Go get 'em champ

The Red Sox haven’t given out No. 21 since Roger Clemens left town in 1996, but it’s not up on the right field facade either.

I’ve been trying to get the Green Monster head that they use after home runs but I don’t think they even sell it anywhere. Does anyone know if this is a purchasable product?

Nathaniel Lowe, who had a cup of coffee with the Red Sox, is making MLB Min with Guardians , and is kicking ass

Go figure!

Today 80 years ago Game 7 of the World Series, with the score tied 3-3 in the eighth, Enos Slaughter ran through the third-base coach’s stop sign and scored from first to beat the Red Sox. Boston blamed shortstop Johnny Pesky for “holding the ball,” and the phrase became a local catchphrase. Others said the real problem was the weak throw from Leon Culberson, a backup center fielder who was in the game only because Dom DiMaggio was hurt.

He looks human. below average and way below his norm. His BA is way down. Did switching to Short stop mess with his mojo?

Nomar Garciappara's 1998 stats: 35 HRs, 122 RBIs, .323 AVG., 195 Hits

Bob Faxon WTNH, New Haven, CT

I lost my freaking mind when this happened. 2013 Big Papi was unstoppable.

I love this guy.

The comment from Roman too ❤️

Watching Tampa Bay and Cleveland compete for a spot in the World Series has got me thinking about something.

How is it that two organizations operating with significantly fewer financial resources than Boston have managed to get this far, while we're once again watching the rest of October from home?

And to me, this goes beyond roster construction or which free agents we should sign.

It raises some serious questions about ownership and the direction of this franchise.

For years, we've heard statements about ambition, competitiveness and building a team capable of winning championships. Even before this season, Kennedy talked about there being "no ceiling" for the 2026 Red Sox.

But at what point do we start questioning the gap between those statements and what we're actually seeing on the field?

Now, to be fair, the Red Sox aren't operating on a small-market budget. Money is being spent, and pretending otherwise wouldn't be accurate.

But that's almost what makes the situation more frustrating.

Are we really seeing the same level of determination to build a championship-caliber team that characterized some of the most successful years under this ownership?

Or has the approach gradually shifted toward maintaining a competitive and financially sustainable product, without necessarily making the difficult and expensive decisions required to take that final step?

I don't think spending recklessly is the solution, either.

What Tampa Bay and Cleveland demonstrate is that smart player development, scouting, organizational consistency and intelligent roster construction can take you a long way without enormous financial resources.

But shouldn't the Boston Red Sox be capable of combining those qualities with the financial advantages of a major-market franchise?

That's what frustrates me most.

We shouldn't have to choose between being financially responsible and being genuinely ambitious. An organization with Boston's resources, history and expectations should be striving to excel at both.

And I think ownership needs to be held accountable not only for how much money is spent, but for the direction of the organization and the results those investments produce.

So here's my question: do you still believe John Henry and FSG are as committed to building a championship-winning Red Sox team as they were in the past?

And if not, what would it take for them to regain your confidence?

I'd genuinely love to hear different perspectives, especially from fans who have followed the team through the various ownership and front-office eras.

FORZA SOX🇮🇹

SS Trevor Story

Story, who turns 34 in November, is entering the final year of his six-year, $140 million deal, one marred by injury. He’s played only one full healthy season since arriving in Boston in 2022. In 64 games this season, Story hit .235 with a .621 OPS. In five years — and just 384 games — in Boston, he’s hit .245 with a .701 OPS.

Meanwhile, top shortstop prospect Franklin Arias is looming in Triple-A Worcester. Arias, who turns 21 in November, hit .323 with a .957 OPS, 25 homers and 28 doubles in 117 games across two minor-league levels this season.

Will the Red Sox try to trade Story, who’s owed $25 million in 2027, to open a spot for Arias at shortstop? If not, what is Story’s future with the club? If he stays, how does Arias fit if Curtis Mead and Caleb Durbin are already penciled in at second and third? And how do the Red Sox insulate Arias from the top-prospect hype as he adjusts to the majors?

Last week, Breslow avoided the question of Arias’ position on the roster, though he praised the infielder’s progress and noted his biggest offseason focus will be physical development, adding to his 5-foot-11, 170-pound frame.

“It was incredibly exciting to watch the season that he just had,” Breslow said. “We knew about the makeup. We knew about his ability to handle pressure in situations, the things that you can get out of a scouting report in terms of great bat-to-ball skills and ability to convert ground balls into outs (defensively), and then obviously had a huge uptick in power this year. Watching what he was able to do, it gets you really, really excited.”

Now where does he fit and what does it mean for Story?

LHP Garrett Crochet

Crochet missed five months this season dealing with nagging shoulder inflammation before returning to the mound in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees, coming out of the bullpen. Crochet said afterward that he expected a fully healthy offseason and would build up as a starter, something Breslow reiterated last week.

But that was also Crochet’s intent last offseason before he began dealing with shoulder issues in spring training and got off to a rough April, resulting in a 6.30 ERA in six starts. Breslow avoided blaming a career-high 205 1/3 innings in 2025 for Crochet’s health, but it seems likely that it had some impact.

The Red Sox signed Crochet to a six-year, $170 million deal in 2025 to make him the anchor of their rotation. After a terrific year, injuries left his 2026 season a wash.

What will 2027 hold? Can he return to the Cy Young Award-caliber form during his first season in Boston? Will the Red Sox find a better way to manage his innings to prevent injury?

With Payton Tolle, Jake Bennett and Ranger Suarez as rotation locks, questions loom about Brayan Bello’s role and Sonny Gray’s status. That makes Crochet’s healthy return all the more important, but also suggests Breslow will seek rotation reinforcements to buffer against the inevitable rotation injury.

RHP Brayan Bello

Speaking of Bello, what role will he play, and can the team rely on him in the rotation?

The 2026 season was confounding for the right-hander, who struggled in the rotation and started with a 10.34 ERA in eight starts. Boston demoted him to Triple-A Worcester in June, then brought him back up just before the All-Star break. He settled into a bulk reliever role for much of the second half with various shorter relief outings and a handful of traditional starts at the end of the year.

Tracy said throughout the season that the door is not closed on Bello returning to the rotation, but it’s clear there needs to be a reset for the 27-year-old, who’s signed through 2029 on a six-year, $55 million deal.

Bello will be with the team for the foreseeable future — figuring out his role and how to get him back to being a more reliable starter will be an offseason focus. If the Red Sox opt to add higher-end starting pitchers, it might paint a clearer picture of their trust in Bello.

Who are you rooting for to win it all this year?