Let's start with this: in 97 games last year, Braiden Ward stole 57 bases and was only caught 7 times. Over the course of his minor league career, he has stolen a total of 211 bases while only being caught 33 times. For reference, David Hamilton stole 185 bases while being caught 32 times in the minors. Ward is one of the fastest men in baseball.
Popkins, hired in November 2021, oversaw Twins hitters for three years, helping guide an offense that ranked 11th in wRC+ and 13th in runs scored over the stretch despite major injuries to key players. Then he was made a scapegoat for the team's collapse out of postseason contention and fired after the 2024 season. His unemployment lasted less than three weeks before the Blue Jays plucked him in October.
When the Wild Card round was happening, all I wanted was for the Sox to beat the Yankees. For the sake of the rivalry and the 20+ years of beating them in the postseason since the Evil Empire days, I was completely content with getting swept in the ALDS. I had-and have-a very real feeling that had we made it to the ALDS,
