The Red Sox’s only win of “October Baseball” came in September. Another season has come and gone, and once again, it ends on a disappointing note. The Red Sox were beaten by the Yankees 2-1 in the Wild Card round after winning the first game in the Bronx. Errors across the field and a frustrating lack of offense cost a Red Sox team that seemed primed for an upset after an incredible end to the regular season.
If anyone should leave with their head held high, it should be left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet and designated hitter and left fielder Masataka Yoshida. Crochet proved why he — in a completely unbiased and not-at-all sentimental judgement — should win the American League, or AL, Cy Young award, given to the best pitcher in the AL. It will be fun to see him pitch in Boston in the coming seasons.
Yoshida was a revelation, striking at an average of 0.571 during the postseason — the highest in the team.
Second baseman Nick Sogard’s baserunning was very good as well. Shortstop Trevor Story hit the Red Sox’s only homerun of the playoffs, and rookie Connelly Early was pitching very well in Game 3 until he was let down by defensive errors.
That’s enough about the good. Moving onto the bad.
Center fielder Jarren Duran had a horrific series. He was atrocious, recording one hit in 11 at-bats across three games, posting a 0.011 batting average. Duran also made a costly error in Game 2, conceding an RBI off a dropped fly ball hit by right fielder Aaron Judge. This potentially cost the Red Sox the game and took 10 years off my life.
Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela wasn’t very good either. The Platinum Glove nominee, known mostly for his defensive capabilities, made an error in Game 3, beginning a four-run inning for the Yankees which would ultimately give them the win. Rafaela’s batting wasn’t good either, as he was walked twice and couldn’t get a single base hit in 10 at-bats.
It’s games like these in which the Red Sox really miss power hitters like previous designated hitter Rafael Devers. Devers has 79 runs against the Yankees in 119 appearances with 31 home runs. Having that weapon as a designated hitter would have given the Red Sox additional insurance and relieved the pressure on players like second baseman Romy Gonzalez and left fielder Rob Refsnyder. Devers could have also been a tool against Boston’s Benedict Arnold and Northeastern alum, Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler, as Devers had 26 home runs against right-handed pitchers this season alone.
While it is easy to write off this season as another disappointment, and there’s no doubt that it was, this team has a lot to be proud of. Notably, the emergence and development of top prospects Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and the aforementioned Early.
Anthony had 75 hits in 71 games, with 32 RBIs and eight home runs, elevating the Red Sox offense in his time at the plate. Mayer had 29 hits and four home runs in 44 games, and his flexibility across the infield provided the Red Sox an opportunity to experiment with different combinations.
Early was impressive as well, being called up late into the season, playing only four games before his postseason debut. Early had a 2.33 ERA in four games and made history by becoming the youngest pitcher to start a postseason game for the Red Sox since Babe Ruth.
Alongside Crochet’s superb season, the overall strength of the bullpen and strong slugging from players like catcher Carlos Narváez, Story and González ensures that this team has a bright future. Hopefully the Red Sox front office can use the money it saved up from offloading Devers’ contract to sign marquee free agents and make moves that elevate the team to division winners and World Series contenders.
