Do or Die Stretch for the Sox

Many fans have (understandably) stopped paying attention to the 2012 Red Sox. Since August 14, 2011, Boston has a 74-86 record; 12 games under .500. That is bad baseball, and will leave a bitter taste in any fan's mouth. Highly paid players have under performed, the coaching staff appears to be in disarray, and management is tangled in an uncomfortable power struggle.

At this point, the only thing that can redeem this past year would be for the Sox to start winning games, and earn a berth into a one-game playoff. For a team that was slated to win 100 games last year, that is a major disappointment; but the stark reality is that is what we are left to play for. As it stands today, Tampa Bay and Baltimore are 1-2 in the Wild Card. Oakland is half a game back, Detroit is 1.5 games back, the Angels are 2.5 back, and the Red Sox are 5.5 back.

Looking ahead at their schedule, it becomes clear that if the Red Sox have a shot at making the playoffs, it must start now - literally, right now. Four of their next six series (at Baltimore, Angels, at Angels, at Oakland) are against teams directly ahead of them in the Wild Card, one is against the best team in the AL (at Yankees), and one is against the worst team in the AL (Royals).

It's no surprise that the team's fate lies in the hands of the pitching staff. Lester had a great outing in his last start, and Buchholz has been a stud. Morales, Doubront, and Cook (who will fill in for Doubront's next start) have been hit or miss; one of the three will need to step it up. That leaves Beckett, the bane of Red Sox Nation. If there were ever a time that the Sox needed Beckett to put everything behind him (physically and emotionally), it is now. He starts tonight against Baltimore (3.61 ERA in 12 Camden Yard starts), and is scheduled to start the Sunday night game against the Yankees.

This season, and the past calendar year, have been tough for Sox supporters. The Red Sox can try to redeem that over the next couple of weeks by doing one thing; win games.