Red Sox: Still plenty of questions after first two weeks

The Red Sox are getting ready to finish their 7 game home stand with their finale against the Orioles on Marathon Monday. The Red Sox enter Monday’s contest with a 7-5 record, and with a win on Monday would manage to split the four game series with the Orioles.

The Red Sox have won their first three series to this point and while they are off to an impressive start (as they did in 2013), there are still some glaring holes and inconsistencies with this team. The first and obvious one would be the starting rotation, with shaky starts from all five pitchers already this team will need one of them to step up if they want to make a deep run.

Granted it is only April, but for Rick Porcello to give up five home runs in just three starts is alarming. For Clay Buchholz, he cannot give up eleven hits in an outing, and he definitely can not give up seven runs in the first inning like he did last Sunday.

More from Boston Red Sox

Wade Miley looked impressive in his first start against the Yankees a few weeks ago, his quick delivery was a sight to see for most Red Sox fans however that was quickly overshadowed by the almost execrating 19 innings, As for Justin Masterson and Joe Kelly, both have shown they have the capability to be inning eaters but have run into some trouble as well.

Again, it is only April but the fact is this pitching staff is rocking a 6.24 ERA which is highest in the American League and that is something that needs to be addressed sooner than later.

As for the bats, they have been inconsistent as well but not as much as the pitching staff. Slow starts for David Ortiz are nothing new as we’ve seen him struggle early on before only to turn up the production once May and June comes. For guys like Mike Napoli (.132) and Pablo Sandoval (10 strikeouts), getting off to a hot start has been a tougher road. For Napoli his production was stalled for a few games, after sitting out the first two games of the season because they opened in Philadelphia.

Two guys that are on fire so far are Xander Bogaerts (.366) and Hanley Ramirez (.233 with 4 home runs). Xander Bogaerts who had a walk off hit agaist he Orioles Friday night seems to be fitting in quite comfortably early on compared to last year when he was struggling both on the field and in the batters box. This season it seems like he has the confidence on the field and in the batters box, maybe it’s because he doesn’t have to worry about the Sox Front Office bringing back Stephen Drew.

Hanley Ramirez is on an absolute tear. In the batters box. His outfield work still needs some major improvement, but with the way he’s swinging the bat I’m totally fine leaving him as a possible liability out there as long as he can hit the ball like he has done so far. What’s most impressive about Hanley at the plate so far has been that he is taking pitches that really aren’t mistakes by pitchers, he takes good pitches and with his massive legs and upper body is able to get around on the ball quickly and hit a laser over the fences. Most Red Sox scouts coming into this season did not expect Hanley to be so big (not Sandoval big, more like LaRon Landry big), nonetheless it is a welcome site for the Red Sox and their fans.

After Monday’s finale with the Orioles, the Red Sox travel to Tampa Bay for their first meeting with the Rays and then make their way to Baltimore for another matchup with the O’s.

You can catch all the games on NESN or your local WEEI radio station.

Home/Boston Red Sox