Red Sox Enter Matchup with Rival Yankees Winless, Searching for Answers

The baseball season is nearing the end of its first week. The Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, and Pittsburgh Pirates all have winning records and are either tied for the division lead or playing second fiddle.

The Cincinnati Reds, despite a shaky pitching staff, are leading the National League Central, while the Texas Rangers are a perfect 6-0 atop the American League West. But what about the Boston Red Sox?

Swept away by the Cleveland Indians with a 1-0 late-inning loss, the team predicted by many not only to win the American League but take home the ultimate trophy is currently dead last in the East, having spelled defeat in all six games.

Six games out of 162 total? Why worry? It’s not even the second week in many fantasy baseball leagues. Boston hasn’t even played their home opener yet.

There is little reason to panic. With their potent lineup and veteran pitching staff, it isn’t far-fetched to believe they can still win at least 95 games this season.

But during the first six days of their baseball season, problems have crept up that could derail their chances of competing if not rectified soon.

Much of their lineup has struggled mightily, as the team’s batting average is a Carlos Pena-esque .190. Of the players batting below the Mendoza Line, speedsters Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury stand out.

Crawford is getting acclimated to his new surroundings and has most likely been trying too hard. Ellsbury is coming off a rib injury that cost him most of the 2010 season, and is getting used to facing major-league pitching again.

Both have sound reasons for their struggles, but Ellsbury’s approach at the plate particularly catches my eye as troubling.

I’m confident Crawford will be the player Boston paid $142 million for. Confidence in Ellsbury is lacking, however, and it has to do with his swing. He seems healthy, as was shown by his excellent Spring Training.

The reason he had so much success was because he strode through the ball, making good contact with a level swing anchored by a powerful stride. Now, he is swinging downward.

The result is either continuously beating the ball into the ground, culminating in groundout after groundout, or getting under the pitch and popping out.

Ellsbury is 4-for-24 this season. He will have 500-plus more at-bats if he remains healthy, but to break out of his slump and maximize his potential, he has to fix his mechanics now.

The offense has been woeful, but the pitching has been similarly so in fueling this winless stretch. Thus far, Jon Lester has been Boston’s best pitcher, as the only one with an ERA under four.

He had a dreadful first start, allowing three home runs to the Texas Rangers after surrendering only 14 all of last year.

He followed up that dismal performance with seven shutout innings against Cleveland, but, fittingly, the offense didn’t back, him nor did his bullpen.

Boston’s team ERA is an atrocious 6.30. Fueling this eyesore, the relief core has allowed 13 runs and four homers in 14 innings.

As they deal with this unlikely beginning to the 2011 season, they prepare for their home opener, a series against the hated New York Yankees.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona has called his team out this week, fans are overreacting, and the players are looking to be warmly welcomed despite their struggles.

Reading some of the articles and quotes, there’s a great deal of anxiety in Boston. New York isn’t about to take them lightly.

“Who cares if they’re 0-6 or 6-0?” Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain said, as documented by the AP’s Howard Ulman.

“They’re still a talented ballclub. And we know that. We’re not looking at their record. We’re looking at the talent they’re putting on the field that we’re going to have to face. We’re not playing their record. We’re playing their team.”

Hopefully, Boston plays like Chamberlain knows they can. After all, in lively Fenway Park, what better team to break out of a slump against than New York?