There isn't a player on the Red Sox right now that I'm happier to see coming up big in the clutch with not one but two walk-off hits during this last homestand than Carl Crawford. His struggles to begin his tenure in Boston have been well documented. Since that first walk off against Seattle, Crawford seemed to be settling in, taking better at-bats and having multiple hit games. That wall ball to win last night can only help his confidence moving forward.

The other big addition by Boston this offseason was Adrian Gonzalez. Guy is locked in. .317 avg. 45 hits. .370 OBP. Fantastic numbers to start the season. Some fans questioning "only" 4 home runs from Gonzalez on the season. For me, it's impressive to see this guy continue to produce at the plate with good at-bats, spraying balls to different parts of the field and driving in runs.

Speaking of hits, Jacoby Ellsbury is finally providing that spark at the top of the line-up the Red Sox were hoping for. After starting the season "swinging for the fences," Ellsbury has really switched his attack at the plate hitting for contact and getting on base, exemplified by his MLB best 18-game hit streak. A lead-off player needs to get on base, not hit home-runs, and Ellsbury is defining that right now.

Are all things great in Red Sox Nation? Not at all. Since that 2-10 start though, Boston has gone 15-8 and seems to be trending toward playing daily like the team we hoped for heading into the season. What also helps is the rest of the AL East underperforming as the Sox are just 3 1/2 games back of the first place Yankees at 17-18. The Red Sox look to get over .500 starting tonight in Toronto for two games then look to cut into New York's lead with a weekend series in the Bronx.

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