2013 Boston Red Sox: Recapping April

it has been three long and brutal years for Red Sox fans. After making the playoffs six out of seven years between 2003 and 2009, the Sox have failed to make the playoffs three years in a row. In 2010, a talented team was so overwhelmed by injures that they had a hard time staying in contention, but still managed a respectable 89 wins. Many hailed the 2011 Red Sox as one of the potential best teams of all time, but they stumbled to a 2-10 start. they eventually formed into the world beaters they were expected to be, going 66-32 over a 98 game stretch from mid May to Mid August. On September 1st, with one month left of the season, they were 10 games up in the playoff race, and whatifsports gave them a 99.999% chance of making the playoffs. Of course, from there they went on to one of, if not the most epic collapse in sports history. they finished 7-20, and lost a playoff spot on the last day of the season. The hangover from that finish in 2011, carried over into a disastrous 2012, where the red sox went 69-93, their worst season since 1965. Heading into 2013, Sox fans were prepared for a fourth straight disappointing season, but hopeful it wouldn't be as disastrous as the 93 loss season in 2012. 25 games in, and this new bunch of players has filled Red Sox nation with an optimism and joyfulness not seen in a long time. The toxic clubhouse cancers from the past two years are gone and here are new players who actually want to be here, and want to win rather than just collect their next paycheck. Its a new era in Boston, and lets see how the first chapter of that new era unfolded.

On Opening day the Red Sox traveled to New York to take on the arch rival Yankees. The Sox dismantled the Yankees for the first two games, by a combined score of 15-6. The Yankees salvaged the final game of the series in a pitching duel. Next the Sox traveled to Toronto, after winning the opener, they were shut out in the second game 5-0. In the rubber match they clobbered Toronto in a 13-0 drubbing. After 0-6 and 1-5 starts the previous two years, a 4-2 start was a breath of fresh air. in their home opener, Daniel Nava clubbed a homer in the seventh inning to propel Boston to a 3-1 win. The Sox would lose the next two games of the series to drop their record to 5-4. Next was the Rays in a 3 game series, a series which the Sox swept, with the help of two walk off wins, and a near no hitter by Clay Buchholz. Next up was a trip to Cleveland, another sox sweep, and a now 11-4 record. Boston then returned home for three games with Kansas City, winning the opener on a 3 run homer from Daniel Nava in a come from behind win. The next day they would be swept in a doubleheader to the Royals, dropping their record to 12-6. Oakland came in next, and the Sox won two of three, only losing the middle game, on a horrific start from pitcher Alfredo Aceves, in which he allowed nine runs. Finally, hapless Houston came to town, and the Sox easily swept that four games series by a combined score of 28-10. The Sox record now sits at 18-7, the best record in the league, and currently on pace for 117 wins. Here are the AL East standings through April

1. Boston Red Sox: 18-7
2. New York Yankees: 15-9     2.5 GB
3. Baltimore Orioles: 15-10      3.0 GB
4. Tampa Bay Rays: 12-13       6.0 GB
5. Toronto Blue Jays: 9-17       9.5 GB

Here are some highlights of the Red Sox April:
1. the resurgence of Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz: Last year Buchholz set a major league record giving up at least 5 runs in his first 8 starts. He got better but still only finished the year with 11 wins and a 4.56 ERA. Lester was bad the entire year and finished with a 9-14 record with a 4.82 ERA. So far this year both have been incredible, thanks in no small part to a new manager who has helped their form. Lester has a 4-0 record with a 2.27 ERA and Buchholz a 5-0 record with a 1.19 ERA.

2. Daniel Nava: This is Navas fourth year on the team, the previous three as a below average bench player, but this year he has gotten a chance to start and has taken advantage of the opporunity. in 2010 he hit .242 with one home run. In 2011, .237 with none. Last year, .243, but up to six home runs. So far this year, he is hitting .310 and has already hit 4 home runs. he has improved tremendously and has a lot of potential.

3. David Ortiz: It may be hard remember, but the Red Sox were in playoff contention last year until Ortiz went down with a season ending injury. When he came back this year, many wondered if someone at his age could still produce coming off an injury? so far the answer is has a resounding yes. in 8 games since his return, Ortiz is hitting .516 with two home runs.

4. Mike Napoli: Napoli leads the entire league in RBIs with 27. Hes also on pace for about 30 home runs.

Now some dissapointments
1. Will Middlebrooks: After hitting .288 with 13 home runs last year as a rookie, Middlebrooks was expected to make the leap to a .300 hitter with 30 HRs this year. He didnt disappoint early on, with a 3 home run game against Toronto as part of a 13-0 win. Since then, however he has struggled. His average has dropped to .202. Luckily, hes just in a slump, and appears to be getting out of it. Ill think hell be fine.

2. Stephen Drew: Unike Middlebrooks, Im not sure this will turn out ok. Drew is hitting .146 in 15 games. Considering he hit .223 in a full year last year, Im not overly optimistic he'll be much better than that. To make matters worse for Drew, his backup, Jose Iglesias, has hit .450 in his six games. The seat is getting warm for Drew.

Theres so much to look forward to over these last 135 Red Sox games. for the first time since 2009, Im confident in their playoff chances. Lets see how May goes before we hail these team as world series contenders though. Another hot month would make them hard to ignore.