We're a little over a quarter of the way into the season, and somehow the Red Sox are in first place.
Brad Penny had his third decent outing in a row and the top five guys in the order (which didn't include David Ortiz) pounded the ball enough to give the Sox the series-opening win in Minnesota on Memorial Day.
BOX SCORE: Red Sox 6, Twins 5
The Sox have been able to climb into first place even though they do not have a reliable starting shortstop, have gotten inconsistent -- and for the most part pretty bad -- starting pitching, and their DH and No. 3 hitter in the lineup has been nonexistent.
So should we be happy about this and think that it will only get better or be concerned that they can't keep this up?
I don't know if anyone has that answer, but if they do start to slip in the standings you can be sure management will be quick to make some moves.
Now there is talk that Penny will be traded before the July 31 deadline and it seems to make a lot of sense considering John Smoltz is close to being ready and Clay Buchholz seemingly has to be promoted to the big club after another dominating performance in Pawtucket.
I think I'd rather see the team trade Penny for an average player instead of dealing Buchholz for a top prospect that may or may not pan out. As the old adage goes -- you can never have too much pitching.
If Ortiz doesn't come out of this funk, however, (and like I've said before, I don't think he will) the team may be forced to unload one of its stud young arms to get a power bat back in the lineup.
Luckily Youk, Bay, Dustin, Ells and Lowell have been able to carry the offense so far and the bullpen has been stellar, picking up the starters when they've needed it.
If they can make another deal like the Coco Crisp for Ramon Ramirez steal then they have to do it. Who knows where we'd be without Ramon right now.
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