Mark of Inconsistency

One of the most frustrating aspects of this baseball season so far has been the maddening inconsistency of the Boston Red Sox. Many have called this team the best in baseball but there’s no way I can agree with that. Yes, they are 21-5 at home but they have been awful on the road at 11-18 including 1-4 so far on this 10 game trip. Championship caliber teams win road games, period. And right now I don’t see the Red Sox as anywhere near that. They just can’t play a complete game on the road. When they pitch well they don’t hit. When they hit, their pitching implodes. That is the mark of a mediocre team, not a big winner. I don’t care how many games they win at home. Unless they start winning more consistently away from Fenway Park their record is going to stay where it is now- floating around 8 or 9 games over .500 and that ain’t gonna get it done. That’s an 85 win, mediocre team not a playoff contender. I can’t explain what the problem is except to say that the team has no comeback ability away from Fenway. They look listless and like a team that is willing to accept defeat when things go south early in a game. That is extremely frustrating to watch. I expect better from a team filled with experienced veterans who have had a lot of road success. Guys like Jason Varitek and David Ortiz need to turn over some post-game buffet tables to get this team going. Because if they don’t, this team’s road play is going to cost them a chance to win an AL East that isn’t all that good. All the teams have bad flaws. The Yankees can’t pitch, Toronto can’t hit, the Rays are a bit young to think they will last the whole year and the Orioles are just overachieving right now. This should be a recipe for the Red Sox to coast to the division title. But until or unless they fix these road woes they will remain stuck in neutral for most of the season.