Taking stock of Sox while rounding a third

In a manner of speaking, the Red Sox today rest at the first intermission. Two months down, four months to go. And while the Red Sox will not play their 54th game until Thursday -- which will put them precisely one-third of the way through their schedule -- the team has reached the first critical checkpoint of the 2009 season.

After all, as Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane reminded us in "Moneyball," the first two months of the season are for evaluation; the next two months are for modification; the last two months are for spirited competition.

For what it is worth at this stage, the Red Sox currently would qualify for the postseason as the American League wild card team despite an array of issues, ranging from the surprising inconsistency of the starting rotation to the demise of David Ortiz. Overall, things could be better ... but they also could be worse. Here is a look at the Sox' performance to date and potential needs approaching the annual July 31 trading deadline.

STARTING PITCHING

Analysis: Candidly speaking, the first six weeks were an enormous disappointment. With or without Daisuke Matsuzaka, Sox starters were one of the worst groups in the American League. Much of that was due to the simultaneous ineffectiveness of Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, the vaunted 1-2 of the Boston rotation against whom most everyone was to have difficulty matching up. Still, in the last two weeks, the performance has improved considerably with Sox starters posting a 3.57 ERA in their last 15 games. Beckett seems to have hit his stride, and Lester was dominant Sunday.

How the Red Sox can improve: With John Smoltz and Clay Buchholz waiting in the wings -- coupled with the overall improvement -- the Red Sox are not likely to make any additions here from outside the organization. The Sox felt that they could address any pitching needs this year from within the organization and that still seems the most prudent course of action, especially considering some of their other issues.

Sure, Jake Peavy is out there and the Sox have prospects to deal. But in theory, at least, they don't really need Peavy as much as they need some other things. In fact, the Sox may be in a position where they must seriously entertain trading Brad Penny (ineligible to be dealt until June 15 without his permission) because he may not fit into either their rotation or bullpen. Michael Bowden and Buchholz also could be candidates for trade, though Buchholz only would be offered if the Sox could land a big-time hitter in return.

Your turn:

BULLPEN

Analysis: Do the Red Sox want to risk tinkering with this? Through May, based on ERA, Boston does not merely have the top-ranked bullpen in the American League; the Red Sox have the top-ranked AL bullpen by nearly a full run per game. At the moment, the Chicago White Sox (3.79 ERA) rank second to the Red Sox (2.96). In fact, in all of baseball, the New York Mets (2.95) are the only other team with a relief ERA under 3.00.

How the Red Sox can improve: If we wanted to get picky here, we might suggest that the Sox could be in the market for a true lefthanded specialist, though Ramon Ramirez (.122 average), Hideki Okajima (.135), Takashi Saito (.176) and Jonathan Papelbon (.186) have been so good against lefties that it doesn't really matter. Furthermore, Javier Lopez is at Pawtucket and so, too, is Hunter Jones, the latter of whom limited lefties to a .188 average (3 for 16).

Now, with Justin Masterson back in a relief role and Daniel Bard developing, the Sox seem to have depth from which to deal, specifically in the form of Delcarmen or, perhaps, Masterson. At the same time, most every team in baseball will have difficulty matching up with the Sox after the fifth inning as the Boston staff is currently constituted, which is a huge advantage for manager Terry Francona.

Your turn:

OFFENSE

Analysis: Even before the Red Sox entered this season, they anticipated some problems offensively. What they did not expect was for Ortiz to dip so dramatically, to the point where we must now wonder whether he can effectively serve as an everyday player. Suffering a drop in production is one thing, but Ortiz (.185, one home run) has fallen through the floor and left such a sizable hole that there is now water leaking into the basement.

How the Red Sox can improve: From Matt Holliday and Adrian Gonzalez to Victor Martinez and Mark DeRosa, the Sox will have options here. It really is up to them to determine how much they want to sacrifice in the way of young talent. The pronounced disparity between home and road production is worrisome, particularly one when considers that Ortiz is hitting .161 away from Fenway Park. That suggests DH is the best place to make an impact, and the absolute best-case scenario would involve the Sox acquiring a younger and/or offensive-minded catcher (Martinez, Jarrod Saltalamacchia) who could help them address needs in the both the short term (offensively) and the long (behind the plate).

Thus far, the Red Sox have had below average production from three spots on the diamond based on OPS: designated hitter, shortstop, and center field. Given Jacoby Ellsbury's youth and game-changing speed, the first two seem like areas of priority. Addressing either would require the club to eat quite a bit in salary because both Ortiz ($13 million this year and next) and Julio Lugo ($9 million this year and next) are signed through 2010, but the Sox have shown a willingness to do that in the past (Edgar Renteria). Some of what the Sox choose here may well depend on how the rest of their roster comes together.

Your turn:

BENCH

Analysis: In an ideal world, assuming health, this is the bench the Red Sox would have opened the season with: Rocco Baldelli, Jed Lowrie, Mark Kotsay, and George Kottaras. Whether we actually see that group is open to debate. Thus far, all but Kottaras have spent time on the disabled list, and the absences of Lowrie and Kotsay have made the issues at shortstop and designated hitter more pronounced.

No one is suggesting that Kotsay can replace Ortiz. Still, with a healthy Kotsay (career .751 OPS), the Sox could at least erase the automatic out that Ortiz has become. Kotsay's offensive and defensive abilities could allow Kevin Youkilis to spend some time at third and Mike Lowell some time at DH, the latter of which might help Lowell later in the year. Baldelli has an .877 OPS against lefthanded pitching so far this year and could further add to the mix, giving Francona as many as five players (if you still count Ortiz) for three spots.

How the Red Sox can improve: Acquiring someone like the versatile DeRosa (career .855 OPS against lefties) is quite appealing, largely because he would cost less in the way of talent, is eligible for free agency at the end of the year and would give the Sox that most desirable of all assets: flexibility, flexibility, flexibility. Further, DeRosa would help safeguard against injury to Baldelli, whose health will always be something of a concern.

In recent years, for all that Theo Epstein has done to improve the Sox at various trading deadlines, some of his best decisions have been lesser maneuvers that have improved the bench and overall depth. Dave Roberts, Bobby Kielty and Kotsay were all acquisitions of the like. As much as fans might like a big move, Epstein might be more inclined to keep all of his best prospects, especially if the pitching does the expected and carries the team.

Your turn:

DEFENSE

Analysis: The obvious priority is shortstop, which brings us to Lowrie. Regardless of whether you are talking about zone rating, fielding percentage, range factor, plus-minus or error totals, the Red Sox defense at shortstop thus far has been horrendous. If the Sox believe that Lowrie can play in the final two months, he should be able to help them immeasurably by merely taking the field. What he gives them offensively should be regarded as a bonus.

Overall, the defense on this club has been a disappointment, though shortstop has been a big reason. Still, with Lowell having lost something in the wake of hip surgery, the left side of the infield has been a problem. And while Jason Bay is worlds better than Manny Ramirez in left field, he is, on the whole, a relatively average defensive player. As much as we all love Bay -- and he has been sensational in Boston -- Ramirez's ineptitude has made him look a little better than he actually is.

How the Red Sox can improve: If Lowrie hits a stumbling in his recovery, the Sox should be able to pick up a defensive-minded shortstop even after July 31, depending on who is available. Someone like Omar Vizquel might be on the market depending on whether the Texas Rangers are in contention late in the year, or Epstein could always opt for someone like he did in 2004 (Orlando Cabrera in a more sizable move) or 2007 (Royce Clayton in a lesser one).

Your turn:

Defensive trend to watch: The Sox must improve at slowing the opposing running game. To date, Sox catchers have thrown out just 7 of 66 base stealers and the Sox have allowed a major league leading 59 steals. Sox pitchers have caught almost as many base stealers (six) as the catchers have, five of those coming on pickoffs by Lester.

As most anyone in baseball will tell you, stolen bases are not solely a reflection on the catcher. Rather, they are a reflection on the battery, particularly as it pertains to a pitcher's ability to hold runners. Take away Lester and Masterson, and opponents are a whopping 46 of 50 in steal attempts against the rest of the Boston staff. That is, in a word, abysmal.