The Boston Red Sox have seen a remarkable turnaround since firing former manager Alex Cora, going from pretenders to potential contenders.
While Cora was the skipper, the Red Sox began the season 10-17. Since interim manager Chad Tracy took over, the Red Sox have resurrected themselves, posting a 36-31 record. Tracy credits a change in his club’s approach at the plate, along with some of his starting pitchers going deep into games, for the turnaround.
“We’ve done a much better job overall with our approach,” Tracy said to the Associated Press. “We’re taking more pitches. We’re seeing more pitches against starters. We are getting starters deep in counts earlier in games. We’re scoring runs in the first five innings of the game and letting our starting rotation pitch with a lead.”
The Red Sox’s pinnacle of success came by going a perfect 9-0 to wrap up a road trip to finish up the first half of the season — the last time the Red Sox went 9-0 to finish a road trip was back in 1977. Going 9-0 and having a new approach has the Red Sox sitting a half-game out of the final Wild Card spot in the American League, currently occupied by the Minnesota Twins and the Seattle Mariners.
The Red Sox’s resurgence could lead them to hold firm at the Aug. 3 trade deadline
Before the Red Sox’s dramatic and unexpected turnaround, they figured to be one of the potential sellers at the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Now two games under .500 (46-48) and not far from a Wild Card spot, the next couple of weeks will prove interesting for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and the Red Sox.
Breslow holds some of the game’s top pieces to be moved at the deadline: first baseman Willson Contreras, right-hander Sonny Gray and left-hander Aroldis Chapman. All of whom would elevate any contending team’s lineup, starting rotation, or the backend of the bullpen.
Contreras is having a career year, with career highs in batting average (.285) and OPS (.921), while closing in on his career-high in home runs (24, currently at 20). Aside from his IL stint for a hamstring injury, Gray has been one of the best pitchers in the American League, going 11-1 with a 2.54 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 17 starts.
Both Contreras and Gray have no-trade clauses, with Contreras stating he wants to remain with the Red Sox for the rest of his career. Gray has not stated whether he will waive his no-trade clause or not.
As for Chapman, he’s continued to refine his Hall of Fame resume, posting a 2.20 ERA, ranking seventh in the AL in saves (19) and making his ninth All-Star team in his career this season. Chapman also became the leading reliever in MLB history for strikeouts (1,367), passing Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm (1,363).
Facing three divisional rivals leading up to the trade deadline: the Tampa Bay Rays (July 17-19), the Baltimore Orioles (July 20-22) and the Toronto Blue Jays (July 24-26), the Red Sox must continue to bring it if they’re not to revert to selling.