After a disappointing end to a COVID shortened 2020 baseball season, the Red Sox are off to a hot start to begin the 2021 season. 

After being swept in the season opening series against the Orioles, the Sox went on an eight-game win streak to get themselves in first place in the AL East. 

The Red Sox are currently 8-4 and are looking better than everyone thought they would before the season, so the next question is can they stay hot and look to be contenders for another world series title. 

Alex Cora is back as the Red Sox’s skipper which had some Sox fans upset due to him being convicted of cheating back in 2017 with the Astros sign stealing scandal. 

But as it looks right now the Red Sox front office made a good decision because as you watch the games, you can see a different attitude and intensity in this team compared to last year team. 

Is Cora a reason for that? It definitely has something to do with it. 

Designated hitter J.D Martinez and shortstop Xander Bogaerts has been leading the Sox offensive attack both tied with a team leading 17 hits. 

The young 24-year-old third baseman Rafael Devers looks to have improved since last year having blasted 5 home runs so far this year, which has him tied with Martinez for the team lead. 

Newcomer Alex Verdugo has been a nice addition to the team being a steady bat and good glove in the outfield. 

Pitching, which was pointed to as the Red Sox weakness coming into the season, has been a pleasant surprise as starters and relievers have been on their game coming out of spring training. 

Chris Sale is still slowly working towards getting back to full strength and the Sox say the goal is to see Sale pitch this year, but they have not given a target date out yet. 

With the absence of Sale, Nate Eovaldi and Eduardo Rodriguez have been strong for the Sox in the starting rotation. 

Eovaldi was the Sox opening day starter and filling in as the ace has won two of his first three starts and having a 2.08 earned run average. 

Rodriguez has also been consistent after missing much of last season with COVID-19 complications by winning his first two starts and striking out twelve opposing batters. 

The bullpen has been an issue for a couple years now, but relievers have done their jobs for the most part this early in the season. 

Matt Barnes has taken over closing duties has looked good after testing positive for COVID-19 during spring training. He is two for two in save opportunities so far on the year. 

The season is still young but as a Red Sox fan, there is a lot to look forward too as this new look team is starting to come together. 

They need some more help in the bullpen as they normally do and another big bat which are things that hopefully the front office looks to address as the season continues.

The team is not a contender yet but based off the performance of the team in the first few weeks, they look more promising than people thought they would before this year started.

The team finishes up a quick two game series with the Blue Jays tonight before welcoming in the Seattle Mariners tomorrow for a four-game series at Fenway Park.