Instead of seeing headlines about Red Sox pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training this week, fans continue to watch with mounting anxiety as MLB’s lockout of its players approaches 80 days.
Eventually, though, the MLB season will resume, and Boston will have its chance to prove last year’s playoff run and ALCS trip was no fluke.
The Red Sox will have to outperform expectations for a second consecutive year to make that happen in an AL East division that will likely be the toughest in baseball. As they’re attempting to do that, they have a few short- and long-term questions to answer.