Baseball season is like a horse race, and the Boston Red Sox are in the middle of the pack, just past the quarter pole. The season appears on the fast track to match the “meh” 81-81 record of 2024.

Here, we’ve compiled a list of good, bad and average individual performances from this first stretch of the Sox’s season. Despite a sudden Fellowship of the Miserable surge, I realize this race is just starting. How you finish counts, and Boston has seen this happen this century.

In 2007, the Colorado Rockies became the Silky Sullivan (horse, again) went 20-8 in September and then smoked the Phillies and D-Backs in the playoffs to the tune of 7-0. Boston then blew them out 4-0.

Disappointment number one comes with new and disappointing information. Tanner Houck went from a 2024 All-Star to a pitching piñata. Something seemed off kilter with the righty, and his current injured list stint confirms that. There is a Red Sox history on this.

In 2009, righty John Lackey was burnt toast for Boston (12-12, 6.41 ERA). Lackey became persona non grata among the howling masses, and then it came out — TJS. Lackey garnered respect for being a brave soldier or stupid for pitching with a wrecked arm. Lackey came back in 2013 (10-13, 3.52 ERA). Lackey won a ring that season and a World Series game. Worst-case scenario is if Houck gets the ultimate bad news, he’ll have a future.

Alex Bregman posted an 8.9 bWAR, slammed 41 home runs, and notched 112 RBI in 2019. Boston took a $40 million plunge and brought the righty to Beantown. Fiscal adventurism? Bregman is on track to repeat that in 2019 and have the Red Sox open up the corporate wallet even further.

In the indifference department is Trevor Story, who one week slashes and the subsequent week crashes. Story joins a long list of streak hitters, and when he gets hot, he’ll carry the team for a week. What you see is what you get, and I can live with it until Marcelo Mayer arrives.

The Red Sox’s search for catching depth took them to the worst places: the New York Yankees. Carlos Narváez was traded to Boston in a typical yawn deal of two minor league players. Narváez earned the backup catching slot and bagged a few games until Connor Wong broke a pinky.

The good, the bad and the average among early Red Sox performances

This guy can play, which means solid defense and some respectable at-bats. In 2016, the Red Sox were forced to play another backup catcher with poor hitting credentials. Sandy Leon hit .310 with power. Narváez may do that and stay “The Man” as number one in the catching rotation.

The Red Sox staff has a Mr. 4.2 innings, and right-hander Brayan Bello has been yanked all too often, or seems like it. In today’s metrics world, pitch counts are usually the issue, and Bello has a 4.7 BB%. First glance (2-0, 2.33 ERA ) looks excellent, but a 5.55 FIP sours it. Bello needs a nice run of 6+ inning starts or he’ll continue to burn the bullpen.

Garrett Crochet is as advertised and is eating innings like me at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Crochet is potential All-Star material and a top-five Cy Young Award voting candidate — a win for Craig Breslow.

In 2023, Garrett Whitlock was injury-tainted, which (hopefully) explained a 5-5 record and 5.15 ERA. Whitlock was ready to dominate (1-0, 1.96) in his four 2024 starts, and that was it, back to the IL. Whitlock has run hot and cold this year, with cold getting the decided edge. The peripheries compare favorably with Whitlock’s excellent 2021 season, but this may be temporary.

Ceddanne Rafaela has been tabbed as a potential star with superior defensive skills at two positions, great speed, and a player who will eventually hit. Is he a disappointment?

The lingering issue is that Rafaela is a free swinger with minimal plate discipline. Through May 14 Rafaela’s BB% was 6.0, but it was just 2.6 in 2024. Free-swinging displays a more selective 18.0 SO%, well under the MLB average and a significant drop from 2024.

Bad habits such as smoking and swinging at anything tossed are hard to break, but Rafaela is making progress. Rafaela is batting .250, and more contact, especially with his speed, translates to a higher average and more run production.

Wilyer Abreu doesn’t get enough respect. The lefty hits with power, plays Gold Glove defense and is on track for an 8.0 bWAR. Abreu could beat out Bregman for team MVP.

The next pole will indicate just what type of season this will be. The AL East is no longer a beast, and Boston is well in the division race, so I will go optimistic.