I’ve been trying to get the pulse of Red Sox fans these days, and it is difficult to figure out.  The shock of losing CF Johnny Damon has worn off and I think they will get over it because they acquired Coco Crisp, who comes younger and cheaper and seems eager to play. The problem now is that they still don’t have a shortstop.  There is still time left before the season starts but right now Alex Cora is the starting SS. Boston went from having options at shortstop, to it being their most glaring weakness.  In the past three years they went through Nomar Garciaparra, Orlando Cabrera, Edgar Renteria, and had Hanley Ramirez waiting in the wings, and now all four are no longer with the team.  The majority of Red Sox fans were fed up with Renteria and did not want to give him another season to redeem himself.  On the positive side, at least they made a steal of a trade acquiring 2B Mark Loretta for back up catcher Doug Mirabelli.  They have an excess of starting pitching which is never a bad thing, in Arroyo, Beckett, Clemente, Wakefield, Schilling, and David Wells.  A decision also needs to be made as to who will catch games Wakefield pitches with personal catcher Mirabelli being shipped to the Padres.