The Boston Red Sox have impressed early and often this year posting a division leading win-loss record. Boston has a good lead over the other four teams in the east, as all four are fewer than five hundred at the moment, if they can keep getting the pitching and timely hits against everyone, but most importantly their division rivals.

Below are players that have been hot so far, beginning to heat up and players who are yet to hit their stride.

David Ortiz has been solid but yet unspectacular, posting 20+ RBI’s in 20+ games. Julio Lugo as leadoff hitter hasn’t been the 100% answer but has posted 8 steals and hasn’t been caught stealing this year. Manny Ramirez has not found his homerun stride yet, but has hit a few lately but his average is still around and under even .200 thru fewer than 100 at bats.

Mike Lowell has been hitting very clutch this year as he looks to prove that age won’t slow him down posting numbers almost as big as Big Papi with a much better average. Newly signed this year JD Drew has been somewhat mediocre but look for him to put up strong numbers at the end of the year, especially if health isn’t an issue. Coco Crisp has yet to become what the Red Sox envisioned when trading for his services. Only a few steals and having a very modest average of just over .200 in around 20 games played.

Varitek has posted an average around .250 so the Sox should be pleased with his at bats and contributions throughout. Staring at 2B has been Dustin Pedroia who can’t seem to hit over .200 for very long and has gone unnoticed, without a few key defensive plays this year. Alex Cora has gotten some run in ’07 with him hitting well and defensive talents being on par with Pedroia’s.

Wily Mo has been unsuccessful as a pinch hitter but I feel he just needs to get everyday at bats and he could put up solid numbers to warrant an upgrade to the 5, 6 or 7 spot in the lineup. Mirabelli has hit great when called upon, surprisingly but ‘Tek’s job is safe no worries.

Youkilis and Hinske should be 50/50 in and out of the lineup but Kevin has gotten more run this year as he has hit and kept his average around three-hundred the whole time. Hinske had been hot to start when called upon but now has steadied declination of stats to a more real avg.

Now onto the pitching side of the outlook thus far, Beckett has been awesome posting an impressive win-loss record and keeping his ERA below 2.50 for the most part. Daisuke has an ERA of over four but his record has not shown how good he has pitched as a lack of run support kills your starters chance of posting a good record just ask Tim Wakefield with an ERA of under three and a losing record as he has a good start to this young season. #38 has bounced back after a scary start to opening day posting ERA of just over three and a solid record while striking out 20+ in 30+ innings.

Julian Tavarez is in need of getting back to the bullpen an average option as a #5 guy but realistically a pen guy. A losing mark and ballooning ERA has hurt the Red Sox chances of blowing away key opposition in certain spots.

Okajima has been a great surprise this year giving the Sox pen a go to lefty after starters get deep into games. Pineiro has had his moments bad and good but for the most part looks to relish in move to the bullpen. Papelbon has been the one thing that they would have missed the most if he had been named a starter come opening day that I am sure of with him being 7 of 7 in save opportunities and having almost double the strikeouts to innings pitched, impressive.

JC Romero is a key guy for a stretch run as a situational lefty at the moment. Mike Timlin has been average so far coming back from injury look for him to turn the corner otherwise age may be an issue, but I hope it is not the case. Snyder has pitched well in appearances given to him this year as have Donnelly and also Lopez has been good for the few relief spots given by Francona.

The outlook for the BoSox after almost 25 games has to be this they have had the timely hitting needed to make up for lack of runs when their pitches have continually given them chances to win games. Though the Yankees are struggling through their young pitchers having to start due to injuries they are not far behind as first to last in the East is around a five game difference at this point.
The Red Sox should be happy with their pitching and hope they can sustain it through 162 to make a strong playoff push as pitching has never been the problem, the bats will come in time but this lineup as much as people praised it I had seen and voiced my concerns with it after Papi and Manny they are just average. But as the team rallies around one another they are looking like the class of the East and the American League so far.

Surprisingly Dice-K has not been the best pitcher which some predicted would be the only chance for the Sox to make a run as they have three quality veteran starters in Wakefield, Beckett and Schilling holding their club to the best record in the East. If Boston can beat up on the East division rivals a lot more than shown they will be able to blow this thing wide open, but don’t sleep on other teams as the Blue Jays have stayed with them and beaten without key players due to injuries and the Yanks still have the bats and Baltimore was picked as a surprising team this year if they can only post a good record for 162 and the D-Rays are a quick young and up an coming team that can beat anyone in this league.

Written by Scott Penny