Home Field Advantage?

Since the All-Star Break, the Boston Red Sox have posted a less than impressive 3-3 record. They’ve been playing .500 ball since the beginning of June and by the looks of it, aren’t about to let up yet. In 2004 the Sox did the same thing, they weren't in first, but I don’t think they’ll have the same season changing moment like they did in the comeback win over the Yankees at Fenway when Bill Mueller smacked a homerun in extra innings off the then untouchable Mariano Rivera. That was the same game that produced the indelible picture of Jason Varitek smashing his glove into A-Rod’s face. That was the catalyst that gave them their attitude for the rest of the year all the way to the World Series win. When I’m sad or in a bad mood, I look at that picture.

The Sox have not really looked that impressive in any of their victories in the first half. They’ve won by a few runs each time, but nothing to write home about. The loss last night to a team like Kansas City is bound to happen every once in awhile. The Royals have some great young bats in their lineup, and it’s only a matter of time before the team gets going against a pitcher like Tim Wakefield who gave up a lot of hits (9), but no walks and no home runs, which is usually Wake’s Achilles heel when he’s off.

Boston needs to win tonight to keep their margin on the Yankees. I’ve gotten used to and probably too comfortable having a double digit lead over the rest of AL East. With a struggling Chicago White Sox team coming in Thursday for a four game weekend series, I would hope that Boston should only lose about one or two more games until they hit the road and go to Cleveland next Monday. Cleveland owns the best home record in the bigs with a record of 31-14, tied with the LA Angels and the Milwaukee Brewers. After this weekend the Sox are at home for, get this, three more series in the next six weeks. August will be very unforgiving and Boston will need to find out what they are playing for and not get complacent. Right now, the Sox are their own worst enemy.

It would be nice to see some off season acquisitions step up and do their part. SS Julio Lugo and RF JD Drew should start heating up the rest of this month into August. I’m hoping that proven players like these two should come around. Terry Francona seems to have confidence in these two to get out of their slump, and Tito really hasn’t made too many mistakes the past few seasons. As long as Big Papi can hold it together for the rest of the year and stay off the DL, and Manny can continue to do as well as he has after his season starting slump and if rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia keeps making noise for rookie of the year, they should be in good enough shape to at least make it to the playoffs. Couple that with players that will grind out for the rest of the season in 1B Kevin Youkilis and All-Star 3B Mike Lowell, that gives them an even better shot. With the way Detroit, LA and Cleveland are playing though, and with Minnesota possibly heating up and lurking in the background, you’d think the Sox will need to step up and play to their potential like they did in April and May. And that’s when Manny and Pedroia were hitting under .200.