2026 Red Sox/MLB Season Thread

[Vermont Green]

Yes, if there is an issue with Crochet, the expectation for the entire season changes.  BOS still has some good pitching depth.  Some decent pitchers should be coming back from injuries soon.  But no one is going to replace what you expect from Crochet.

[Redz]

Nice bounce back tonight 🙄

[Goldstar88]

Nice bounce back tonight 🙄

Just saw the score. Wow..

[Phantom255x]

Last two nights basically undid what they did vs the Brewers and Cardinals.

It feels like this could be a LONG summer. Hopefully the B's and especially C's can make some deep playoff runs this Spring and get us closer to Pats offseason/training camp 

[Vermont Green]

What I was seeing in this team was a line up that would be middle of the pack for runs/hitting but top of the league for starting pitching and pitching overall.  I expected them to be in the playoff hunt and that likely they would add a bat or otherwise reshuffle of the line up to add more pop along the way.

Without Crochet, I see middle of the pack hitting, middle of the pack pitching, and probably not in the hunt for the playoffs.  If they are not in the hunt, it is much less likely that they make a move to bring in more pop in the line up.

[Phantom255x]

A bad season where the team only wins fewer than 75 games might be what the organization needs to really question their philosophies and roster management. Maybe I'm being naive and this is permanent, but I think part of the reason they are okay with this philosophy is because they think having competitive seasons where they are in the hunt is fine since anyone can make a run once you make the playoffs, and people will stay interested most of the season. Kind of like the Rays, Brewers, etc. and how those teams are run, even though they might have a few runs here or there but usually they get smoked by a higher payroll/more talented team later on in the postseason.

If like a month from now, the team is something like 14-30, I truly think fans will stop caring and not go to Fenway and the organization will get ripped all over social media. The reason they managed the past few years was because even 2022-2024, they hovered around .500 and were in the hunt until at least September and they sold an illusion of contention/playoffs.

An awful season kind of like 2012 might be beneficial in the long run if there is hope for making significant changes because it's absolutely not working. To the point where even GMs don't want to come here (Breslow was their 12th option and got hired because everyone else said no). That's pretty dam-ning for a historic franchise like the Sox who have actually had good success overall in the 21st century, it's gone downhill since 2018.

[Vermont Green]

BOS starters have a combined ERA of 5.01, ranking them 13 of 15 in the AL.  And that includes today's game where the starter pitched well.  BOS ranks 11th in OPS in the AL.

BOS is probably lucky to have 7 wins based on those numbers.

[Ilikesports17]

BOS starters have a combined ERA of 5.01, ranking them 13 of 15 in the AL.  And that includes today's game where the starter pitched well.  BOS ranks 11th in OPS in the AL.

BOS is probably lucky to have 7 wins based on those numbers.

Sure, but I dont think that ERA number has much predictive value. Suarez and Crochet have a 6.48 ERA between them. Even if you do expect regression from both guys, I expect them to be much better. Bello is no star, but hell likely be better too.

[Phantom255x]

This team and especially the offense is just looking mega-hopeless

[ozgod]

A rolling circus of ineptitude. This offense couldn't hit if beachballs were being pitched at them.

[Vermont Green]

BOS starters have a combined ERA of 5.01, ranking them 13 of 15 in the AL.  And that includes today's game where the starter pitched well.  BOS ranks 11th in OPS in the AL.

BOS is probably lucky to have 7 wins based on those numbers.

Sure, but I don't think that ERA number has much predictive value. Suarez and Crochet have a 6.48 ERA between them. Even if you do expect regression from both guys, I expect them to be much better. Bello is no star, but hell likely be better too.

I don't necessarily disagree with this.  But the point is how they are doing to date relative to expectation.  My expectation, and I think pretty much the prevailing expectation, was that the Red Sox pitching would be near the top of the league.  It has not even been close to that.  It may correct and the pitching may get better, but so far, this has been a major issue.

And for the hitting, no one expected top of the league hitting or run production.  But right now, there are 6 starters who are hitting 0.240 or below.  Four starters hitting below 0.200.  That probably will not last either.

I expected top of the league pitching and middle of the pack hitting/run production.  It felt like a reasonable expectation.  And maybe they will get there at some point in the season.  But the hole they have dug for themselves is pretty deep already.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

They've been 99% putrid so far. They should be doing better than this, and they should improve from where they're at now, but I still don't think they're going to be world beaters or have one of the top pitching staffs. They have zero bonafide power hitters, Gray is getting old, and Suarez basically has no fastball. Even if Crochet gets on track soon, he won't be enough to right the ship.

[Goldstar88]

If the Redsox don?t make the postseason, they should fire Brezbot, make Cora GM and promote Varitek to manager. John Henry also needs to start spending again.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

If the Redsox don?t make the postseason, they should fire Brezbot, make Cora GM and promote Varitek to manager. John Henry also needs to start spending again.

I'd prefer Cora out of the organization.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

double post