Boston Red Sox first half grades
By Rick McNair
The Boston Red Sox have had a rough June and that is quite an understatement. With half the season gone it is time for some grades.
What a difference one month makes for the Boston Red Sox. April the team finished 14-10 and bumped that up to a remarkable 18-10 in May with the offense pacing the way. The hitting simply masked other issues and by issues that goes by the title – pitching.
The month of June was a disaster for the Red Sox as they managed to compile a dismal 10-16 record while routinely falling behind or giving up leads. The early months certainly provided some comfort in allowing the Red Sox to complete the first half of the schedule with a 19-17 road record. A bit early on the 81 game schedule – the team is at 78, but the end of June does make a nice break point.
Searching for good news is the fact that MLB has created some interesting playoff options to keep even the lowest rung teams with a certain degree of potential resurrection and a chance at going into the playoffs. Of course, the problem that surfaces is the “Pirates Syndrome” where Pittsburgh has managed a 0-3 record the last three years in the one and out the game.
Injuries are always a factor, especially with pitching that is now on the endangered species list. Rare is the healthy and consistently good arm and when one is located it is best to hold on or if sold get plus value. The Red Sox certainly have faced the grim reaper of pitching with both injuries and career crashes that make 1929 look like a mere financial bump.
With offense, you know that some will return to past glory years, others will surprise with great production, others will surprise with no production and some will stay right in that niche you expected. The bottom line vision is that the good will outweigh the bad and you will have a tick – slight or magnificent – upwards.
The first half grades are in and a few made the Dean’s List and a few would be best served by being placed on one of the Boston Harbor Islands for the duration of the season.