The Red Sox thrived in an era of high-stakes baseball, consistently close to the playoff bubble, fueled by rivalry with the Yankees and intense postseason pursuits over a decade and a half.

This era marked by playoff tension highlighted the Red Sox's sustained relevance and the captivating drama of their near constant pursuit of postseason contention.

• The Red Sox were the Wild Card team seven times and had close proximity to the tension point in several other seasons.
• They were within one or two games of the tension point in 2000, 2007, and 2011, amplifying the high-stakes drama.

• The Red Sox's recent years have seen them often under or overshooting the tension point, despite MLB adding more Wild Card spots.
• They have finished well above the tension point in multiple seasons, leading to a perception of reduced significance in their games.

The Red Sox need to approach closer to the tension point to reignite the captivating drama and engagement that meaningful September baseball brings, potentially by strategic player signings like Jordan Montgomery.

The Red Sox's return to a playoff-proximate position can rekindle the excitement and passion fans crave, requiring strategic moves to reduce their distance from the tension point and restore the team's competitive edge.