After their third straight double-digit scoring effort, the Red Sox have moved to the top of the American League in
run production. Boston has scored 196 runs—30 ahead of the nearest rival (the Rangers at 166). Moreover, the Red Sox also own the
top run differential in the AL (+48)—13 ahead of second-place Chicago (+35). And yet, Boston only ranks 10th overall in the junior circuit in terms of
runs allowed—with the team's pitching having yielded 148 runs. Of course, this gets at the heart of the conundrum this year: can this over-heated offense go on forever and can they compensate for a mediocre starting rotation? The answer to those questions will determine whether this team is for real.
