I understand this will be something a lot of you can't relate to, but until this year I wasn't really able to be a true FAN of the team. When you work for an organization AND cover them it's really hard to be anything more than objective. I didn't allow myself the luxury of being a fan. You know, the type of guy that flips out when your team loses...after winning 11 in a row.
As a FAN - when I allow myself to be purely subjective - I am extremely reactionary and rash. Sunstroke can attest to this with my whining about Papelbon this season.
I haven't really had the luxury of being a fan, and only a fan, since my teen years. Maybe early 20's.
Well now I am thinking it's easier to not be a pure fan because the Red Sox are pissing me off. They can't get out of their own way on the road. Finally get home and had something like 11 wins out of 12 home games. Great, now the Red Sox are BACK! Who cares that New York had just ass raped them with a cucumber straight off the vine. We're BACK! And then it was off to Baltimore where Boston pounded the battle tested and better than they are on paper (ahem) O's for a sweep! YEAH! We're winning! On the road!
We're AWESOME!
Then it's off to Kansas City. AL East division lead went from 9.5 to 5.5. NY is in Anaheim and lost a game. What does Boston do? They SPLIT. With KANSAS freakin' CITY. Then it's off to New York. Lead is still 5.5. How do they react? Tito does the uber smart thing of resting about everyone and Boston goes on to get SWEPT...again.
Then it's home to Boston. Yay! Boston! Magic number is three. The Blue Jays in town. This should be easy. Right?
Yeah, not so much. 11-5 loss on Monday night. They are down 8-2 last night and finally realized "shit, there is a baseball game going on" and decided to start playing in the 8th inning and came up short, again, 8-7.
Texas goes on to lose two in a row and Boston backs into the Wild Card.
Look, they wouldn't be backing into the Wild Card if they hadn't earned it along the way. 91 wins in the season with seven games left to play is nothing to sneeze at, especially in the AL East. But Jesus. You're HOME. You're playing TORONTO. And you BACK INTO THE PLAYOFFS???
A baseball team should be playing their best heading into the playoffs. How am I supposed to have any faith in Clay Buchholz after his act last night? He can't handle the pressure of a clinch game at home against a team 25 games out of 1st...how is he going to deal when pitching a game 3 in the ACTUAL playoffs? Boston's bats come alive when they feel like it. Teams are running on Boston to the extent where it's almost like a league joke.
"Ring, ring..." (Angles manager Mike calling Yankees manager Joe)
"Hello?"
"Joe! Hey, it's Mike. Listen...you guys took seven bases on 'Tek the other night in one game. How much you want to bet we can hit 9?!?!"
"Hmmm. Good call. The secret, Mike, is to just run. They aren't paying attention to anyone on the paths, anyway. I bet Molina could swipe on them!"
Lester takes a line drive off the knee, Beckett has back spasms, Buchholz remembered that he's Buchholz, Papelbon is smoking cigars and celebrating backing into the Wild Card, the team has lost 7 of their last 9 and the past 5 in a row...and meanwhile teams like the Angels and Yankees? They just keep winning, baby. Just win.
Sigh.
I need a freakin' drink.
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