There are 162 games in the Major League Baseball season. Not that this is news to anyone, but again, I need to remind everyone that there are 162 games. So after only a dozen or so games just two weeks into the season, can we all just relax a bit?

I’m particularly referring to the Boston Red Sox, whose 5-10 record through Monday puts them near the bottom of the Major Leagues. These struggles come despite the major offseason acquisitions of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, among others, that had many projecting the Sox as the American League’s best team in 2011.

But after the slow start, many people across the country have already jumped off the bandwagon, and worry has stricken Red Sox Nation. The concern, however, is unwarranted.

While the offense and pitching have indeed faltered, many of the problems are a result of shaking off the rust of winter or adjusting to a new environment with new teammates. Carl Crawford, the Sox’s $142 million outfielder, will not continue to hit a paltry .137, given his career .295 average. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Boston’s other high-profile acquisition, will hit more than the 12 homers he’s currently on pace for after averaging 36 in his last three years at the pitcher’s paradise that is San Diego’s PETCO Park.

Ultimately, fans need to understand that past performances are indicative of the future, particularly for players in the prime of their careers. In the cases of Gonzalez and Crawford — who are each on the better side of 30 — the best may still even be on its way, especially with half of their at-bats coming in a hitter-friendly Fenway Park. With the Red Sox, it isn’t time to push the panic button. It’s only a matter of time before the wins begin to pile up and, come October, everyone will forget about the team’s lackluster start.

But despite the Red Sox’s fluky beginning, are other teams’ surprisingly good or bad starts potentially indicative of the rest of the season?

In the American League there are three other truly surprising starts, all within the Central division. The Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals, both perennial bottom feeders, take 11-4 and 10-5 records, respectively, into Tuesday’s play. The defending division champion Minnesota Twins, meanwhile, are stuck at 5-10.

As with judging the Red Sox, proceed with caution. The strong start by the Royals likely won’t continue, given abnormal production from journeymen like Wilson Betemit. The Indians, however, could find themselves in the thick of the playoff race, like the Padres did a year ago, if their talented young players continue to produce.

Even with the Tribe’s hot start, there is actually room for improvement. Not only has the team won without quality production at the plate from stars Shin Soo Choo and Carlos Santana, but they will also be receiving a jolt to the lineup with the return of franchise player Grady Sizemore from the disabled list. The eighth-year veteran was activated Sunday and hit a homer in his second at-bat.

Ultimately, however, for the Indians to succeed, they will have to hope that their young and inexperienced arms hold up throughout the course of the year. While I expect the lineup to continue to produce, I don’t believe the pitching will remain as sharp. Starters like Justin Masterson have vastly exceeded expectations and projections thus far. Expect Cleveland to hang around for a while before they decline in the final months of the year.

One of the teams that one would expect to pass the Indians — the Twins — actually has several problems associated with its slow start that should be cause for legitimate concern in the Twin Cities. While the team undoubtedly has the talent to put together a strong 2011 campaign, injury concerns with stars Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Joe Nathan could significantly limit the team’s potential to repeat as division champions.

While preseason concerns about Morneau (concussion) and Nathan (elbow) appear to have been justified by their early season slumps, Mauer’s absence (out indefinitely with a viral infection that causes leg fatigue) will hurt the young pitching staff as well as the lineup. Without a timetable for his return, the Twins are stuck in limbo, and the struggles should continue. While it is reasonable to expect that Morneau, Nathan and the other struggling Twins will begin to produce, Minnesota’s season will ultimately be determined by Mauer’s health.

While it is important not to draw significant conclusions from the first week of the season, sometimes concern or excitement is legitimate. In the end, however, there are still over 140 games to be played, and anything can happen. In a world of constant media attention and analysis, let’s take a step back and enjoy the game for a while before crowning a champion.

Preston Barclay is a freshman in the McDonough School of Business. Turning Two in the 202 appears in every other Tuesday edition of Hoya Sports.