The Boston Red Sox are off to one of their toughest starts in recent history. The club is 1-5 to start the season, and quickly fading in the AL East. If the team can’t turn things around quickly, they could climb into a deep hole in a stacked division.
That’s the concern former Red Sox star Kevin Millar expressed. During a recent appearance on MLB Now with Brian Kenny, Millar discussed his perspective on the Red Sox’s awful start. Millar drilled down on one particular point afflicting the team: Strikeouts.
“Yeah, I’m a little concerned… high strikeouts, 12, strikeouts on Monday, 13 on Tuesday.”
Indeed, the Houston Astros’ pitching staff fanned 12 Bosox hitters in their 8-1 win on Monday night. Boston whiffed 13 more times in their 9-2 pounding on Tuesday night. The Astros capped off the three-game sweep, winning 6-4 on Wednesday. That game also featured 13 K’s from Houston’s staff.
That’s 38 punch-outs in just three games. Despite the dismal hitting, it’s not the only thing keeping Millar up at night.
“It can get weird… You have a tough division. The Blue Jays are better. The Orioles are better. The Rays are always the Rays. So, it’s like you have to consider these games, even though it’s early in the season…”
The 2004 World Series champ has a point. The Red Sox can’t afford to let the season get away from them this early. Heading into Friday’s action, the Sox are already four games behind the Yankees in the AL East.
Unless the team can turn it around right away, the season could be over much sooner than fans would like it to be.
Red Sox Should Get Better as Season Progresses
It’s worth pointing out that Millar wasn’t all gloom and doom for the Red Sox. He underscored the fact that it’s still early in the season. So, there’s plenty of room to improve upon the tough start.
“They could still win the division… Get home, Sox Nation, the weather should be better than anticipated, fans are going to be fired up, you’re going to get ovation, you’re going to get music. Now, you got to get fired up.”
If Millar’s assessment proves correct, the Red Sox’s first homestand of the season could be just the thing to turn things around for the club.
Next 6 Games Crucial for Sox
The Red Sox will kick off a six-game homestand on Friday night, taking on the San Diego Padres. That weekend set will precede a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers. After than the Sox will head back on the road for three games in St. Louis and three in Minnesota.
That said, the next six games will be crucial for the Red Sox. Two series wins could easily put the Sox back into the win column. A 4-2 mark after the homestand would bring the club’s record to 5-7. While it still wouldn’t be .500, such a mark would be much better than going, say, 3-9.
As implausible as it may sound, the next six games could be decisive for the Red Sox’s season.
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