Sox: Splitting at the Seams (Poll)

(AP) Minnesota Twins’ Oswaldo Arcia hits an RBI double as Boston Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia watches during the fifth inning Wednesday in Boston.

What is up with the Sox?  The team that dominated the month of April has lost its steam.  After losing five of their last six games, it is time to ask the question... who are the 2013 Boston Red Sox?

April Fooled?

The Sox closed out their April schedule with a 18-8 record, and displayed some of the best pitching in baseball. They ranked second and fourth in the Major Leagues for ERA and Batting Average Against respectively.  Through the first week of May, Boston has lost six of their nine games, and slipped to 18th in ERA and 11th in BAA. While Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz have remained dominant, the majority of the pitching has become suspect.  When you add in the recent injuries to back-end relievers Joel Hanrahan and Andrew Bailey, this staff could be in trouble.

Their hitting has remained solid, with major contributions from David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, and Mike Napoli. Stephen Drew has even begun to heat up offensively.  However, sluggish starts from Will Middlebrooks, Jacoby Ellsbury, and  Johnny Gomes show that this lineup has some vulnerability.

On The Other Hand

However, there are signs that this Sox team could be a legitimate contender in the fall.  John Farrell has this team on the same page, and the off-field issues that have weighed down the locker room in recent seasons seem to have evaporated.

So, while the month of May has not been kind to the Boston Red Sox, there may be a brighter future for this club once we get into the summer months.  They may need to make a few July deals in order to replenish their injured bullpen, but with some great depth in the farm system, they could be front-runners for any major stud who hits the trade block.

So, in conclusion... its way too soon to tell how this squad will turn out.

-Kevin Aherne

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