21Jul-BostonRedSox by Popi – Sitting in the Section 33 bleachers at Fenway Park on September 28, 1960, next to my mom and dad, I saw my very first miracle. I was nine years old when Ted Williams stepped up for his final major league at-bat and unleashed that legendary blast right over our heads. Decades later, watching from California after my family moved west in 1987, Big Papi broke the Curse of the Bambino in 2004.
Today, I’m watching another miraculous chapter unfold, one that nobody saw coming. Now I have to weigh the benefits of paying for a subscription to MLB.TV so I can watch the rest of the season. Budgeting in times like these can be so trying. I might just have to give up Fig Newtons for the rest of the year so I can pay for the App. 😋🤫🫣🤭
21Jul-BostonRedSox by Popi
Early Season Heartbreak and a Stacked Injured List
To understand where this 2026 Red Sox team is today, you have to look back at where they were just a few weeks ago. By late June, the Red Sox were languishing at 33–46, a brutal 13 games under .500. Worse yet, the injury report looked more like a Pro Bowl roster than an active lineup:
- Starting Rotation: Pitchers Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Johan Oviedo, Garrett Crochet, and Ranger Suárez all hit the Injured List.
- Lineup Core: Slugging first baseman Triston Casas, shortstop Trevor Story, and top rookie Roman Anthony were sidelined with major injuries.
- Infield Depth: Infielders Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Marcelo Mayer joined the shelf in late June.
With interim manager Chad Tracy stepping in to steady the ship, the season seemed all but lost to another year of “try and try again.”
There were rumors of stars wanting out and the front office setting up for a garage sale. Whether true or not made no difference. The Fenway Faithful knew the signs. The outlook for the season was bleak.
But Wait!
The Hodgepodge Heroes Take the Field
What happened next is the kind of baseball story that keeps us coming back decade after decade. Instead of folding, a hodgepodge group of second-stringers, utility call-ups, and veteran steadying forces put on the Red Sox jersey and began to rally:
- Willson Contreras: Playing first base and serving as the heart of the offense, Contreras has pounded out 22 home runs and 66 RBIs while posting a stellar .941 OPS.
- Caleb Durbin: Stepping up at third base, Durbin has been on a tear, hitting .351 over his last 10 games. Just last night (July 20), his 8th-inning go-ahead home run sealed Boston’s 6–5 victory over Baltimore.
- Ceddanne Rafaela & Carlos Narváez: Rafaela has already surpassed 101 hits on the season, while role players like Narváez, Tsung-Che Cheng, and Jahmai Jones have filled crucial defensive gaps.
- Aroldis Chapman: Closing out games with ice in his veins, Chapman sports a 1.99 ERA with 22 saves in 24 opportunities.
14 Straight Wins and on the Brink of History
As of July 21, 2026, this unlikely squad has reeled off 14 consecutive wins, the franchise’s longest winning streak since 1948! Over their last 14 games, they’ve pushed their overall record back above .500 to 51–48 and seized an American League Wild Card spot.
Whether you’re watching from the bleachers, behind home plate, or tracking every inning from 3,000 miles away in Livermore, this team embodies the stubborn, resilient spirit of Boston baseball. They may not be the highest-paid names on the marquee, but right now, they are playing the best baseball in North America.
Keep your eyes on Fenway this summer; the Sox are back in the hunt!
As always – be well, be alert, be informed. Popi sends…
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