BOSTON – It’s time for a 2024 Boston Red Sox tutorial, sort of an update of where things are at.
A lot of people around here need it. They haven’t really been paying attention.
Not only did the Red Sox get off to a so-so start, hovering at .500 the first month of the season, but we had other, more important sports activities on our minds.
As in the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins playoff runs, both of which started in mid-April. At one point we had Boston playoff tilts every night, watch parties and, well, eventually a Duck Boat parade.
Heck, even the WNBA drama caught the little left of our disposable attention.
But here we are on June 27, 2024. We are rested. and we are ready to focus on the matter at hand: The Red Sox.
No one is better to break down what we’ve missed than Lou Merloni, a local media mogul, a former Red Sox and current analyst in the NESN TV booth.
According to Merloni, even during a lot of the “.500 stretch,” he’s having a ball covering and watching this team.
“I never thought there wasn’t talent on this roster,” said Merloni. “But it was young and a lot of it unproven over the long stretch of a major league season. But then in June it all came together with guys coming through back-to-back-to-back.
“And it’s not like they’re doing it with all this power,” said Merloni. “There are so many athletes on this team, on base paths. It’s been a lot of fun to see them run around. I love this style of baseball.”
While most of New England was in the midst of NBA Finals on June 9, the Red Sox were 33-33 at the time, fresh off a disappointing four-game split against the hapless White Sox.
They returned home for six games against the Phillies and Yankees, arguably the two best teams in baseball.
Phillies took Game 1, 4-1, behind a stellar effort from pitcher Zach Wheeler.
But since that game, this Sox team, according to Merloni, has been electric.
“They end up taking the next four of five games from the Phillies and Yankees,” said Merloni. “And every pitcher over those six games had a 3.00 ERA or better. The Sox offense kept the pressure on the entire time, on the base paths, stringing hits together, it was fun to watch.”
But it went to another level as the Sox headed to Toronto, said Merloni.
“I saw the guys before Game 1 of that series and they had a swagger about them, like they thought they were a good team, something I hadn’t seen,” recalled Merloni. “Obviously, they felt good about themselves after the Phillies and Yankees. and how did they react? They flew up to Toronto and ran off three straight, which has never been an easy chore for them the last few years.”
Merloni noted the Red Sox pitching kept this team afloat in April, ranking in the top three in ERA that first month, but hasn’t really been near that level since.
That’s where the kids and offense took over, averaging an amazing six runs per game in June.
For fans who are just coming back to the Red Sox “fray,” they are going to like what they see from three of the young guys.
“[Jarren] Duran, obviously, has shown maturity and consistency. and I realize everyone loves his offense,” said Merloni, referring to his .288 average, league-leading 23 doubles and 10 triples to go with his seven homers.
“But I think [Duran’s] defense has improved more. Instead of hesitation and taking a long route to the ball, when the ball is hit he just goes after it. He might be the second best outfielder in the league behind [Toronto’s] Daulton Varsho.”
Then there is Mr. Dependable, catcher Conor Wong.
“I knew there was more in there with Wong, believing he was a good offensive player,” said Merloni. “He did a lot of work in camp, simplifying things, shortening his swing, reducing strikeouts. He’s hitting .330 and we’re at the end of June. That’s impressive.”
Last, but definitely not least, is centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela.
“The talent has always been there. The goal has been to try to be better a week from now, try to be better a month from now, and we’re seeing it,” said Merloni.
“He had been very aggressive early in counts, pull side, with power, which is tough to do when chasing a lot of pitches,” said Merloni. “But every month the at bats are better; he’s taking more pitches. His defense in centerfield has been fantastic. He’s stepped in a few games at shortstop. He could be a great shortstop if he played there.”
Ironically, Merloni believes this Red Sox group has overcome some key injuries because they’re too young to realize it.
“They’re just trying to prove they can play in this league and working every at bat and coming through,” said Merloni.
The recent addition of Wilyer Abreu, who missed nearly three weeks from June 3 to June 21, has added a spark, too.
But … and there is a but here, said Merloni, history says this excitement probably isn’t enough to carry this team through August, September and possibly into October.
“The deeper into August, the young players look up at standings and it starts getting real,” said Merloni. “You need veterans who have been there before to get them to the finish line, under pressure heading into a playoff race in the last month.”
That’s where management and ownership comes in.
“I believe they need a starting pitcher, if nothing else for depth,” said Merloni. “I’m not saying ‘Go all-in’ or ‘Go get a high-priced rental.’ But there will be guys there you can get that can help.
“It would be nice to get that pitcher, maybe giving Tanner Houck, who has been their best pitcher, a little break to make sure he’s fresh in late August and September. The same with Cutter Crawford. It’s a lot to ask them to throw 195 innings when they haven’t done that before.”
Merloni believes that the Red Sox brass will not “chase” a possible Wild Card spot if they are close. They need to be ahead by three games for that spot if the Sox are going to add veteran talent.
“No matter what happens, I’m having a blast,” said Merloni. “It’s so much better talking about an exciting young team. and [Triston] Casas is hopefully coming back soon, too.
“To me, this is exciting to watch,” he said, “a fun style of baseball that they’re playing.”
To make a long story short, welcome back to the Red Sox. The rest of the summer should be interesting.
You can email Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.