Red Sox's biggest challenge is getting history on their side

BOSTON -- David Dombrowski, president of baseball operations for the Boston Red Sox, has a wonderful view of the pregame foot traffic outside Fenway Park from his office overlooking Lansdowne Street. When he wants to get a read on what the fans are thinking -- rather than where they're walking -- he just needs to go for a coffee or a bite to eat around the park or in his neighborhood in the 'burbs.

The Red Sox have a .698 winning percentage, so Dombrowski is a magnet for positive feedback these days.

"People are great," he says. "Once in a while you hear, 'Hey, we could use this or that.' But it's more a case of, 'Thank you, we love the team.' The fans are absolutely as complimentary as can…