This was a lot easier last season.
When the good times are rolling, as they were for the Boston Red Sox in 2013, pinpointing the best of the best comes naturally. When a team is struggling, as the Red Sox are in 2014, finding positives can be a bit more challenging.
The Red Sox entered the All-Star break nine games below .500 (43-52) and 9 1/2 games back in the American League East. A playoff berth seems far-fetched, albeit not impossible. As such, it’s difficult to take stock of the first half and not feel underwhelmed.
However, there were some good things mixed in with the negatives. The Red Sox midseason superlatives seek to identify those positives while also assessing some other interesting developments. It’s been a forgettable 95 games for Boston, but it’s also been an eventful stretch.
The Red Sox need to turn the page on the first half as quickly as possible, especially with a crucial stretch to begin the second half in which 13 of Boston’s first 16 games are against American League East opponents. We, however, face no such obligation, and some reflecting thus seems reasonable as the league gears up for what should be an exciting stretch run.
Who was the Red Sox’s biggest surprise? Who was the biggest disappointment? What was the best game? The best performance?
It’s all included within.
