As the rest of baseball (and the sports world) tries to make sense of the current economic situation, they would do well to look at the Boston Red Sox; or perhaps avoid looking at them if they don’t want to be ridiculously depressed. Because according to the BOSTON GLOBE, even the venerable Red Sox - one of the most successful and well-managed teams in sports - are taking a hit, and if the Red Sox aren’t recession-proof, what does that mean for mere mortal teams?

As the story details, the Red Sox lost several major sponsorship deals in the off-season, including big money agreements with Nikon and PC Connection, replacing them with smaller deals. (I don’t think the Bermuda Board of Tourism is going to bring in the same money.) In addition, luxury box sales are down, and ratings for games on the Red Sox-owned NESN were down 20 percent last season.

While the Red Sox are hardly struggling, they are feeling the pinch. The team currently has MLB’s longest streak of consecutive home sell-outs - 469 - but there are still tickets available for most games in April and 30 other home games throughout the season, which suggest that the streak is in serious jeopardy.

All of this despite the Red Sox instituting a price freeze on tickets and concession prices,  and coming up with promotions such as the Family Happy Hour pricing on merchandising and 50 percent discounts on certain concessions. But the Red Sox are learning what other teams have - specials are only going so far in this economy.

For example, the Los Angeles Galaxy instituted reverse pricing for their game on Saturday, with the best seats at the Home Depot Center (normally $75) going for jut $14. But despite this promotion (and $1 beer and hot dogs), the game drew the smallest attendance for a Galaxy home game since 2006.

And the economic downturn isn’t just impacting the Sox. Local businesses such as bars, hotels and souvenir shops are taking a hit as well.  Tim Pettit, manager of the Yawkey Way Store, explains:

“We have noticed that customers, instead of buying two T-shirts, are buying one, and, instead of buying several hundred dollars worth of gifts, they are buying a hundred dollars worth,” Pettit said.

Let’s be honest: the Red Sox aren’t anywhere close to in trouble, and most teams would love to have the problems they have. But if they are struggling, then imagine what it’s going to be like this season in places where baseball was already hurting? It could be a long, painful season.