Boston Red Sox: Lack of identity is the root of the team’s struggles

The Boston Red Sox have struggled to summon the magic that led them to a World Series title last season. Headlining the team’s list of shortcomings is a lack of identity.

At the root of every existential crisis is the simple, yet impossible-to-answer question of “who am I?” To freeze up when faced with this question is normal; developing an identity takes time. Eventually, though, self-searching detracts from a thing’s ability to function in the present. The 2019 Boston Red Sox have reached that point.

Each team is unique in its own special way, and that uniqueness goes much deeper than the names on the roster. On paper, this Red Sox squad is very similar to the one that won it all less than a year ago. On the field, they couldn’t be more different. They’re living in their own shadows.

Last year was characterized by what can only be described as magic. The Red Sox felt destined to win every time they stepped onto the field.

When they were down, a comeback felt inevitable. When they were up, their collective power could only be rivaled by those who sit atop Mount Olympus.

Maybe their Gatorade coolers were filled to the brim with nectar and ambrosia. They couldn’t lose.

This year has been the opposite. Every deficit feels insurmountable and each lead erodes like soil lying below the flowing bullpen river.

As fans, we can only cling to the memories of 2018, harping on the past. Everyone hopes for the day the Bizarro Red Sox will disappear, and the 2018 Red Sox will step out of a time machine and onto the hallowed grounds of Fenway Park.

And that’s the problem.

Instead of writing thousands of lines of code trying to build a time machine, the Boston Red Sox need to embrace the new (and quickly aging) season. Create a new double celebration. Launch a catchphrase that can be plastered on merchandise. Get in a fight, talk trash to umpires, or cause an uproar in Boston sports media. Just do something to demonstrate the individuality of this group.

The season is well-over halfway finished, but that doesn’t mean all hope is lost. As of writing, the Red Sox have won two games straight. They’ve flashed limitless potential at moments this season, but in order to become consistent, they have to find an identity. What makes them different?

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There is no shortage of opportunity in this regard. David Price’s conflict with Dennis Eckersley just resurfaced, and maybe that will unite this team. Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts are having incredible seasons, but were both (originally) snubbed from the All-Star game. Maybe that will light a fire under them. Maybe, all it will take is a well-timed win at Yankee Stadium to show them that this is possible.

There is a laundry list of things to address with this Boston Red Sox team.

Everyone cites the bullpen as the reason for the team’s failures, but it goes beyond that. There is a strange issue with patterns of run support (or lack thereof). There are questionable decisions coming from Alex Cora and his staff. Bad baserunning. Few timely hits. I could go on. But that isn’t the root of the team’s struggles.

This may sound like empty, unsubstantiated blabbering, but I genuinely believe this is the most important issue the Red Sox need to address. We need a naked Johnny Damon running around the clubhouse, lightening the mood. We need Joe Kelly inviting Tyler Austin to come fight him. Without that x-factor, that je ne sais quoi, the 2019 Red Sox will be remembered for being forgetful.

If the Boston Red Sox are still playing in October, I guarantee we will be able to point to a defining moment.

It may come in the form of a play, a quote, or something else, but we’ll all nod our heads in unison and recognize it as a turning point. The clock is ticking, but the last grain of sand hasn’t passed through the glass just yet.