Boston's 4-1 loss on Sunday took a little bit of the luster off the Red Sox' road trip, but spirits were still high after the team won six in a row in Minnesota and Chicago, scoring 45 runs in the process.
The Red Sox now return to Fenway Park — the home turf that should cure any remaining ills.
"I believe they'll come out fighting, 'cause they're a tough group,” manager Bobby Valentine said Sunday of the the Red Sox' return to Fenway.
But the last time the Red Sox came home, the results weren't pretty. And even though the pitching and hitting have turned around over the past week, there's good reason to think that not all of the problems have gone away for a Red Sox team that began the season 4-10.
Boston opened its last homestand 3-0, buoying the fan base after a 1-5 start. Then Valentine made an inadvertent comment about Kevin Youkilis. Then Daniel Bard stayed in for another batter and walked in the winning run. Then the Rangers lit up Fenway Park like they owned the place. Then the Yankees showed up.
Sure, the Red Sox were dealing with a lack of production. But that wasn't the only thing missing the last time they were in town.
This is a team that still holds scars from last year's ups and down and that has players still getting to know each other (and their new manager). It was hard enough to play games when the team struggled just to play well, but now that the play has clicked into place, the Red Sox need to take their improvements to the next level.
Boston needs its players — from the stars to the scrubs — to start getting tight with each other and with their new manager.
Valentine knows he has a talented squad, a "tough group," and the team has shown such by pulling itself out of the wreckage of losing. But just as important as the statistical victories is to start winning with the intangibles.
Where is the next Jason Varitek? How is the mood of the clubhouse? How close are the players? Are players being proactive about working with Valentine? How much are these guys a complete team?
The Red Sox have salvaged their poor start and are clicking on all parts of the field, but they know that's no excuse not to keep working hard. And while they're putting in the practice, the Red Sox should be sure to add a few extra reps in the team chemistry department.
If they get close while times are good, they'll be that much stronger if things go bad again.
