Welcome to 12 months 4 of the Monday Morning Brushback, mates! Every Monday morning, I’ll be posting an article right here with three of my largest takeaways from the week that was in Crimson Sox baseball whereas having some enjoyable alongside the way in which. It’s a pleasure to be beginning up one other season of this.
As for the enterprise at hand: One other 12 months, one other gradual begin out of the gates for the Crimson Sox.
It seems like you may set your watch to it at this level. Boston has gained only one sequence to open the 12 months for the reason that begin of 2021; 2026’s trio of video games in Cincinnati was not that exception.
What’s particularly irritating about shedding the Reds sequence this previous weekend was that this very simply may’ve ended up being a sweep for the Sox. Boneheaded errors, not sufficient well timed hitting (even when you think about a pleasant two-strike base hit by Ceddanne Rafaela in recreation one and Wilyer Abreu’s dwelling run with two outs within the ninth inning on Saturday; the RISP production was nearly non-existent), and a few pitching that simply gained’t make the grade. All of it mixed to place Boston under the .500 mark within the earliest stage of the marketing campaign.
However that’s the factor of it: it’s no time to panic. Social media tax on this anecdote does apply, however I’m certain a few of you may have seen Crimson Sox Twitter shedding their minds already. It makes me marvel how half of the fan base doesn’t strike out yearly by Memorial Day. The likes of Greg Weissert and Caleb Durbin need to be higher, sure, however having huge takeaways for the membership’s prognosis after simply 29 innings of ball isn’t going to be good for anybody. That doesn’t imply there’s nothing value speaking about, although. If that had been the case, I wouldn’t be working for OTM.
It’s Monday Morning Brushback time, y’all.
Final week on the positioning, I posted a Question Of The Day article asking you effective of us who can be Boston’s fifth starter to open the 12 months. The resounding reply was Johan Oviedo, and the reasoning made sense contemplating the minor league choices that had been accessible for lefties. Main as much as Opening Day, nonetheless, it was introduced that 23-year-old Connelly Early was going to be getting the nod to spherical out the rotation.
After being named because the starter for Sunday’s finale in Cincy, Early made his argument as to why he belongs within the rotation. After 5.1 innings and 96 pitches, Early surrendered 5 hits, two walks, and only one earned run whereas putting out six Reds batters. Doing that in a hitter-friendly atmosphere like Nice American Ballpark isn’t any small feat; it simply sucks that the remainder of the staff wasn’t in a position to choose him up.
He initiated seven whiffs on the day, though his small sample size from 2025 shows a whiff rate of about 34%, which is insane. I gained’t say that he’s gonna replicate that charge once more in 2026, however the swing-and-miss stuff is there, whereas he can even provoke a fair proportion of grounders primarily based on his cup of espresso within the bigs so far.
Hell, his stuff was adequate on Sunday to impress the man signing his paychecks!
Possibly an thought throughout the entrance workplace, after Early was named because the fifth starter, was that he might be up with the massive membership for a number of weeks and probably optioned again right down to AAA if wanted. Early won’t give them the prospect to try this, although; he would possibly power the difficulty and maintain onto that rotation spot for the whole 12 months. The child’s a gamer and whereas league-wide circles have had Tolle ranked as a better prospect, Early is clearly no slouch. The pitch combine is engaging, he can cock again and prime out at round 96 or 97 MPH when he must, and he’s bought the moxie to do large issues.
Good begin to 2026, Mr. Early.
Marcelo “You Bum” Mayer
The opposite large piece of stories after Spring Coaching wrapped up was that Marcelo Mayer can be Boston’s (primarily) full-time second baseman. In fact, as soon as the lineup for Thursday’s opener towards a left-handed pitcher had been printed, Mayer was not included within the beginning 9. Gotta begin someplace, I suppose.
Everyone knows the ceiling that Mayer possesses. We noticed it in flashes over the previous few days, notably when he was referred to as upon as a pinch hitter on Thursday. He went 2-for-2 and scored a pair of runs late, setting the desk for his teammates to get the Sox over the road.
He might be a legit impression participant for years to return. His swing is as easy as butter and he can play very stable protection at a number of spots on the infield. In the event you wished to have him over at third whereas shifting Caleb Durbin to second, I wouldn’t maintain you. There may even come some extent within the not-so-distant future the place we’re asking if Mayer and Trevor Story want to change spots on the filth.
All of that’s to say that whereas the potential for Mayer is definitely there, 2026 is a vital 12 months to really see him begin to put all the items collectively. Most of that formulation hinges on well being—he’s bought to play a full season with relative well being (if he picks up a knock right here or there it’s no matter; I’m speaking large image). Even given Mayer’s unlucky damage historical past, I feel the staff formalizing their plans for him is a step in the fitting route. It’s a declaration of belief in his skills; if he stays wholesome, we may see a spike in his continued growth.
With that mentioned, I’d prefer to see Mayer play towards lefties a bit extra in 2026. I perceive the worth of platoon splits, and if Romy Gonzalez had been wholesome I get that second base would possible be a straight platoon between he and Marcelo this season. Sooner or later, although, you’ve bought to see what you may have in Mayer. If his efficiency towards left-handers turned untenable, then adjustments may then be made. If the group has desires of him being an on a regular basis participant, nonetheless, that bandage needs to be ripped off sooner or later.
In any occasion, it’s been begin for Marcelo. Simply maintain him wholesome, maintain him within the lineup most of the time, and let him develop into an essential contributor.
Oh, and perhaps get him some performing classes as nicely.
The Age of the Robotic Umps
I used to be fortunate sufficient to be in Cincinatti for the primary two Sox video games of the 2026 season. Nice ballpark, good space by the park, and really pleasant of us down there. Attempt the ribs on the Lager Home throughout the road from the park, they’re to die for.
So with that in thoughts, I used to be in a position to see the primary ever automated ball-strike challenges in Crimson Sox historical past on prime of the disastrous efficiency of dwelling plate umpire C.B. Bucknor on Saturday. The person had SIX of his calls challenged and efficiently overturned.
Clearly this subsequent assertion is simply primarily based alone private expertise from this previous weekend, however I feel I’m all in on the ABS system due to the gang’s interplay with it. There have been some legit crowd pops when the outcomes got here on the video board! It was electrical, even when the decision wasn’t going our manner!
ABS is goal for each groups, it’s truthful, and the problem course of may be very fast each in particular person and when you’re watching/listening at your property. I like the way you solely get two challenges with the chance to get them again; it provides layers of technique whereas holding chunk of the human aspect in play. I used to be skeptical of the system at first, however I say it’s been good so far.
Supervisor Alex Cora has to show our guys when and when to not problem, as we noticed towards the Reds over the weekend. You reside and also you be taught, I suppose.
Music of the Week: “Soiled Little Secret” by The All-American Rejects
Straight fundamentals to begin the season off.
We’ll be again once more subsequent week with one other MMBB. Go Sox.
