Red Sox Nation: How Does The 2nd Half Play Out?

Ah, the All-Star Break...I can almost smell the peanuts in Yankee Stadium, imagine Ryan Braun and Dan Uggla swatting homers in the Derby, and can't wait to see Pedroia, Manny and Youk starting the All-Star Game.

Thank God for the times when there's no pressure and everything's good. Well, I'd better snap myself back into reality before I become crazy. So when the break ends, what's next? Oh that's right, this little thing we like to call the second half. So how do the Sox move forward? 

If you had to classify the Sox as buyers or sellers, you would obviously have to go buyers. They may just end up being nothings.

Let's think about it for a second. Their weak spots are shortstop and maybe starting pitching and relieving. The last two are iffy at best, definetely not weak enough to warrant giving up guys like Masterson, Hansen, or other prospects (see: Gagne, Eric). They have pitchers who are injured right now or are just not producing at the level they should be, so I think things will turn around naturally. So that leaves shortstop. 

Right now, Lugo is holding down the fort. While the doesn't strike the fear of God into any opponent, he isn't playing horribly. He's on pace for around 20 steals, a .270 average and above-average defense. He also has about as much power as David Spade in "The Benchwarmers." Let's just say the Sox decide Lugo just wasn't cutting it and tried to get an upgrade. What guys are available?

Well there's...

Nobody. No shortstops worth a grain of salt are out there. If you got one, let me know.

So the Sox are left with about no impact trades they could make to significantly upgrade the team. The most intriguing possibility is for the team to deal for Mark Teixeira, the slugging first basemen paying rent for the Atlanta Braves. This is a bonafide star, and he is only 28 years old. He would definitely shake things up and provide the Sox with a middle-of-the-order thumper they could keep in tow for the better part of a decade.

But where would he play? He would have to replace Youk at first, who could go to third and replace Lowell, but where would he go? Short? DH? Of course, the Sox are the only team to employ a full-time DH in the history of the rule. (Yes, I realize I exaggerated, settle down.)

The rumor is that Youkilis (and probably some other good prospects) would have to be part of the trade, which in my mind wouldn't create too big of an upgrade. Aside from his questionable behavior in the dugout, this guy is real close to invaluable. He can play multiple positions, is a fan-favorite, and gets on base more than the entire Diamondbacks team, among other things. For the money you would have to pay Tex to stay around, I'm not sure it's worth it.

So we will see what happens at the deadline. I wouldn't be surprised if it rolls around with nary a peep. 

Buckle up, people; the second half will be a fun ride. (God, please let fun end up being the right word here.)