Playing nine innings while hearing Mo Vaughn’s voice as Alex Cora works daily wonders with these Red Sox. “The price keeps going up …”
1. Considering the consensus of low expectations entering the season and the brutal assortment of injuries endured early, this Red Sox season feels better, more hopeful, than their 44-39 record might suggest. One major reason for the generally good vibes even as they sit on the outside of the American League wild-card race: an uncommon number of extremely pleasant surprises.
We didn’t know if Tanner Houck would begin the season in the rotation or bullpen until March 22, when Cora announced he had secured one of the final two starting spots.