There are pitching meltdowns, and then there are performances so catastrophically bad they leave fans questioning reality, management, and their own loyalty. The Boston faithful have seen many things, but whatever unfolded on Monday night belongs in its own cursed category. A new low was achieved, history was made for all the wrong reasons, and one man managed to unite an entire Boston Red Sox fan base in disbelief, outrage, and memes.

This season has not been very kind to the pitchers because when the runs start flowing, they have not stopped. It was the same when the Red Sox faced the Detroit Tigers, and the Tigers simply could not stop scoring. Things got so bad that Tanner Houck set a record and became the first Red Sox pitcher since MLB integration (1947) to allow 10+ earned runs in multiple starts in a single season.

MLB analyst Jared Carrabis could not handle seeing the face of Tanner Houck after the game and posted a photo of Houck with a caption, “somebody please hug this man.” Houck was so devastated after he was taken out that he had no clue what was happening around him. It was like Houck was dazed.

Houck gave up a total of 9 hits, 3 walks, and earned 11 runs in just the 2.1 innings pitched. In the last game he pitched, Houck earned 12 runs in the 2.1 innings pitched. This outing has been marked as the worst outing for the Red Sox in the past 60 years. With the Rafael Devers situation still unfolding, the Red Sox are already walking a tightrope. They can’t afford meltdowns like this, as it could derail their entire season.

When your pitcher is making century-old records—for the wrong reasons—it’s time to reassess more than just the bullpen. Houck’s implosion isn’t just a bad night; it’s a flashing siren for a team already walking a tightrope. The Red Sox can’t keep patching leaks with PR tweets and good vibes. At some point, someone’s gotta go—and right now, the fans have made their vote very clear.

Red Sox fans have had enough of mediocre pitching and want a change

There’s disappointment, and then there’s the kind of frustration that makes fans contemplate switching sports entirely. The Boston Red Sox haven’t just tested their supporters’ patience—they’ve performed a full-blown stress test. As the season grinds on, the mound has become less of a weapon and more of a liability. Pitching isn’t just a problem anymore—it’s a recurring nightmare. There’s a new punchline every week, and fans have stopped laughing.

Under a photo of a dejected Tanner Houck in the dugout, one fan summed up the mood perfectly: “Dudes gotta be traded when it comes time this season.” It wasn’t heartless—it was resignation. After giving up 10+ earned runs in two separate starts this year, Houck’s struggles have gone from concerning to historic. Fans feel for him, but sympathy doesn’t outweigh the damage to the Red Sox’s season.

After watching Tanner Houck give up 11 earned runs—just weeks after surrendering 12 in a similarly brutal outing—one fan’s patience snapped: “No please DFA him to the damn moon.” It wasn’t just anger; it was exhaustion. Houck’s ERA has ballooned, and he’s now made the wrong kind of franchise history. For some fans, the only fix left is launching him straight off the roster—and possibly the planet.

After Houck’s disastrous outing, one fan’s frustration boiled over: “What’s that ERA come out to be? Holy shit! At this point, is it fair to move him as a bullpen arm?” With his ERA sitting at a dreadful 6.10 and a 2.29 strikeout-to-walk ratio, fans are left torn between sympathy for Houck’s struggles and the harsh reality that his performance is no longer helping the team. Moving him to the bullpen might be the only option before things get worse.

After Houck’s latest meltdown, one fan expressed the mix of frustration and sadness many felt: “That was rough to watch. But maybe he should go too tbh.” While it’s tough to see Houck struggling with a 6.10 ERA and back-to-back disastrous outings, the numbers are undeniable. His inability to deliver in crucial moments is becoming a liability. For some fans, the time to move on may have already come.

As the season unravels, it’s clear the Boston Red Sox can no longer afford to keep hope alive for a turnaround that seems less likely with each passing start. Fans have spoken, and the patience for Houck’s struggles is running on fumes. Whether it’s trade talks, DFA, or a shift to the bullpen, something’s gotta change. Because at this point, the only thing more consistent than Houck’s struggles is the sound of the fan base demanding action.