Why WEEI's Rob Bradford was confused about Garrett Crochet's outing on Wednesday

The WEEI Afternoons podcast dives into the Red Sox's rocky start to the 2026 season, focusing on concerns around team leadership, player performance, and roster construction. Hosts Ted and Rob Bradford express alarm over the team's 1-5 record, highlighting a lack of veteran leadership following Alex Bregman's departure and questioning whether younger players like Caleb Durbin and Roman Anthony can step up. They scrutinize poor offensive production, particularly high strikeout rates and underperforming key hitters, while also analyzing recent pitching struggles—especially Garrett Crochet’s off-day outing, which they speculate may have been impacted by catcher Carlos Narvaez’s absence. The discussion extends to the underwhelming first starts of new free-agent signings Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez, though the hosts remain cautiously optimistic about prospects like Connelly Early. The episode underscores a growing anxiety about the team’s ability to self-correct amid a competitive American League East, with the Yankees emerging as a looming threat. Despite the pessimism, the hosts hold onto hope that the team can stabilize as the season progresses. Key takeaways include: 1) The Red Sox lack a proven veteran leader to guide younger players through adversity; 2) High strikeout rates and poor contact hitting are the most concerning offensive issues; 3) Manager Alex Cora faces challenges in optimizing a crowded and underperforming outfield; 4) Pitching struggles, especially from aces like Crochet, may be exacerbated by in-game disruptions like catcher changes; 5) The team must quickly identify and deploy their best players to avoid falling further behind in the standings.