First and foremost, way to go 2025 Boston Red Sox. 81-81 season in 2024 and a resurgent 89-73 2025 season has earned you a spot in the 2025 MLB Postseason. From here, anything is possible. I hope to be watching Aroldis Chapman, sitting in the bullpen in Game 5 of the World Series vs the Chicago Cubs, with the Sox up 10-1 in the bottom of the 9th, as the Red Sox dismantle the Cubs hopes of another title, on my sister’s birthday at Fenway Park. Yes, that is my prediction for the 2025 MLB World Series – Boston Red Sox win the title 4-1 over the Chicago Cubs.

Back to reality, there are a number of stories I will be following this 2025 MLB Postseason. Do the 50+ home run hitters show up or do they strike out? Do the 30 HR, 30 stolen base crew do their thing and hit and steal the games or do they fizzle under the pressure of the postseason? Which manager will outthink Terry Francona, Dave Roberts, Alex Cora, Aaron Boone – managers who have significant playoff experience? Will a mega-team like the LA Dodgers prevail over a “just happy to be here” Cincinnati Reds team? Here are some other intriguing stories:

Will Aaron Judge or Bryce Harper get to hoist the WS trophy first? Both Judge and Harper seemed destined for Cooperstown when their playing careers end several years from now. But will one of them win a World Series trophy and if not, will that tarnish their career highlights one bit? My vote says they are in regardless of the WS trophy but many will “judge” them for their postseason prowess or lack thereof. If I had to pick, I would say Harper will get one before Judge.

The Terry Francona factor is real. Managers don’t throw the ball, catch the ball, hit the ball, bunt the ball. Managers assemble lineups and manipulate pitching rotations and call plays to impact the game. Nobody left managing is at Francona’s level. He can take lemons and make the most delicious lemonade you have ever tasted. Watch out for a big time upset by the Reds, who are just happy to be in the playoffs, and will be tossing star RHP Hunter Greene in Game 1.

Will the resting teams with the byes be able to rebound after a week or so off? Toronto had to fight hard in its last 2 series to take the AL East crown, and now waits until Saturday to play again. Milwaukee really took the NL Central by storm and stayed atop for most of the 2nd half of 2025. Philly and Seattle had to work hard to maintain their top spots in their respective divisions. And now all 4 clubs will sit and watch. Not where I would want to be. I would prefer to keep playing meaningful, stressful games. We shall see if any of the time off affects these 4 clubs, as it has to other teams in years past.

Players I am rooting for this postseason, just not versus the Boston Red Sox at any point in time:

• If he is on their postseason roster – San Diego Padres RHP Michael King, that Rhode Island connection never gets old
• the aforementioned Cincinnati Reds RHP Hunter Greene, once a HS two way phenom player, has settled in as one of the NL’s best starting pitchers
• Detroit Tigers utility player Javier Baez, you just never know what to expect from Baez at the plate, in the infield, in the outfield, on the basepaths. Baez plays every game like its his last and makes some of the most outrageous and spectacular plays.
• Philadelphia Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber, he hits mammoth home runs and trots around the bases like the modern day Sultan of Swat. Yes, I said it, he runs the bases like Babe Ruth. You disagree???

For the Boston Red Sox, I am closely watching the insertion of rookies Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony in the American League Division Series vs. Toronto, if at all. Mayer and Anthony are rehabbing down in Florida, per the Red Sox social media machine, in the event the Sox make it further in the playoffs than their Round 1 matchup vs the NY Yankees. If Mayer and/or Anthony play in the postseason, it will give the Red Sox such a huge offensive and defensive boost, it will give the fan base extra juice, it will give Red Sox Nation a giant gift – honestly I don’t see how we lose a game or series because of it. Do I think it will happen, maybe. Should it happen, probably not. But is it a fantastic story to follow, absolutely yes.

So, just about 1 month from now, we will have the AL and NL pairings for the 2025 MLB World Series. My prediction is Boston Red Sox, American League and Chicago Cubs, National League. Boston will win the series 4-1, at Fenway Park, on my sister’s birthday, October 29th. Garrett Crochet will be the WS MVP. Go Sox!!!