Keller @ Large: Don't Panic Red Sox Fans

BOSTON (CBS) - Like all true Red Sox fans, I kept close tabs on the season's opening series in Texas, and it almost put a damper on an otherwise pleasant early-spring weekend.

Listen to Jon's commentary:

But to take in the online and on-air fallout over three ugly losses in a row from some Red Sox fans, you'd think the world had come to an end months before it is actually scheduled to do so.

Here's a thumbnail summary of some of the nonsense I've been hearing:

* Lester is a bust;

* Crawford can't hit;

* Buchholz can't get the big out;

* Francona is so rattled by the chewing tobacco ban he's forgotten how to manage;

* The entire team was overrated;

* We never should've let Beltre go;

* Lackey is a huge dud, and so on.

(Actually, I'm not dismissing that last one.)

This is a familiar phenomenon. As Bob Lobel used to say, it's called "pushing the panic button," and I will freely admit I have pushed it a few times myself during 45 years of rooting for the Sox.

But folks – don't you think it's a tad early to be panicking?

If you agree with me, here is some ammo to use when your fellow fans try to get you whipped up into a premature state of panic too:

For starters, the first week of the season is a predictor of nothing. The eventual 2007 World Series champion Red Sox also bombed out of the gate, losing their opener 7 to 1 and dropping 3 of their first 5. They then dropped 3 of the first 4 games of the ALCS to the Indians before going on to win.

And do I really need to remind anyone of the 2004 season, when the Sox lox lost their opener, 7 to 2 to the Orioles, along with two of the next four, then lost the first three games of the ALCS in decisive fashion to the Yankees before…well, you know what happened there. You remember it too, Yankee fans.

Listen, Texas is the defending American League champion. They're very good, and I think we have a problem behind the plate that needs fixing.

But really, there is no logical reason to even think of pushing the panic button in early April.

There will be plenty of time for that come May.

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.