The man who runs the Red Sox instant replay
For much of those first couple of months of the season, the Red Sox couldn't lock in on any sort of identity. The closest they could come is being labeled as the team that consistently lost one-run games while failing to win more than a couple of games in a row.
In large part thanks to the Yankees, the Red Sox are feeling a whole lot more secure in themselves.
It's as if they have taken on the identity of the Saturday Night Live character Stuart Smalley, whose go-to was looking the mirror and repeating, "I'm good enough, I'm start enough, and doggone it, people like me."
Suddenly, such positive affirmation actually seems a bit more warranted.
For starters, Alex Cora's team finds themselves back at .500 for the first time since May 24 after a 4-3 win over the Yankees Saturday night. It has now won six of its last seven games and seven of its last nine.
The Red Sox have also flipped the script when it comes to these one-run games, having come out on the positive end of such affairs in the past three games. It's the first such streak accomplished at Fenway Park since 2014.
So, what has been different?
With all due respect to the Smalley Way, the four-game win streak hasn't been about words, but rather actions. Particularly when it comes to fixing what had been ailing these Red Sox through the darkest times - inadequate starting pitching.
While so much focus was being placed on Rafael Devers' absence from the field, or the roster-maneuvering involving Roman Anthony, it was the pitching that presented the biggest road block to any sustained success. Now, it's the primary reason there can be this alternate conversation.
The latest revelation was supplied by Hunter Dobbins, who continued to help push aside any Yankees-based controversy to turn the focus on his under-the-radar excellence. The rookie threw six shutout innings, allowing just three of his 21 batters to reach base.
Dobbins became just the 11th Red Sox pitcher to record a start in which he gave up two or fewer hits while going six or more innings, the most recent being Clay Buchholz - thanks to his no-hitter on Sept. 1, 2007. (Coincidentally, Buchholz was in attendance at Fenway Saturday.)
It was the fifth straight game the Red Sox' starter has pitched six or more innings, a far cry from the uncomfortable month-long stretch from May 6-June 6. During those 29 games, the Sox starters totaled a 5.55 ERA and .850 OPS-against, totaling less than six innings 21 times.
Over that span, the starters also claimed just three wins, the fewest in baseball. Now, in the last seven games, the Red Sox starting pitchers are 5-0 with a MLB-best .556 OPS against.
There are other elements of this turnaround, of course.
Trevor Story has continued to turnaround what had been an uneasy month of May, notching two doubles to raise his OPS over the past 12 games to .892. It's a far cry from the .432 OPS he totaled in 25 games last month.
Carlos Narvaez kept on highlighting his existence, notching two more hits against his former team. It raised his OPS since the start of May to .955.
And then there is perhaps the most under-the-radar element of the Red Sox attack - particularly against left-handed pitching - Rob Refsnyder. Hitting leadoff for a second straight game, the outfielder came away with two hits and his now batting .361 with a 1.070 OPS in his 19 starts.
They are figuring it out. It's a reality the Red Sox have been waiting far too long to claim.