NEW YORK – Many of the men who returned quietly to the visitors clubhouse at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night wasted no time showering, changing into their travel clothes and packing their bags.
Not Alex Bregman, though. As the room emptied out, he sat in front of his locker, in uniform, until after 11:35 p.m.
His postseason streak had continued into a ninth consecutive year, but only just.
“Remember this feeling,” Bregman said he told his teammates, “because it sucks. You don’t want to feel it. Take it into your offseason, continue to get better. I think you can look around the room and say that every single player in this locker room got better as the year went on, and there’s no steps back now. It’s only steps forward.”
Across the clubhouse, Trevor Story shared in his pain, but for different reasons. After years of injuries and October-less finishes, this was the comeback season for which he had fought so hard. He had proven that he was still one of the best all-around shortstops in the game, and the Red Sox had finally completed a winning season and clinched a postseason berth.
“Individually, team-wise, there’s a lot of good that happened during the season,” said Story. “My joy for the game definitely came back this year, and obviously (I’ve) been through a lot the last few years. This was the most fun I’ve had playing baseball.”
Six days later, their first playoff run in four years was over after three games. In the coming days, the Red Sox will scatter to their offseason homes, but with unfinished business hanging over their heads like a thick veil.
“This one stings, man,” Story said, matter of factly. “You just want to keep playing, man. I love our teammates, I love everything we got going. You just don’t want to say bye to the guys and go on to the offseason.”
Two of the team’s most respected veteran leaders, Bregman and Story each expressed confidence that the Red Sox are on the right path.
“The future’s bright,” said Bregman. “Obviously, this sucks right now. This is brutal. We envisioned winning (Game 3) and making a deep run, but proud of the fight in this room, proud of the guys. It was an honor to put on this jersey.”
“It’s a lot of experience for young guys and veteran guys, too. That’s hard to find,” concurred Story. “I think it’s a building block for what we want to do in the years to come… It feels like we took a step this season in the right way from all different aspects of our organization… There’s a lot to be proud of this year. And something we can build on.”
Yet whether they will be here for what comes next remains to be seen. Both have opt-outs this offseason.
Asked if he could envision being a part of the Red Sox in the future, Bregman said, “Of course. Um, I’m not even thinking about that at all right now. I’m thinking about the game that just happened.”
“It’s not at the top of mind, I’m not going to speak on that right now,” said Story, “but you know I came here to be here for a long time.”
Story also made it clear that he ensuring Bregman stays in Boston should be at the top of the front office’s to-do list.
“You saw the impact that he had on this organization, on the field, off the field, leadership-wise, all of it, man,” said Story, “and he’s a special player, he’s a special mind, and hopefully we can keep him for a long time… I think it’s a huge priority.”
