Three Lessons Red Sox Can Learn From Yankees-Dodgers World Series
The Boston Red Sox watch two teams they have (very different) history with in the 2024 World Series as the New York Yankees take on the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers swept the Red Sox after the All-Star break in July while Boston went just 6-7 against the Yankees following a 4-2 start in the season series. The top seeds in each league now meet in the World Series with storylines to last for weeks.
Both teams offer elite star talented, productive bullpens and loads of fan interest that should force ratings to skyrocket in this battle for baseball’s ultimate crown.
The Red Sox enter the offseason with plenty of work to do if they want to return to postseason contention in 2025. They won their last World Series title in 2018 and can learn from the teams that will compete for a championship in this series.
Here are three lessons the Red Sox can learn from the Dodgers and Yankees entering the 2024 World Series.
BULLPEN CREATE SEPARATION IN OCTOBER
October always leads to a battle of the bullpens in the modern era of baseball. That could not be more of the truth for the Yankees and the Dodgers.
New York broke through after significant struggles from former closer Clay Holmes over the course of the year. The Yankees turned to Luke Weaver to take over in the ninth inning with a perfectly-timed move. The 30-year-old posted a 1-0 record, a 2.64 ERA and four saves so far this postseason.
The Dodgers won a pair of bullpen games to recover from a 2-1 series deficit against the San Diego Padres before downing the New York Mets in six games in the National League Championship Series. Arms such as Blake Treinen, Daniel Hudson, Evan Phillips and Michael Kopech have been exceptional and face another challenge against a talented
The Red Sox felt struggles with a blizzard of blown saves in the second half of the season without steady arms and the unusual inconsistencies of Chris Martin and Kenley Jansen. Liam Hendriks should make his team debut in 2025, but the Red Sox need a full reshaping of their relievers next season.
BE AGGRESSIVE IN ROSTER IMPROVEMENTS
Both teams pushed their chips in, whether in prospects or dollars, to make a game-changing move that ultimately propelled them to the World Series.
The Yankees traded seven players last December as they invested several future pieces to acquire one of the most generational hitters in the sport to pair with Aaron Judge. Soto’s game-winning home run in the ALCS clincher against the Cleveland Guardians delivered the signature moment New York envisioned when making the deal with work still to do.
The Dodgers dished out record money to Shohei Ohtani that brought the sport’s best player across town from the Los Angeles Angels. Even without pitching this season, Ohtani further raised the stakes for the talented ballclub and delivered in clutch situations to hit his team to the Fall Classic.
The Red Sox have needs this winter to become a real postseason contender. The franchise has the prospect capital and the financial ability to make a splash. Those in power must hold the killer instinct to make the daring move that can put the Red Sox in this situation a year from now.
PRIORITIZE POWER
The two teams remaining this postseason are the ones that hit the most home runs this October with 20 from the Dodgers and 13 from the Yankees. There’s nothing but power between these two mighty orders.
Judge, Stanton and Soto present a thunderous middle of the order for the Yankees that presents a nightmare for opposing pitchers to work through when that trio is locked in. On the other side, Ohtani presents the chance to go yard in the blink of an eye with a deep Dodgers lineup behind him that can surprise with big swings from depth options.
The Red Sox had a productive offense in 2024 with a seventh consecutive season with a top-10 team OPS in baseball. Getting a full season of Triston Casas, a healthy Rafael Devers and an external addition of right-handed power should help the Red Sox play to power in 2025.