The Red Sox, in fifth place in the AL East and down bad by any definition of the turn, face a huge challenge on Saturday afternoon against Dylan Cease and the White Sox (4:10 p.m., NESN).
The Sox say things are “going to turn,” and for their part, I believe them. By August this will almost certainly feel like ancient history everywhere but in the standings, which never forget, and that’s the problem. They’re digging a hole that would be hard to escape in any year, and they’re dealing with looking up at three organizations that tend to make savvy, aggressive in-season moves to compete (and the Orioles, whom they’ll certainly pass), which is.