Hot Sox
April 25th 2011 18:24
The big story of this early season has been the slow start of the Boston Red Sox. After losing their first 6 games, the Red Sox astonished many by compiling a record of 2-10 over their first 12 contests. The stat geeks spoke, no team that started a season 0-6 has gone on to make the playoffs. Fans panicked, analysts dissected the issues and asked the question, could this bunch really not manage to make the postseason? After their performance this past week, the Red Sox are quickly showing that they are not your usual 0-6 start team, but they are certainly one to be feared in 2011.
Due to their recent hot streak, the Red Sox are poised to return to the .500 mark and are steadily rising in the AL East standings. The Sox have won 5 straight games and 8 of their last 9. The team is playing great baseball and has beaten reputable teams in the Blue Jays, Athletics and Angels. Their offense has been solid, contributing 5.1 runs a game over their previous 9. Struggling star Carl Crawford has picked his play up a bit in the last week, hitting at a .259 clip with 3 extra base hits including a homerun. Boston is hoping his contribution continues and he begins hitting as he did in a Rays uniform.
The larger story is the pitching staff. Over this same 9 game run of success, Red Sox pitchers have allowed only 1.78 earned runs a game. Starters have been responsible for 7 of the 8 wins, none allowing more than 2 ER over the stretch. Daisuke Matsuzaka and John Lackey have strung together back to back quality starts since their early season struggles, making many in Boston hopeful they will provide consistency to the rotation. Clay Buchholz looks to build off of his last start which was his best of the season.
While they are waiting for a few players to start playing to their potential, the Red Sox are beginning to look like the team many expected to contend for the World Series. With an upcoming schedule including the Orioles and Mariners, the Red Sox seem on the brink of climbing over the .500 mark. It appears the Sox have brushed off their early season struggles and are becoming the beast many had projected.
Due to their recent hot streak, the Red Sox are poised to return to the .500 mark and are steadily rising in the AL East standings. The Sox have won 5 straight games and 8 of their last 9. The team is playing great baseball and has beaten reputable teams in the Blue Jays, Athletics and Angels. Their offense has been solid, contributing 5.1 runs a game over their previous 9. Struggling star Carl Crawford has picked his play up a bit in the last week, hitting at a .259 clip with 3 extra base hits including a homerun. Boston is hoping his contribution continues and he begins hitting as he did in a Rays uniform.
Sox hope Crawford's recent success at the plate continues
The larger story is the pitching staff. Over this same 9 game run of success, Red Sox pitchers have allowed only 1.78 earned runs a game. Starters have been responsible for 7 of the 8 wins, none allowing more than 2 ER over the stretch. Daisuke Matsuzaka and John Lackey have strung together back to back quality starts since their early season struggles, making many in Boston hopeful they will provide consistency to the rotation. Clay Buchholz looks to build off of his last start which was his best of the season.
While they are waiting for a few players to start playing to their potential, the Red Sox are beginning to look like the team many expected to contend for the World Series. With an upcoming schedule including the Orioles and Mariners, the Red Sox seem on the brink of climbing over the .500 mark. It appears the Sox have brushed off their early season struggles and are becoming the beast many had projected.
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