FENWAY PARK – A few days ago, it was blasphemy, after the Red Sox blew a great effort and lost another, tough extra-innings game on the road to the Phillies.
Some called it a loss they won’t be able to overcome.
They aren’t ready. Time to blow it up. Make a big trade. Give away the farm. Start firing people … now!
Social media is to blame. A baseball season turns into a football season with daily overreactions the rule instead of the exception.
Two nights later, of course, the Red Sox trumped that “horrific” loss with an epic, 9-8 win in extra innings to salvage one win against the highly-regarded National League outfit.
Too funny. The tide turned.
What was striking about win, beyond Romy Gonzalez’s grand-slam to cap a six-run fifth inning and take the lead, was the team that was on the field over the last three innings.
In particular, the outfield of Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu and sure-fire “Hall of Famer” Roman Anthony.
It was the first time that trio was together and quite honestly, it may have opened some eyes, particularly in the Red Sox front office.
Around here, when there is talk about making the “big” move to add a No. 2 starter or legitimate first baseman, Duran’s name has dominated the discussion.
He has value on the trade market being that whatever team potentially acquires him will have three more years of control before he becomes an unfettered free agent.
And Abreu, who has four more years of control, is apparently too valuable to the Red Sox, particularly with his 20 home runs to go with his Gold Glove (he won it last year) defense.
With the Red Sox moving Ceddanne Rafaela from centerfield to second base, which was his natural position, an outfield with Duran and Abreu looked pretty darn good.
The fact that the other Red Sox rookie phenom, Marcelo Mayer, is struggling mightily to hit left-handed pitching, everything fits.
Mayer appears to be a candidate to return to AAA Worcester and improve his “waving at lefty curve balls.”
In other words, Duran and Abreu play this season out.
And you know what? That might be a good thing; maybe even a great thing.
Duran is a presence in the clubhouse, particularly with the youngins’. He’s been in the organization now since 2018.
His energy, particularly on the bases, is both fun to watch, but contagious. Plus, he’s a good guy.
Remember, the Red Sox recent ascension back into the Wild Card race – they currently hold the A.L.’s third and final postseason berth – was done without their best player/leader, Alex Bregman.
The Red Sox need to add something semi-substantial in the next week. Have to.
First off, they have some very good “Top 100” prospects that the also-rans/mid-majors would want – No. 34 Franklin Arias (SS/2B), No. 90 Jhostynxon Garcia (OF) and No. 94 Payton Tolle (LP).
They need another starting pitcher you can count on, a No. 2 or No. 3, basically a guy that can pitch six innings and allow two runs in a game in October.
They need a veteran reliever, maybe two, who can tally three good outings out of four.
As for a first-baseman, I believe they could mix or match. Maybe Mayer finds his game and returns in late August and takes some of the first base load.
The 2025 Red Sox aren’t perfect by any stretch, but what we saw on Wednesday in Philadelphia was pretty impressive.
They fight like hell.
And fighting with Duran and Abreu in the outfield, two guys entering their primes, might improve the Red Sox chances against the Dodgers this weekend, but also help make things interesting when the temperatures start dropping.
You can email Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.