Win or Go Home
Many fans are hoping that the Yankees can do what the Sox couldn’t, beat the Rays, so the Sox can back into the playoffs. I don’t know about you, but backing into the playoffs isn’t what we had in mind after the off season moves we made this year. Secondly, I would rather not make the playoffs than to root for the Yankees. The mere thought of rooting for Jeter and A-Rod would make me sick to my stomach. If this team wants the playoffs so badly, then earn it on your own merit.
They have no one to blame but themselves for getting into this mess in the first place. While the pitching has been mediocre at best all year, it didn’t help that the bats went cold at the same time. Is there any player that wants to take this team, put them on their shoulders, and carry them into the Post Season? I keep thinking Dustin Pedroia is going to bust out as usual, but we have only seen a moment or two this month where he is locked in. The other day Carl Crawford apologized to all Red Sox fans for his disappointing season and said he hopes that if the Sox can make the playoffs, that the fans will see the “real” Crawford. When they make the playoffs? Your stock will rise dramatically and everyone fan, including this one, wont give a flying fig what your statistics look like if you can show us the “real” you “NOW” and lead us to the promised land.
I’m tired of hearing how banged up we are. Every player in baseball is banged up this time of year. Gonzalez’s shoulder, Ortiz’s back, Beckett’s ankle and every bone and muscle in Youkilis’s body. Suck it up, get out there and play the way we all expected you to play.
I agree with David Ortiz when he said that Alfredo Aceves should be in the starting rotation. What are we saving him for? Yes, he is the best man for long relief out of the bullpen. But, mostly he is brought in when one of our starters can’t last beyond the 4th inning. Who cares at that point? When he comes in we are already behind by 3-5 runs. He comes in to stop the bleeding in hopes the Sox can battle back and win in the later innings. Well guess what? That’s not happening, in case you haven’t noticed. We never get the big hit in the late innings with the game on the line. So fabulous, Aceves gives you 4-5 innings of shut out ball and the result is still a loss. Does anyone want to see Tim Wakefield, Kyle Weiland or John “Matsu-Lackey” on the mound anytime soon? Certainly not me. Plug Aceves in the rotation and pick one of these other duds to sit.
You have a two game lead. What does that mean? If you go out and win your final 7 games of the season, then no team can catch you. Period. Besides, don’t depend on the Yankees for this. Believe me, once the Yankees clinch the division crown, they will be giving all of their starters a rest. So while Tampa Bay rolls all over the Yankee minor leaguers in the final three games of the season, the fired up Baltimore Orioles will do anything to beat the slumping Sox.
My advice to you Red Sox players as you face the Orioles 4 more time is one that Apollo’s manger gave him before the first Rocky fight, “They don’t know this is a damn show, they think its a damn fight. Finish this bum and lets go home.”
For all the latest news and analysis from BoSox Injection, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or with our RSS feed.