Battered And Beaten In Boston
Today, we look at the Boston Red Sox rough end of the first half of the season and ponder what lies for them after the All-Star break.
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Leading Off
The Red Sox Limp Into The All-Star Break
By Tyler Maher
The All-Star Break is here and it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Boston Red Sox, who desperately need a respite from their midseason swoon.
It’s been a rough three-week stretch for the Red Sox, who began their downward spiral in Toronto at the end of June. Several key players were unavailable for Boston due to their vaccination status, including closer Tanner Houck and leadoff man Jarren Duran. Not surprisingly, the shorthanded Red Sox lost two out of three to the Blue Jays, including a late-game meltdown where Houck’s presence was sorely missed.
Boston proceeded to lose the following series in Chicago against the rebuilding Cubs as well – a disappointing and embarrassing finish to a road trip that began so promisingly with a three-game sweep against the Guardians.
That kicked off a crucial two-week stretch heading into the All-Star break with seven games against the New York Yankees and seven games against the Tampa Bay Rays. For a team that has yet to win a series against an AL East opponent this season, this was a chance to right the ship and prove their mettle against quality opponents.
Unfortunately for the Red Sox, they returned home with a drastically different roster than the one that had departed for Cleveland in late June, especially in the starting rotation. Injuries had wiped out every able starting pitcher except for Nick Pivetta, afflicting Nathan Eovaldi, Michael Wacha, Rich Hill, and Garrett Whitlock. That left a scuffling Pivetta and inexperienced rookies Josh Winckowski, Connor Seabold, Kutter Crawford, and Brayan Bello to hold the line during the hardest and most important part of the season to this point.
To nobody’s surprise, it did not go well. Boston’s losing ways persisted at Fenway Park, where they dropped two of three to the Rays and were fortunate to split a four-game set with the Yankees, who blew leads in both Red Sox victories. Tampa Bay continued to torment them with a four-game sweep at the Trop, and New York just obliterated Boston 14-1 and 13-2 over the weekend in two of its most lopsided defeats of the season.
And just like that, the Red Sox have lost 14 of their last 20 games. They’ve gone from the top Wild Card spot and second place in the AL East to fourth place and out of the playoffs if the postseason started today. It’s been an ugly skid defined by inconsistent pitching, a lack of timely hitting, shaky fielding, and sloppy baserunning, all at the worst possible time.
Reinforcements are coming, but more is needed if Boston is going to make a serious postseason push. Chris Sale finally returned to the rotation after missing the first half of the season but immediately suffered a fractured left pinky on his pitching hand, which may render him a non-factor for the rest of 2022. Others should be back soon, including potentially James Paxton later in the second half. Top prospect Triston Casas could be up later this summer if Franchy Cordero and Bobby Dalbec continue to struggle at first base.
But with the trade deadline approaching, Chaim Bloom’s front office should be looking for external help as well. A similar haul to last year, when he landed a power bat (Kyle Schwarber) along with a pair of bullpen arms, would provide a nice boost.
Regardless of what Bloom does at the deadline, however, the Red Sox must start playing more consistent baseball. They’ve been wildly erratic this year, sandwiching their most recent funk and a 14-22 start around an impressive 28-9 run where they had the best record in MLB. Boston has swung between fantastic and terrible this season, making them tremendously difficult to evaluate. Are they World Series contenders, as they’ve looked at times during the past year and a half? Or are they a club that’s overachieved and lacks the depth to survive in a division where all five teams are competing for a playoff berth?
If anything, this latest rut has reminded us that Boston is a flawed team. There’s still time to address those flaws, thankfully, but Bloom and Co. have some work to do.
Tyler Maher is a Content Editor for The Game Day who’s always available to pitch if the Red Sox need a spot starter.