Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy leaves the mound after a pitching change during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
There is a good chance that Chad Tracy will win Manager of the Year and he will deserve it if he does.
The Red Sox, left for dead, turned their season around and reached the playoffs under his leadership.
But whenever baseball resumes, he’ll learn how short the honeymoon is after a tough postseason.
Tracy clashed with Red Sox fans and some of his players with a few key decisions during Boston’s 28-hour postseason. He struck out Payton Tolle with one out in the fifth of Game 1 and Sonny Gray with one out in the fifth of Game 2.
In both cases, he summoned Erik Miller. The big southpaw posted a 7.36 ERA in eight regular-season games in September. As expected, it was not effective. He immediately gave up a home run to Ben Rice in the first game. In the second game, he allowed back-to-back singles that allowed an inherited runner to score. Only a terrific throw from Nate Eaton to knock down a runner at home plate saved him from further damage.
Removing two good starters was questionable. Bringing the same reliever into trouble was worse. But it won’t be the moves themselves that will heighten the focus on Tracy as much as the reaction.
During the regular season, he would not have struck out either pitcher. But in the playoffs, like many managers, he chose to be aggressive and it cost him. He is not the first manager to make this mistake and will not be the last.
But the reactions of two of her veterans put Tracy in a much more difficult situation.
Gray was asked if he was upset about being eliminated and he was frank.
“I think I’m the best pitcher in the American League going down the order for the third time; I think that’s a fact,” Gray said. “I wish I lived or died with me in that moment, but that’s the competitor that I am. I think you can probably ask the guys and they felt the same way. I felt strong. I felt confident. I felt convinced. But what can you do, you know?”
Gray has a mutual option with the Red Sox for next season. After the game, he said he might consider retiring and wasn’t sure he would consider returning to Boston if he continues playing.
Contreras has a habit of lashing out when angry. Wednesday was a crazy day. When asked if Gray had been taken away, he pretended to purse his lips, but commented anyway.
“It’s baseball and the data is there to help us. But ultimately you’re going to need experience and veterans to win games,” he said. “There are many things I would like to say, but I will leave it that way.”
Asked what went wrong in the two games, his answer wasn’t as careful as he seemed to think.
“That’s a good question,” Contreras said. “I’m not going to answer it because I don’t want to give my honest answer. We got blown out. That’s the bottom line. We came in here trying to win. We didn’t produce. We didn’t execute any part of the game and that’s why we lost. I know we had a really good stretch and I’m really proud of what we’ve done in the past.”
Tracy has been praised for his effective support of the team’s younger players during the 2026 season. But while it takes a long time to build a team’s trust in its manager, it can be shattered in just an inning or two.
Now, 2027 will begin with everyone wondering how veteran players and Tracy will interact. And how much do these young players look up to Gray and Contreras?
Getting his team to trust him after Alex Cora was fired wasn’t easy. Doing it again next year might be just as difficult.
Another big match
The Patriots-Bills game shouldn’t be judged solely on Sunday’s win and loss. This isn’t the divisional battle with playoff implications that seemed like it was coming into the year. At 1-2, New England simply needs to improve. If Drake Maye avoids stupid mistakes and costly turnovers, it will seem like a step in the right direction.
This seems crazy considering the expectations ahead for the year, but now is the first step toward improving the season.
Madness
Amidst everything else, not enough is talked about the foolishness of the Red Sox putting Garrett Crochet on the postseason roster and then putting him in a game with their season on the line.
He had abandoned two live enclosures and no rehabilitation mission after more than five months spent on the shelves. Not only is it illogical to expect him to be sharp in this scenario, but the temptation for him to spill and potentially re-injure himself is huge.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that it was bombed.
The Top 5
Top 5 most entrenched teams in the MLB playoffs.
Chris Mason and I suggest the five best teams Red Sox fans can root for for the rest of October.
A real danger! Hint
Sports clues from current editions of America’s favorite quiz show. As always, pay attention to the date
CATEGORY: ATH $400 :
Date: February 20, 2009
This former HUD secretary was also a Buffalo Bills QB, a New York congressman, and, oh yeah, a 1996 vice presidential candidate.
Answer below
Today in Massachusetts sports history
October 2
1978 – Bucky Dent.
Lightning Tower
- Major League Baseball has a lot of bad ideas, but playing a game at Grand Teton National Park has to be among the stupidest.
- Chris Sale is starting to feel more and more like a Hall of Famer. A good playoff run this year could really propel him to the top.
- New Hampshire political ads are the scourge of live sporting events.
- Deshaun Watson single-handedly refutes the existence of Karma.
- ESPN’s bowl projections feature UMass at the Puerto Rico Bowl or the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl. CBS has them in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and UMass fans have themselves in the CFP.
- I’ve seen and enjoyed many versions of “A Christmas Carol,” but the trailer released for “Ebenezer” seems to be trying too hard.
A real danger! Question:
Who is Jack Kemp?
Finally…
Happy National Smarties Day to all who celebrate it.
Gn sports
