Four games, 59 runs conceded: the Red Sox are in an impressive historic slump

Things have gotten so bleak in Purple Sox Nation in latest days that Saturday afternoon’s 4-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays counted as a vivid spot. Sure, Boston as soon as once more misplaced to an AL East opponent and fell additional away from an more and more unlikely playoff spot, however not less than this time it wasn’t essentially the most embarrassing common season loss in franchise historical past.

It wasn’t simply that the Purple Sox did one thing that they had by no means finished earlier than on Friday night time, specifically surrender 28 runs in 9 innings. No, it was the way during which it occurred. Their 28-5 loss to the Blue Jays was a clinic in how to not play baseball. It got here full with a beginning pitcher getting knocked out early, an overworked bullpen failing to get outs and fielders brutally botching defensive performs.

The defining second of the sport and, barring a turnaround, the Purple Sox’ season, got here with the bases loaded within the third inning when Toronto’s Raimel Tapia hit what ought to have been an inning-ending flyball. As a substitute, outfielder Jarren Duran utterly misjudged it, allowed the ball to drop after which inexplicably stood nonetheless for a second whereas the Jays ran the bases. The consequence was one of many rarest of baseball oddities: an inside-the-park grand slam. That one inexplicable play gave Toronto a 10-0 lead and successfully ended any suspense left within the sport.

Nonetheless, there isn’t any mercy rule in Main League Baseball, so the Purple Sox needed to maintain throwing pitchers on the market to toss batting observe to a relentless Toronto lineup. Of their final two video games earlier than the All-Star break, the Purple Sox misplaced to their outdated rivals the New York Yankees 14-1 and 13-2. By dropping Friday’s sport by such a large margin, the Purple Sox managed to place collectively the worst three-game run differential in MLB since 1900.

In mitigation, a kind of losses to the Yankees was an impromptu bullpen sport necessitated by beginning pitcher Chris Sale struggling a freak hand harm after getting hit by a comebacker. Maybe the Purple Sox will take some consolation in that truth, however they most likely shouldn’t. After Saturday’s comparatively drama-free loss, they’ve gained simply 5 of their final 19 video games.

Boston’s July implosion isn’t some unexpected occasion. Even after they have been successful video games earlier within the season, principally towards much less formidable opponents, that they had a knack of turning what ought to have been comparatively painless victories into nerve-racking nail-biters. In the meantime, Boston have but to win a collection towards anyone in their very own division.

The two August MLB commerce deadline is quick approaching and there’s no method that they’ll ponder being consumers. As of Sunday morning, they’re only a half-game above the last-placed Baltimore Orioles within the AL East (and 16.5 behind the Yankee and whereas a playoff spot is inside attain from a mathematical standpoint, the Sox have finished little to recommend they deserve one.

Since John Henry purchased the crew in 2002, the Purple Sox have hardly ever been sellers on the commerce deadline. This might very effectively change shortly, notably contemplating that Sale is doubtlessly out for the season. Perhaps, this time round, Henry and firm will secretly be relieved to flee from the shackles of expectations.

Past their present collapse, Sox followers are apprehensive that the crew appears curiously bored with negotiating with two of their All-Stars: Xander Bogaerts, who can decide out after this season and Rafael Devers, who’s signed till the top of the 2023 season. After the lingering emotional fallout from the indefensible Mookie Betts commerce, there’s a rising sense in New England that the crew is solely not thinking about paying both participant’s subsequent contract. The truth that chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom’s earlier tour of responsibility was with the notoriously frugal Tampa Bay Rays has finished nothing to calm these fears.

It was simply final October that the Purple Sox have been dealing with the Houston Astros within the American League Championship Collection, finishing a completely surprising season-to-season turnaround. Whereas most followers have been nonetheless sad about dropping Betts, who had simply helped the Los Angeles Dodgers win a World Collection, there was a palpable sense of renewal after the bleakness and dangerous vibes of 2020.

Now? The Purple Sox have put collectively possibly the worst stretch in crew historical past and the season is slipping away. Worse that that, they could half methods with their two greatest remaining homegrown hitters and begin a self-inflicted prolonged rebuild.

It’s a sudden fall from grace, however not an surprising one. Final yr’s crew overachieved – that’s what made it so enjoyable for followers – however in the course of the offseason, the Purple Sox stood nonetheless as the remainder of the division bought higher. A regression was to be anticipated, though no mannequin might have predicted what we’ve seen in these final 4 video games.

In the end, the Purple Sox can’t actually inform themselves that they’re totally dedicated to successful. This begins with an possession that has been content material to coast on the fond reminiscences of latest championships. That perspective has trickled right down to the gamers, and it’s arduous to not really feel like it is a crew prepared to surrender.