Boston radio host kills Red Sox vibes during hot streak with trade deadline take

The Boston Red Sox look like an entirely different team than the one stuck in .500-limbo three weeks ago.

Boston has won 10 of its last 14 games, including two series victories against the MLB-best Yankees and National League-best Phillies and a sweep of the division-rival Blue Jays. The Sox's bats woke up, they're playing tight defense and creating havoc on the base paths — the front office's early-season vision is coming together.

Boston's recent success has changed fans' perception of the team. Red Sox Nation wants the front office to go for it and snatch up some players before the trade deadline. A recent installment of WEEI's "Zolak & Bertrand" show may have brought fans back to Earth, though.

Scott Zolak opened the June 24 show optimistic about the Sox's chances at a playoff spot. He said the front office would have "no choice but to add" by July 30 if Boston keeps up its current pace. Marc Bertrand disagrees. His argument is humbling, to say the least.

Regardless of how well the Red Sox have played, all spending and trade decisions must go through John Henry.

"Why does anyone. . . believe that the Red Sox will do the thing that they should do. If you’re not willing to do it in the offseason, what changes between the offseason and the trade deadline?" Bertrand said.

Henry gave his first interview in years with The Financial Times in early June, and it doesn't sound like his budget plan has changed much since the offseason. The Red Sox will pursue a trade for veteran closer Kenley Jansen and likely fellow hurler Chris Martin.

Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow shared he's hunting for a temporary shortstop — which may no longer be necessary with David Hamilton's current hot streak — and a starting pitcher.

Bertrand argued that the Red Sox earning a playoff spot would be sufficient for Henry to justify that the team is good enough as is. The front office was reluctant to put money and effort into fielding a playoff-caliber Red Sox team over the winter, so there's little chance they start now.

Boston has played like a playoff-caliber club recently, but the trade deadline is still over a month away. A lot changed for the Red Sox since they dropped two games against the White Sox at the beginning of June, and they could be a completely different team again by July 30.

But if they stay hot and ownership doesn't commit to a playoff run, it may be the last straw for Red Sox Nation.

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