Inside Chad Tracy’s role in the Red Sox’ turnaround: New routines, late-night messages, and a lot of winning - The Boston Globe

What the report says

The Boston Globe reported that interim manager Chad Tracy and his staff have played a central role in the Boston Red Sox’ dramatic midseason reversal, helping a team that was 31-45 after a painful June 22 loss in Colorado become baseball’s hottest club. According to the Globe, Boston went 20-3 beginning June 25, a run that included a historic 15-game winning streak and shifted the club from last place toward playoff relevance.

The story highlights Tracy’s communication style as one factor in the turnaround. After the June 22 defeat, he sent a late-night team-wide message from his Denver hotel room emphasizing that he would stand with players through the losing and the recovery. Players and staff told the Globe that Tracy’s consistency and feel for the clubhouse helped steady the group, even if no single message fully explains the change.

The Globe also reported that practical adjustments followed. A travel-delayed return to Boston led Tracy to cancel normal pregame work and let players report late before a game against the Yankees. The Red Sox won that night and continued using similar “show-and-go” routines at home, with players free to arrive early if they needed extra work. Coaches also increased focus on swing decisions, strike-zone discipline and tailoring the offense to the roster’s actual strengths.

That identity has included more walks, speed, bunts and balls in play, aided by expanded roles for players such as Anthony Seigler, Tsung-Che Cheng and Andruw Monasterio. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, who promoted Tracy from Triple-A Worcester in April, described the staff and club as moving together, while the Globe framed the changes as a mix of atmosphere, preparation and on-field adaptation.