2011)
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 24.2 1546 5099 664 1307 306 14 193 757 25 18 614 1216 .256 .341 .435 .776 99 .343 96                                   The first Red Sox catcher to catch 1,000 games and 4th team captain in history since 1923, Jason won two World Series with the Red Sox in 2004, and 2007. and led the Sox to the playoffs in 5 other years (1998, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2008).

    Bill Carrigan (1906-1916)
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 13.2 709 1970 194 506 67 14 6 235 37 14 206 187 .257 .334 .314 .648 94 .322 97                                   Bill played 11 years for the Red Sox and was a player manager for the last 4 seasons and won 3 World Series championships (1912, 1915, 1916), the last two as a player manager. He holds the record for the highest post-season winning percentage (.800) of any manager with multiple postseason appearances and was the first Red Sox manager to win two world championships.

    Rick Ferrell (1933-1937)
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 11.9 522 1791 221 541 111 17 16 240 7 11 269 75 .302 .394 .410 .804 103 .376 107     Rick was a 4-time All-Star with the Red Sox and 7-time All-Star overall in an 18 year playing career, holding the AL record for games caught at 1,806 for over 40 years and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984. Together with his brother, Wes Ferrell, Rick was one of the top brother catcher/pitcher combinations in MLB history.

    Rich Gedman (1980-1990)
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 11.7 906 2856 315 741 164 12 83 356 3 3 206 448 .259 .310 .412 .723 95 .327 90     Rich Gedman was the primary backstop for three Red Sox post-season teams, the 1986 AL Pennant winners, and the 1988 and 1990 division champs. A two time All-Star, he was one of only 5 catchers to register 2 All-Star selections in the 1980s.
    He set the record for put-outs by a catcher when he caught Roger Clemens' 20 strikeout performance on April 29, 1986. Subsequently on the next day, he registered 16 putouts and set the record for catcher putouts in consecutive starts at 36.

    Sammy White (1951-1959)
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 2.0 981 3342 316 881 162 20 63 404 14 15 214 356 .264 .308 .381 .689 81 .321 73 Sammy was third place for Rookie of the Year in 1952 and, on June 18, 1953, became the only player after the 19th century to score 3 runs in one inning.  Between 1953 to 1955, he appeared in over 90% of the Red Sox games, averaging 138.7 games over that three year span, and starting 142 of 154 games in 1955. Known for his excellence at framing pitches and getting strike calls, Sammy caught lefty Mel Parnell's no-hitter on July 14, 1956.

    Do you agree with this list of top Red Sox catchers?
    Anyone else who should be considered?
    Real players only.
    In this article though, the writer did pick Carlton Fisk as the Red Sox's top catcher, he couldn't find a great catcher for the San Diego Padres and just made up a player's career.  The actual Rene Rivera was a journeyman catcher who did play for the Padres in 2013-15 but was in junior high school in 1998 when the Padres made the World Series.  No one Padres catcher played from 1992-2009. There should be no way an article like this should have been published with such a glaring error. 
    This story was picked up and copied to several sites without checking. Some of the sites have removed it, but others still have it up.
    The Greatest Catcher in Each MLB Franchise's History
    https://living.alot.com/entertainment/the-greatest-catcher-in-each-mlb-franchises-history--22296

     
  23. Charlie Hoke
    Ted Williams had a great career, but did this 1950 injury hurt him more than the two interruptions for military service during World War 2 and the Korean War? Three full years and close to two more years were cut short from his baseball career, yet a mid-career injury might have affected him more.
    The missing years often are said to have cost him the chance to have higher career totals and preventing him from getting to 3,000 hits and 600 home runs,

    In 1950 at the All-Star Break, after 70 games, Ted has 25 home runs and 83 RBIs, well on track for career highs.  However, on that summer day, July 11, 1950, in the 1950 All Star Game at Chicago's Comiskey Park, fate intervened.
    Going after a high drive by Ralph Kiner in the 1st inning, Ted crashed into the wall and scoreboard. Staying in the game, Ted singled in a go-ahead run in the 5th inning, but afterwards, his elbow had swollen up, and it was discovered that it was broken. This sidelined him until mid-September when he was able to return after the Red Sox were well out of contention for the pennant.

    With the hot summer months still to come, Ted perhaps even had a chance also of challenging for Babe Ruth's then single season home run mark of 60. Also denied was the chance to win back-to-back MVP awards to follow up his 1949 MVP season.
    This elbow injury lingered on through the next year and had Ted contemplating retirement before the season start. Ted had said that he was never the same hitter after that elbow injury. 
    So if Ted Williams had not gone after that high drive by Ralph Kiner with such alacrity, he may have been even better.
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