Boston Red Sox: Positives to Take from Detroit Tigers Sweep

The Boston Red Sox have not started the season well by any stretch of the imagination.

Their pitching was terrible, allowing 26 runs. Their offense was terrible, scoring just two runs in the first two games. They blew two saves and allowed two walk-off wins. For the second consecutive season, the Red Sox have started 0-3.

However, it's not all bad news.

In the dark storm clouds hovering over Yawkey Way, there are a few silver linings.

Resiliency

If there was one thing (other than the beer and chicken debacle) that defined 2011 for Boston, it was the team's lack of come-from-behind wins.

If the Red Sox were down by a few runs in the seventh, the game was pretty much over.

2012 might be a different story, though, as Boston looked much better in that department despite losing all three games.

The Sox came from behind to tie on Opening Day, fought out of an early hole on Sunday and three times retook the lead after allowing Detroit to catch up.

Adrian Gonzalez

It's good to get off to a good start with home runs early.

By many accounts, Adrian Gonzalez had a phenomenal season in 2011. He led the league in hits and was second in batting average. But he only hit 27 home runs, down four from 2010 and down 13 from 2009.

He also had long droughts, four times during the season going more than three weeks without a single home run.

With a 5-for-15 start and Boston's only home run of the series, it's all been promising from Gonzalez so far.

Jon Lester

Jon Lester is a great starter and has been right on the cusp of being an elite lefty for a few years now.

In March and April, however, he has been very poor throughout his career. He has a worse ERA in only one other month (August).

He was good on Opening Day, though, allowing one run in seven innings and keeping the Tigers scoreless through six.

2011 was the first time Lester's ERA in March and April was below 4.20.

With the way Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz started the season, it's something of a relief for the Sox to have their ace pitching well out of the gate.

Offense

In the first two games, the offense was terrible.

You can write off Opening Day as going down to Justin Verlander, reigning MVP and Cy Young winner. But the second game was appalling, as Boston was shut out.

On Sunday, though, the Red Sox were fantastic.

They tattooed Detroit's pitching for 18 hits and 12 runs. The fact that they lost came purely down to their poor pitching.

Their lineup led the major leagues in runs last season, and they are playing well again. But, the Sox will only go as far as their pitching takes them.

Adam MacDonald has been a featured columnist for the Boston Red Sox since October 2010. He also writes about cricket a fair bit. He likes video games and sandwiches. You can follow him on Twitter, or tell him how awesome/terrible this article was, by clicking here.