Matthew Gross
@MattGross87
Red Sox writer for SB Nation's @OverTheMonster. Formerly @PurpleRow & @bluebirdbanter. Rabid baseball nerd!
I was once a closeted, self-loathing adolescent contemplating suicide. Then baseball saved my life! My journey on @OverTheMonster: overthemonster.com/2024/6/11/2417…
If the Red Sox don’t trade for a No. 2 starter this week then they’re not serious about winning in 2025, writes @MattGross87, who sees a path to the World Series for the Sox... if they're aggressive enough to take it. overthemonster.com/2025/7/24/2447…
Dave Roberts said there's a chance Mookie Betts will not be with the team on Friday in Boston for personal reasons: "There might be some things going on that he might not be around, that he's got to deal with personally. Everything is okay with him, but yeah, we'll see."
This is a fascinating look at the inner workings of baseball. Looks like Cora guessed/stole the pitch. The signs are probably to the 1B coach, who then relays changeup to the hitter. There’s so much happening on every pitch. The best sport on earth.
I'm so sick of watching the Red Sox fail to move the zombie runner over with nobody out in extra innings. Astonishingly empty at bats every single time!
The only good thing about these last two games is it underscores the need for the front office to go out and get a legitimate No. 2 starter. This team is full of bottom half of the rotation guys behind Crochet, so it needs to be something better than that or nothing.
Does ESPN treat fans of other sports with the same contempt as they do MLB fans during their game broadcasts? I can't imagine them interviewing a mascot during the second quarter of a Monday night football game for instance.
The way baseball causes certain prospects to just disintegrate when they move up a level or two is wild. Hardest game of all time!
The Twins released catcher Diego Cartaya, a former top prospect with the Dodgers, after they claimed Jhonny Pereda off waivers. Cartaya had five hits in 59 at-bats (.085 average) with 40 strikeouts in AAA.
Rafael Devers following his 1B debut, via @justdelossantos: "I'm the kind of player that likes to be active, that likes to be on the field. I'd rather be on the field than in the cage hitting all the time just thinking about the next at-bat."
Rafael Devers following his 1B debut, via @justdelossantos: "I'm the kind of player that likes to be active, that likes to be on the field. I'd rather be on the field than in the cage hitting all the time just thinking about the next at-bat."
Interesting thing from last night. Buehler misses badly at 1-0, yells at himself, and then moves to the stretch for his final three pitches of the game. Must have felt something off from the windup, and decided the stretch was the way to go. Cool in-game adjustment
The 10th inning was a disaster, but the biggest sin the Red Sox committed in this game was not winning it in nine.
I’m very much here for Walker Buehler spending the second half of the season making me look like a jackass!
Baseball Savant has been the Mecca for MLB data 🕋 But I’ve been digging into pitch physics lately and just realized something… Baseball Savants pitch animations ARE LYING TO US!! And I can use Paul Skenes’ sweeper to prove it 🧵
The only thing holding Roman Anthony back right now is his high ground ball rate. As soon as he figures out how to put the ball in the air more often, everything goes through the roof.
Roman Anthony's average exit velocity: 93.8 MPH Roman Anthony's chase rate: 18.9% Full, extensive, exhaustive list of MLB players with an exit velo that high and a chase rate that low: • Roman Anthony • Juan Soto
The best records in MLB: Detroit (60-40) Chicago Cubs (59-40) Milwaukee (59-40) Los Angeles Dodgers (58-41) Toronto (58-41) Houston (57-42) Philadelphia (56-43) High-revenue teams. Mid-revenue teams. Low-revenue teams. No dominant teams. A wide-open postseason. What a fun year.
It would not shock me if this Cubs vs. Red Sox series ends up being a World Series preview.