After the streak we were on heading into the All Star Break, it’s hard not to want to go crazy.
Overtly, it’s hard not to look at the Red Sox 2-4 record on the road trip coming back from the mid-season festivities and feel bad because of the amazing streak we witnessed beforehand. It was extremely frustrating, watching them put up two runs or less in every loss, or them get out-pitched even when Boston’s own starters did great. With all the rumors swirling abound around the trade deadline, going 2-4 doesn’t solve many issues regarding which way the Red Sox should swing, whether they’re not inclined to make a big swing despite the feeling that they should go all in.
Then again, there were games like each series finale, where the offense came alive—between Wilyer Abreu’s two homers, Alex Bregman’s massive three-run shot, Romy Gonazlez’s grand slam and Carlos Narvaez’s go-ahead two-run dinger—and where the pitching held its own…for the most part (sorry Gio).
We can’t overreact to what this means for the overall grand scheme of the Boston Red Sox. The 2025 Boston Red Sox absolutely feel like a special team, there’s no doubt about it. Reading now multiple articles from other outlets about how surprised the world is at the Sox’s turnaround post-Devers trade has illuminated all the possible storylines: the young kids, Bregman’s leadership, Cora’s steadfastness, the pitching stepping up, everything you can think of. I’ve seen pieces about what the Red Sox could do, Ken Rosenthal alluding to the Royals’ interest in Jarren Duran in exchange possibly for Seth Lugo. All the people who’ve tweeted about getting Joe Ryan, I’ve seen them. I already linked above to Matt Gross’ fantastic piece about the 2025 Red Sox being a loss if Breslow doesn’t trade for a no. 2 starter.
But what is the bigger picture here? What was the reason Breslow was brought into this pressure cooker of a job? Sustained success. Making winning a habit, not just for 2025, but for years to come. We’re over 100 games into this season so we know what the roster is, none of us can complain about sample size in regards to what the Red Sox identity is now. What moves are genuinely going to get the Red Sox to accomplish that goal? Do we already have enough faith in the kids to let guys like Duran or Abreu go in a trade to get a higher-end pitcher for the rotation? Is it worth the risk to most likely get bounced in the first or second round?
Look, I would love to keep my head in the clouds and think that with just the right addition, this year’s Red Sox team could go all the way. But with how this season has really gone, there are just too many question marks. This team and this front office needs to keep their heads down and stay the course. If it means now is the time to make a ginormous splash for the future? Great, I love the faith in this squad. If it means tempering expectations and just letting the kids play without the pressure of having to finish with the weight of the city on their shoulders? Awesome, this team is still fun to watch compared to 2024.
Let’s follow their lead. Four losses doesn’t mean sell and two wins doesn’t mean buy. Even the 10 game win streak doesn’t mean buy. Take a step back, analyze the team and the market, and do what’s right so we reap the benefits for many years to come, not just this one.