Chad Tracy Delivers Powerful Message After Red Sox Clinch Playoff Spot originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox did not clinch their postseason berth with a dramatic walk-off hit or a dominant performance from their pitching staff. They clinched after losing 5-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays and receiving help from Mike Yastrzemski and the Atlanta Braves.
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Interim manager Chad Tracy did not care how the ticket was punched.
“When you work as hard as we have worked, I don’t think you care much how it gets done,” Tracy told reporters. “You just want to see your ticket get punched.”
That message perfectly captured Boston’s remarkable season. The Red Sox were 32-46 and appeared destined to spend the summer discussing trades, organizational changes and another disappointing finish. Instead, they became the first team in MLB history to finish above .500 and reach the playoffs after losing at least 46 of its first 78 games.
“They didn’t take no for an answer,” Tracy said.
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Where It Started
Tracy inherited a 10-17 team when the Red Sox moved on from Alex Cora in April. There was no immediate transformation, and Boston’s season continued to drift for several weeks.
Eventually, everything changed. Boston swept four games from the New York Yankees at Fenway Park in late June and began one of the most impressive turnarounds in franchise history. Young players developed into meaningful contributors, the clubhouse remained together and the Red Sox kept finding ways to survive injuries.
The result is a second consecutive postseason appearance and another likely Wild Card Series against the Yankees. That matchup did not work out for Boston last October. The Red Sox won the opener behind Garrett Crochet but dropped the next two games in New York.
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This year’s roster has traveled a much different road.
The Red Sox have played meaningful baseball for months because almost every loss threatened to undo the progress they had made. Players such as Roman Anthony, Payton Tolle and Connelly Early have grown up in that environment, while veterans including Trevor Story and Willson Contreras helped keep the clubhouse steady.
MORE: Red Sox’s Craig Breslow Sends Message to Doubters Heading Into Postseason
Getting Things Set Up
Now Boston has an opportunity to set its rotation, protect tired relievers and enter the postseason with more than a week to prepare. The final regular-season games still matter, especially with the Cleveland Guardians visiting Fenway Park. Boston can use the series to evaluate potential postseason matchups and determine which pitchers are best equipped for important October innings.
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The celebration also strengthens Tracy’s case to remain manager beyond this season. Boston did not merely improve after he took control. The Red Sox completed a turnaround that had never been accomplished in major league history.
Tracy did not want credit Sunday. His message remained focused on the players who refused to allow a terrible start to define them. That approach may be one of the biggest reasons the Red Sox are still playing.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
