Boston Red Sox: 5 Keys to Second Half Success

The Boston Red Sox were expected to run away with the American League East after signing Carl Crawford and trading for Adrian Gonzalez this past offseason but that hasn't happened. The Red Sox sit in second place, 1.5 games behind the New York Yankees, with a record of 49-34. In order to catch, and eventually pass the Yankees, the Red Sox will need a few things to go right for them. Here are five keys to second half success for the Red Sox.

1. Andrew Miller

A couple weeks ago you would think this was a crazy statement but Andrew Miller has inserted himself as a very important piece of the Red Sox rotation. Miller has posted a record of 2-0 with a 3.06 ERA in three starts with the team thus far. He has provided some stability in the rotation with three quality starts after Clay Buchholz went down with a back injury. If Buchholz is out longer than expected and John Lackey keeps pitching as bad as he has been, Miller could make or break the Red Sox second half run as the teams No. 3 starter. 

2. Jon Lester

Like Miller, Jon Lester's successes and failures could make or break the second half for the Boston Red Sox. Despite posting a 10-4 record, Lester has yet to seem like himself up to this point in the season. His K/9 is down over a point from last season and is allowing batters to hit for a higher average and slugging percentage than years past. If Lester's last start against the Houston Astro's is a sign of things to come, the Red Sox should have no fear that Lester will be able to lead them to the postseason alongside fellow ace, Josh Beckett. 

3. Finding a 7th Inning Bullpen Pitcher

The back end of the Red Sox bullpen is as good as it gets with Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon but the seventh inning spot in the bullpen has still not been solidified. Despite the many candidates, no one man has stepped up to seize to position. Bobby Jenks has been inconsistent and on and off the disabled list and Dan Wheeler has been better since coming off the disabled list but still hasn't shown he can be the go to guy. As of now, it seems as if Matt Albers is the man, compiling a solid resume thus far with a 2.97 ERA in 30.1 innings pitched. If neither Jenks or Wheeler step up, the spot is Albers' to lose but you'd have to think the Red Sox hope they can get one of the two aforementioned pitchers to give them something productive. 

4. Find a Permanent Solution in Right Field

With J.D. Drew losing playing time recently, it is time for the Red Sox to find a a permanent solution in right field for the second half of the season, whether it be by trade or a player already on the team. Mike Cameron was clearly not the solution as he was designated for assignment this past week and it appears as though Darnell MacDonald is not the guy either as his average is hovering in the 100's. Josh Reddick has shown promise in limited playing time but the jury is still out as to whether he can keep it up. It appears as though the Red Sox will have to make a decision if they will ride it out with Drew, give Reddick a chance or possibly make a trade for a player such as Carlos Beltran but whatever they do, they should make it permanent because it is difficult for a player to stay hot if they are not in the lineup every day. 

5. Health

The Achilles' heel of the 2010 Boston Red Sox was health. The Red Sox have proceeded with caution handling its injured players in the first half of this season to prevent that from happening again. Clay Buchholz is exhibit No. 1, who had an inured back and was placed on the disabled list to prevent further injury when it was said that he could have pitched if it was late in the season in the playoff race.

Josh Beckett was also handled with caution when he became sick recently and missed a couple starts. The Red Sox will need Buchholz and Carl Crawford to come off the disabled list completely healthy to enjoy success in the second half of the season.

If the core of the team can stay healthy, unlike last season, then it shouldn't come as a surprise if the Red Sox make a deep run into the postseason.