Red Sox in the Standings (May 25, 2012)

The Red Sox are about to open a very important seven game home stand tonight so it's once again time to look at the standings.

A.L. East

1. Baltimore Orioles       (28-17)
2. Tampa Bay Rays       (27-18)  1 GB
3. Toronto Blue Jays     (24-21)  4 GB
4. New York Yankees (23-21)   4.5 GB
5. Boston Red Sox       (22-22)   5.5 GB

The Sox are slowly starting to climb out of their hole but as Memorial Day weekend starts, they are still in the A.L. East cellar but are just 1.5 games back of the Blue Jays for the last playoff spot in the American League.

Glass Half Empty: The A.L. is just too deep and no matter how hot the Red Sox get, teams like the Rangers, Orioles, Rays, Tigers, and Yankees will make it impossible for Boston to make the playoffs in 2012.

Glass Half Full: The Red Sox have survived some important losses and are finding ways to win while Bobby Valentine writes in names like Scott Podsednik and Daniel Nava into his lineup each day.  Once they get healthy, they will return to the top of the division and find their way back into the playoffs after a two-year hiatus.