Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Welcome to June. This is a "swoon" month for many teams. For the Boston Red Sox, they need to use it as a launching pad into serious contention. After 52 games, Boston is 29-23. That record is in the ballpark of previous years, but still a bit behind.
Here is a look at the previous seven Red Sox teams after 52 games:
2009: 30-22 (finished 95-67, wild card team, lost in the ALDS).
2008: 31-21 (95-67, wild card, lost in ALCS)
2007: 36-16 (96-66, division champ, won World Series)
2006: 32-20 (86-76, missed playoffs)
2005: 28-24 (95-67, wild card, lost in ALDS)
2004: 31-21 (98-64, wild card, won World Series)
2003: 31-21 (95-67, wild card, lost in ALCS)
So far, Boston is in fourth place in the AL East, behind the Rays (34-18), Yankees (31-20) and Blue Jays (31-22).
John Lackey (4-3, 4.84) goes for the Sox tonight against the A's.
In Pawtucket on Monday, starter Michael Bowden (5.10 ERA) had a fine outing of six shutout innings (4 H, 1 BB, 7 K). Daniel Barbarisi of the Providence Journal writes about Bowden going back to his old wind-up.
Salem has been good starts lately, including Alex Wilson on Monday (6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 5 K).
TweetKevin Thomas covers baseball and basketball for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. He wisely moved to Maine in 1994 after working for the St. Petersburg Times. He is married to Nancy and they have nine children.
Follow his thoughts on the Boston Red Sox and Portland Sea Dogs on Clearing the Bases
Follow his thoughts on the Boston Celtics and Maine Red Claws on Holding Court
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