The Boston Purple Sox missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season. The group completed at 81-81 in third place within the American League East.
Boston noticed extra younger gamers take steps ahead, however taking part in baseball in October is the annual objective that’s presupposed to measure a profitable season. The Purple Sox have work to do to achieve that time in 2025.
As for this fall, the Purple Sox can absolutely take loads of classes from watching this yr’s postseason. Actually, this is one thing Boston can take from every of the 12 groups that certified for the MLB playoffs in 2024.
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NEW YORK YANKEES
Maintain the bats booming.
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New York’s lineup is prime heavy, however that manufacturing from the massive bats of their lineup is deadly. Aaron Choose had one other monster season with 58 residence runs whereas one of many league’s particular hitters in Juan Soto discovered his swing at an elite degree as soon as once more for a monumental 1-2 punch.
The Purple Sox sported a top-10 offense in baseball for the seventh straight yr, however Boston wants to search out one other hitter like Rafael Devers for opposing arms to plan round. May somebody like Triston Casas be that participant for the Purple Sox for a full season?
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
Leads want relievers to lock them down.
Alex Cora challenged his relievers particularly to get stronger this offseason and particularly referenced the monster of a bullpen that the Guardians trot out.
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Emmanuel Clase is nearly unhittable as Cleveland’s nearer, posting a ridiculous 0.61 ERA with 47 saves. The Guardians had six relievers make over 60 appearances and 4 make over 70 appearances. These relievers are at all times accessible and constantly excellent. Boston blew leads method too usually within the second half of 2024 and may mannequin their bullpen after the American League Central champions.
Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin head to free company for the Purple Sox, so the again finish of the bullpen ought to look very totally different in 2025. Liam Hendriks and Justin Slaten have the stuff to pitch in high-leverage spots. Nonetheless, the Purple Sox want extra dominant arms for Cora to show to.
HOUSTON ASTROS
Expertise performs via 162 video games.
The Astros had been 25-33 coming into June this season. Their championship core nonetheless discovered a method with the likes of Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman keen Houston to yet one more AL West crown.
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Boston will go subsequent season as its core goes with Jarren Duran, Casas and Devers needing to set the tone on the sector for the Purple Sox. Including veteran management and enhancing in-house voices additionally must be a key intangible.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Younger cores spark once they’re prepared.
Gunnar Henderson stole the present in a proficient younger lineup with Adley Rutschman, Anthony Santander and the introduction of Jackson Holliday. The Orioles have their guys for the longer term and in a yr the place their pitching may falter even with ace Corbin Burnes, counting on their youth is paramount.
That actually applies for the Purple Sox in 2025 when prospects Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, Kyle Teel and Marcelo Mayer may be part of the MLB membership and make the distinction towards postseason play.
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KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Play to your own home ballpark.
The Purple Sox haven’t had a profitable report at residence since 2022 with unbelievable struggles at Fenway Park. In the meantime, one AL group made essentially the most of taking part in at residence.
The Royals went 45-36 at Kauffman Stadium in 2024. Their greatest participant in shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. additionally performed his greatest baseball at residence, slashing .382/.441/.676 with 14 residence runs and a 1.117 OPS in Kansas Metropolis this season.
DETROIT TIGERS
Make decisive strikes.
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The Tigers offered on the commerce deadline with Jack Flaherty and Andrew Chafin heading out. Detroit trusted the gamers within the clubhouse below supervisor A.J. Hinch to get sizzling and that is precisely what occurred. The Tigers went 34-20 after the commerce deadline to defy the chances and earn a playoff berth for the primary time in a decade.
Detroit made strikes for the longer term and nonetheless discovered a technique to capitalize on a possibility within the second.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Baseball begins and ends with beginning pitching.
We talked about beginning pitching for the Phillies on this piece final yr.
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Guess what? We’ll do it once more! They’re that good and the Purple Sox ought to discover how a lot of an affect aces really make.
Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola continued to guide from the entrance whereas Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez developed into important starters for a dominant rotation in Philadelphia. Beginning pitching issues all season lengthy and particularly in October. No group enacts that just like the Phillies, who could have their greatest likelihood to win their first World Sequence title since 2008.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Carry on working on the bottom paths.
Led by younger speedsters comparable to Duran, Alex Cora beloved the dynamic type the Purple Sox performed with at their greatest in the summertime months of 2024. The Brewers rolled with that within the NL, rating second in baseball with 217 stolen bases.
Boston tallied 144 and must play with its collective group velocity once more in 2025.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Each group wants its stars.
Mookie Betts. Shohei Ohtani. The record goes on, so take your decide.
The Dodgers unleashed each penny they wanted to with a purpose to construct one other star-studded forged that dominated all year long. We mentioned it final yr and we’ll say it once more: stars matter.
SAN DIEGO PADRES
You may by no means have too many relievers.
Like Cleveland, San Diego constructed a behemoth of a bullpen that can shorten video games and lock down wins this October. Along with succesful stars within the lineup, the Padres characteristic Tanner Scott and Jason Adams as distinctive arms in entrance of proficient nearer Robert Suarez (36 saves) to seal the deal within the postseason.
ATLANTA BRAVES
Keep adaptive with depth.
The Braves misplaced Ronald Acuna Jr. to harm in 2021. They did sufficient with the roster to win the World Sequence. Will the identical script play out once more in 2024?
NEW YORK METS
Chemistry and environments matter.
The Mets had been a catastrophe within the spring with 5 straight losses. Then, some magic from a McDonald’s character, the ‘OMG’ musical efficiency from Jose Iglesias and an MVP marketing campaign from Francisco Lindor acquired the Mets into the dance on the ultimate day of the season.
The Purple Sox do not want musicians to win, although Teel moonlights as a DJ. Nonetheless, tradition issues and Boston should embrace the clubhouse to win.
