Friday, September 5, 2008
It’s the beginning of September and the 2008 Red Sox appear to be hitting a stride, right at the perfect time. It doesn’t feel like 2007 though does it? That’s because it’s not. In 2007, everything was going well. Sure there were some ups and downs, but nothing like what’s happening this year. Here are the 5 reasons the Red Sox should not be contending for the top spot in the AL East.
5.) Pitching: At the beginning of the season there were some high expectations for the pitching staff of the Red Sox. Josh Beckett was the ace and there was no questioning that. Dice-K was a VERY strong #2. Then there was to be Jon Lester, Clay Buckholz and Timmy Wakefield, and that’s not even mentioning Schilling who was out from the get go. Now the rotation looks totally different and we’re not even certain if Josh Beckett will be our ace in the playoffs (although here’s hoping he’s back.) We’ve pieced it together with any number of incarnations over the last 5 months and we’ll ride that right into the playoffs.
4.) Injuries: There was David Ortiz at the beginning of the season (who some thought might be at the end of his career…I’m lookin at you Timmy.) Then there was Mike Lowell, who is finally coming back and will hopefully contribute for the playoffs. JD Drew out with a lower back strain and let’s not forget Julio Lugo, ok let’s forget that, that didn’t have much of an impact. With all the injuries this team has suffered, they have somehow found a way to put together a team of former bat boys to grab the second spot in the AL East (on their way to the first.)
3.) Manny Being Manny: Yes, it’s true, the Red Sox probably shouldn’t have been in this position in the first place. The distractions that Manny caused throughout the first half of the season would have de-railed any team, from pushing down the traveling secretary, to punching Youk and finally bad mouthing the ownership in the press, Manny did everything he could to get this team off track and it just didn’t work.
2.) Starting In Japan Didn’t Help: Yes, I know, it was at the beginning of the season. Yes, I know, the Spankmees did it two years ago. It did however affect the start of the season. It didn’t get the team off on the right foot and that is never good for a season. They have, of course, since rebounded, but it didn’t help.
1.) Tampa Bay Devil Chickens: These idiots didn’t help the Red Sox cause this season. It’s the same story though, it’s just a different team. The Red Sox are in second place and ready to make a push at the end of the season. During the season however, this group of Rays constantly stood in the way of any progress the Red Sox were looking to make. Everytime the Red Sox would win, so to would the Rays. Sometimes, when the Red Sox lost, the Rays would win and that was even worse. They have stood in our way long enough and on Monday night, the takeover begins.
Given the adversity this team has faced over the course of this season, it’s surprising to many that they are even in the chase for first place in the AL East, but not to die-hards. Nope, we knew they were going to do it, right? Nobody questioned whether they would comeback and take over first place. Nobody thought they wouldn’t take first place away from the Rays, right? I know I know, it hasn’t happened yet, but if you ask me this team has no business even being in the hunt and yet, they are there, resilient as ever, charging toward the top of the heap. GO SOX!!
4.) Injuries: There was David Ortiz at the beginning of the season (who some thought might be at the end of his career…I’m lookin at you Timmy.) Then there was Mike Lowell, who is finally coming back and will hopefully contribute for the playoffs. JD Drew out with a lower back strain and let’s not forget Julio Lugo, ok let’s forget that, that didn’t have much of an impact. With all the injuries this team has suffered, they have somehow found a way to put together a team of former bat boys to grab the second spot in the AL East (on their way to the first.)
3.) Manny Being Manny: Yes, it’s true, the Red Sox probably shouldn’t have been in this position in the first place. The distractions that Manny caused throughout the first half of the season would have de-railed any team, from pushing down the traveling secretary, to punching Youk and finally bad mouthing the ownership in the press, Manny did everything he could to get this team off track and it just didn’t work.
2.) Starting In Japan Didn’t Help: Yes, I know, it was at the beginning of the season. Yes, I know, the Spankmees did it two years ago. It did however affect the start of the season. It didn’t get the team off on the right foot and that is never good for a season. They have, of course, since rebounded, but it didn’t help.
1.) Tampa Bay Devil Chickens: These idiots didn’t help the Red Sox cause this season. It’s the same story though, it’s just a different team. The Red Sox are in second place and ready to make a push at the end of the season. During the season however, this group of Rays constantly stood in the way of any progress the Red Sox were looking to make. Everytime the Red Sox would win, so to would the Rays. Sometimes, when the Red Sox lost, the Rays would win and that was even worse. They have stood in our way long enough and on Monday night, the takeover begins.
Given the adversity this team has faced over the course of this season, it’s surprising to many that they are even in the chase for first place in the AL East, but not to die-hards. Nope, we knew they were going to do it, right? Nobody questioned whether they would comeback and take over first place. Nobody thought they wouldn’t take first place away from the Rays, right? I know I know, it hasn’t happened yet, but if you ask me this team has no business even being in the hunt and yet, they are there, resilient as ever, charging toward the top of the heap. GO SOX!!
Labels: Boston Red Sox, Clay Buckholz, David Ortiz, JD Drew, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Manny Ramirez, Tim Wakefield
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3 Comments:
So I am coming up to Boston on Sunday and staying till Wednesday and part of my big trip up from Pennsylvania involves a stop at Fenway on Monday for the D-rays vs Bo Sox game! I’m so excited! I grew up hating the Yankees and over the years that grew into a love for the Bo Sox…This will be my first time to Fenway. My seats are in Box 86, I got 2 of them for $150 total off of eSellOut which I didn’t think was that bad of a price???? http://www.esellout.com/ResultsGeneralAtVenue.aspx?kwds=Boston+Red+Sox&venid=21 ~ I truly hope it’s a good game! I have seen the Sox play in Cleveland AND Baltimore and finally now get to see them in Boston! I just spent my lunch and early afternoon reading about the Red Sox and Boston and blogging that I felt obliged to write something myself! Hope all is well! Go Red Sox!
~ Drew
Now this is some funny shit. There’s a new site/blog called Football Fashion Fanatics. Ya gotta check this out. Two guys have taken the Uniwatch idea , sharpened the focus to the NFL, planted toungues firmly in cheek and punched the afterburners into a new level of sports absurdity. Fashion Power rankings, panel discussion videos about the most trivial details of NFL uniforms present and past. If you like football, you’re gonna get a laugh out of this : www.footballfashionfanaticks.com
Now this is some funny shit. There’s a new site/blog called Football Fashion Fanatics. Ya gotta check this out. Two guys have taken the Uniwatch idea , sharpened the focus to the NFL, planted toungues firmly in cheek and punched the afterburners into a new level of sports absurdity. Fashion Power rankings, panel discussion videos about the most trivial details of NFL uniforms present and past. If you like football, you’re gonna get a laugh out of this : www.footballfashionfanatics.com
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