The 2012 Boston Red Sox are now only ½ of a game out of the 2nd American League wild card spot – with millions and millions of dollars worth of talent getting a little R&R (rest and rehabbing) on the disabled list and only one “All Star” heading to Kansas City in about a week. 

With a solid 4-3 record this last week, splitting a four-game series with Seattle and winning two of three against the Jays, the total record for the Red Sox in June was 15-11. Hopefully, within this last week lies proof that losing Youk was not too big of a burden within the clubhouse. 

This is by no means a rebuilding season for the Red Sox.

With a payroll like this, how in God’s name can one even ponder the idea of rebuilding? How can anyone who can do simple addition possibly think that a team with a $146 million in salary should reconstruct its beloved but oft-disappointing self? 

No, no. We can compete, we are competing - we’re a half game out of the AL wild card as I mentioned before. Here are this week’s player awards, haters. And lovers. 

Best Hitter: Hitting .346 this past week and providing our Red Sox with hard-nosed play in the outfield is Cody Ross, who since his return to the lineup has provided this team with spark and spunk and with his hitting may have solidified the fact that he’s still going to be an everyday outfield when (and if) Ellsbury and Crawford come back. 

Best Pitcher: Aaron Cook! Yeaaaahh buddy! After giving up 6 ER in 2.2 innings on Cinco De Mayo (he must have had one too many), Cook has gotten us two wins during the last week – one of them a 9 inning complete game shutout in which he only allowed two hits and walked none. 

Biggest Surprise: The fact that my boy Scott Atchison didn’t make the All-Star team. Hello, voters, managers, everyone alike that has a say – this guy has a 1.47 ERA so far in 34 games. What the hell is wrong with y’all? 

Biggest Disappointment: I think that Dustin Pedroia should take some time off between now and when we come back from the All-Star game to finish the rest of the regular season in order to heal up any nagging injuries he has - even though he had a huge home run Sunday against the Mariners that tied the game at 1-1. We need our Lasershow come September – and he’s much better healthy than hurt. 

Unsung Hero: 36 year-old Big Papi David Ortiz leads the Red Sox in batting average (.302), home runs (21), RBI (54), OBP (.390) hits (86), walks (43), slugging percentage (.607), total bases (173), and he is tied for the lead for doubles on the team with 24. Unsung hero? More like MVP! 

Injuries: Our lineup lacks speed, but we’ll be getting it back soon with the possible returns of Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford in early July – especially considering Scott Podsednik just went down...

Biggest Bum: Here’s a bandwagon you need to jump on ASAFP. The “Brent Lillibridge Is Useless” bandwagon – I’m the leader of the clan, come join the team. Here’s proof: He’s 0-7 so far with us. Long story short, we got nothing for Youk. 

Coming Up: Three at Oakland (the game on Wednesday is on at 4:05PM luckily for us East-Coasters, who will be shitfaced by 10:00PM on our Nation’s birthday), and then four very important games in three days against the division leading New York Yankees before the All Star game in Kansas City – and four hopefully helpful days off.