Felger & Massarotti Is “Small Ball” Good Enough for the Red Sox? // Mazz’s Tiers // Should Story and Mayer Swap Positions in the Field? - 4/9 (Hour 1)
Apr 9, 2026
Jared Carrabis, baseball analyst and host on The Baseball Hour, offers inside perspectives on the Red Sox’s roster and strategy. He debates whether small ball and pitching-first construction can carry Boston. He weighs lineup tweaks like moving Trevor Story to second and Marcelo Mayer to short. He also discusses bullpen, defense, and the need for a middle-of-order bat.
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Small Ball Is The Red Sox's Current Plan
- The Red Sox are currently relying on small ball and run manufacturing rather than power hitting to score runs.
- Jared Carrabis and Mike Felger argued this approach needs consistent doubles and extra-base hits from guys like Jarren Duran and recently struggling Abreu to be sustainable.
Manufacturing Runs Can Work But Consistency Is Missing
- Playing defense and manufacturing one-run wins can get the Sox to roughly an 85-win season, but only if executed consistently.
- Felger and Massarotti doubt the team has the defensive reliability and discipline to sustain that approach all season.
Outfield Defense Undermines Small Ball Plan
- Outfield defense is a major concern: Duran seen as unreliable, Rafael good but prone to mistakes, Abreu improved but not elite.
- Felger warns defensive lapses make manufacturing single-hit innings unsustainable since routine outs change game course.