The Red Sox are 15-16. They are 7 games behind the Yankees, 7 1/2 behind Tampa Bay. The Yankees at this time last year were 15-16, 5 1/2 games out of first place. They wound up winning the World Series.
“No one is quitting,’’ GM Epstein said in the Sox clubhouse/morgue after yesterday’s debacle. “We’re better than this. We just can’t dig too deep a hole. It’s the second week of May. It’s not too late. Is there urgency? Of course.’’
Making up seven or eight games is certainly possible. It happens every year. But the 2010 Sox have two powerhouses to catch, and thus far they have done nothing to indicate great things are in store. They are 1-8 against the Rays and Yanks, all at Fenway. Yesterday’s embarrassment ended with rookie center fielder Jonathan Van Every on the mound for the locals. Oh, and Mark Teixeira hit three homers. Good thing the Sox didn’t sign him. Those homers and RBIs are really overrated, right?
So maybe this is the dreaded season of the witch. Maybe this is the “off’’ year after making the playoffs six times in seven seasons. Maybe this is the year the Sox are virtually eliminated while the Bruins and Celtics are still alive in conference semifinal playoff series.
To his credit, Epstein was not hiding.
“We haven’t played well,’’ he said. “But we believe in our guys. With our starting pitching, we just need guys to do what they are capable of doing. The defense so far is not at all up to our capability. Not even close. It’s got to get better. I think everyone is frustrated we’re not playing better.’’
When they leave town Wednesday night, the Sox will have played 23 of their first 35 games at Fenway. Traditionally, the Sox crush people at home. This year they are 9-10 at Fenway. Traditionally, the Red Sox crush the Orioles. They were 16-2 against Baltimore last year. This year, they are 2-4 against Baltimore.
The schedule isn’t going to get easier. They face A.J. Burnett (4-0, 1.99 ERA) tonight. Their next 17 games are against New York, Toronto, Detroit, Minnesota, Philadelphia, and Tampa Bay. All those teams are over .500. Three are division leaders.
