As the number of games remaining on the schedule sinks into single digits, four divisional and two wild card races are heating up.The Mets are trying to choke away the NL East, while it seems that no one really wants the NL Central. The Padres, meanwhile, have been stealthily creeping up on the run-deficient Diamondbacks in the NL West.
But if you're like me, the race you can't keep your eyes off of is the AL East. I'm not even a Red Sox fan, but I can see the sharks circling the waters in Boston, and something needs to be done about it -- fast. Even though the loser gets the AL Wild Card as a consolation prize, the Red Sox need to be desperate for the division. Here are five reasons why:
- Boston hasn't won a divisional title since 1995, back when the Rocket was still in town. Twelve years is a long time to go without a banner to hang from the facade.
- The Red Sox need the momentum heading into October. None of us needs to be reminded that the World Series has been won plenty of times by a Wild Card team, including the Red Sox's wild ride in 2004. Still, it's tough to turn around a tailspin in a best of five games series.
- The fans deserve it. After an entire season of gloating to Yankees fans, the Red Sox Nation would be shamed beyond belief if Boston didn't hold on for the division.
- Boston has been disgraced enough in the annals of baseball. After surging to a 14.5 game lead by the end of May, the Red Sox were ready to bag the title. If Boston blows the lead, it will be the second largest lead squandered in Major League history. The Red Sox have been there before, though; 1978 anyone?
- Someone needs to slay the Yankees. And it ain't going to be the Orioles or Devil Rays. For the last decade and a half, baseball (and the AL East, in particular) has suffered through the Yankees' reign of terror. It needs to stop, and it needs to stop this year.
So there you have it. The Red Sox need to Cowboy Up (just like in 2004), finish the season strong at home, and get it done. I think they will.
And with that, I'm out for the weekend. Have a good one.
3 comments:
"The fans deserve it. After an entire season of gloating to Yankees fans, the Red Sox Nation would be shamed beyond belief if Boston didn't hold on for the division."
Kevin, Kevin, Kevin. C'mon, they just won a World Series in 2004! You know who's fans deserve a division? The Giants' fans. Talk about turmoil...
By the way, I was throwing around the idea of visiting SafeCo field this upcoming summer...just curious if you live anywhere nearby?
Yeah, man. I'm about an hour away, and I've gone to 5-7 games each of the last two seasons. If you're going to be up in the area, drop me a line and we'll hook up for a game.
Boston fans have become as insufferable as Yankee fans. I have serious issues saying that the fans deserve it. The only reason that I can ponder it at all is because it would be the Yanks to benefit from a Sox collapse.
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