The Red Sox are in first place in the AL East, yet there "hasn’t been much buzz in the air" around the club as fans have not "really gotten into the season yet," according to Nick Cafardo of the BOSTON GLOBE. The "absence of a charismatic figure such as David Ortiz has left a void," except for "games when Chris Sale pitches." Cafardo noted this Red Sox team "doesn’t hit a lot of home runs in a year when homer totals are up throughout baseball." There is "more negativity than positivity surrounding the Red Sox." Cafardo: "Listening to talk radio, you might think the team is in last place with no hope of escape." Boston-based WBZ-FM's Tony Massarotti: "Right now I think they lack charisma on and off the field." But Red Sox President Sam Kennedy said that the club is "averaging 35,850 fans through 39 home games, slightly better than their 35,491 average at the same time last season." But he also acknowledged NESN broadcast ratings "are down" 20% from last season. Kennedy said the Red Sox have not "played our best baseball yet" and have also "had a good number of day games (25 through 79 games)." Yet Red Sox fans do still "travel well," as “'Red Sox Destinations' packages ... have seen an increase in sales." Red Sox fans "show up at every ballpark, so that aspect hasn’t changed" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/2).
