2026 Red Sox/MLB Season Thread

[Vermont Green]

They're dominating for sure but it will be a matter of time before ESPN or the media starts accusing them of cheating of some sorts like Spygate or PitchCom I'm hearing. After all, haters will find excuses for their accomplishments.

And Boston sports and cheating together have been a bad rap

If Cora was still here, no doubt they would be speculating about sign stealing.

[Vermont Green]

This game/win represents a milestone of sorts to me.  At the start of the season, I had predicted 90+ wins, wildcard, top of the league pitching, and middle of the pack hitting.  The Sox at 64-51 are now exactly on 90 win pace.  They are number 1 in the all of baseball in Runs Allowed and 7th in Runs Scored.  Back to about where I (and others) predicted them to be.  Big question now is where do they go from here.

I think they will continue to score runs, maybe not staying at 7th in baseball  (they may cool off some), but enough to win games at a 90 win pace or better.  C, 1B, 2B, 3B, CF, RF, and DH are all solid, or should be when Mead and Rutschman get in the line up.  The soft spots are SS and LF.  Look for platoons to play a big role for SS and LF, DH also.  Yoshida and Duran (for example) hit very well vs RHP on a career basis.  Jones and White are solid vs LHP.  SS will probably be more "by committee" but Monasterio hits very well vs LHP and they have other options to work in for different match ups or for defense.

I actually have more concern on the pitching, not so much for the rest of the regular season, but for the playoffs.  I fear that Bennett and Tolle could wear down (although Tolle didn't look worn down last night).  I don't see anyone who is a true #1 (assuming no Crochet).  They are a bunch of very good #2s or maybe #1.5s, and #3s, which is great, but it makes a big difference in the playoffs to have a guy like Crochet at the top.  Even without Crochet, this team won't be an easy out in the playoffs.  With Crochet in top form (a long shot hope), this team is right there with anyone.

[Silas]

This game/win represents a milestone of sorts to me.  At the start of the season, I had predicted 90+ wins, wildcard, top of the league pitching, and middle of the pack hitting.  The Sox at 64-51 are now exactly on 90 win pace.  They are number 1 in the all of baseball in Runs Allowed and 7th in Runs Scored.  Back to about where I (and others) predicted them to be.  Big question now is where do they go from here.

I think they will continue to score runs, maybe not staying at 7th in baseball  (they may cool off some), but enough to win games at a 90 win pace or better.  C, 1B, 2B, 3B, CF, RF, and DH are all solid, or should be when Mead and Rutschman get in the line up.  The soft spots are SS and LF.  Look for platoons to play a big role for SS and LF, DH also.  Yoshida and Duran (for example) hit very well vs RHP on a career basis.  Jones and White are solid vs LHP.  SS will probably be more "by committee" but Monasterio hits very well vs LHP and they have other options to work in for different match ups or for defense.

I actually have more concern on the pitching, not so much for the rest of the regular season, but for the playoffs.  I fear that Bennett and Tolle could wear down (although Tolle didn't look worn down last night).  I don't see anyone who is a true #1 (assuming no Crochet).  They are a bunch of very good #2s or maybe #1.5s, and #3s, which is great, but it makes a big difference in the playoffs to have a guy like Crochet at the top.  Even without Crochet, this team won't be an easy out in the playoffs.  With Crochet in top form (a long shot hope), this team is right there with anyone.

While we wait for Crochet, I think Sonny Gray has been a great #1....14-2 with a 2.78 ERA, not too shabby.

[Vermont Green]

This game/win represents a milestone of sorts to me.  At the start of the season, I had predicted 90+ wins, wildcard, top of the league pitching, and middle of the pack hitting.  The Sox at 64-51 are now exactly on 90 win pace.  They are number 1 in the all of baseball in Runs Allowed and 7th in Runs Scored.  Back to about where I (and others) predicted them to be.  Big question now is where do they go from here.

I think they will continue to score runs, maybe not staying at 7th in baseball  (they may cool off some), but enough to win games at a 90 win pace or better.  C, 1B, 2B, 3B, CF, RF, and DH are all solid, or should be when Mead and Rutschman get in the line up.  The soft spots are SS and LF.  Look for platoons to play a big role for SS and LF, DH also.  Yoshida and Duran (for example) hit very well vs RHP on a career basis.  Jones and White are solid vs LHP.  SS will probably be more "by committee" but Monasterio hits very well vs LHP and they have other options to work in for different match ups or for defense.

I actually have more concern on the pitching, not so much for the rest of the regular season, but for the playoffs.  I fear that Bennett and Tolle could wear down (although Tolle didn't look worn down last night).  I don't see anyone who is a true #1 (assuming no Crochet).  They are a bunch of very good #2s or maybe #1.5s, and #3s, which is great, but it makes a big difference in the playoffs to have a guy like Crochet at the top.  Even without Crochet, this team won't be an easy out in the playoffs.  With Crochet in top form (a long shot hope), this team is right there with anyone.

While we wait for Crochet, I think Sonny Gray has been a great #1....14-2 with a 2.78 ERA, not too shabby.

I agree, he has been great, but do you feel he is overachieving or that this is his "steady state"?  He may keep it going, but I think there will be some slippage from this level once he gets into the playoffs.

[Silas]

This game/win represents a milestone of sorts to me.  At the start of the season, I had predicted 90+ wins, wildcard, top of the league pitching, and middle of the pack hitting.  The Sox at 64-51 are now exactly on 90 win pace.  They are number 1 in the all of baseball in Runs Allowed and 7th in Runs Scored.  Back to about where I (and others) predicted them to be.  Big question now is where do they go from here.

I think they will continue to score runs, maybe not staying at 7th in baseball  (they may cool off some), but enough to win games at a 90 win pace or better.  C, 1B, 2B, 3B, CF, RF, and DH are all solid, or should be when Mead and Rutschman get in the line up.  The soft spots are SS and LF.  Look for platoons to play a big role for SS and LF, DH also.  Yoshida and Duran (for example) hit very well vs RHP on a career basis.  Jones and White are solid vs LHP.  SS will probably be more "by committee" but Monasterio hits very well vs LHP and they have other options to work in for different match ups or for defense.

I actually have more concern on the pitching, not so much for the rest of the regular season, but for the playoffs.  I fear that Bennett and Tolle could wear down (although Tolle didn't look worn down last night).  I don't see anyone who is a true #1 (assuming no Crochet).  They are a bunch of very good #2s or maybe #1.5s, and #3s, which is great, but it makes a big difference in the playoffs to have a guy like Crochet at the top.  Even without Crochet, this team won't be an easy out in the playoffs.  With Crochet in top form (a long shot hope), this team is right there with anyone.

While we wait for Crochet, I think Sonny Gray has been a great #1....14-2 with a 2.78 ERA, not too shabby.

I agree, he has been great, but do you feel he is overachieving or that this is his "steady state"?  He may keep it going, but I think there will be some slippage from this level once he gets into the playoffs.

I checked his stats from a few years ago...in 2023 when he finished 2nd in the Cy Young voting his ERA was 2.78.  I think he is benefiting from the Sox being on a hot streak but I don't think he is overachieving.  He has pitched at least 6 innings in 11 of his last 12 outings. That along with his ERA tells me he is the real deal so far this season.  If he stays healthy I would hope that his strong regular season plays well in the playoffs.  Gray along with a healthy Crochet would be great news for the Sox in the playoffs.