In baseball, the regular season is winding down, and October is on its way. Normally we would be getting ready for some playoff baseball in New England. While making a valiant effort in the final push for the playoffs, the Boston Red Sox will fall short of the playoffs this year. It is not something we as Boston Sports fans are used to, since we have been spoiled with championship teams in various sports within the last decade.
Injuries to key players such as Kevein Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury put a damper on any hopes of playoff baseball in Boston. If the Red Sox did not sustain such a blow to their starting lineup with so many injuries throughout the season, the outcome would have been much different.
Several Red Sox players stepped up in place of the fallen all-stars, and players like Daniel Nava, Bill Hall, Darnell McDonald, Ryan Kalish and Josh Reddick did their best to give us a chance. Veterans such as Victor Martinez, Marco Scutoro and David Ortiz also played their role. But despite there numbers and great effort, it just was not enough. With 10 games left, the glimmer of hope has faded, and the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays seem to have the Northeast division and Wild Card spot wrapped up.
The Sox are 84-68, eight games behind the Yankees in the division, and six-and-a-half games out in the wild card behind the Rays. Although I was very optimistic within these last few weeks, I can say with confidence that I just don't think it is going to happen.
In the last decade, the Sox were in the playoffs in 2003-2005 and 2007-2009, and they won two World Series titles along the way. We cannot really be that disappointed. This year, they just weren't all that healthy. All-in-all, it was a good year and we now know of some talent in the system, which foreshadows a bright future.
As they say, "we'll get 'em next year." At least we have the Patriots to look forward too, right?
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