I picked Boston to win the AL East and I stand by that pick 100 percent because I know they’re capable of pulling off a serious run. And, while this stumble out of the gate is eerily similar to the one the 2008 Detroit Tigers made when they lost their first seven games to start the season, after adding Miguel Cabrera and Edgar Renteria to an already loaded lineup, (“They’ll break the runs scored!” record we all screamed), I have one piece of advice for the Boston Red Sox and their fans going forward: Relax!
That's easier said than done though, right?
Playing in Boston isn’t like playing in San Diego or Tampa Bay. The media is a little more intense and the fans more
The Indians are playing a little over their heads right now and every good team runs into those types of upstarts.
You took two of three from the Yankees, and that’s worth its weight in chowder.
That said, there is absolutely no explanation for the 16-5 pasting you took from the Manny-less, Evan-less, and (on this night) Price-less Rays other than your team is playing with too much pressure on its shoulders.
It’s time for Terry Francona to sing a different song because the “we’re just taking it one game at a time now" one has played itself out.
You drop your biggest off-season fish down to seventh in the order and you still run Daisuke Matsuzaka out there every fifth day? It's not often I question Francona’s moves but that one was a head-scratcher. Not to mention it more than likely did nothing to keep Carl Crawford from pressing his way deeper into a slump.
I wasn’t a fan of this move because it comes too early in the year. Every manager has their reasoning, I know, but I just wasn't buying any of the ones Francona was selling.
The pitching seems to be coming around—in doses (yes, I did see the Rays game). One thing is for certain, this team is in trouble if they don’t find someone to fix Matsuzaka. He is far removed from the World Baseball Classic version of himself and can’t seem to control the strike zone like before.
The Red Sox can’t afford to keep running him out there if he is going to nibble corners and stray away from the plate. While pitching isn’t the only problem looking Boston square in the face, it sets the tone for the rest of the team.
This team needs to shape up fast or risk looking back on April as the reason they’ll be watching in October.
Other teams trending in a direction that won’t last:
Atlanta Braves: Team started off well enough going 3-1. I’ll give them a pass having to face Oswalt, Halladay, Gallardo, Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco.
Baltimore Orioles: Break up the O’s! No seriously, by July that’s what we’ll be saying when their hot start becomes just another feel good April story and they start stockpiling young talent a la the Erik Bedard-Adam Jones trade.
Cleveland Indians: Wow. Even I have to give credit to the start this team has gotten off to. Not to mention doing it without Grady Sizemore and reliever Joe Smith. Travis Hafner looks good early but another club I think that just won’t be able to sustain.
