Unvaxxed and MIA Red Sox Closer Tanner Houck Gets Ripped After Boston Blows a Save and Loses

Also in Traina Thoughts: Draymond goes off on Celtics fans, the Angels are so sad, celebrating an all-time great comedy and more.

1. With the Red Sox fighting for a wild-card spot, every game matters. So when the team lost to the Blue Jays in Toronto on Tuesday, many people put the blame on the team’s closer, Tanner Houck.

Houck did not blow a save in the 6–5 loss. Tyler Danish blew the save. But Danish was put in that position only because Houck wasn’t with the team because he’s unvaccinated and therefore not allowed to play in Canada. The only other unvaxxed Red Sox player who is missing the series in Toronto is outfielder Jarren Duran.

Back in April, Houck gave a very brief comment on not getting a COVID-19 vaccine, saying, “I think it’s a personal choice for everyone whether they get it or not. So, that’s all I really got to say on it.”

That personal choice ended up affecting Houck’s team, and Boston media members and Red Sox fans were none too pleased.

Most richly-deserved loss ever. Anti-vax Sox closer is back in Boston enjoying personal freedom, while Sox pen blows 5-4 lead in the 9th. Pen never got an out in the ninth. Sox are 2-7 vs. Jays, 7-16 vs. AL East. But everybody evidently ok with Tanner Houck quitting on team.

— Dan Shaughnessy (@Dan_Shaughnessy) June 29, 2022

Counting that as a blown save for Dr. Houck.

— Chad Finn (@GlobeChadFinn) June 29, 2022

This was the biggest concern coming into Toronto. The lack of an unvaccinated player hurting Boston. It did. With their closer in Boston, the Sox are beaten in Toronto. They are now 2-7 vs the Blue Jays, and 7-16 against the AL East. Worst loss in over a month. #RedSox

— Tom Caron (@TomCaron) June 29, 2022

Tanner Houck will do absolutely anything to help the Red Sox win, except make sure he's actually with the team and available when they really need him to close out a one-run game in Toronto

— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) June 29, 2022

Tanner Houck better be at a CVS Minute Clinic right this second

— JEFF (@jeffisrael25) June 29, 2022

Tanner Houck at the border today ahead of the Red Sox and Blue Jays series pic.twitter.com/cAKRyP3nau

— spencer🦕 (@spen______) June 27, 2022

And if the playoffs started today, they’d be doing it again without Tanner Houck. https://t.co/jMBS2UixnJ

— Red Sox Nation Stats (@RSNStats) June 29, 2022

Canada’s vaccination policy was bound to cost a team at some point during the season. The Red Sox return to Toronto in late September for a three-game series. It will be interesting to see what Houck does between now and then. Especially since a postseason berth could be on the line.

2. Draymond Green joined a live edition of JJ Redick’s podcast and talked about how extra sweet it was to torment Celtics fans during the NBA Finals.

3. This is a great story about Mets pitcher Max Scherzer canceling a teammate’s debt over a dare.

This is fantastic.

Max took 1K off Shawn Kelley's debt because he throw one warmup pitch one game... pic.twitter.com/jF7eb5NOHF

— Tim Murray (@1TimMurray) June 28, 2022

4. It was another good day for Stephen A. Smith on social media Tuesday. After mixing it up with Kevin Durant a couple of days earlier, it was Kyrie Irving’s turn to give Smith even more relevancy by going at it with him.

@stephenasmith you’re gonna have to explain yourself to people in your generation. I am not around many 50 plus year olds that speak and act like you do, so this is new for me. But I am sure my father and my uncles can meet you on your level better than I can. We know you STEPHEN

— Chief Hélà 🤞🏾 (@KyrieIrving) June 28, 2022

Oh, you’ve got it twisted bro! Big time! @KyrieIrving https://t.co/sVt6KqvJs8 pic.twitter.com/pgaMbltEVX

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) June 28, 2022

5. Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani both homered last night, and the Angels lost to the White Sox 11–4. That should’ve led to a bunch of new “likes” to this great tweet.

every time I see an Angels highlight it's like "Mike Trout hit three homes runs and raised his average to .528 while Shohei Ohtani did something that hasn't been done since 'Tungsten Arm' O'Doyle of the 1921 Akron Groomsmen, as the Tigers defeated the Angels 8-3"

— ℳatt (@matttomic) May 18, 2021

6. The latest SI Media Podcast features a conversation with ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt.

The SportsCenter host talks about the adrenaline rush of doing live postgame shows after the NBA Finals, his back-and-forth with Draymond Green about “new media” vs. media and Steph Curry’s likability. Van Pelt also shares his thoughts on LIV golf and explains the various issues that LIV faces as they try to get off the ground.

Other topics covered with Van Pelt include why sporting events need more singalongs, why betting baseball is bad, the best James Corden “Carpool Karaokes,” why it’s still taboo to admit you do something for money and much more.

Following the conversation with Van Pelt, Sal Licata from WFAN and SNY in New York, joins Jimmy for the weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. This week, the guys break talk about whether they could still work for a company they sued, à la Sage Steele, The Athletic’s “no politics” Twitter policy and the state of stand-up comedy.

You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google.

You can also watch the SI Media Podcast on YouTube.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: On this date, June 29, 1988, one of the greatest comedies ever, Coming to America, was released in theaters. Here are all the iconic barbershop scenes from the film.

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.