The Resurgent Red Sox

Hopefully I'm not speaking too soon in a long 162 game season where anything can happen, but the Boston Red Sox are currently leading the Majors in wins and are playing like legitimate contenders. The Sox have certainly turned a new leaf from their dismal and embarrassing 2012 season, one in which they finished with a record of 69 wins and 93 losses. The 2012 campaign marked the first season since 1997 that the boys from Boston had finished the season with a losing record. The Sox are three seasons removed from making the playoffs, something they are not accustomed to in recent years. However, one doesn't have to look back too far to remember years (and decades) of futility and heartbreak for Sox fans. They've had their share of setbacks, one coming in recent years...

BoSox fans are only two years removed from witnessing one of the more memorable collapses whereby the Sox lost 18 of their final 24 games and lost their postseason birth on the final day of the season to the Tampa Bay Rays. The 2011 Red Sox were leading the Rays by 9 games as late as September 3rd before their collapse. So, before an overzealous Sox fan gets ahead of themselves and thinks the postseason is all but locked up, they need to remember that we are only at the All-Star break with more than 1/3 of the season left to play. With all of these cautions in mind, the fact remains that the Boston Red Sox are sitting atop the tough A.L. East and are headed into the All-Star break with the most wins pre-break in franchise history.

The Red Sox's record speaks for itself: 58-39 at the All-Star break. They shot out of the gate on fire, possibly drawing on inspiration from the "Boston Strong" movement. They then had a bit of a lull in early June but have rebounded to reclaim top spot in their division. They've even managed to hold of the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays who have gone 13-2 since the beginning of July.

So what have been the three major reasons for the Red Sox's turnaround from last season?

1. Front Office Decisions

Looking back, the hiring of Bobby Valentine on Dec. 2, 2011 was very curious. Valentine has hovered around the .500 mark for winning percentage as a manager and has had very little success since he managed the New York Mets to the 2000 N.L. Pennant. Right from Opening Day, the chemistry between Bobby V. and the players was tumultuous at best. It was clear that Valentine had lost touch with his players when it was reported that he was having issues with Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis, both fan favourites and proven character guys in the clubhouse. When a manager goes to the media to criticize his players before speaking to them directly, you know that you have major clubhouse issues.

Then Ben Cherington decided to go with ex-pitching coach, John Farrell to be his next manager. Although many in Toronto felt burnt by Farrell for leaving the Blue Jays, he decided to return to Boston for his "dream job." So far it has worked very well for Farrell. The decision to can Valentine and hire Farrell was Cherington's first step in turning the Sox around.

Another front office move that helped change the fortunes of the Boston Red Sox was the blockbuster trade that saw Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, and Josh Beckett get dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Sox dumped over a quarter of a billion dollars in salary to the Dodgers in the nine player deal. Although it was difficult to part with one of the best hitters in all of baseball in Adrian Gonzalez, it seems that this deal has panned out in Boston's favour. It is true that the Dodgers have been player good ball of late but they remain 2.5 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for the N.L. West Division lead and the 5.5 games back of the 2nd N.L. wildcard.

Although it was difficult to part ways with fan favourite, Kevin Youkilis, as well as prominent slugger, Adrian Gonzalez, the additions of Shane Victorino and Mike Napoli have softened the blow considerably. Napoli began the first 1/3 of the season on an RBI tear and Victorino has shown why he gained the reputation as a clutch performer in Philadelphia. Cherington has brought in two guys with playoff experience (Napoli in Texas; Victorino in Philadelphia), who bring many intangibles to the field as well as in the clubhouse.

2. Solid Starting Pitching

A second reason for the Red Sox resurgence is the starting pitching. Even though he has battled injury of late, Clay Buchholtz has been lights out by posting a 9-0 mark to date with an ERA of 1.71 and a WHIP (walks & hits per innings pitched) of 1.02. Jon Lester seems to have returned to his former self, boasting an 8-6 record (albeit with some hiccups of late). John Lackey has potentially been the most pleasant surprise for Boston, posting an ERA of 2.78 and a WHIP of 1.14. Felix Dubrount has been a solid #4 starter behind Buchholtz, Lester and Lackey, with a 6-3 record and an ERA of 3.91 with a WHIP - 1.41).

Starting pitching is a category that remains of vital importance in baseball. The 2013 Boston Red Sox have possessed a solid rotation thus far, which has accounted for much of their success. It should be noted that the addition of former pitching coach, John Farrell as manager before the season has played a part in the rotation's success. Farrell has a history with Lester and Buchholtz from his days as pitching coach and his relationships with the two have certainly helped with their consistency.

3. Best Players Playing Like Best Players

A third major reason as to why the Red Sox are in first place in the American League so far is that their "best players" have truly played like their best players. David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, and Jacoby Ellsbury have been key contributors on a nightly basis. Ortiz has been on a tear since he returned to the lineup on April 19th, batting .317 with 19 homers and 65 RBI's. 2008 A.L. MVP, Dustin Perdroia is batting a solid .316 with 6 long balls to go along with 56 RBI's. He also has collected a stellar 119 hits in 96 games. Jacoby Elsbury isn't too far behind Pedroia in the hits category (115), while amassing 21 doubles and 7 triples. Elsbury is batting .305 and has a Major League leading 36 stolen basses. As these three continue to go, so go the Red Sox.

As already noted, the additions of Mike Napoli and Shane Victorino have been pleasant surprises. Napoli was on fire throughout the month of May, leading the Majors in extra base hits and RBI's. He has since cooled off considerably, but still has 11 dingers and 58 RBI's going into the break. Victorino has missed 33 games already due to injury, but has still posted a .290 batting average with 12 doubles. Shortstop Jose Iglesias has been another key contributor for the Sox, producing 66 hits in 52 games played with a .367 batting average. Finally, the play of Daniel Nava has been worthy of note. Nava has a .288 batting average with 10 homers and 52 RBI's. Nava also has shown a knack for coming up big in clutch situations, already providing multiple walk-off heroics for the Sox.

All in all, the Boston Red Sox and their fans have to be pleased with their play so far this season. In the wake of a horrific tragedy in April at the Boston Marathon, the Red Sox have given the people of Boston something to cheer about. Even though they dropped their last two games to a pesky Oakland A's squad, they still maintain a 2.5 game lead on the streaking Rays atop the A.L. East. Only time will tell if they Sox can maintain their strong play, but if the first 97 games are any indication, the future again looks bright in Beantown.