Red Sox can’t say they’re out of it (but they want to)

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington isn't ready to give up on the 2014 season, at least not publicly. And why should he? It's only mid-July, and while the Red Sox sit in last place in the AL East, they're only 9.5 games back, and ever-so-slightly closer to a wild-card spot. That's more than likely a season-killing deficit, sure, but Cherington was in the assistant GM chair when the Sox gave up a similarly sized lead in September of 2011: the season might be over barring their own historic comeback, but there's no reason to say that out loud just yet, not when you're Cherington.

"We are going to do whatever we feel gives the Red Sox the best chance to be as good as possible as quickly as possible," Cherington said. "We are not conceding 2014 with that statement. We feel the team we have now is capable than being better than a lot of teams ahead of us in the standings."

He's not wrong, either: the 2014 Red Sox were and are better than many of the mediocre teams in front of them, at least on paper. The problem is that the Red Sox have had injuries, disappointing performances and rookie players who have taken up too much of the season trying to figure things out. They could theoretically perform as they were supposed to have back in March and be the best team in the American League in the second half, but they're unlikely to end up in the postseason even then. The 9.5-game deficit isn't insurmountable, and neither is the eight-game deficit for the wild card, but the Sox are trailing four and nine teams for those spots, respectively. They could play .600 ball from now on, and it would bring them a final record of 83-80. They would need to play .700 ball the rest of 2014 to reach 90 wins: only two teams in the majors have even had a .600 winning percentage on the year, and the top of those, the Athletics, are only at .621. If the Red Sox put up a hell of an effort from here on out, nothing is guaranteed, or even necessarily close.

If you haven't heard of Christian Vazquez yet, you will. (Photo credit: Jim Rogash)

It started with giving Xander Bogaerts the starting shortstop job and putting Jackie Bradley Jr. in center field. While both have scuffled at times (and Bogaerts has been pushed to third for Stephen Drew), Bradley is finally making progress after going back to his old stance that brought him success in the minors, and Bogaerts has demonstrated that there is little reason to be concerned about his current extended slump. Experience will serve them both well, and in the end, serve the Red Sox well. Leaving them in the majors to figure things out while the team is likely going nowhere is their best bet for both now and 2015.

It's not just those two, though. The Red Sox opened up a rotation spot for Rubby De La Rosa and his electric arm by shifting Felix Doubront to the bullpen after another disappointing start to the season. When Jake Peavy is dealt to a team in need of an arm in the next couple of weeks, another young right-hander, Brandon Workman, will get his own rotation spot. The plan, as with Bradley, is to see just how ready for a full-time gig the two are; the rotation spots they will occupy in 2014 will also be open for them in 2015. Should they impress in the half a season they have left rather than confirm fears they're both bullpen-bound, De La Rosa and Workman will likely fill those spots next Opening Day. If not, there are others -- Allen Webster, Anthony Ranaudo, and eventually Henry Owens and Brian Johnson and Matt Barnes -- behind them for their own turn in a big-league rotation.

The Sox dumped A.J. Pierzynski because you're only allowed to be a clubhouse jerk or a bad hitter, not both. They replaced him with a potential option for the starting catcher gig in 2015, Christian Vazquez. Vazquez has an arm usually only found in Superman comics, and his glove work behind the plate is both smooth and soft, something that was lacking from Pierzynski's stab-happy, obvious attempts at framing. It's a skill for which veteran starters on the Sox are already complimenting the 23-year-old. Vazquez won't ever hit for much power, but he makes quality contact and can draw a walk. Letting him take his lumps against big-league pitchers now, while familiarizing the catcher of the future with the rotation of the future, makes sense if the plan is to be good once again as soon as possible.

Mookie Betts is another rookie who will see significant playing time in the second half. He was a shortstop when he was drafted, but moved to second due to concerns about his throwing accuracy and the expectation he'd develop into a utility player. He's become far more than that, though, showing off a hit tool and bat speed that you wouldn't expect from a dude who stands 5'9 and weighs 155 pounds. He could be the starting left fielder for the Red Sox next year, or maybe even their third baseman or shortstop, depending on how things work out over the rest of this year. Wherever he ends up, getting him major league at-bats now, like with everyone else, fits Cherington's plan.

The only thing Ben Cherington and Co. haven't decided just yet when they talk about being as good as possible as fast as possible is if trading someone like Koji Uehara is worth it. Andrew Miller is another impending free agent who's a relief piece, and while they're both dominant and could re-sign, at the deadline, they might bring in a hefty haul from a desperate club. If the opportunity presents itself to improve the Red Sox quickly by way of dealing off Uehara, Miller, Jonny Gomes, or any other veteran player who isn't necessarily part of the next great Sox team, then the Sox will likely take it. Whether those deals show up is something Cherington doesn't know yet, since it's not quite desperation hour for the buyers.