We are two weeks away from the start of the baseball season and the American League East is suddenly wide open. The reigning division king Yankees are reeling and all five teams think they have a chance.
It’s been awhile since I could seriously consider picking the Red Sox to finish first, but after the winter acquisitions of Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler, and the stunning signing of Alex Bregman, I was ready to go Full Rochie and pick the Sox to win the division.
And yet . . . the Sox are stalled in Fort Myers. Spring training stats don’t count for much, but the Red Sox seem to have set a record for most players showing up in camp already injured (Rafael Devers, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Lucas Giolito) or sick (Wilyer Abreu, Triston Casas). Meanwhile, Trevor Story has new back issues, the team has no closer, no second baseman, suspect defense, and zero catching depth. Sound like division winners to you?
Get it together, Red Sox. This could be your time.
Read Dan Shaughnessy's full column at Globe.com/Sports. | 
