I would say this is starting to feel a whole lot like 2014 but it's not. At this time that year, there was probably a bit less panic considering the Red Sox were two games under .500 and three games out of first place. This time around they are sitting at 11-17 while residing 7 1/2 games back of first-place Tampa Bay.
It really wasn't until a Mid-May 10-game losing streak that wheels truly felt like they were coming off that 2014 club.
This time around? These are wobbly wheels.
The problem for the Red Sox is that there are bizarrely too many issues to zero in on. For a while, it was undeniably starting pitching but now that concern has company.
Here are five of the issues Alex Cora and Co. are dealing with which should jump to the front of the line:
THE STARS AREN'T BEING STARS
Sunday had all the makings of an opportunity for an ace, getting to go up against the team your chasing, with one of their best pitchers on the mound and while coming off a loss. This is why Chris Sale is here. What the Red Sox got was far from the dominant portrait they signed up for.
It was almost as if Sale's existence in the Sox' loss Sunday was a microcosm of this entire team: Uncomfortably unexpected.
There is a reason all of this contract talk dominated the offseason and spring training. When you get the kind of performance and production the Sox saw from the likes of Sale, Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Andrew Benintendi, J.D. Martinez, David Price, Nathan Eovaldi, Rick Porcello and other foundation pieces you expect more of the same just seven months later. For whatever reason, the images and expectations have changed.
Martinez has been the best, but now his back is acting up. Betts, Benintendi and Bogaerts? They've been decent but not good enough to strike the kind of fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers this offense really, really needs. Sale, Price, Porcello and Eovaldi have been better of late, but typically just off enough that weekends like we just witnessed keep popping up.
Who is the Red Sox' All-Star right now? Maybe Martinez. Perhaps Matt Barnes. For the highest payroll in baseball that is not a good sign.
STEVE PEARCE AND JACKIE BRADLEY JR. CAN'T HIT
In case you forgot, back in March both Pearce and Bradley Jr. were in the conversation for hitting in the coveted No. 3 spot. (More Pearce than Bradley, but the outfielder's early-March optimism had surfaced the idea of increased responsibilities.)
They were both, in their own ways, being counted on to make this whole thing tick. Their presences thus far are serving as the poster men for this tale of woe.
Of qualifying players, Bradley Jr. heads into Monday carrying the worst batting average in the American League (.150), with only Cincy's Scott Schebler and old friend Ian Kinsler managing worse clips. The Sox outfielder also has the rock bottom OPS in the majors, sitting at .421.
While Pearce doesn't have enough at-bats to qualify for such honors, his numbers are worse. The guy who was supposed to be the Sox' weapon against lefty pitching has four hits in 39 at-bats (.103) with an OPS of .295.
If Sandy Leon struggles that's one thing. He never was going to be counted on to produce offensively entering this season. These two? That's a different story.
RAFAEL DEVERS HASN'T TAKEN THAT NEXT STEP
Devers is a proven major league hitter and hasn't fallen off a cliff in that respect. The 22-year-old is hitting a respectable .287 with a .731 OPS. But the idea of this being his breakout season is starting to seem like a bit of a reach.
The lack of a single home run isn't ideal, but it would seem to be wise to wait on that panic button. The defense is a different story.
Devers continues to keep giving the opposition extra outs at a time this Red Sox team simply can't afford to do so. He is once again leading all major league third baseman in errors with eight, three more than the next guy, Seattle's Ryon Healey, who made three in one inning.
The team's overall defense hasn't been good (22), which is the go-to example of how these Red Sox are failing to lock up the little things that seemed so seamless a year ago.
THERE HAVEN'T BEEN A LOT OF PLAN B'S
Christian Vazquez has taken off somewhat since the Sox parted ways with Blake Swihart. But other than that the Red Sox' opportunities to adjust to adversity haven't seen great results.
There was always the possibility Dustin Pedroia would need more time, and that's where Eduardo Nunez and Brock Holt came in. In large part due to injuries, neither have contributed in any form or fashion.
Leon's reintroduction hasn't done much, with his catcher's ERA sitting at 6.62.
Finding consistency from the second half of the bullpen has been a challenge, with the Red Sox still trying to figure out what they have in Tyler Thornburg, Heath Hembree and Colten Brewer before permanently dipping into the minors.
There have been some adjustments which have helped same an occasional day, with Michael Chavis and Marcus Walden stepping up to provide much-needed production. But it sure seems like there haven't been nearly enough patches to put over this many leaks.
BAD STARTS AREN'T HELPING
Simply put, last year it felt like something was always going to right. This time around it feels the Red Sox are waiting for the next thing to go wrong. Maybe that's because it usually has felt off from Jump St. in most of these games.
The Red Sox have fourth-lowest batting average in Innings 1-6 (.216) and fifth-worst OPS (.648). Within the same span of innings the Sox pitchers carry the third-worst worst ERA as a group (5.73).
In 28 games, the Red Sox have come to bat in the fifth inning with the lead just seven times. So, there you go.
