Biggest Surprise: Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Entering the season, the Red Sox were seemingly inching to the beginning of the Ryan Lavarnway Era. Instead, Jarrod Saltalamacchia has silenced all critics by providing the Red Sox with offensive firepower.
Through 68 games this season the Red Sox catcher has already set a career-high mark in home runs (17) and added 41 RBIs as well. Those numbers have helped contribute to the catcher's .807 OPS, which would also set a career high if sustained throughout the second half.
His performance enabled Boston skipper Bobby Valentine to use him in the cleanup spot on a few occasions.
Biggest Disappointment: Jon Lester/Josh Beckett
In 32 combined starts for the Red Sox, Jon Lester and Josh Beckett have tallied a grand total of nine wins. It's well short of the standard that Lester (five wins) and Beckett (four wins) are accustomed to producing.
Shoulder inflammation also plagued Beckett. It forced him to hit the disabled list and miss two starts before the break.
Through 14 outings each, Beckett owns a 4.43 ERA a 4-7 record while Lester has recorded a 5-6 record with a 4.49 ERA. In terms of the win column, Felix Doubront –– who is 9-4 –– and Clay Buchholz –– who is 8-2 — have carried the team.
Biggest Reason for Optimism: Return from injuries
In the coming weeks, the Red Sox will have plenty of reinforcements returning to the lineup. From Jacoby Ellsbury to Carl Crawford to Dustin Pedroia to Andrew Bailey, the team's cast of All-Stars is on the verge of a return.
During the first half of the season, the Red Sox placed 20 different players on the disabled list, spanning 23 stints. The team has used 44 different players this year, just five shy of the entire amount they used in 2011.
Bailey's return from thumb surgery should move Alfredo Aceves back into the middle of the bullpen.
Summing up the first half: Kelly Shoppach's stolen base
It wasn't pretty, but Kelly Shoppach got the job done. The sentiment is similar to the first half of Boston's season.
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