I didn’t want to have to be the one to tell you guys this, but the old adage that “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” isn’t actually true. The Boston Red Sox are doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, though, and it is actually driving me to insanity…
I’ve been trying to decide which individual examples to share with you all, because we could talk about the big picture and how they haven’t addressed the outfield logjam, or how they talk about getting better defensively but don’t do anything to actually get better defensively, or the outright refusal to extend themselves to fill needs through free agency, but there’s plenty to get into when it comes to the on-field product.
What is with this horrendous approach?
Jarren Duran (41.8%), Willson Contreras (40.8%), Roman Anthony (36.2%), and Trevor Story (34.1%) were among the league leaders in whiff percentage entering Monday’s series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers. If that annoys you, you probably won’t be thrilled to learn that Duran (65%) and Anthony (52.6%) were also among the league leaders in out-of-zone whiff percentage – which means they’re making horrific decisions.
I’ll go out on a limb and say that if the ball isn’t in the strike zone, you shouldn’t be swinging.
Ceddanne Rafaela (41%), Contreras (29%), Duran (29%), Anthony (28%), Story (25%), Marcelo Mayer (21%), and Carlos Narváez (19%) are all missing the ball on swings inside the zone at an above-average rate, to be fair – not that it will make you feel any better.
Boston’s biggest issue at the plate seems to come in the form of the approach.
It’s amazing how difficult it has been for the lineup to chase the opposing starting pitcher, as they have allowed 8-of-10 to go at least 5.0 innings in 2026. It’s less amazing when you look at the stats against relievers, though, as the element of surprise always seems to throw a wrench in their plans – leading to an atrocious collective batting average (.181) against relief pitchers entering Monday.
Yuck.
Do they actually practice?
0.63 in 2023. 0.71 in 2024. 0.72 in 2025. 1.10 in 2026.
The Red Sox have consistently finished bottom-five in errors per game, and it’s getting worse!
Story, after leading the American League in 2025 (19), looks like he’s well on his way to defending that crown in 2026 (3). Rafaela has undoubtedly regressed. Anthony has people wondering whether or not the injury that cut his rookie season short is still bothering him with some of the throws that he’s made.
It’s indefensible how bad they have been defensively – pun intended.
Wait, he’s batting where?
VS. RHP
VS. LHP
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SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa/Andruw Monasterio
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C Carlos Narváez/Connor Wong
I don’t want to pretend like those are fix-all options, but why not give it a shot?
It’s probably going to take some roster movement for things to truly change, though, which goes back to what we were saying earlier. The definition of insanity isn’t doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, it’s “a severely disordered state of the mind usually occurring as a specific disorder” – which is how I feel watching this baseball team.
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