Listen, if you want to panic about what lies in store for the Red Sox, have at it. Â I’m not going to pretend the team is playing great ball right now. Â I’m not happy about them squandering the struggles of the Yankees and I’m certainly not pleased with their losing ground in the Wild Card standings. Â But I didn’t panic when the team began the season so dismally and I’m not panicking now.
Here’s what I’m wondering: Â If the Sox are going to struggle through the rest of this season, do I really want them to get to the post-season where their struggling DOES affect me more deeply? Â I love it when my team is in the playoffs but the pain of them losing in those games is ridiculous. This isn’t to say that I don’t want them to be playing in October, of course I do – the idea of them sitting out of the playoffs and our having to watch the Yankees and the Rays in there makes me want to kick something – but I feel like being realistic has its place here.
On September 10th I am in no way throwing in the towel. Â Right now I still believe this team can bounce back and win. Â Hell, I still have visions of them overtaking the Yankees and getting the division. Â But if I’m watching a team on September 20th still playing like they are today, well then I’m not going to be too upset if they don’t make it to the post-season.
Today’s a new day. Â We get to see what Kyle Weiland has tonight and Jon Lester wraps things up tomorrow. Â Still plenty of time to kick back into gear and head into the playoffs on a tremendously high note.