Head Scratching

I stared at this page for about 10 minutes, trying to see a number that jumps out about this team's hitting. Then I stared at this page to make comparisons. There are little things one notices, like the decline in home run production, but it really isn't that dramatic (71 so far, just over a third into the season, compared to 203 last year).

The absence of Jacoby Ellsbury having a banner year is apparent in some of the difference, but other than that, the batting numbers are pretty reasonable. We know the starting pitching has improved, and the bullpen has largely been good.

But they just aren't winning games. They aren't executing when it counts.

We could say that they need a sense of urgency, but how long could they keep that up? There are 101 games left to play.

That said, there are only 20 games left until the All-Star break, and by then we'll know if this is a bridge year.