Game of the Week: July 16: BOS @ NYY

[Commissioner Erick]

Boston Red Sox (50-41) @ New York Yankees (41-49)


BOS: Holden Christian (9-5, 4.65)
NYY: Braxton Garrett (3-0, 2.08)


Red Sox 5 Key Stats


87: Adam Haseley’s games played this year: Haseley was a part time player in 2025, playing only 48 games and hitting just .238 as a result. Mike Ball has given him a starting job and he’s thrived as he did in Oakland, hitting .318 with 56 walks, 55 strikeouts, and 11 home runs. He earned his first All-Star appearance this year.

28: Steve Hartman’s Save total, tops in the AL. A supplemental round pick in 2021, Hartman turned in a good year as a closer last year, and has turned into one of the best in the league this year.

.497: Boston’s runs scored, second in the AL. The Red Sox have built up their talent base and made several astute acquisitions the past two years. With the additions of Blake Rutherford and Adam Haseley, to go with young star Arturo Reineri, Boston has turned into an offensive powerhouse.

10: The highest salary in millions for a Boston player. Isan Diaz, Evan Skoug, and Haseley all make $10 million with nobody making more. Boston is also paying the full salaries of Raul Mondesi and Maikel Franco this year, a combined $32 million. Boston’s books are also very clean for future seasons.

12: Games played by Trent Clark, recent Free Agent signing. Clark was hanging out in free agency when Boston gave him a $6.5 million contract pro-rated to just about $3.3 million. Clark had 29 homers for Texas last year.


Yankees 5 Key Stats


26.2: The innings total for top prospect Luis Villareal since midway through 2025. Villareal has suffered two major injuries causing him to miss most of the 2025, 2026, and 2027 seasons.

80: Amed Rosario’s games played this year. Since being acquired to a jammed up Yankees infield in 2024, Rosario had only played in 112 games as a Yankee before this year. Rosario’s played 80 games this year and has 15 homers, a .257 average, and 49 RBIs.

23.6: The Yankees strikeout rate, second worst in the AL. Good pitching can get the Yankees to swing and miss, neutralizing their powerful bats.

32.1: Bob Allison’s strikeout rate. Allison has only played 53 minor league games above rookie ball and has looked overmatched in his rookie year.

31.9: The salary for Echo Torres this year. Torres has made just 14 starts and has a .632 OPS. He has a team option next year, which will certainly be declined for an $8 million buyout.


Questions for the GMs:


For Mike Ball, you have Boston playing great baseball and right in the playoff chase. Were you expecting the team to be so good so soon?

Bryan Martelo has had a great season. Why did you sign Trent Clark, essentially demoting him?

Logan Ice is due off the IL. Will he play today?

For Terry Kift, You're giving Braxton Garrett the start today. What are you looking to see out of him today?

How has Bob Allison looked in his rookie year?

Has any player surprised you into perhaps being a long term solution?



TRIVIA: The Yankees lost the very first Game of the Week in PBA history. Who took the loss for the Yankees?

[Mike RedSox]

For Mike Ball, you have Boston playing great baseball and right in the playoff chase. Were you expecting the team to be so good so soon?

I was not, I hoped we played 500 ball, and we've performed better than I thought for sure.

Bryan Martelo has had a great season. Why did you sign Trent Clark, essentially demoting him?

I felt like Clark was a bargain and his defense is much better than Martelo's, I feel like I improved my depth and my defensive ability.

Logan Ice is due off the IL. Will he play today?

Yes, I'm looking forward to him providing even more offense.

[Commissioner Erick]

Yankees 9 - Red Sox 7


WP: D. Ely (7-6)
LP: S. Hartman (1-5)


The New York Yankees downed the Boston Red Sox, 9-7. The hitting star was left fielder Corey D. Ray. Ray went 3 for 4 with a home run, 2 doubles, and a walk, while scoring 3 times and driving in 2 for the Yankees. New York reliever Dusty Ely picked up the win, upping his record to 7-6. Steve Hartman absorbed the loss. The last-place Yankees now have a win-loss record of 42-49.

The game was still up for grabs in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Ray hit a splitter from Steve Hartman for a 2-run home run. The Yankees, in dramatic fashion, had a walk-off win.

"I'm just looking for a good pitch that I can hit well," said Ray. "And not try to do too much."


Questions for the GMs:


For Mike Ball, Steve Hartman has had a nice season, but he took his fifth loss yesterday. Do you think you need additional bullpen help?

Arturo Reineri has 20 homers and Chris Berson is batting over .300. Why do you have them hitting seventh and eighth?

Yomar Valentin went 1-4, bringing his average to just .249 with no homers, and he also dropped a pop up. If you have playoff aspirations, do you think he's good enough to be the Shortstop that gets you there?

For Terry Kift, your manager bot pinch ran Tyler Duncan for Greg Bird in the seventh. Did you agree with the move?

Dustin Ely improved to 7-6, but the three-run home run he allowed to Adam Hasely increased his ERA to 6.02. Is he too much of a roller coaster for you at closer?

Corey D. Ray had a huge game-winning home run and scored three times. How does he fit into your future plans?


TRIVIA: Dustin Ely has 12 career losses after being drafted in the sixth round in 2020. Which pitcher has the most losses among 2020 sixth-round draft picks?

[Commissioner Erick]

Trivia 1: Daniel correctly guessed Masahiro Tanaka

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 2: Luke correctly guessed Noah Murdock