The Boston Red Sox are hanging their entire playoff hopes on one big gamble. They are betting that Garrett Crochet can step onto the mound without a single warm-up game and still dominate. This is a huge risk for a team that has fought hard just to get to this point. The odds are stacked against them, but the potential reward is massive.
The Long Road Back
Crochet has not thrown a competitive pitch since late April. He missed almost the whole season dealing with shoulder inflammation and a strained lat muscle. The team has been careful with him, letting him ramp up slowly over the last two weeks. On Sept. 11, USA Today stated he finally discarded his sweeper from a mound for the initial occasion. The front office is bypassing a minor league rehab assignment completely. They want him ready for live batting practice in the final week of the season. This is a bold move that shows how desperate they are for help.
Short Relief or Bust
The plan is not to start him in the playoffs. Rather, they intend to deploy him in brief relief stints, exactly as he performed as a rookie with the White Sox. The Red Sox managed to rally and get into contention without him on the roster. But now they need that extra spark. Provided he remains effective with virtually no tune-up, that constitutes a formidable playoff weapon. A fresh arm that no one has seen in months could freeze opposing hitters in their tracks. The team believes he is ready to go right now.
The Stakes Are High
Boston has a lot of work to do before October arrives. The offense has seriously stalled, posting a .221 batting average in September. BoSox Injection noted this is the second-lowest metric in the league. They also hit just .179 with runners in scoring position this month. Signs of exhaustion are appearing within the pitching staff following a miraculous turnaround. The team must validate the front office’s decision to trust Chad Tracy as the full-time manager. They have the chance to make his first season memorable by beating the New York Yankees. Without Crochet, the Red Sox might not have enough fire to win a series. With him, anything is possible.
