With time comes experience. With experience comes comfort. With comfort comes consistency. And with consistency comes a Red Sox team that’s won 14-of-17 games since the trade deadline.
This has not been the easiest part of the schedule, but it’s been illuminating. By taking two-of-three against the Yankees this weekend, the Red Sox have pushed their division lead to five games, and they’ve pulled within five wins of the Astros’ best record in the American League. They just might be the pennant favorites at this point.
What’s made the difference?
Perhaps it’s simply the passage of time, with a reminder that this is still a relatively young roster and many of its veterans are relatively new to the party.