The Boston Red Sox have suffered a horrific start to the 2026 season. They were 2-8 entering Tuesday, the worst record through 10 games in franchise history (though they improved to 4-8 after a series win over the Brewers). Fans are enraged with ownership, and questions about Alex Cora's decision-making have never been louder.
Sounds like an overreaction, doesn't it? It surely is, but such is the nature of a fanbase as passionate and invested as Boston's. Red Sox supporters have been waiting for baseball all winter long, and to see their team operating as the worst club in the league through the first 10 games is impossibly unnerving, even if it's a shortsighted mindset.
Almost was is going right for the Red Sox until Tuesday-Wednesday turns things around a bit. Even their boy wonder, Roman Anthony, has struggled to begin 2026. Anthony's 10-for-46 start (one homer) isn't overly worrisome, but his arm in left field has looked noodle-like of late, and fans are starting to panic: Is Boston's budding superstar and franchise cornerstone a liability on defense?
Red Sox star Roman Anthony isn't afraid of accountability
Anthony's probably going to figure out things defensively. He's way too good of an athlete to keep making heinous throws home. And in the meantime, it's worth noting that Anthony's attitude and accountability amid all of the negativity has been a shining light for the Red Sox.
Following Sunday's loss to the San Diego Padres, Anthony operated as Boston's de facto verbal leader and master of media relations. Answering questions about Boston's start to the year, Anthony stood tall and handled things like a wily veteran. "This is unacceptable ... to the fans," he said. "It's unacceptable to the standard we set for ourselves."
Roman Anthony makes it clear the way the Red Sox are playing is unacceptable.
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) April 5, 2026
"We need to find a way to just bring more energy and just be better. This is unacceptable. It's unacceptable to the fans. It's unacceptable to the standard we set for ourselves." pic.twitter.com/tazh4zcdJd
Roman Anthony's leadership has stood out during Red Sox disaster
Anthony is 21 years old. His maturity and natural skills as a leader were apparent heading into 2026, but they've now emerged fully during this stretch of dark losses for Boston. Red Sox fans can and should be incensed over the performance from their club, but it's impossible not to love the way Anthony is handling himself. If you're looking for a silver lining to the season so far (and if you're not, we get it), look at Anthony's leadership.
Fans don't want to hear about leadership; they want to see wins. How effective is a leader if the team he's leading is 2-8? That's a valid question. But at least we know that Boston's clubhouse hierarchy is sorting itself out early. Anthony, despite his youth, is the obvious alpha of this group, on and off the diamond. For a club that suffered from clubhouse drama in 2025, establishing clubhouse clarity in 2026 is of paramount importance.
There's bound to be further drama in 2026 regardless. Duran didn't look to happy to be benched on Monday against a right-hander, and why should he be? Boston's outfield logjam continues to reflect poorly on the front office. There are so many issues with this organization right now from top to bottom, but Anthony is working against the current.