The thing is the AL sucks.
If all our players play like last year or the last 2-3 years, we'd be doing better than now, which is like 2-3 GB the 5 slot.
My hopes do not spring from any sense that this team is loaded or has shown signs of life. The hope I have left is because I know the AL is bad, and 3 of the top 6 teams look the same or worse on paper than many teams below them, including the Sox.
I'm not expecting some mid season or deadline trade to save us, either, nor the return of Crawford or Sandoval to health, let alone their top form. We'd need Crochet, for sure. We'd need Chapman, Whitlock & Slaten to be healthy and pitch like they have recently. Suarez like the last 2-3 years. Early and Tolle to replace Bello.
Maybe 1-2 guys can play worse, but just about everyone else has to do like their last 2-3 years or better.