RED SOX MAILBAG

Highlights from Jason Mastrodonato’s Red Sox mailbag on BostonHerald.com:

Q: What is their problem? — Stephen Gauvin, @ Gauv822

A: Let me summarize the 2017 season as quickly as I can: They don’t have much power and there are a couple of holes too many for a lineup that no longer has one imposing figure who can force a pitcher to attack the top of the order. The back end of the starting rotation has been killing them and while their bullpen has been surprisingly OK, they’re clearly starting to get tired from all the work (see Barnes, Matt; Hembree, Heath).

Q: Are Sox regretting trading Travis Shaw to the Brewers for Tyler Thornburg? — Scott H, @Boston_ Scott

A: When you think of the missing link from this Red Sox lineup, do you think Shaw is the guy? He’s having a fine season, hitting .283 with an .863 OPS (though he left Sunday’s game with a finger injury). He’d be leading the Red Sox in homers (eight) and RBI (31). I’m just not totally sure the offense suddenly becomes that much better with Shaw in at third base.

If you’re a believer in the WAR stat, Shaw has 0.6 WAR this season while the Red Sox have a negative-0.5 WAR from third base. So he probably adds one win. Instead of being 19-18, they’d be 20-17.

If Thornburg can get over the hump with this shoulder strain and back on the field by July, three good months, plus the playoffs, from an elite reliever might be more valuable to them. They’ll have Thornburg under team control until 2020.