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How Boston is Blowing It

By Aaron Goldstein on 9.21.11 @ 11:40PM

A little over week ago I wrote about the Boston Red Sox September swoon.

Well, the swoon has not stopped. The Red Sox are 5-16 this month with less than a week remaining in the regular season. While the Red Sox still retain the lead in the AL Wild Card they are on fumes. Their lead in the AL Wild Card over the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim is two and a half games. They have just lost three out of four games to the lowly Baltimore Orioles. Tonight, the Sox blew a 4-2 lead late in the game with ace Josh Beckett on the mound. Last night, neither Daniel Bard nor Jonathan Papelbon could get it done out of the bullpen. Meanwhile, Red Sox starter Erik Bedard was serving up runs as fast as he was being served child support papers by a Yankees fan.

I mean the Orioles were a team who back in July the Sox could beat at will. The Orioles could have been easily mistaken for their Triple A affiliate in Norfolk. The Sox could spot the O's six runs in the second inning with the full confidence they would win. Now the Orioles are enjoying sweet revenge playing the role of spoiler.

This spectacle follows losing three out of four games to the Tampa Bay Rays last weekend. As it happened, I was in attendance for the Sox only win on my birthday on September 16th. Oddly enough, the Sox actually picked up a half game on the Rays in the AL Wild Card tonight as Tampa dropped both ends of a doubleheader to the Yankees tonight (which earned them yet another AL East Division title - more on that tomorrow.) You know it's bad when Red Sox Nation finds itself in the awkward position of rooting for the Bronx Bombers to keep their playoff hopes alive.

But don't worry this will soon pass. The Red Sox have the day off tomorrow. They will travel to New York to begin a three game weekend series at Yankee Stadium on Friday night. The Sox then end in the regular season in Baltimore. Can the Red Sox regroup? Or will the Orioles enjoy more sweet revenge? If revenge is sweet then perhaps the Red Sox don't deserve a post-season berth.

View all comments (8) | Leave a comment

PCC| 9.22.11 @ 12:57AM

Pitching wins pennants. The Sox starters and bullpen are falling apart. They're in real danger of missing the playoffs. Their only comsolation may be that, except for Sabathia and Rivera, the Yanks' pitching is shaky as well. It's looking like Tigers-Phillies to me.

ejp| 9.22.11 @ 1:15AM

I guess maybe if the Red Sox had the one who shouldn't be called the greatest relief pitcher ever, it might be a bit different for them? (sarcasm intended)

Bob K.| 9.22.11 @ 8:52AM

The Sox have been behind so often in this streak that he never would have been allowed to pitch.

JohnD| 9.22.11 @ 7:50AM

And meanwhile the Yankees have clinched their 16th playoff appearance in 17 seasons, and even if Boston pulls its "Fenway fade" Baltimore and Toronto will be sitting home for the postseason for 13th straight season.

Anyone else getting tired of knowing the outcome of thte baseball season before the teams even break camp fro m Florida and Arizona? No wonder football is king.

MikeBee| 9.22.11 @ 8:47AM

Aaron,
Unfortunately, the Sox have become the Detroit Tigers of the last four years, or so. Every year, it seemed that Detroit would be at or near the top of their division, only to give it away in September. I really can't explain why some teams seem to fold in the last month. Maybe they get tired? I know there are some injuries, but good teams can overcome these. Right now, it's looking like the Tigers, after winning their division, want to give away home field advantage. Look at it this way: at least you enjoyed another (mostly) good year of Sox baseball.....

james wilson| 9.22.11 @ 11:03AM

It is obvious the Red Sox players know there is no there there. They over-performed admirably and finally ran out of gas.

This game is 100% about ownership and GM's. By September, they discover exactly what is coming to them, and point the finger somewhere else.

Casey Abell| 9.22.11 @ 1:00PM

"Anyone else getting tired of knowing the outcome of thte baseball season before the teams even break camp fro m Florida and Arizona?"

You know who wins the World Series this year? Do tell. (I notice you don't tell. Because you don't know. I don't know, either.)

To get back to the Sox, it's obviously the starting rotation. This has been the weak point throughout the season, and it's a real bad place to have a weak point. Boston is ninth in the league is starters' ERA.

The rotation has really collapsed lately. The Red Sox are still favorites to make the postseason, if only because they still have the 2 1/2 game lead. But how long will they last in the playoffs with that rotation?