The Boston Red Sox have been on an absolute emotional rollercoaster this season, going from absolutely terrible to historically dominant, and now, settling into a seriously head-scratching stretch. They kicked things off with a brutal 32-46 record over their first 78 games, a start that had everyone wondering what was going on. But then, something clicked, and for their next 37 games, they put together an absolutely insane, historically fantastic 32-5 run. That was the stuff of legends, saving their season in dramatic fashion. But lately, things have slipped, with the team going a middling 18-19 in their last 37 outings.
The Risky Game of Resting On Purpose
That recent 18-19 stretch comes with a few big asterisks, though, and it’s these caveats that are really muddying the waters. The team seemed to run out of gas a bit after pouring everything into that July run, getting back into the thick of things. More than that, they’ve actually been resting guys, trying to get everything lined up for the postseason. This strategic resting not only makes it tough to gauge how good they might *really* be if they had to fight to the wire in September, but it also throws up a huge, season-defining question: can you just turn that magic back on whenever you feel like it?
On paper, the Red Sox are apparently doing the smart thing by punting September. The whole MLB postseason setup is pretty ridiculous, and it kind of forces teams into these weird decisions. But man, watching these games after the highs of July and August is jarring. That “it” factor, whatever you want to call it, it just feels *gone*. Maybe it was fading anyway, but now that they’ve intentionally hit the off switch, prioritizing rest over results, it feels like we’re watching a baseball hangover play out.
The New Normal: Sleepwalk September and October’s Gamble
What’s truly uncomfortable and unsatisfying about all this is that in July and August, it felt like this Red Sox squad genuinely saved their season. And they absolutely did! But what does “saving your season” even mean anymore? Historically, it meant a September packed with high-stakes, meaningful games. Now, you get this strange, sleepwalk September leading into a short Wild Card series that might, or might not, spark a glorious October run.
It’s hard not to get a little nervous watching this unfold. After all that relentless work, all that winning, and all those epic storylines that played out all summer long, it’s possible the Red Sox will only play two truly meaningful games after Labor Day. Those are Game 1 and 2 in New York, scheduled for September 29th and 30th. That just feels weird, right? But hey, if they manage to win that Wild Card series, then it’s a whole new ballgame! The doors to October truly swing open, and the matchups on paper start looking better and better until, or if, they reach the World Series. That’s the gamble they’re taking, and we’re all watching to see if it pays off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Over the Monster.
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