After hanging in mediocrity for much of the season, the Red Sox have plummeted down the American League standings. For a city that's used to playoff baseball and intense, meaningful games down the stretch, it's a disappointing time.
However, don't turn off the TV, shut off the radio or close the laptop just yet. There's still plenty to watch for in the final month of the season when it comes to the Red Sox.
Sure, the Sox probably aren't going to put together an unprecedented run and capture a playoff spot, but many of what you'll see down the stretch has major implications on the future — a future that now looks brighter in the wake of Boston's megadeal with Los Angeles. Whether it's someone auditioning for a spot on next year's squad, or someone showing how he should be utilized going forward, there's more questions than answers at this point. And that makes for some intriguing baseball, even if the results aren't there right away.
OK, so it's not the same as vying for a World Series title, but in a season that's been rocky to say the least, it's time to start figuring out what we're looking at going forward when it comes to Boston baseball.
With that in mind, here are the top 10 things that Sox fans should keep an eye on during the final month of the regular season.
Click here to see the top 10 Red Sox storylines of the final month of the season >>
