Why A Split Is Sometimes As Good As a Series Win

Boston’s Thursday night game against the Rays, postponed due to rain, might be the best thing that could happen to them in a series that will ultimately conclude next Monday night after Boston goes to Baltimore to play the recently slumping Orioles who have lost 3 in a row and the Rays get a chance to cool off against the Yankees in New York.

May 13, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; General view inside the left field man-operated scoreboard at Fenway Park before the start of a game between the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The Rays have been very hot for a month and Red Sox fans have got to believe that something’s gotta give. During a long season a team can suddenly hit the skids for no apparent reason. When once they could do no wrong they may suddenly trip, stumble and fall just as they play key opponents.

Taking a breather and coming back to perhaps split the series with the Ray on Monday would give Boston a psychological advantage. In general it takes more energy and is more draining to pursue than to be pursued except in the case of, say, a monumental collapse like Boston’s 2011 tanking in which the Rays played a pivotal role.

So with this as the backdrop, if you can’t sweep ’em, thwart ’em. Stick a finger in Joe Maddon‘s eye, which always makes me gleeful since I personally dislike Maddon. He’s a very good manager. He gets the most out of his team. He also seems to go out of his way to say something snide about Boston whenever given the opportunity. His posture is the same reason why it was so easy to hate the Yankees when Billy Martin was their manager. Joe Torre, not so much.

There’s plenty of opportunity over the weekend for the Yankees, Sox, Rays and Orioles to switch positions. It will make for fascinating viewing and ultimately may set the stage for Boston splitting the series and forcing the Rays to kiss their sister.

Happy chasing.