So, the Sox decided they cared about winning with only an inning to go tonight? It might have helped if they had made that decision, oh, 7 innings before. Before all the gopher balls dispensed like Halloween candy (speaking of Halloween, two guys sitting behind the plate were getting their tricks and treats early by dressing as umps) and before all the GIDPs that made them look like they didn't belong on the field at Fenway Park.
The team was doing so well earlier this month. As the Rays and Rangers were dropping by the wayside, the Sox looked to finally be firing on all cylinders. I don't know whether it was the rainy debacle in KC, the smackdown in the Bronx, or just the distance between them and their closest Wild Card competitors depriving them of a sense of urgency that got them all discombobulated, but right now they're a hot mess who will most likely get into the playoffs by default. A killer losing streak is no way to get psyched up for the playoffs. Perhaps it's not such a good thing that the Rays and Rangers fell off a cliff and couldn't keep things close and, therefore, keep the Sox motivated to WIN. It seems to me they do better when there's that sense of urgency.
The MLB schedulers didn't do the Sox any favors having them play out the last three weeks worth of games with no off-days. Last-minute pitcher snafus (Lester's quad, Beckett's back, and Buchholz's 2008 Throwback Night), "to hell with it" at-bats, and abandonment of the small-ball strategies that helped keep the Sox going earlier in the month have also contributed to the craptastic play that has halted their win count at 91 games. Ya think a couple of bunts could have been attempted to stay out of some of those infernal double plays? They were sac bunting all over the place two weeks ago. What happened?
When all is said and done, it won't matter as much how they got into the playoffs, but I think it would be more beneficial to them to get those competitive fires brewing going into the dance because the Angels are super-hungry and playing with the spirit of their fallen teammate in their hearts. The Sox may have a long history of clipping the Angels' wings in the first round, but my gut feeling is that they are due in a big way. I wouldn't be surprised if Scioscia lobbies MLB to have the umpires for that series vetted.
The Sox are a talented team that has the potential to go far in the playoffs. They are the team I love and I will always root for and I would love nothing more for them to squash the smug Yankees and the national TV announcers that couldn't conceal their passion for the pinstripes if they tried. As much as I hate them, however, the Yanks are formidable and if the Sox are to beat them, it may play out very much like 2004, with the Sox digging themselves a 0-3 hole before clawing their way to a win. Hey, if they go on and sweep their NL opponents (I'm thinking Phils or Cards here), I'm all for it.
As I write this, I have learned that the Red Sox have clinched the Wild Card by Texas losing to LA. That's not the way I wanted it to play out and, I'm sure I'm not alone in this sentiment, but they're in and they can look ahead and do what needs to be done. It would be nice to win some games on this homestand while they're at it. They may be "meaningless" but it's time to get fired up for October baseball.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
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