It's maddeningly impossible to give up on these Red Sox

After teasing their fans by busting out 8 runs and 12 hits (with every player in the lineup contributing at least one) in Yankee Stadium on Sunday, the pathetic 2014 Red Sox offense was back to its old self on Monday, getting shut out and nearly no-hit by the lowly Chicago Cubs.

Boston has now scored more than 3 runs just five times in its last 21 games.  The team that led all of baseball in scoring last year is currently dead last in the American League in that category.

The writing is on the wall for this edition of the Sox (38-45) to pack it in, play the kids, and start thinking about the future.  Recent moves indicate a trend in that direction.

First Grady Sizemore was cut, followed by Chris Capuano.  Top prospect Mookie Betts is now in the majors, less than a month after being promoted to Triple-A and converted from second base to the outfield.  Jake Peavy may be one bad start away from losing his spot in the rotation to Rubby De La Rosa, and there are rumblings that catcher A.J. Pierzynski should be benched in favor of Pawtucket's Christian Vazquez.

Here's the thing though: As bad as the Red Sox have been, they're somehow only 6.5 games out of first place with 79 left to play.  That's nothing.  I don't expect the offense to miraculously turn itself around, and I don't envision Boston making the playoffs.  But the Sox are still very much in the AL East race, so it'd be totally illogical to give up on them at this point.  It's an extremely frustrating situation.  The division is right there for the taking, yet I have no real hope or confidence that they can do actually it.


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