BOS Vs Det & ATL Combined Recap: Highs and Lows
The last week of Red Sox baseball has been filled with ups and downs. This truly has been the story for the 2024 Boston Red Sox, who continue to find new ways to hover around the .500 mark. While nothing about this team makes me think they will make a world series run anytime soon, it is genuinely impressive how committed they are to have such precise mediocrity.
The Detroit series is a true microcosm of the Red Sox season as a whole, with the Sox doing everything in their power to lose the final game and end the series in a split. While I am certainly not at the point of throwing in the towel for the 2024 season, it is clear to me that it is time to start thinking about the future.
DEFENSE:
Positives:
Ceddanne Rafaela…. The things that Rafaela has done in Centerfield this season are nothing short of miraculous. Despite spending half the season in the infield, Rafaela has already accumulated over 5 defensive runs saved in the outfield. If the Red Sox can find a way to keep him in center, I am confident that Rafaela can win the gold glove in 2024 (and in many more seasons going forward).
Negatives:
Dominic Smith is starting to show signs of being an absolute liability in the field. Two errors in the first game against Atlanta did very little to build confidence in the veteran 1st baseman. Triston Casas cannot return soon enough.
I am not going to rip David Hamilton, but he needs to be a little more consistent on the defensive side of the ball.
STARTING PITCHING:
Positives:
Tanner Houck ….. what can I even say about this guy? His electric stuff is finally yielding the results that some of us always thought it could. He is the true ace of this staff. I may or may not have money on Houck winning the American League Cy Young award in 2024.
Nick Pivetta appears to be getting himself back on track. While he has struggled since his return from the injured list, he seems to be finally turning things back in the right direction.
It is almost poetic that Pivetta was so dominant against the Atlanta Braves, who shelled him in the away series in May. Pivetta seemed to go right after Marcell Ozuna in this game, which is particularly ballsy considering Ozuna hit two bombs off Pivetta in his previous start.
Negatives:
Kutter Crawford appears to be regressing at an alarming rate. If the Red Sox are going to have any chance of remaining competitive for an AL Wild Card spot, they will need Crawford to return to his form from the beginning of the season.
Cooper Criswell is Cooper Criswell. I don’t blame him for being bad. In fact, I pretty much expect the team to lose any game that Criswell starts. Any innings he can eat for this team are a bonus.
THE PEN:
Positives:
Brennan Bernardino is arguably the Red Sox best reliever at the moment. While his name has been floated as a potential deadline trade piece, I would prefer for the Red Sox to hold on to the veteran bullpen arm.
Justin Slaten’s development is going to be another key storyline to follow throughout the remainder of the 2024 season for the Red Sox.
With Chris Martin and Kenley Jansen set to depart in the near-future, Slaten is primed to be the future closer or set-up guy for the Red Sox.
Negatives:
Chris Martin is going through some mental struggles at the moment. Being placed on the injured list for ‘anxiety’ is not something that most baseball fans are used to. The reality is, I might be more upset about this if Chris Martin was going to be the difference between the Red Sox competing for a playoff spot, or fading off as sellers at the deadline. That simply is not the case. Martin is not part of this team’s future, and will likely be one of the pieces moved at the trade deadline. With all of this said, I hope Chris Martin is able to take the time that he needs to get himself in the right headspace to continue his career.
Cam Booser will likely retain his place in the Red Sox bullpen, but seeing him allow 3 earned runs in extra innings was incredibly unsurprising if I’m being completely honest.
AT THE PLATE:
Positives:
Ceddanne Rafaela is beginning to emerge with his bat. Any offensive production beyond his acrobatic play in centerfield is a bonus, and recently… Rafaela has been swinging the bat very well over the last 10 days. I am happy to say that I was in attendance at Fenway when Rafaela recorded his first ever multi-home run game against the tigers.
Rafaela is the #1 reason to watch the Boston Red Sox in 2024, alongside ace pitcher Tanner Houck’s Cy Young campaign.
Tyler O’Neill is back from the injured list!
I am not particularly interested in Tyler O’Neill as a player. O’Neill is not part of the Red Sox long term future. His astronomical strikeout rate and tendency to ground into double plays keeps me from really falling in love with O’Neill’s game.
With Roman Anthony working his way through the minor league system, O’Neill will not be given a long-term contract in Boston.
Jamie Westbrook made his MLB debut in the last week, and early signs have been very promising for the 10-year minor league journeyman. It would be very cool if Westbrook could stay productive and remain on the big league roster for the remainder of the 2024 season.
While the looming return of Romy Gonzalez poses a threat to Westbrook’s MLB status, I don’t think it is impossible for Westbrook to earn a spot on the roster (or at least be the first guy called up when depth is needed).
Negatives:
We are quickly approaching the time for Garrett Cooper to be designated for assignment by the Red Sox. He has been a massive disappointment in Boston, being outshined by the far less established Dominic Smith.
Wilyer Abreu is one of the very few reasons to tune into Boston Red Sox baseball in 2024. Him joining some of Boston’s best ballplayers on the injured list is one thing, but the fashion in which he was injured is a completely different animal. Not only did Abreu ROLL HIS ANKLE IN THE DUGOUT, but he followed it up by saying he was “fine”….. before being placed on the IL the next day.
I know this isn’t a long-term injury, but Wilyer is one of the most exciting players on this team. Him being out of the lineup makes the product of Red Sox baseball significantly worse, even with the return of Tyler O’Neill.
The Red Sox NEED to sweep the Chicago White Sox if they have any intention of remaining a competitive baseball team. The White Sox are as bad as an MLB team can get, and given the playoff and world series contending teams that lie ahead on the Red Sox schedule, they need to win games like these now more than ever.
