BOSTON — The blueprint is now in place for the Red Sox after only 21 games of the 2008 season.

It looks something like this: Battle for supremacy with the good teams in the league, while pounding the weaker teams into submission.

That’s been the case for Boston in the first month of the season, and after obliterating the Texas Rangers in a four-game series, including yesterday’s 8-3 Patriots Day victory at Fenway Park, the Red Sox could be on pace for a 109-53 record.

Boston now has won five straight games, including nine of its last 10 games.

If someone had told the Red Sox during spring training that after the first 21 games their record would be 14-7, the players probably would have believed it despite the early travel and tough schedule.

“C’mon, that’s an old story,” said the Sox’ Kevin Youkilis. “We’re 14-7 because we’re 14-7. There’s no more of that nonsense of ‘Oh, the poor Red Sox.’ We’re 14-7 because we’re playing good ball and you can’t worry about that other stuff. It’s something we’ve moved past and we’re not worried about it. We don’t want to talk about it anymore because now we’re playing. We’re just going out and playing baseball and doing whatever it takes to win — that’s it.”

What makes the Sox’ record that much more impressive is the fact they began the regular season after an abbreviated spring training due to their 19-day, three-country trek through Japan, California and Toronto before returning to Boston. But, the Red Sox are so far past that that it’s not even a thought at this point.

“We just try to stay in the present because that’s the best way to do it,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “That trip was so long ago; even the last series seems like it was a long time ago. Perspective is a big word. We’ve had some good comeback wins with probably different reasons every day — whether your bullpen keeps you in, somebody gets a big hit, maybe the other team allows you back in by mistakes — there are different reasons every night.”

There are those doubters who feel the Red Sox would use that trip as an excuse this season once things went array and injuries began to flood the clubhouse. Other than a poor — but understandable — showing in Toronto where Boston suffered a three-game sweep at the hands of the Blue Jays, it hasn’t had any hiccups.

“You don’t look at the record,” said outfielder J.D. Drew. “You take it a game at a time and play the best hand you’re dealt. You play the game hard and see how it all plays out. You don’t look ahead 20 games. You realize there’s a lot of travel early in the season and you just try to get your rest when you can and battle it out. We’re in a good position.”

The Red Sox have had only three 100-plus win seasons in club history. Boston posted a 105-47 record in 1912, 101-50 in 1915 and 104-50 in 1946. The two seasons the Red Sox won their World Series titles in this century, the team was 98-64 in 2004 and 96-66 in 2007.

A lot of positive things have to happen for any team to surpass 100 wins in a season — health being the main factor. The 2001 Seattle Mariners share the major-league record for most wins during the regular season with the 1906 Chicago Cubs with 116 wins. The Mariners lost to the Yankees in the ALCS and the Cubs won the N.L. pennant only to lose to the White Sox in the World Series.

Francona has had to answer the question all season about the difficulties of repeating as World Champions. He gracefully answers it by saying: “It’s hard to win one.”

That mindset is exactly how the Red Sox were able to win two World Series championships in the last four seasons.

“If you just try to pay attention to the task at hand, if you’re good enough, that usually works,” Francona said.

jmcdonal@projo.com