< Back to front page Text size – +

For the Red Sox, tough road to .500

Print | Comments () Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff August 18, 2012 10:40 AM

Tweet
E-mail

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

NEW YORK — Here's a sobering fact: at 58-62, the Red Sox are on a pace to win approximately 78 games this season.

It would be their first losing season since 1997 when they finished 78-84 under Jimy Williams. Much like their 2012 brothers, that team scored a lot of runs and didn't pitch very well. Those were the days of John "Way Back" Wasdin and Heathcliff Slocumb.

To finish over .500 and avoid the ignominy of being a $175 million team with a losing record, the Sox would have to go 24-18 in their final 42 games.

It's not going to be easy. The Sox have 29 games left against contenders (Yankees, Rays, Athletics, Orioles, Angels) and only 13 against the Jays, Mariners and Royals.

They also have more games on the road (24) than they do at home (18).

Before this season is over, 78-84 might look good.