The Boston Red Sox missed the playoffs for the third straight season. There were glimmers of hope, but in the end, you get what you pay for.
The Boston Red Sox missed the playoffs again and for the same reasons as the last two seasons. Attempting to win with Rule 5 draft picks and discount bin pitchers will only get you so far. Time to start lobbying for an actual full throttle offseason this year. Or maybe Boston can burn some cash like New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo wanted to back in January. In case you’ve been blissfully unaware of the state of the two franchises, I will let you know that neither has spent money lately, and their records reflect it. If you need a refresher on the expectations coming into the season, here’s a Boston preview.
When Boston looks in the mirror and asks, “Where did I go wrong?” this year, the answer will be the same as last year. And the year before that. Boston’s record of 81-81 is technically progress, but I can’t help but feel that wins were left on the table again.
Pitching
As I’ve mentioned in the past, the pitching nearly went from first to worst over the course of the season. All while SP Chris Sale likely earns a Cy Young award. Karma is a cruel customer to teams not fully invested in winning. SP Tanner Houck and SP Kutter Crawford started the season as a one-two punch to rival any in baseball. By the end of the season, both fell back to earth wicked hard, much like one of the 34 home runs Crawford gave up this season. Good news for him, he was able to lead the league in that category, which is a weird one. He was good enough to throw 183.2 innings, but bad enough to allow 34 home runs.
There is reason for some hope here next year as Houck, Crawford, and SP Brayan Bello are all under contract and gained valuable experience this year. Leaps will need to be made and there is money available to get a genuine number one starter. The bullpen looks to be in a worse state for next year. I would say goodbye to CP Kenley Jansen, but he left before the season ended anyways.
Lineup
At times, Boston seemed to embrace the old saying about left is right and right is wrong. There were far too many lefties in the lineup and far too few righties. OFs Rob Refsnyder and Tyler O’Neill always had a pristine batter’s box to stand in while everyone else stood in a box torn to shreds. The lineup served as an effective bandage, covering up wounds inflicted by the deteriorating rotation in the summer. Even without 1B Triston Casas and SS Trevor Story, the team hit well and pinch hit surprisingly well. Boston finished the season sixth in MLB in team batting average (.252) and ninth in runs with 751.
The performances of OF Jarren Duran, OF Wilyer Abreu, and UTL Ceddanne Rafaela all were welcome and to various degrees unexpected contributions. 3B Rafael Devers was expected to do Rafael Devers things and he did, until a shoulder injury sapped his power late in the season. Duran only missed two games all season. Both were because of a suspension when he regressed to his poorer days of inappropriately jawing with opposing fans. He led MLB in triples (14) and doubles (48). Abreu and Rafaela both made solid cases for Rookie of the Year and will be leaned on more heavily next year to provide offense.
Infield
The term infield inherently suggests that players are “in the field”. Unfortunately, it often appeared as if Boston pitchers were out there alone given the quality of the infield defense. Satchel Paige would have called the outfielders to the infield in order to make sure a grounder led to an out, and not to be theatrical. The outfield defense dramatically improved this year. The infield did not. The revolving door of shortstops and second basemen was only partially to blame for an infield defense with more holes than a cheese grater. It was hard to tell if the Patriots or Red Sox had a worse defense in September.
Bottom of the Ninth for 2024
In the end, hope can foolishly flourish because of the development of some young players in the majors and minor leagues. However, systemic flaws in the running of the organization will likely keep expectations in the right place. 81-81 is better than 78-84 like in 2022 and 2023. Either way, the team missed the playoffs, so should we celebrate three more wins? I certainly won’t and as expected, some former Sox players blew our socks off this postseason with their play.
2025 should be another eventful season of struggles for the Red Sox. It’s a shame the cross-town title by the Boston Celtics seems to have zero impact on ownership. Once upon a time they were competitive. Now the fans are beginning to reflect the indifference of ownership. I never get predictions right and I certainly hope I get this one wrong too.
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