They are the last-place Red Sox. A team that has just been swept by the Yankees, with the series' final punctuation coming in the most painful form to date.
With two outs and nobody on in the eighth inning, the Sox held a one-run lead with Matt Barnes on the mound. But Barnes walked the No. 9 hitter Mike Tauchman, paving the way for an RBI single from D.J. LeMahieu followed by the most predictable result in baseball these days, Aaron Judge's two-run homer. (He now has six. Six!)
What was going to be the feel-good win of the young season -- despite the Red Sox' opener strategy resulting in five more runs after two innings -- turned into another sad trombone. (For a complete box score, click here.)
Clutch Dynamic Duo:The Sockman and The Machine @budweiserusa pic.twitter.com/PSDiF0T69V
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 3, 2020The reminders and the realities?
That the Red Sox' attempt at filling their starting rotation has continued to miss the mark. Matt Barnes doesn't seem quite comfortable living life as the no-holds-barred eighth inning guy this season. Much of their outfield's offense has become non-factors, with Jackie Bradley Jr. joining Andrew Bentintedi and Alex Verdugo in Slumpville, not having collected a hit since Tuesday.
And then there was the image of Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers.
With a national television audience watching, the duo put on a show. Bogaerts with his four hits which included two home runs and a double. Devers hitting his first homer of the season while suddenly emerging as a really good third baseman. No team in baseball had what the Red Sox have in this left side of the infield. Add in J.D. Martinez, who returned to his rightful home as a No. 3 hitter and immediately produced a first-inning double, and it would seem you should have a contender. You don't.
-------------- (verb) pic.twitter.com/Ufm3AIfwO6
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 3, 2020Upon Further Review:Hot corner is hot. pic.twitter.com/dFxAc1ma4J
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 3, 2020It was two 20-somethings and te kind of middle-of-the-order anchor every team needs headling a roster that is still coming in at close to $200 million. Once again ... 3-7.
It's easy to talk about resetting luxury taxes or bemoaning the loss of Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez. But facts are facts. It's uncomfortable to watch the kind of stars the Red Sox possess live life on a team that oftentimes exists in an alternate universe without the innings Devers, Bogaerts and Martinez are involved in.
The good news was that Sunday night reminded the two well-meaning infielders how good it can be. Despite the final outcome, just getting those results from the duo in that place against that team brought back an inkling of the good life.
"We fought back man. This is one of the games we could take a lot of positives out of," Bogaerts said. "There haven't been many games like this. It sucks that we lost but it was pretty fun, honestly. Back and forth, back and forth. We ran into a Judge that's pretty much hot. LeMahieu with a big hit, he's been smoking the ball all around. But this game was a nice fight from us."
"It was fun out there," Devers said. "I came out there today just a bit more motivated. There was an extra fire from all of us, not just myself. We just continue to just play hard and try to get the results we wanted, but obviously we just couldn't get it today."
ANOTHA ONE! pic.twitter.com/jp011gzwqB
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 3, 2020If this was the NBA, the Red Sox would be set. Three stars -- Devers, Bogaerts and Martinez -- with the rest spreading the floor. The Red Sox have become the ultimate reminder that baseball doesn't offer the same luxury.
Ron Roenicke's team now has the worst ERA in baseball (5.79), having given up more homers (17) than any other staff. And now it shares the most losses of any team. But they do have three players that are still worth checking in on. Thanks to Sunday night, all of it was presented to us in what has become an all-too-familiar fashion.
"I think it would always surprise people to be this far down already," Roenicke said. "I know we had a couple of good games against the Mets, and we played a good game today. That was a tough loss. So, you know, right now you have one good series and you're right back where you need to be, so we just need to have a decent trip here in Tampa and then come home and play a good series, and we'll be fine."
