Red Sox 2015 Midseason Review: MVP, Key First-Half Developments (Photos)

Some of the faces are different. The results? Not so much.

The first half of the Red Sox’s 2015 season — like the first half of 2014 — featured both highs and lows, with the negatives ultimately outweighing the positives. It’s a startling reality for an organization that entered the year with World Series aspirations after retooling its offense over the offseason.

Boston entered the 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star break with a 43-52 record and 9 1/2 games back in the American League East. This season, the Red Sox sit at 42-47 and 6 1/2 games back of the division-leading New York Yankees upon arriving at the Midsummer Classic.

The Red Sox have a four-day hiatus before opening their second half against the Los Angeles Angels on the West Coast. Thus, it’s a perfect time to look back at Boston’s rollercoaster first half.

Who was the Red Sox’s first-half MVP? What was the most surprising development? Which new addition has been the best? Let’s answer those questions and more.