Nicely I suppose that was technically higher?
Possibly the very nature of an terrible begin makes the pickings fairly slim, however we gotta take no matter we will get at this level, proper? Dropping the set to Tampa clearly stings, however that was nonetheless a 4-2 document this week. That’s……………..enchancment, I suppose.
Even when the bar for that high quality has been in hell, there have been nonetheless some optimistic takeaways for the reason that final time I dipped the pen for OTM. Brayan Bello received roasted in final week’s version of the MMBB, and he then proceeded to have an important bounce-back outing in Detroit. The bats strung collectively a few actual good performances en path to that sweep of the Tigers. There have been different encouraging indicators from particular guys, too—stuff that we’ll get into momentarily.
After all, one superb week doesn’t change how underwhelming issues have gone this season after greater than a month of sub-.500 ball. We might very properly be again right here in every week’s time after the bats go quiet once more. The beginning rotation might return to stifling by failing to undergo 5 – 6 innings on a number of events. Who is aware of? Possibly this previous week was only a fast reprieve from the horrors of 2026 earlier than we return to our repeatedly scheduled failures.
But when the Sox are gonna flip issues round this yr, perhaps we might take a look at Might as a type of turning level if they’ll hold the (comparatively talking, after all) optimistic mojo going, even after dropping that sequence at Fenway over the weekend. The journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step. All of that is to say that Framber Valdez will get an invitation on the duck boats if we do the inconceivable, as a thanks for uniting the blokes the opposite night time.
Both that or I hold discovering new methods to begin these articles by saying the crew sucks. I dunno. I suppose we’ll discover out collectively.
It’s Monday Morning Brushback time, y’all.
Duran Duran: Hungry Like The Wolf
Outfielder Jarren Duran deserves a tip of the cap for the tweaks he’s been making on the plate. Because the calendar turned to Might, quantity 16 has pushed in seven runs and knocked 4 extra-base hits, together with three homers. During the last seven days, his triple slash reads .269/.321/.538 for an .860 OPS. Not too unhealthy for a man who’s OPS started with a 4 by April’s finish.
It’s no secret that Duran’s first few weeks on the plate this yr have been capital B-Dangerous. In the event you thought to your self at any level in late March or April, “Wow, Jarren simply hasn’t been lifting the ball a ton this yr,” then your eyes weren’t deceiving you. Main as much as Sunday’s finale in opposition to the Rays, Jarren’s floor ball price stood at precisely 50%, significantly greater than the 41.5% mark he had in 2025 and nonetheless above his 46.8% price in his glorious 2024 marketing campaign. With that in thoughts, it ought to come as no shock that his fly ball and line drive charges had fallen from round 25% final yr all the way down to round 22% and 17% respectively previous to yesterday’s recreation.
Now, I’m not good sufficient to inform you precisely why he wasn’t capable of drive the ball at first of the season (don’t be a sensible ass within the feedback by saying that I ought to’ve simply stopped that sentence after the primary 5 phrases), however that combined with the strikeouts and lack of walks is a recipe for catastrophe. I did point out on a current episode of Pod On Lansdowne that some extra slugging could possibly be seen out of him if he might simply begin lifting the ball extra. His bat pace and the remainder of his bodily profile has regarded superb, he wasn’t it’s simply that the method had been all flawed.
I’m undecided what modified—perhaps it was the leg kick or the tweaks to the batting stance, perhaps he’s simply gotten sizzling—however lo and behold: Duran has began to provide extra on offense after seeing extra batted balls within the air. Simply check out the rolling xwOBA chart courtesy of Savant, referencing his final 100 plate appearances previous to Sunday:
Is that the place we really want Duran’s manufacturing to be? No, after all not. His OPS+ continues to be 66 (so I suppose he hasn’t been executing orders at a adequate of a clip) However the bat is coming round a bit, and like I stated firstly: we gotta take what we will get.
Duran’s little turnaround could possibly be a microcosm for the offense at massive. The crew’s onerous hit price has constantly been with the highest third or half of the league in 2026, however their common launch angle of just below 12% is throughout the backside 5 throughout MLB.
Merely put: they have been solely doing one of many two key pillars of the Ted Williams philosophy.
So, maybe Duran will be consultant of a sea change inside Boston’s lineup. It’s one thing to watch, on the very least. Let’s begin seeing some extra liners and fly balls, please.
It was a story of two begins for the Piglet this week, as prime pitching prospect Payton Tolle hurled one gem in opposition to the Motor Metropolis Kitties earlier than tossing one……properly, not a gem in opposition to the Satan Rays. One outing to remind you of the kind of ceiling this dude has, one other to go away us with a little bit of a foul style in our mouth heading into the brand new week and at this time’s idle spot on the schedule.
But in each of these begins, one factor remained constant: Tolle restricted the free passes. In 12 innings of labor over the previous week, the lefty solely issued one stroll. It’s a continuation of a optimistic pattern, as Tolle’s stroll price of 9% this yr is true round league common (God, is that this the Brushback the place I simply hype up league common metrics?). That’s higher than the stroll price of practically 11% he had final yr, as he walked eight batters in 16.1 innings.
Now, are each of these pattern sizes actually small? Yeah. Might that thus make attempting to infer something from them a ineffective endeavor? Possibly.
Nonetheless, think about that Tolle’s command seems to be extra sharp whereas he’s introducing extra of his secondaries into his arsenal (1-0 West Ham; it was very clearly a foul on Raya, cry extra). The sinker of his is being deployed a couple of quarter of the time these days in comparison with the ten% utilization price it had in his cup of espresso in 2025. His cutter and curveball utilization in 2026 additionally retains guys trustworthy outdoors of his major, dynamite four-seam fastball. It’s 4 pitches batters actually have to contemplate seeing once they step into the field to face Tolle, however the 23-year-old is making that method much more troublesome for the opposition by not letting them off the hook with walks.
The event of secondary pitches (albeit two of them are several types of fastballs) was the key query mark—and perhaps that’s even being a bit harsh—for Tolle getting into this season in my e book. Up to now, so good on that entrance (even after Sunday’s tough outing). Everyone knows the strikeout upside he presents is out of this world. We all know his stuff is insane, and we all know he’s received the make-up of a starter who could possibly be slotted into the highest half of the rotation down the road if issues go proper. If the command is coming round to even a league-average degree with that uncooked stuff, the Piglet could possibly be unlocking much more elements of his recreation.
A really fast phrase on some damage developments to wrap issues up as a result of it’s late once I’m penning this and I’m exhausted. To cite Homer Simpson after he ate 64 slices of American cheese, I think I’m blind.
First: Justin Slaten is again! That’s good! The bullpen might actually use some reinforcements, particularly within the again half of video games. The 28-year-old has, by and huge, displayed spectacular stuff on the hill when pitching in reduction since making his debut with the Sox in 2024. Contemplating a few of the duds we’ve seen from the arm barn not too long ago—I’m taking a look at Weissert, Watson, and Kelly particularly—Slaten’s return after a roughly month-long absence is totally a welcome signal. If the trail ahead is protection and run prevention, we’d like all arms on deck.
Second: Willson Contreras’ X-rays have been destructive after he received hit on the hand with a pitch on Sunday, in response to the Boston Globe. A prolonged WC40 absence might’ve been devastating for each the lineup together with the infield protection, but it surely doesn’t sound like we’re in a worst-case situation right here as I write this. Then once more: I suppose it didn’t seem to be Roman Anthony can be positioned on the IL after he had a wrist challenge of his personal final week in Detroit, although his return is predicted to be imminent.
The very last thing Boston wants is a case of the damage bug making its manner by means of the clubhouse. Fingers are firmly crossed.
Track of the Week: “Breezin’” by George Benson
Might hearken to this for an hour straight, man.
Sme time and identical place subsequent week, associates! Go Sox.
