Report Card (33)
And now we’re getting down to the nitty-gritty.
The 2017 MLB season is four months gone. The standings are shaking out and the Red Sox look poised to do battle with the Yankees over the next 55 games for the honor of taking home the American League East division crown.
July wasn’t a great month for the Red Sox – they wound up shy of the .500 mark and bid farewell to their division lead. The bats have continued to struggle even as the pitching has flourished, leaving fans to once again wonder whether this team will ever be firing on all cylinders.
As we move into the dog days of August, we have to wonder if Boston will be able to put all the pieces together and start performing like their talent level says they should. If they do, they’ll lock down the division. If they don’t, it’s going to be a very tense two months.
On to the Report Card.
With the end of June, we’ve basically reached the de facto halfway point of the MLB season. Sure, the All-Star break is generally considered “midseason,” but in terms of a true midpoint, the end of June is it – three months down, three to go.
And just like that, another month of the MLB season is gone.
(Note: Boston's two October regular season games are also being included in this analysis.)
Quite a ride, wouldn't you say?
And the rollercoaster ride continues.
The Red Sox have had an OK July in terms of their record; they remain solidly in the playoff hunt despite the unexpected competitiveness at the top of the AL East. They've won more than they've lost for the month, though they certainly missed opportunities to have a much better stretch.
You probably don't need me to tell you that May was a very good month for the Boston Red Sox.
The team has put up the best record in the American League for the month, along with some of the most impressive offensive numbers we've seen in quite some time. Apparently, April showers bring May power.
Isn't it nice to have baseball back?
Once again, we reach the end of the NFL's regular season. After a brilliant first half, the New England Patriots struggled over the final eight. They finished at 12-4 their 2-2 record for the month included losses in their last two games against the Jets and the Dolphins.
It's safe to say that the Patriots as they stand currently are a different team than the one that was inspiring talk of another perfect regular season. On offense in particular, the team has struggled. Despite their losing streak, New England still landed a first-round bye, though they did cede the overall top seed to Denver.
It's playoff time, so the counter is reset to zero. However, if they keep playing the way they have over the past month, New England's time might be short.
What a difference two weeks can make.
Just a fortnight ago, the New England Patriots were riding high, sporting a shiny 10-0 record and prompting talk from fans about a possible undefeated season. After a pair of defeats one not that surprising (the Broncos in Denver) and one very much so (the Eagles at home), the Patriots now sit at 10-2. They're still sitting atop the AFC East, but the road to a top seed and a first-round bye is looking a whole lot rougher.
Man these things are a lot more fun to write when the team isn't terrible.
We've all but closed the book on the 2015 Boston Red Sox (though it should be noted that technically they aren't eliminated from postseason contention, with the models giving them a 0.2% chance at making the playoffs). It hasn't been a great season thus far, with a summer full of disappointing performances.
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