With the second half of the season now fully underway, it seems as if the Red Sox have their team for the stretch run: Drew Pomeranz will likely be their biggest acquisition and John Farrell will almost certainly remain as manager. Are they good enough? The Pomeranz trade is exactly the kind of deal Dave Dombrowski was brought here to make. But after giving up Anderson Espnioza, he better be right. Dombrowski can't afford a whiff. With the rash of injuries to the bullpen –– Craig Kimbrel and Koji Uehara are both on the disabled list –– Farrell's in-game management will be a key for the rest of the season as well. Red Sox fans should have little confidence in his ability to manage the pen. Hopefully this pulverizing offense continues to bail the team out.

TSS:Without A Curse

Is John Farrell The Right Manager For The Stretch Run?

Alex recaps the first half of the season, which ended on a high note. The Red Sox won seven of nine games on their most recent home stand, positioning themselves to make a strong playoff push in the second half. Given where this team was over the last two seasons, a first half in which they finished nine games above .500 has to be considered a major success. But in order for the Red Sox to make a legitimate run this summer, presidential of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is going to have to pull off a major trade for a starting pitcher –– which is what he did several times in Detroit. In many ways, Dombrowski's action in the front office will be just as impactful for the rest of the season as how the players perform on the field. Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

ave Dombrowski Is The Key To The Second Half

At the start of this month, the Red Sox had the best record in the American League and a two-game lead in the division. But thanks to a 9-15 June, they've dropped six and a half games in the standings since then and are holding on to an evaporating half-game lead in the wild card. Alex attempts to diagnose the Red Sox's problems inside this edition of Without a Curse, which start with this rotten starting rotation. As it stands today, Boston only has three major league caliber starters. Too bad you need five. The starting pitching isn't the only reason for the Red Sox's prolonged slump, though. The bench is abysmally thin and questions persist whether John Farrell should remain the manager. It's shaping up to be a painful summer. Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

The Red Sox Are Unraveling

The Red Sox are 7-10 to start the month of June, but Alex says it isn't time to panic –– yet. The Sox built themselves a cushion in May and can afford to fall off a little bit. Barring a September 2011-esque collapse, Boston will be in the division race until the very end. But given the struggles of Eduardo Rodriguez, it's abundantly clear that the Red Sox are two starting pitchers short. They need to make a bold upgrade to the rotation, and the rumors about their interest in Jose Fernandez and Gerrit Cole indicate they could do exactly that. In addition, Alex talks about Steven Wright's case to start the All-Star Game, and Hanley Ramirez's offensive failure. Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

Jose Fernandez Should Be On The Red Sox's Radar

The Red Sox have firmly implanted themselves in the thick of the AL East for the rest of the season. Now the question is whether they'll be able to finish the job. Up until this point, the Red Sox have largely beat up on weaker competition. But the rest of June, which includes series against the Orioles, Mariners and Rangers, will tell us a lot more about whether the Red Sox are legitimate contenders. Also in this episode, Alex shares his thoughts on the Orlando Massacre. Above all else, this was an attack on the LGBT community Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

Xander Bogaerts Is Now One Of The Best Players In Baseball

The Red Sox aren't just in a position to contend for the playoffs; they may be the best team in the American League. That's more of a commentary on the overall weakness of the AL than the strength of the Red Sox, but there's little doubt they have the best offense in the league. With an elite lineup and potentially dominant back end of the bullpen, the Red Sox could have enough to overcome their mediocre starting rotation. That's not to say they shouldn't try to acquire another starter, but recent history suggests you can win with an average rotation if you're well above average in other areas –– which the Red Sox are. David Ortiz also continues to put his historic season. Right now, the only other hitters who can touch him are Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in their primes. Seriously. In the "Around the League" segment, Alex looks at the AL East standings and also discusses why it would be self-destructive for baseball to raise the strike zone. Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

David Ortiz Is Hitting Like Babe Ruth In His Prime

It's impossible to ignore the numbers: if the Red Sox only play .500 baseball the rest of the season, they'd finish with 86 wins, which was enough to qualify for the playoffs last year. This scorching hot stretch –– in which the Red Sox have won 17 of their last 23 games against the dregs of the league –– has been enough to catapult them into surefire playoff contention. The offense carried the Red Sox to their 6-1 home stand, as the starting staff posted a 4.57 ERA. Given how prolific this offense is, the Red Sox may not need their starters to do much more the rest of the season. But if this team is serious about making a deep playoff run, the rotation remains a question. In the "Around the League" segment, Alex looks at the AL East standings and also talks about why the Texas Rangers should be ashamed of their conduct over the weekend. He also explains why the Stephen Strasburg extension is a win for both sides. Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

Red Sox Are In Great Position For A Playoff Run

David Price is in the midst of the worst stretch of his career, but Dustin Pedroia may have found the solution. Pedroia says he was watching videotape of Price from three years ago and noticed a flaw in his current delivery. That's all well and good, but it's a bit concerning that Price, or the supposed pitching guru John Farrell, didn't spot this issue. Though Price's peripheral numbers remain strong –– he leads the league in strikeouts –– his lack of velocity is concerning. It's still too early to panic, but it's time to be worried. Thankfully for the Red Sox, Steven Wright has stepped up and temporarily taken Price's spot at the top of the rotation. The knuckleballer now has a dazzling 1.52 ERA on the season in six starts. David Ortiz also continues to mash, belting two home runs Sunday night to move up to second on the Red Sox's all-time list. He's hitting for more power at 40 years old than any other baseball player in history. In the "Around the League" segment, Alex goes over the AL East standings and also entertains the prospect of the Angels trading Mike Trout. It's not as unrealistic as you may think. Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

It's Time To Be Worried About David Price

Entering Sunday night's game against the Yankees, the Red Sox had won seven of nine games and catapulted themselves to second place in the division. Alex discusses whether this run is indicative of who the Red Sox really are, or if it's just the result of playing weak competition (Astros, Braves and Yankees are 20-49 this season). The biggest key to the Red Sox's recent winning streak has been their starting pitching. Red Sox starters have gone at least six innings in eight of the last nine contests, which makes John Farrell's job a whole lot easier. In addition, the offense continues to lead the American League in runs scored, largely thanks to David Ortiz's heroics. Are we sure he's retiring this year? In the "Around the League" segment, Alex takes a look at the AL East standings and explains why so many players have been suspended for PED use so far this season. Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

Can David Ortiz Postpone His Retirement Now?

After dealing solely with extremes over the last four years, the Red Sox have been the definition of mediocre through the first two weeks of the 2015 season. The team is in the midst of another stretch of inconsistent play, highlighted by more incomprehensible decisions from John Farrell and horrific starting pitching from the most expensive pitcher in baseball history, David Price. Though it's far too early to worry about Price –– especially since his peripherals are excellent –– Farrell's incompetence continues to be distressing. He may look the part of a job, but he's been an utter failure in every aspect imaginable over the last three years. In the "Around the League" segment, Alex takes a look at the AL East standings and also discusses Curt Schilling, who was fired from ESPN because of his crassness, not his politics. Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

John Farrell Is An Incompetent Manager

The Red Sox won their second consecutive series against the Blue Jays over the weekend, but the troubling signs with the team still outweigh the wins on the field. Pablo Sandoval's mysterious shoulder injury seems to be legitimate –– why else would he visit Dr. James Andrews? –– but it's sad when the Red Sox are probably relieved that their $95 million third baseman may be out of action for a while. The Sox have no plan with Sandoval and this injury bites them time. With the number of stories coming out over the last couple of weeks about Sandoval's apparent lifelong battle with an eating disorder, it also seems as if the Red Sox didn't do any homework before they signed him. Either that, or they ignored the facts. It's difficult to tell which reality is worse. It's also tough to feel good about the Red Sox's decision to demote Blake Swihart and have him try out at left field. Christian Vazquez is a terrific defensive catcher and might be the best guy for the job. But it's much too early to give up on Swihart, which is what this move appears to be. And lastly, can someone please explain John Farrell's fascination with Chris Young? That might be the most bizarre development of the season, which says a lot. Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1. (Towards the end of the show, Alex shares his thoughts on 700 episodes of Without a Curse.)

The Red Sox Still Don't Have A Plan––For Anything

Red Sox fans have a lot to be pleased about through the first week of the season, but Alex says it's wise to proceed with caution. Outside of David Price and Steven Wright –– yes, Steven Wright –– the starting pitching has been abysmal. Clay Buchholz, Joe Kelly and Rick Porcello have a combined ERA north of 14.00 in their first three starts. The offense has been terrific so far, largely thanks to Hanley Ramirez's performance. But it's important to keep in mind that Ramirez performed last April, too. The question is whether he can can keep it up through the full 162-game slate. The same questions persist about Brock Holt and Travis Shaw. They've been phenomenal filling in through the first week, but can the Red Sox count on them to keep producing? In the "Around the League" segment, Alex takes a look at the AL East standings and also explains the story behind Bomani Jones' "Caucasians" shirt. Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

Red Sox Early Success Should Be Taken Lightly

For the second straight year, the Red Sox have spent a franchise-record amount of money on payroll. And once again, it will blow up in their face. Alex previews the 2016 Red Sox season inside this edition of Without a Curse, and he isn't optimistic. Despite all of the money the team shelled out this offseason, the roster remains incredibly thin behind David Price, Craig Kimbrel and a blossoming group of young stars. Benching Pablo Sandoval and Rusney Castillo may provide fleeting gratification for Red Sox fans, but it's symbolic of an organization that's completely lost its way. Championship teams don't start utility players at third base and left field. The Red Sox are desperate before they've even played a game. In the "Around the League" segment, Alex previews the rest of baseball and also gives his World Series pick. The Cubs are too easy, but sometimes if a team looks like a juggernaut, it is a juggernaut. Cubs over Indians in the Fall Classic this season. Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

The Red Sox Are A Complete Disaster

The most interesting battle to watch as Red Sox Spring Training winds down will be what happens at third base between Pablo Sandoval and Travis Shaw. Under usual circumstances, it wouldn't be a competition, given Sandoval's massive contract (not girth)! But it's imperative the Red Sox get off to a fast start this year, which could push Farrell to go with Shaw. In addition to what happens at third base, Alex talks about how the Red Sox will try to make up for the loss of Carson Smith in the bullpen and whether they need to make a trade for a starting pitcher before Opening Day. And oh –– Monday is David Ortiz's Spring Training retirement ceremony. You can feel the excitement. ... In the "Around the League" segment, Alex talks about how New York City's smokeless tobacco ban in sporting arenas may affect the Yankees and Mets and also touches on Alex Rodriguez's fitting (non)-retirement announcement. Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

Travis Shaw Should Start Over Pablo Sandoval At Third Base

Inside this edition of Without a Curse, Alex talks about the apparent gag order in regards to the John Farell and Jess Moran affair. The latest example is a fawning Farrell profile from the Herald's Ron Borges, who didn't bring up the incident in the piece at all. If this were Bill Belichick instead of Farrell, don't you think Borges would've not just brought it up, but led with it? Of course. But for whatever reason, Farrell and Moran seems to be off limits. It speaks to the disconnect between what people are talking about and what the print media actually writes about. In the "Around the League" segment, Alex talks about why the Adam LaRoche saga could carry serious long-term ramifications for the White Sox––seriously–––and commends the Pittsburgh Pirates for continuing to be rational. Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

Why is there an apparent gag order on the John Farrell & Jes

Alex Reimer has been hosting the critically acclaimed, “Without a Curse,” since July of 2005. Alex has been profiled in The Boston Globe, as well as been a guest on both “The Today Show” and “The Tonight Show” for his work on the podcast. Alex has very strong opinions, and is not afraid to share them! Anything stated on the show will be factually backed up…and if a guest doesn’t back up his opinion, then Alex will challenge them on it. In the offseason months (November-April), “Without a Curse” is published every Monday. Throughout the baseball season (April-October), “Without a Curse” becomes a bi-weekly production, published every Monday and Thursday.

hubhopper

TSS:Without A Curse

hubhopper