The Boston Red Sox are in SERIOUS trouble...

The Boston Red Sox are in serious trouble as Adley Rutschman, the all-star catcher they moved mountains for to acquire at this most recent MLB trade deadline, is currently out again, but now with a different injury. I'm here to break down brand new updates from manager Chad Tracy on what is actually going on. Can we expect Adley to actually return this season? And if he does, is he even going to be competitive? Is he going to be able to be reliable not only at the plate offensively, but as well as a marquee defensive position behind the plate playing catcher? We'll break down all of that on this episode of Red Sox Digest, but first, before we get to the news and information, please do us a favor by scrolling down and smashing that subscribe button as nearly 62% of you guys actively watching this video are not currently subscribed to the channel. We do appreciate all your love and support, so thank you guys tremendously for everything, but now let's get to it and break down the Adley Rutschman conversation as I know he has not been great for this Red Sox team specifically offensively since the Red Sox went out there and made that blockbuster trade at the MLB trade just over a month ago, but what he brings defensively cannot be overlooked because if I have to witness Connor Wong playing catcher for this Red Sox team another day, I might rip my hair out. He is not great, okay? We are well past three years ago when he hit 285 and he was a very realistic and respectable option offensively. The defensive metrics are not good for Connor Wong and neither are the offensive numbers. He swung at a pitch today that bounced before it hit home plate and again, it was in the left-handed batter's box. It has just not been a good look for Connor Wong and I'm not trying to just jump on him and just bury him in any sense, but it has not been good all year long for Wong and with Adley Rutschman coming into Boston especially with the price that the Red Sox paid getting a former number one overall pick from an in-division rival someone who's a switch hitting catcher who has elite defensive metrics. It's just so infuriating that he constantly deals with injuries and not only that but the fact that Red Sox have to rely on someone in Connor Wong to pick up the slack when he has been so bad all season long. If you want to use Stevant and I know a lot of people don't enjoy using it because it doesn't paint the entire picture, look at the comparables from Connor Wong to Adley Rutschman and I honestly want to solely focus on the defense because that is the number one tell for me especially if this was any other position I wouldn't be so focused on it, but playing catcher it is so crucial to have a respectable defensive catcher in today's game especially as you get closer to the postseason in the end of September and the reason being is because if you have pitchers who give up singles or walks for that matter or hit guys the inability to throw guys out or at least a po and just maintain a threat to throw guys out if they are willing to attempt to steal bags it is a huge problem. Look at the bottom, look at the defensive metrics between Adley Rutschman compared to Connor Wong it's not even comparable. Outside of the blocks above average which Adley still clears Wong in there is no other statistical category or underlying metric that is even comparable. The caught stealing above average Adley ranks in the top 92nd percentile while Wong ranks in the bottom 14th percentile. The catcher framing Wong is in the bottom three percentile. Adley is in the top 93 percentile. It is not even comparable it really and truly isn't and again I know it's not everything but the offensive metrics are much better for Adley across the board like outside of the bat speed he has Wong be in every major offensive category that Savant wants to actually focus on. If you look at the top the overall run value I understand the base running for both of these guys is not great I won't make that argument but what they do bring you especially defensively from Adley Rutschman cannot be ignored and you cannot make the argument it is not otherworldly different when Adley Rutschman is behind the plate playing catcher compared to Connor Wong. Teams are ready and actively running on Wong every chance they get regardless of who is pitching for the Red Sox because they know they have a much better chance to steal a bag compared to if Adley Rutschman was actually on the mound and I know the offensive metrics might skew your actual idea of how great or how bad Adley Rutschman has actually been up to this point in the year and since he's been acquired by the Red Sox I won't make the argument that he's been great because I would be lying to you and I'd be lying to myself if you look at the numbers honestly they've been absolutely horrible. Let's go full screen here so we actually paint the whole picture in 67 games with the Baltimore Orioles he wasn't great but he hit 251 and overall he slashed 251, 331, 433 with a 764 OPS. In Boston in 15 games he's slashing 170, 240 or excuse me 254, 245 with a 499 OPS. It has been bad without a shadow of a doubt and honestly I understand that and I won't just ignore that but I will make the actual point that if Adley is doing that offensively but remains as great as he is defensively behind the plate I honestly don't even care. The offensive firepower on this Red Sox team regardless if he even gets in the box or not or if he's just an automatic out if like oh Adley's coming up well just to put you down for three strikes just go back in the dugout put the gear back on I don't even care because of what he brings you defensively. He takes away the vast majority of base running and stealing ability with these opposing teams his ability to frame his willingness to challenge pitches again not at the plate because you won't do it when he's batting but behind the plate when playing defense he's phenomenal and he just brings another layer of respect to a really good Red Sox defense that is missing him every time Connor Wong has to put the gear on because Mickey Gasper's not getting reps behind the plate it's either Adley or Wong and a lot of these games it's Wong and I just don't enjoy it and I would love to know how you guys feel about it I know you guys are going to be very upset with the lack of offensive production from Adley but do you feel the same way can you overlook how bad he's been offensively when you see the actual defense he plays or are you on the page that the Red Sox gave up as much as they did and they need to see production on both sides whether it be offense and defense they need you guys need to see it and I would understand that I'm not arguing against it but I'm just making the point that if as long as he's playing and the defense is up to the level we've become extremely accustomed to whether it's throughout his career up to this point or specifically his 15 game tenure in Boston as long as that defense is up to par I honestly keep telling myself I'm okay and I'm starting to believe it I truly am but with this package that you gave up the number two prospect in the system the number three prospect in the system the number five and number ten prospects in the system as well as Carlos Narvaez like we gotta see the kid play like come on like now he's dealing with a hyper extended right elbow and Chad Tracy went on to say this just before just after today's game and I'm recording this September 2nd you guys are probably watching this tomorrow September 3rd it's improving just not fully comfortable yet putting him Adley back in there yet again like I said yesterday on September 1st Tuesday hopefully he's back tomorrow alluding to today news check he wasn't there and then he would go on to say when asked the question quote is there any consideration for a full shutdown in IL stint to just let him let this rest and have and then have him back for the final two to three weeks Tracy would go on to respond with this not yet because I think there is still optimism on our part that we give him this little rest knowing that if something happened in a game we could use him Tracy alluding to the idea that if ---- came if ---- hit the fan they could get Adley off the bench and he could fill in and he could play now would he be a hundred percent it doesn't seem that way but it still seems like a realistic option that if again if it happened if things went a certain way they could absolutely go to Adley Rutschman and he could be available in a a crunch time scenario for this Red Sox team let me know down below what are your thoughts and opinions on this entire situation are you on the same page as me are you sick and tired of seeing Connor Wong put on the gear and get behind the plate for this Red Sox team or are you content with it because of the lack of offensive production we have seen from Adley Rutschman thank you guys for watching I will see you guys in the next episode of Red Sox Digest