After starting the 2011 season with six games -- and six losses -- on the road, the Boston Red Sox come home for their opener at Fenway Park where they'll meet the New York Yankees (who else?). The three-game series begins Friday at 2:05 p.m. ET (NESN).
The Red Sox, fresh off getting swept both in Texas and Cleveland, enter the series 0-6 (maybe you heard?), their worst start since 1945, when they began 0-8. So what's the problem? In short, everything. The team ERA is 7.32, worst in Major League Baseball. And the offense isn't much better -- the .181 team batting average is second worst in baseball, and in six games, a lineup that features Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford has managed to score just 16 runs (third-worst in MLB). As Over The Monster points out, confidence is quickly disappearing.
The fact of the matter is that the Red Sox have a long way to go to even have this fanbase feeling the least bit good about them. With a 10 game homestand coming up--against the Yankees, Jays, and Rays no less--the Sox will need to go 8-2 just to wind up at .500 halfway through the month. Right now, much of the fanbase would accept 5-5. Some will be happy just to get the one win, no matter what comes after.
It's April 8, and the Red Sox still don't have a win. Let's hope that changes this weekend.
Friday, April 8, 2:05 p.m.
NESN
Phil Hughes vs. John Lackey
Saturday, April 9, 1:10 p.m.
FOX
Ivan Nova vs. Clay Buchholz
Sunday, April 10, 8:05 p.m.
ESPN
CC Sabathia vs. Josh Beckett