Last night the Sox won and the Rays and the Yankees lost. I only point out the latter because it means the Sox gained a game on both of those teams (the Rays lost to the Jays so they gained nothing on Toronto but the Sox beat the Orioles so they pushed Baltimore another game down into the cellar).
I mention all of this because, contrary to some of what I’ve been reading today, folks should know that WINNING IS GOOD.
Yes, the bullpen wasn’t as stellar as it has been lately and the ninth inning was excruciatingly painful to watch. Regardless of the ugly, the bottom line is that the team won the damn game (and, again, also that they gained ground on two of the three teams ahead of them in the division). The “They’re never going to dig themselves out of this hole” argument is being put to the test. Sure it’s only one game, one night, but it’s a start. Is it so difficult to just be pleased that, in spite of some setbacks the team won the game?
I don’t care if it was against the Orioles, Big Papi got his first home run last night (a month earlier than he did last year) and Bill Hall made an amazing play from the outfield, throwing out Nick Markakis at second in the ninth. Hell, Jon Lester actually picked off a runner! True, he left the game with the bases loaded and pitched a hissy fit to end all hissy fits in the dugout when he was taken out of the game (bobcats everywhere were pointing and laughing), but he still didn’t pitch as crappy as he has been. That’s progress.
I will take this progress, even in its not so pretty form, over a loss any day. Call me kooky.
Also, I’m rejecting the “Who cares if they win it’s a bad team they’re playing” argument as well. They’re supposed to beat bad teams. They struggled to beat Texas and still lost one of those games. Beating bad teams is what will help them out of their hole, just like beating good teams will. Small steps, people, small steps.
John Lackey will be pitching tonight at 7:10 ET but before that I’ll be in Pawtucket for the first time this year to see the PawSox play the Buffalo Bisons. Is it bad form to wear my Kyle Snyder Mets jersey while cheering for the PawSox? Because I’m pretty sure that’s what will be happening today.
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