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Red Sox History: Ranking the biggest ‘What Ifs’ in franchise history

BRONX, NY - OCTOBER 16: Pedro Martinez #45 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the New York Yankees in the first inning during game 7 of the American League Championship Series on October 16, 2003 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
BRONX, NY - OCTOBER 16: Pedro Martinez #45 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the New York Yankees in the first inning during game 7 of the American League Championship Series on October 16, 2003 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 25: John Lackey #41 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after allowing a two-run double to Mark Teixeira #25 of the New York Yankees during the bottom of the first inning on September 25, 2011 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 25: John Lackey #41 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after allowing a two-run double to Mark Teixeira #25 of the New York Yankees during the bottom of the first inning on September 25, 2011 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images)

9: What if the Red Sox pitching didn’t collapse in September 2011

The Red Sox were sitting pretty on September 1, 2011. They had a half-game lead on the Yankees in the AL East and an 8.5 game lead on the Rays for the wild card. The offense was the best in the league, while Josh Beckett (2.54 ERA) and Jon Lester (3.09) were having Cy Young level seasons.

Yet while the offense kept up the pace in the season’s final month, averaging nearly five and a half runs a game, the pitching completely fell apart. Beckett (5.48 September ERA), Lester (5.40), and John Lackey (9.13) were terrible, and relievers Daniel Bard (10.13) and Jonathan Papelbon (two blown saves) blew the few opportunities they got. The Red Sox went 7-20 and lost the wild card to the Rays on the last day of the season.

But what would have happened if they just won one more game? The offense was still one of the best in baseball, and they had a roster stocked with postseason experience. Is it so inconceivable that they could have gone on a run in October?

And what would have happened to manager Terry Francona and Theo Epstein, both of whom resigned after the season? One more win in September could have changed the course of Red Sox history.

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