Boston Red Sox Midseason Grades

This gives me an excellent idea for the end of next year's television! But since The Office and 30 Rock won't be there, The Office gets an A+ and 30 Rock an A-. Now onto the real point of this post.

I believed in the Red Sox. I thought that this year would be better than last year at the very least. I didn't think they'd have the best record in the MLB, however. I did have faith, though. I saw those posters that said 'What's Broken Can Be Fixed' and '162 Games To Restore Faith' with Pedroia and Ortiz in the background as the heart of the Red Sox and the reason for Boston fans to believe. The media guide was of Pedroia and Ortiz. But it's become about more than just them. It's become the whole team under the guidance of John Farrell. Gomes, Napoli, Ellsbury...you know what? We'll do it one at a time. Also, Hanrahan, JBJ and Ross didn't do enough to get a grade.

Craig Breslow: Expectations: D+, Actual: B: One of the more pleasant surprises of this year's team is the bullpen. Breslow has been one of the few relief pitchers to stay healthy. Plus he's pitching with a 2.88 ERA and 19 strikeouts to boot. Not to mention his 1.34 WHIP, which is incredible.

Ryan Dempster: Expectations: B-, Actual: C: Dempster has been kind of disappointing this year. I'd go as far as to say he's the weak link of the pitching staff. Even then, he's not terrible. Sure, he's 5-8 with a 4.28 ERA, but 108 isn't anything to scoff at. Plus, the .253 batting average against opposing hitters is respectable.

Felix Doubront: Expectations: C, Actual: B-: In a role reversal with Dempster, Doubront hasn't been half bad this year. The 25 year-old has fired 98 strikeouts with a 7-3 record and a 3.76 ERA. Plus, the eight home runs he's given up is a great improvement on last year's 24.

John Lackey: Expectations: F, Actual: A: This is one of the most surprising things I've ever seen in my life. Lackey was awful and I dreaded his return to the mound. However, he lost weight, he got down to work, he actually returned from an injury. Now, he might be 7-7, but with the 2.95 ERA, do I dare say he's the ace?

Jon Lester: Expectations: B+, Actual: B: Lester was wicked hot to start off the year with a 4-0 record, a 3.11 ERA and 33 strikeouts in April. Now he's 8-6 with 4.55 and 107 strikeouts. He's got some control issues, but with just a little bit of work, he'll back to the ace we know and love.

Junichi Tazawa: Expectations: C-, Actual: B+: I struggle to put him in the A's because of his four blown saves, but it's hard to ignore the ERA under 3.00 at 2.93 and 47 strikeouts. Plus, his 1.21 WHIP puts him in the top tier of American League relief pitchers.

Andrew Miller: Expectations: C-, Actual: B-: This bearded devil was putting up career numbers with a 2.64 ERA and 48 strikeouts in only thirty innings pitched. Unfortunately, four days ago it came to a crashing halt after he was placed on the 60 day DL for foot surgery.

Andrew Bailey: Expectations: C-, Actual: F: After Hanrahan went down, Bailey stepped in as the closer and didn't do so hot. His numbers don't look terrible with a 1.22 WHIP and a 3.77 ERA, but he only saved eight games out of thirteen opportunities. Plus, the opposition's .321 batting average with no runners on in the ninth is troubling.

Koji Uehara: Expectations: C-, Actual: A: Alas! Here stands before us the closer we were waiting for! He's saved nine games and struck out 63 in only forty-four innings. Plus, his 1.62 ERA and 0.74 WHIP are among the best in the bigs. He was also very close to the All-Star Game.

Clay Buchholz: Expectations: C, Actual: A-: He'd have an A+ if he could stay healthy, a concern even in spring training. Before his stint on the DL, he was the best pitcher in the American League with his 9-0 record, 81 strikeouts, 1.71 ERA and 1.02 WHIP and a 1.95 opposing batting average. Those are Cy Young numbers.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia: Expectations: C+, Actual: B-: He was putting up career numbers. *Cough, cough 23 RBIs in May and June.* But he's tapered off a bit. He's put up modest numbers, but they're respectable, .257 with 8 homers and 37 RBIs. He plays with heart though...and a pretty cool .991 fielding percentage.

Stephen Drew: Expectations: D, Actual: C+: Every time Drew hits a double, I think, wow! Drew's been doing great lately! But, the consistency isn't really there at all. He's only hitting .226 plus 71 strikeouts in only 69 games. One pleasing stat is those three triples. That's something to build off of.

Jose Iglesias: Expectations: B, Actual: A-: There was a brief moment where everyone thought that Iglesias might be the first guy since Ted Williams to hit over .400. He's hitting .348 now. Still pretty spectacular. His power numbers are modest, but that doesn't mean he's not a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year.

Mike Napoli: Expectations: C+, Actual: B+: There was some concern about his hip, but when he was signed to only a one year deal, there was a factor of low risk, high reward. The reward has been high. He hits well when it matters, but that doesn't mean his other numbers are modest. 13 home runs and 62 RBIs are pretty good numbers for a one-year, last-minute signing.

Dustin Pedroia: Expectations: A-, Actual: A: He's putting up the best numbers of his career. Yes, the same career that includes a 2008 MVP year. He'll be in Boston through 2021, and it doesn't hurt that he's batting .306 with 58 RBIs. He's flirting with a .400 OBP and even though his power numbers are down - six home runs - his presence is felt in much more facets.

Mike Carp: Expectations: D+, Actual: B+: It's curious why Farrell hasn't been playing Carp too often. He's been a very nice surprise, hitting .317 with eight homers. Two stats that stand out? Batting .400 with runners in scoring position and his 21 RBIs when he's down in the count, 75% of his total RBIs.

Jacoby Ellsbury: Expectations: B, Actual: A-: There's been a huge drop-off in power (32 home runs in 2011, eight home runs in 2012 and 2013 combined). No worries, though. He's still hitting over .300 and he leads the American League with 37 stolen bases. He's only been caught thrice.

Jonny Gomes: Expectations: C-, Actual: B: Probably the most clutch hitter on the team right now, Gomes had low expectations, coming in as a role player for the bench. He's started many games (71 of 102, lot more than a bench player usually does). Most of his eight home runs have come in clutch, late-game situations.

Daniel Nava: Expectations: C, Actual: A: At thirty years old, it seemed like Nava would be destined for a life of kicking around the minors, despite a grand slam in his first major league appearance. His home run after the Boston Marathon was one of ten that contributes to his 52 RBIs, .287 average and .372 OBP in only 90 games.

Shane Victorino: Expectations: B-, Actual: B: He's struggled with injuries so far this year, but despite that, he's managed to play 68 games with a .284 average and .988 fielding percentage. He's not shy about flashing the leather. Another curious stat, he has 2 home runs and 13 RBIs in both home and away games.

Will Middlebrooks: Expectations: B+, Actual: C-: Another difference between the 2012 Sox and 2013 Sox is that there's no qualms about sending someone to the minors who isn't performing and needs to get sorted out. Will would never have been sent down last year, but this year, with only a .192 average and a third of his nine homers coming in only one game, he needed to go down to figure it out. Since then, he's hitting .263 with seven homers in Pawtucket.

David Ortiz: Expectations: B, Actual: A: The ageless wonder! Ortiz is putting up career numbers at thirty-seven years old. He's only played in 82 games due to a first month injury, but he was the AL all-star starting DH anyway due to his .324 average, 19 home runs, 65 RBIs and a .406 OBP! Those numbers are all the highest on the team.

John Farrell (and the Red Sox, too): Expectations: D, Actual: A: No one expected much from the Red Sox, but Farrell (and Cherington too) have lead them to 61 wins in 102 games. A much more blistering pace than last year. The Sox lead the majors in runs and on-base percentage and they are in second in slugging percentage and third in batting average. Plus, they're fifth in quality starts. Not shabby.