Save a Prayer

 

Don't look now, but the Boston Red Sox might actually have a chance this year.

For a little while, the Red Sox were in the grey area of the AL East that honestly came down to 'are they decent or do they just suck less than the Yankees?'. And now it's looking like the answer is more along the lines of the former. The Sox are now 7 games over .500, 3.5 games back from the nearest wild card spot, and have won 5 of their last six. In a season that could have been a wash thanks to injuries to Chris Sale, Trevor Story and Tanner Houck, the youth movement has arrived, and younger players like Brayan Bello, Connor Wong, Masataka Yoshida and Triston Casas have been able to carry the load this season. 

And that's honestly the detail that impresses me the most. I really thought a lot would be on Devers, Verdugo and Sale this year, and that's not quite the case. Yes, Devers and Verdugo are having nice seasons, and the Sox are reaping the benefits, but it's not solely down to them. Long-game moves like Chris Martin, Justin Turner and James Paxton have strengthened this team with their consistency [and surprise consistency in Paxton's case]. The roster depth has given Pablo Reyes, Rob Refsnyder and Adam Duvall moments to shine. Kutter Crawford, Josh Winckowski and John Schreiber are all building off of excellent breakout 2022 campaigns. And, yes, Kenley Jansen has 28 saves.

The biggest indication of a positive 2023 has been Jarren Duran. It has taken years for Duran to acclimate to the majors. His 2021 come-up was uneventful, and his 2022 starting role was a disappointment. Finally this year, even if it wasn't immediate, Duran had a positive effect on the Red Sox, hitting .297 with 40 RBIs and 8 homers, plus 23 steals, in 98 games. Duran is hitting better than most members of this team, and he's versatile enough to not be relied on solely for contact. Duran, Casas and Wong all coming to form is the single best thing for this Red Sox team....y'know, that and the Franco stuff.

The one detail that holds Boston back is that even if they do slide into a wild card spot, they're gonna be looking at a lower seed. The Red Sox have spent most of 2023 at either 4th or 5th place, will not be the best AL East team going into October [if it does happen], and will not have the odds on their side generally. The Sox, even in a good division, have spent a lot of this season as a bad team. It may have been even worse for them had the schedule been as well-balanced as it normally is. Ultimately, the Sox may have just won the timing jackpot, and have been able to spin a fairly alright team into something that could honestly lap the Jays or Mariners for a playoff spot.

The Sox could make something happen this year. And it's a good thing I don't loathe this version of the Red Sox yet.

Coming Tomorrow- Someone who will be getting money from the Mets for a very long time.