In late April, when the Major League Baseball season started, Boston Red Sox fans were hopeful for a playoff spot after two years of finishing last in the American League East. Our hopes remained high going into the All-Star break but a series of losses to the powerful Dodgers and the lowly Rockies, combined with missed scoring opportunities and blown saves, saw the Sox struggling to stay alive for that playoff spot. Losing three out of four games to the Yankees this past weekend has all but eliminated them for securing a wild card spot in the American League playoffs.

The 2024 edition of the team was exciting nonetheless. Jaren Duran continued to lead the Sox in several departments – doubles, triples, on-base percentage, steals and runs – and he led the American League to victory in the All-Star game with his home run (MVP of the game). Rafael Devers (despite his hitting slump in the late season) proved he is a perennial all-star. And the team’s two rookies, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu, show a lot of promise.

However, the games usually come down to pitching and, once again, the Sox failed in that department. The players acquired during the trading deadline did nothing significant to push the team toward the playoffs and each of the starting pitchers was inconsistent throughout the season.

As of this writing, there are 12 games left in the season and only a miracle finish and a collapse by the teams above the Sox would propel them into the wild card slot.

There have been only a few miracles in MLB history and I don’t believe the 2024 Sox have one coming their way.

At least we are not fans of the other Sox team (Chicago) which was pitiful this year.

’Til next year!