Anyone who thought the Red Sox were going to come out of the gate with all guns blazing this season was sadly naïve.After last September’s implosion, coupled with what could possibly be the most incompetent off-season since the bad old days of the 1960s, it’s a wonder they’re even at .500 at the All-Star break.And the only reason they’re even that good is because of an unexpected influx of youth – and that was made necessary only because of so many injuries to the veterans.Yes, this team has underachieved, but anyone who thinks it should be up there with the Yankees and Texas Rangers in the American League elite category is dreaming.If anything, I expected them to be worse. And they would be worse, too, were it not for David Ortiz, who has carried them this far.You can certainly add the emergence of Will Middlebrooks, Daniel Nava, Ryan Kalish, Felix Doubront and Franklin Morales, and throw in Cody Ross and Jarrod Saltalamacchia too, as factors in them being even this competent.But here’s the scenario. Someone tells you in March that a) Carl Crawford might not play a game; b) Jacoby Ellsbury will be out for the first half after only a week; c) Josh Beckett and Jon Lester will be horrible and Clay Buchholz will take until June to get going; d) Dustin Pedroia would hurt his thumb; e) Adrian Gonzalez would be useless; and f) Kevin Youkilis would be either injured or ineffective and ultimately get traded.Be honest. What would you think? I’m thinking Philadelphia Phillies here (37-50 as we write this).When you look at it from that perspective, 43-43 isn’t that bad!However, looking at it another way, it is. These kids, plus Ortiz, have carried them. Imagine how much better they’d be if even one of the veterans exerted some leadership and played anywhere near to his potential?And when you take it from that perspective, yes, this is disappointing.I’d give manager Bobby Valentine a C so far, and put him down as more of a problem than a solution. He needlessly picked a fight with Youkilis (and, by extension, Pedroia) with that ill-timed observation about Youk’s attitude. And he’s been way too lenient with Beckett and Lester over their antics (enough complaining about umpires!).On the upside, he’s worked the kids into the lineup and obviously made them relaxed enough to produce.When you put it all together, this is the very definition of a .500 team ? this year, anyway.Steve Krause can be reached at [email protected].