The season’s barely begun, but the panic is already setting in. Is it too early to sound the alarm on the Boston Red Sox, or is this the beginning of a troubling pattern that could define their year? Fans are starting to wonder — and the pressure is mounting faster than expected.

The Boston Red Sox stink.

I don’t necessarily know if that statement can be categorized as hyperbolic — right now it sure feels correct, but I have been known to overreact and this exact franchise did something very similar last season before eventually making the playoffs.

I just can’t help but shake the feeling…

The Red Sox have, quite frankly, been a miserable watch to kickstart the season. The lineup hasn’t done anything with consistency except for ground into double plays, the newcomers have had a rough introduction, the pitching staff isn’t generating any swing-and-miss, the bats are generating way too much, etc. It’s safe to say that things aren’t going well, but is it time to hit the panic button?

Yes! Panicking is the sensible choice!

It’s too early to panic over the Red Sox— or is it?

I’ve always been one to base my hypotheses off vibes, and the vibes with this team are genuinely horrific.

Alex Cora has already admitted that “it’s not easy” to manage the outfield logjam, despite spending the entire offseason talking about how great it was to have only four spots for Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran, Masataka Yoshida, and Nate Eaton.

Craig Breslow – who was all but thrown under the bus with those comments – didn’t stop there with puzzling roster building decisions, either!

Trevor Story isn’t what you want out of a number two hitter – and while you can see much better options in the opposing lineup on a nightly basis, you also saw it over the last several seasons in Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman. Kristian Campbell and Triston Casas don’t have a path back to the big leagues, even if they start raking for Triple-A Worcester. Caleb Durbin and Willson Contreras are batting in the heart of the order, and that shouldn’t be the case for a team with real expectations. Yoshida gives you better at-bats than more than half of the everyday regulars but is glued to the bench. Isaiah Kiner-Falefa and Andruw Monasterio have jobs, but it seems as though the manager wants no part in playing them. Connor Wong hasn’t been half bad, but we can revisit that one in a few months.

Durbin, Contreras, and Kiner-Falefa — the crop of newcomers in the lineup — have combined to go 1-of-29 through four games and have zero extra-base hits. Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray, and Johan Oviedo — your crop of newcomers on the pitching staff — have allowed 11 runs in 12.0 innings and have made their own lives more difficult than they need to be. Duran is still making inexcusable mistakes. Story is still lunging at balls in the other batter’s box. Durbin is about to lose his job. I have indigestion!

It’s not hindsight to crap on an ugly first few days, it’s foresight that is coming to fruition in front of our eyes.

No! You don’t know ball!

It’s March…

I fundamentally do not believe in making sweeping generalizations before June, let alone May, let alone April.

Boston even has a few things to be excited about!

Wilyer Abreu (sans-sugar) is the greatest hitter of our generation, and has more doubles (three) through four games than the Kansas City Royals. Roman Anthony is going to be great, though it might take a bit longer than we all thought. Marcelo Mayer is already an elite defender, so it really is just about staying healthy. Duran and Story are never going to change, but let’s not act like they aren’t going to be key to the runnin’ Red Sox! Durbin was put in an unfortunate position, and while he absolutely looks overmatched right now, there is time for him to come into his own. Contreras, Rafaela, and Carlos Narváez are going to be fine.

Garrett Crochet is going to be in the conversation for the American League Cy Young. Connelly Early is going to be in the conversation for American League Rookie of the Year. Suarez and Gray will be better than what they showed early on.

It’s ultimately going to be okay!

I won’t pretend like I am having fun, though.

The Boston Red Sox could stink, but they could also be really good. It’s simply too early to tell. Though what isn’t acceptable is operating as if stinking is even an option.

Lock in, boys.