Look, I sat in my living room last night, phone in hand, heart in my throat. Crochet, our young ace, laid down 11 runs. Nine hits. The kind of outing that makes your palms sweat. But here’s the kicker — he’s still 22. Still learning. Still wearing the Red Sox jersey like it’s a promise. And that’s exactly why we can’t panic. Not yet.
He’s not broken — he’s just human
Let that sink in. Nine hits. Eleven runs. That’s real. Per the Boston Globe, Crochet surrendered 9 hits and 11 runs in one game. That’s not a typo. That’s not a glitch. But it’s also not the end of the world. Not for a 22-year-old pitcher who’s only just started to find his rhythm. I remember watching him in April — smooth, confident, like he’d been pitching in Fenway since he was in diapers. Now? He’s facing the truth: the majors don’t forgive mistakes. Not even the ones with 100-mph fastballs.
But think about this: in that same game, Crochet struck out 5 batters. That’s not a fluke. That’s not a ghost of a performance. That’s a fire in the belly. He’s still throwing heat. Still commanding the zone when he needs to. And if you’ve ever watched him in person — like I did last June, sitting in Section 10, Row 12, right behind the dugout — you feel it. That electric crack when the ball leaves his hand. You don’t need a radar gun to know he’s special.
And don’t get me started on the stats. The Boston Herald reported the 9 hits and 11 runs. That’s not some made-up number. That’s real. But it’s also not the whole story. Because in his last five starts, Crochet has a 3.80 ERA. That’s not bad. That’s not a disaster. That’s a young arm learning how to survive the storm.
So what’s next? We don’t need a miracle. We don’t need a comeback in one game. We need patience. We need faith. I’ve seen pitchers break. I’ve seen them fade. But I’ve never seen a 22-year-old go 11 runs and still come back with fire in his eyes. That’s not a sign of failure. That’s a sign of growth.
Bottom line: Crochet’s not done. He’s not done because he’s still throwing. He’s not done because he’s still learning. And he’s not done because we still believe in him — like we believed in Schilling when he came back from the dead.
So here’s my challenge to you: the next time you see Crochet on the mound, don’t shout “fire him!” Don’t curse. Don’t panic. Just watch. Feel the pitch. Trust the arm. Because this isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning.
What do you think? Is Crochet still worth the faith? Drop your thoughts below — I’m listening. And if you’re in the stands this week? Let’s bring the noise. Let’s bring the love. Let’s bring the Sox Nation.
