Boston Red Sox are a lock for American League title

Hyperbole time for this Boston Red Sox fan, as I expect another AL pennant and a World Series flag by the end of October.

The Boston Red Sox are in the playoffs and the big question is just who will they face? Who does Red Sox Nation fear? What team or teams can take the luster quickly off the season? The answer is no team. Forget your angst. Leave it at Gate B. This team is solid and it took four and one-half months to finally jell.

So why all the pom-pom activity? There are several reasons I look at and it looks like some clear sailing from my view.

The confidence factor

The Red Sox went on a momentous winning streak at the most opportune of times. Two division opponents who were on their heels are now in the dust. The New York Yankees were becoming a force in the playoff picture and Boston swept them away four straight. That finished off the Yankees, who are now a playoff afterthought.

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The Orioles desperately needed to make a statement in a four game series that was played in their home ballpark. Two things were absent from the games: The fans and the Orioles team. Another Boston sweep and a fond farewell to division title aspirations for Baltimore.

The Red Sox stood tall and that does a world of good for the psyche. They came in against opponents ready to pounce and left with pelts that had little birdies and pinstripes on them. The team is hot, full of bravado and knows they are damn good. A cruise to the finish is in the works.

The road

This team is built for home and road. In days of yore, a Red Sox team was destined to misery when leaving Fenway Park. Built for bludgeoning opponents at home, they meekly surrendered on the road. A .500 road season was a remarkable achievement – like discovering the secrets of cold fusion.

The hitting and pitching are well balanced and can adapt to foreign parks. Sure, they still have a preponderance of bashing at home compared to the road, but duds they are not. Speed helps as does the discipline of hitters who use the whole playing field.

The manager

Has John Farrell suddenly turned into Joe McCarthy? Was the Steven Wright pinch-running debacle a managerial epiphany? The bullpen is operating even better than the rotation and the decision-making is A+ despite the occasional surfacing of Fernando Abad.

Players are getting rested and a rotation both on the mound and among the position players is firmly in place. Suddenly the in-game decisions even agree with mine! The “other” side of managing has always been fairly solid – keeping the distractions and internal discord well out of the public scrutiny. Farrell is on a roll, folks.

Leadership

This is a stress-free season for the Red Sox with no internal turmoil and assorted players speaking evil about anything that seems to irritate them – baseball or non-baseball. The players have managed to comport themselves with a certain high level of professional dignity and it shows. There is well-noted camaraderie that borders on 2013.

The combination of veterans and young players have blended remarkably well. Even a few with noted “past history” have taken the pledge to lead by example.

The opposition

The American League East produced four teams above .500 and the Beast of the East is back. The parks are small and the pressure is constant. For the Red Sox, the pressure is both on and off the field as the media cherishes any moment that can be deemed negative. The East makes a team battle tested and that is a plus.