The story behind those Red Sox t-shirts
It's hard to imagine life without Garrett Crochet and Alex Bregman.
The two, whose previous connection before this season was Bregman taking a photo at a bar-b-que contest with Crochet's father a few years ago, are undoubtedly the foundation the Red Sox are building their entire organizaton.
Kyle Teel, Chase Meidroth, Brayden Montgomery and Winkelman Gonzalez. Worth it to reel in Crochet. Bregman's cost of three years, $120 million. Even with the risk of those opt-outs, absolutely a no-brainer.
On the field. Off the field. The hopes and dreams of the entire 2025 Red Sox. All of it seemingly runs through those two.
It is a reminder the Red Sox were once again afforded thanks to a few unique circumstances during a 7-6 loss to the Astros Monday night.
The first few innings were one thing.
There was Bregman living up to the moment, homering in his first at-bat since returning to the place he called home for the entirety of his previous nine seasons. There was the standing ovation before the blast, the subsequent boos after, and the sense of pride Red Sox fans took in being on the palatable side of the drama.
"Every time you hit a homer in the big leagues, it’s pretty special. But to be able to do it first at-bat back here was a pretty cool moment I’ll never forget," the third baseman told reporters.
As Red Sox (and Astros) fans can attest, it's hard to look away when Bregman is doing his thing. He has now hit 15 homers this season, and in those games, the righty hitter has a cumulative batting average of .569 and OPS of 2.062. The Sox are 17-9 in games Bregman has managed at least one RBI, and 21-14 when he has scored one or more runs.
Then there is just the feel that Bregman brings. In the clubhouse. In the dugout. On the field. And in a lineup that has seemingly locked into a pretty interesting dynamic.
Roman Anthony, who managed his third career homer Monday, is hitting .333 with a .956 OPS in his 14 games in the leadoff spot. Then there is Jarren Duran, who has oftentimes followed Anthony and Bregman. Hitting behind the third baseman in the three-hole, Duran has a batting average of .343 and OPS of 1.068.
For Bregman, Monday was a highlight reel of how good it has been and can be.
But anybody stuck around past the first two innings was struck with the importance of the Sox's other alpha, Crochet. This, however, wasn't the kind of reality check that the Red Sox had become used to.
The importance of having Crochet at moments like this has smacked the Red Sox in the face too many times to count this season. Things are going bad? This guy pitches and everything is suddenly OK. That was supposed to be the theme for a team coming off two straight losses in San Diego.
Except this time it wasn't.
Crochet suffered through his worst start of the season, allowing five runs over four innings, pushing his ERA from 2.24 to 2.48. If it were any other pitcher, the Red Sox would have simply dealt with it and counted the minutes until their lefty ace took the mound. This wasn't any other pitcher. This was THE pitcher, the one where there is absolutely no room for interpretation when it comes to his importance.
The Red Sox may have been spoiled when it comes to Crochet, who had won his previous six decisions heading into Houston. Fair. But, expectations or not, there is one undeniable truth when it comes to the pitcher's existence: He is anything but a luxury item.
If this team - which is now 1 1/2 games up on the Yankees in the Wild Card standings - is going to do anything they simply can't lose this Crochet security blanket.
One game. Two powerful reminders.