Oh yes, I will probably get a lot of shit for this, but I woke up in a good mood about the Red Sox, even the Celtics couldn't bring me down.
Quick note on the Celtics, anyone who didn't think what happened last night was going to happen is foolish. The Big 3 is 2-11 on the road in games that would close-out a series. I have no idea why, but that's just what they do. This team doesn't play hard unless they have their backs against the walls. That's what the Celtics do. They will win Game 7, so sit back pop a valium, because the Celtics are going to win Game 7.
Back to my annoyingly positive outlook for the last place Red Sox. I know ripped me for saying this the other day, but think about the effect all these injuries have had on this team and the fact that they are still .500. They lost Papelbon and the guy who replaced him (Bailey) is out. They lost Crawford before the season even started, and say what you want but I'll take Crawford over Sweeney, Lin, Byrd, McDonald. The Sox lost Ellsbury, who was almost an MVP last year. Not to mention all the other smaller injuries that have happened to Ross, Youk, every OF.
Now Crawford might not give you anything all year, and Bailey should make it back by July, but who knows how long he can stay healthy. Yet, let's think the positives here. Ellsbury will be back, not only does that add an MVP caliber bat back into your lineup, but it will also help with the CF defense, which I think has been a problem.
Bard and Buchholz have been a problem. Buchholz there isn't much I can say, because either he gets better or he goes to the minors. Yet with Bard the clock has already started on his innings, and when it gets high it's not like his season is over, he just goes back to the bullpen. A bullpen might I add that has been in the best in the MLB over the last month, and might not just get Bard (on hell of an RP), but Bailey back as well.
As for the rotation you eventually will have either Dice-K, Padilla, or Cook taking over the 5th spot. You're going to get from them basically what you have been getting from Bard, which is fine. So the big question you have is Buchholz, I admit it's a major concern. The other concern being if Beckett stays healthy.
The other thing that we can all look positively on is the fact that eventually logic would suggest Gonzo is going to get going. By the end of the year he should be somewhere above .300 and have somewhere near 30 HRs.
Also remember what it take to make the playoffs now. There are two wild cards. As of today the Wild Cards would be Tampa Bay and Toronto. Toronto is currently 1 1/2 games ahead of the Red Sox. So while I am aware that I am being overly positive about there outlook in the face of such things as more injuries (especially to SPs), clubhouse issues (Youk/Middlebrook), and projecting based on injury comebacks (Ellsbury) I still feel a lot better about this entire situation then I did 2-3 weeks ago.
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