With the second half of the season now fully underway, it seems as if the Red Sox have their team for the stretch run: Drew Pomeranz will likely be their biggest acquisition and John Farrell will almost certainly remain as manager. Are they good enough?

The Pomeranz trade is exactly the kind of deal Dave Dombrowski was brought here to make. But after giving up Anderson Espnioza, he better be right. Dombrowski can't afford a whiff.

With the rash of injuries to the bullpen –– Craig Kimbrel and Koji Uehara are both on the disabled list –– Farrell's in-game management will be a key for the rest of the season as well. Red Sox fans should have little confidence in his ability to manage the pen. Hopefully this pulverizing offense continues to bail the team out.

Alex recaps the first half of the season, which ended on a high note. The Red Sox won seven of nine games on their most recent home stand, positioning themselves to make a strong playoff push in the second half.

Given where this team was over the last two seasons, a first half in which they finished nine games above .500 has to be considered a major success. But in order for the Red Sox to make a legitimate run this summer, presidential of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is going to have to pull off a major trade for a starting pitcher –– which is what he did several times in Detroit.

In many ways, Dombrowski's action in the front office will be just as impactful for the rest of the season as how the players perform on the field.

Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

At the start of this month, the Red Sox had the best record in the American League and a two-game lead in the division. But thanks to a 9-15 June, they've dropped six and a half games in the standings since then and are holding on to an evaporating half-game lead in the wild card.

Alex attempts to diagnose the Red Sox's problems inside this edition of Without a Curse, which start with this rotten starting rotation. As it stands today, Boston only has three major league caliber starters. Too bad you need five.

The starting pitching isn't the only reason for the Red Sox's prolonged slump, though. The bench is abysmally thin and questions persist whether John Farrell should remain the manager. It's shaping up to be a painful summer.

Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

At the start of this month, the Red Sox had the best record in the American League and a two-game lead in the division. But thanks to a 9-15 June, they've dropped six and a half games in the standings since then and are holding on to an evaporating half-game lead in the wild card.

Alex attempts to diagnose the Red Sox's problems inside this edition of Without a Curse, which start with this rotten starting rotation. As it stands today, Boston only has three major league caliber starters. Too bad you need five.

The starting pitching isn't the only reason for the Red Sox's prolonged slump, though. The bench is abysmally thin and questions persist whether John Farrell should remain the manager. It's shaping up to be a painful summer.

Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

At the start of this month, the Red Sox had the best record in the American League and a two-game lead in the division. But thanks to a 9-15 June, they've dropped six and a half games in the standings since then and are holding on to an evaporating half-game lead in the wild card.

Alex attempts to diagnose the Red Sox's problems inside this edition of Without a Curse, which start with this rotten starting rotation. As it stands today, Boston only has three major league caliber starters. Too bad you need five.

The starting pitching isn't the only reason for the Red Sox's prolonged slump, though. The bench is abysmally thin and questions persist whether John Farrell should remain the manager. It's shaping up to be a painful summer.

Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

The Red Sox are 7-10 to start the month of June, but Alex says it isn't time to panic –– yet. The Sox built themselves a cushion in May and can afford to fall off a little bit. Barring a September 2011-esque collapse, Boston will be in the division race until the very end.

But given the struggles of Eduardo Rodriguez, it's abundantly clear that the Red Sox are two starting pitchers short. They need to make a bold upgrade to the rotation, and the rumors about their interest in Jose Fernandez and Gerrit Cole indicate they could do exactly that.

In addition, Alex talks about Steven Wright's case to start the All-Star Game, and Hanley Ramirez's offensive failure.

Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

The Red Sox are 7-10 to start the month of June, but Alex says it isn't time to panic –– yet. The Sox built themselves a cushion in May and can afford to fall off a little bit. Barring a September 2011-esque collapse, Boston will be in the division race until the very end.

But given the struggles of Eduardo Rodriguez, it's abundantly clear that the Red Sox are two starting pitchers short. They need to make a bold upgrade to the rotation, and the rumors about their interest in Jose Fernandez and Gerrit Cole indicate they could do exactly that.

In addition, Alex talks about Steven Wright's case to start the All-Star Game, and Hanley Ramirez's offensive failure.

Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

The Red Sox are 7-10 to start the month of June, but Alex says it isn't time to panic –– yet. The Sox built themselves a cushion in May and can afford to fall off a little bit. Barring a September 2011-esque collapse, Boston will be in the division race until the very end.

But given the struggles of Eduardo Rodriguez, it's abundantly clear that the Red Sox are two starting pitchers short. They need to make a bold upgrade to the rotation, and the rumors about their interest in Jose Fernandez and Gerrit Cole indicate they could do exactly that.

In addition, Alex talks about Steven Wright's case to start the All-Star Game, and Hanley Ramirez's offensive failure.

Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

The Red Sox have firmly implanted themselves in the thick of the AL East for the rest of the season. Now the question is whether they'll be able to finish the job.

Up until this point, the Red Sox have largely beat up on weaker competition. But the rest of June, which includes series against the Orioles, Mariners and Rangers, will tell us a lot more about whether the Red Sox are legitimate contenders.

Also in this episode, Alex shares his thoughts on the Orlando Massacre. Above all else, this was an attack on the LGBT community

Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

The Red Sox have firmly implanted themselves in the thick of the AL East for the rest of the season. Now the question is whether they'll be able to finish the job.

Up until this point, the Red Sox have largely beat up on weaker competition. But the rest of June, which includes series against the Orioles, Mariners and Rangers, will tell us a lot more about whether the Red Sox are legitimate contenders.

Also in this episode, Alex shares his thoughts on the Orlando Massacre. Above all else, this was an attack on the LGBT community

Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.