The Boston Red Hots hit the All-Star break with all the speed and power of “Superman.”
Pick your favorite version of the DC superhero.
They are “tremendously locked in.”
Boston upgraded from a 2017 Raffy to a 2025 Rafaela.
“Team Chemistry” has overtaken “Outside Analytics.”
Complete games are in.
Bullpen games are out.
Fans, media, and even President Trump have stuffed the Red Hots bandwagon like Kenmore Station on Opening Day.
Several Red Hots players visited the White House on July 3, hours before the team launched the 10-game winning streak.
On April 10, 2016, then candidate Donald Trump declared in Albany, N.Y.: “We’re gonna win so much, you may even get tired of winning. And you’ll say, ‘Please, please. It’s too much winning. We can’t take it anymore, Mr. President, it’s too much.’ And I’ll say, ‘No it isn’t. We have to keep winning. We have to win more!’ ”
That clip has reappeared on this writer’s X feed after every Red Hots win since the streak reached four. Trump claimed credit after Win No. 8.
On that same April day back in 2016, the once-future of the Red Hots split a doubleheader with the Carolina Mudcats in Salem, Va.
Raffy Devers, Andrew Benintendi and Yoan Moncada combined for two doubles, two triples, two steals and a home run.
Devers appeared as a DH in the second game that day.
And a butterfly flapped its wings in the desert.
Yes, several players — including All-Star Garrett Crochet — skipped the White House trip.
But winning is contagious. As is truth, justice and the American Way.
Correlation still doesn’t equal causation — whether it’s a trip to the White House or a salary dump disguised as a trade.
Boston’s current playoff surge pre-dated Devers’ exit. Over its past 33 games, Boston is 23-10 and 16-9 minus Raffy. The Red Hots took 11 of 13 against the Yankees and Rays during that stretch. And let’s not forget, Devers’ swan song at Fenway featured a game-winning blast to beat the Bombers.
Devers started 73 games at DH, hitting .272/.401/.504 with 15 HR, 58 RBI, and a .905 OPS. Since his departure, Boston DHs have managed just three homers and 13 RBI in 25 games — though they’ve rebounded in AVG and OPS.
All hail Roman Anthony.
Post-Devers, Boston is averaging 5.52 runs per game—up from 4.83. Otherwise, the slash lines are remarkably similar. With Devers: .253 AVG, .328/.422/.750. Without him: .262 AVG, .321/.464/.785.
One doesn’t need Naval intelligence ( “AF is short of water”) to crack the Red Hots winning code.
Just swap “winning” with “pitching” in Trump’s quote: “We’re gonna pitch so much, you may even get tired of pitching. And you’ll say, ‘Please, please. It’s too much pitching. We can’t take it anymore . . .’ ”
They’re dealing in Kryptonite.
During Boston’s 10-game winning streak, the local American League entry lowered its team ERA from 3.98 to 3.79 (a 1.90 ERA in 90 innings). The Red Hots logged 84 strikeouts against just 20 walks, with opposing batters hitting a paltry .218.
The season resumes Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field. The Red Hots chewed through Washington, Colorado and Tampa Bay ahead of their hiatus.
The Nationals fired their manager and GM in the wreckage of Boston’s sweep in the nation’s capital.
The Rockies fell to 21-72 after dropping three at Fenway. It was the worst record in baseball after 93 games since the 1911 Red Sox.
Take heart, Colorado. The 1912 Red Sox won the World Series.
The Red Hots nest in the second Wild Card Spot and boast as many wins at the Yankees.
Boston’s odds to make the playoffs spiked from +230 (30.3% probability) in June to -115 (53.5%) currently at DraftKings.
Devers imploded following his deportation to the NL West. He’s nursing a back ailment. But don’t uncork those gold bottles at 4 Jersey St. just yet.
Members of Red Hots Nation should gird their loins for the potential of Raffy’s revenge.
The Yankees desperately need a productive third baseman. Devers’ injury has scuttled talk of a deal between the Giants and Evil Empire. For now.
Devers may well end up in Metropolis next season. No active bat in baseball has hit more home runs against the Yankees (31). The Ghosts of George and Hank Steinbrenner will haunt Hal for the rest of his natural life if he whiffs on the chance to bring Raffy to the House That Jeter Built.
Fenway’s accountants couldn’t stomach the zeroes on Devers’ deal. But $30M/year for a 3B/DH/1B is a bargain in the Bronx. If he manages to avoid simple carbohydrates and trans fats.
Your 2025 Red Hots caught the eye of Big Media.
“They are a team that, frankly, might be in the World Series if they make the right moves here,” said FOX’s Ken Rosenthal.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan agrees.
“The Boston Red Sox are legitimate World Series contenders,” Passan said on the never-to-be-confused-with-Firing-Line Pat McAfee Show.
Lois Lane was last seen chasing down Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh.
Oddsmakers have Boston at +3500 (35-1) to win their 10th World Series this fall. Before you drain your 401(k), the Red Hots face the NL Central-leading Cubs, NL East-leading Phillies and NL West-leading Dodgers in their first nine games after the break.
Depending on how things go, Trump may be a Yankees fan again by August.
Contact: Bill Speros (@RealOBF and @BillSperos on X) at bsperos1@gmail.com
