It's a tradition here at FenwayNation to pause at the All-Star Break and take account of the Olde Towne Team. We're not much for letter grades here, but this year, you have to give Tito and the boys a big A+ for effort. After digging 0-6 and 2-10 holes, the Carmine Hose now sit atop the American League and their division with 72 games left. The have the second-best record in baseball—just two wins behind the 'mighty' Phillies.There have been many pleasant surprises in the first half: Jacoby Ellsbury's revival; the more than adequate performances of the catching corps; the resourceful bullpen; Papi's consistency from the get-go; the health of Youk and Pedroia; the sweet swing of A-Gon; and the masterful renaissance of Josh Beckett. There have been disappointments as well: injuries to key starters; John Lackey's overall sub-par year; J.D. Drew's abysmal final year in Boston; and Carl Crawford's shaky start to his Boston career.
All in all, however, this is a team that always believed in it's excellence—even when the rest of us questioned it. They deserve our admiration at the break.