Good morning my friends, it is mid-August here in Southern Maine. The summer tourist season is at its peak bringing traffic and people from everywhere looking for the beach, a great white shark sighting and a lobster roll.
This week I have some thoughts on the recently ended five game skid for the Red Sox and the panic that gripped some Red Sox fans. I have some thoughts on specific players and the debut of Adley Rutschman. So take a walk into the kitchen. Open the cabinet where you store all your coffee mugs. Reach way in the back and pull out that Doug Mirabelli mug. Clean off the dust and fill it to the top with the caffeinated beverage of your choice. Next, grab a comfortable seat and enjoy my latest offering.
Red Sox
Thursday afternoon was another important turning point for the 2026 Boston Red Sox. It was the classic “gut check” moment as they looked to escape Toronto with a win after dropping the first three games of the series. The previous three games brought the losing streak to five in a row and had fans and social media types in panic mode when Payton Tolle took the hill.
Tolle pitched a great game. He got Toronto to hit his pitch for outs. He danced out of trouble in the first couple of innings and then settled down. He pitched eight innings (tying his longest career outing), threw 91 pitches (61 for strikes) and retired the last 17 batters he faced in a row. He kept the game close enough and enabled Caleb Durbin to be a hero in the bottom of the eighth with his grand slam to make it 5-0 and gave the team some breathing room. A strong wind was felt throughout New England when Sox fans did a group exhale after the final out.
As I’ve discussed here before, the Red Sox will need to monitor the pitching load for Tolle and Bennett for the rest of the season. Both are pitching in their first full season in the majors. Both starters are at or above their previous career high in total innings pitched in a season. While Tolle doesn’t appear to have hit a wall, Bennett is showing signs of being a tiny bit less sharp and less efficient. The Sox may need to do some rotation shuffling or have an extra bullpen game to give these youngsters some extra time off between starts. After Bennett’s outing on Friday that resulted in an 8-4 loss, it might be time for that reality. Be prepared!
The Adley Rutschman effect is just beginning to take hold on the pitching staff and the dugout as a whole. Starters get a “let’s catch up” session when walking to the dugout after each half inning pitched. When Rutschman doesn’t play he is talking to the pitching staff on the bench. He has been a supportive member of the bench and looks to be happy now that he is playing for a contender. The bat will be more productive as time goes on, but he does take his walks and gives the team flexibility as a switch hitter.
Caleb Durbin is the baseball version of The Little Engine that Could. Call him “The Durbinator” or “Dirt Dog Durbin” the man is a ball player. His hand and in particular his pinky finger is banged up from diving into the bases or getting hit by a pitch. Ask him how things are going with the finger and his response is a deadpan “It’s just a pinky”. Plus, he is playing outstanding third base defensively and he looks like a lock for a gold glove. Man does he give off Pedey vibes! Just think, two months ago most Red Sox fans wanted him in Worcester.
The final sign of this team getting back on course came last night when Sonny Gray improved to 15-3 with a seven inning clinic against the Pirates. The Sox scored three runs in the ninth for a cushion that ensured a 4-0 victory. Final game of the road trip begins today at 1:35 PM. It’s Bachar against Sandoval. Play Ball!!
This team is adjusting to life as a contender. Be patient and they will reward you!
THE “OG’S” IDLE THOUGHTS OF THE WEEK
Nice to hear that Crochet is taking his return slow and easy. He’s too valuable to the organization to be rushed at this point of the season.
The whole “fourth out” ordeal from the other night is one of those things that will pay dividends. It will be used as a teaching tool in all levels of baseball from little league to the majors for a long time.
Congrats to the Sanford Mainers. They are NECBL Champions after winning the championship series 2-1, at home in Goodall Park in Sanford on Wednesday evening!
Connor Wong is one tough player. His diving catch in foul territory that resulted in a forehead smacking thud to the turf was tough to watch. Like most catchers, he shrugged it off after a brief break and went back to doing his job!
Next step in the “I think I know what will happen” squad of social media baseball predictions is who will be on the “September Call Up” list.
Red Sox vs. Royals in the 2027 Field of Dreams game on August12th! Should be fun to watch!
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