Series Recap - Red Sox @ Astros
This series felt like a mirage set against the backdrop of one of the more chaotic trade deadlines we have seen. But now that we're on the other side it's time to take a look at the talent we have and climb back into a playoff spot one game at a time.
The Good
We won a series. Against the Houston Astros. After trading them our starting catcher. What a fucking weird sport man.
Nate walked out to the mound not knowing if it would be his last time doing so wearing a Red Sox uniform. I said he'd shove regardless, and he did. 6.1, 4 hits, 0 earned. His velocity was back up and his curve was biting. I'm very happy we won't have to face him somewhere down the line this season.
Kutter Crawford is officially a guy that I want in the rotation for the rest of the year. I don't think it's just blind luck anymore. He looked shaky in his first inning, but he settled in to give us yet another quality start of 6 innings, 1 earned, and 6 Ks.
I don't know what to think of Jarren Duran. We don't win this series without him, and I will certainly give him credit for that, but I don't know if this guy fucking hates the Red Sox or not. Regardless, he was the difference-maker on Monday, knocking in all 3 runs.
Bobby was actually the runner who scored on 2 of those Duran RBIs, and he looked outstanding in the field. The pressure is off of him with Hosmer joining us KC, so maybe we get to see the "less is more" version of Dalbec.
Raffy Devers single handedly won us Tuesday's game. Having him back in the lineup like a nice plate of mac and cheese cooked by your mother - comfort food. Also he pimped the shit out of that home run.
The pen was phenomenal. Schreiber was his usual self, going balls to the wall and getting out of a tough spot, Houck closing out consecutive one run games, even HeroSaw looked strong. Just overall a good series for the bullpen.
Reese McGuire went 2-3 in the loss today and to my knowledge didn't take his pud out in public, so that's a win.
The Bad
Xander Bogaerts is unhappy. When X is unhappy, I'm unhappy. Chaim flew to Houston so anyone could pop in and ask him questions. I'm hoping he closes the door and locks it when Xander comes in so they can have a good fist fight and hug it out like men, and Bogaerts leaves with a fresh new contract. This is a fan-fiction that I will be writing in the coming days.
I know, we just got over the deadline without losing him, but JD looked straight up feeble out there. I can't really blame him, there was so much going on and so much uncertainty that it probably fucked with his routine. I'm sure he'll regroup and come back ready in KC. Again, weird series for everyone so I won't harp on it too much.
Dugie also looked off. Sure, it was a good laugh when he unnecessarily climbed the wall just to catch a warning track fly-out, but he went 1-11 in the series. If we actually do make a push, he needs to be the guy that gets hot.
The Ugly
It may be time to put Rich Hill out to pasture. It could have been way worse than it was, and it was shit.
How did not one person realize this happened? Truly astounding in today's day and age that you can just forget what the count is.