It is not fun to watch The Red Sox these days, it pains me that this less-then-a-month-ago magnificent team is reduced to a bunch of no-names amateurs (no offence) who don't do justice to this club. They are mentally, physically, and emotionally defeated, so demoralized that I am really sad. It takes all the fun and tension away from the League. Forget wild card race, let alone AL East. Soon enough Toronto will be ahead of Bosox. isn?t that crazy???
I am a die hard Yankee fun.

I am a die hard Yankee fun.

It's only sad if you have some particular affection for the BoSox, or feel like a playoff berth is somehow their birthright. For those of us who are largely indifferent to Boston, it's amusing - even satisfying - to watch the collapse of a febrile, rickety franchise whose fans (and sub rosa media boosters) seem to think they're entitled to a postseason that may be occupied by more admirable teams such as Minnesota or Chicago.

Well, Jeff, as someone who is a fan of the game, rather than a particular team, I disagree. I understand why some might find amusement in their plight, but this was a good team that's reduced to the level of the worst teams in the majors. There's a lot of hard work going down the tubes, and I'd feel the same way if it happened to the White Sox or the Twins.

Well put, Jeff B.

Btw, I trace the origin of the demise of the Red Sox this season to a single at-bat: the HR Jermaine Dye hit of Papelbon in the ninth to tie the last game in Chicago before the All-Star break. It gave Papelbon a blown save; it sent the game into extra frames; Ortiz was brushed to the deck in his next at-bat and did nothing for the rest of the 19 inning game; Dye had a few web gems in the top of the 19th; and the White Sox scrapped out a victory in the bottom of the frame.

To add insult, the teams' various All-Stars had to share a flight ot Pittsburgh after the game. I hear Dye sat next to Papelbon the whole way...

I have this "the enemy you know" kind of affection Jeff for the RedSox. I think I would have felt the same way if it was any other team that "threatened" the Yankees position, for the mere fact that there is no competition at this point in the AL East. If Bosox performance (or lack thereof) was a result of well, lack of performance, as we have witness in he 5 game sweep 2 weekends ago against the Yankees, then they don't deserve to win. But when it is a result of injuries upon injuries of the whole lineup as well as pitching staff, while Terry Francona is literally spitting blood due to some blood thinning medications, it seems almost unfair that they go down this way. They get kicked while they are already down, where the fun or amusement in that???

Good response, David. I also consider myself a fan of the game, not just a particular team (I do have a hometown team, but I just love watching Major League baseball, any game, any teams, any time), so your point is well taken. I'm being a tad petty.

The animating impulse behind my admittedly ungenerous reaction is that I find all the attention being paid to this now-irrelevant team regularly consumes the media oxygen that ought to go into celebrating and covering teams like Minnesota or especially Florida. In fact, one of the reasons I like Baseball Musings so much is because you do such a good job of this.

Yeah, while there's probably a bit more of a focus on Oakland, the Yankees, and the Red Sox here, it's nothing compared to the New York/Boston bias of the major media outlets. I can always count on David to highlight noteworthy performances and trends from all across baseball.

As a Boston fan, I agree that some of my brethren are a little Yankee-fanish in terms of their feelings of entitlement and whatnot. That being said...it isn't the team's fault that ESPN and most of the mainstream media choose to focus on them and the Yankees. It isn't the fans' fault, either. Furthermore, I don't quite understand what makes either Chicago or Minnesota any more or less admirable...what Minny has done with their payroll is quite impressive, but Chicago is close behind Boston in payroll...assuming payroll/performance was what you meant.

Besides, what makes better TV? Analyzing, mocking, and constantly hammering a total collapse, or showcasing a team beating expectations? Also, what impresses me about the Fish is that their record is near .500...not that they're in the playoff picture. That says more about the state of the NL then anything else. Anyway, misery sells, and the fact that some take legitimate glee in watching the plight of the Red Sox means any mainstream outlet that chooses to highlight their mediocrity is giving the public what it wants.

Here's hoping the Dodgers really are foolish enough to give Boston Kemp for Wells.

I think it's time for the Red Sox to sell off their parts. Or at least those they can get through waivers (Lowell? Nixon? Foulke? Wells for sure). They're probably going to end up at around 85 wins.

Cola
http://www.classiccolaforthesoul.com

Another couple years of this, and we'll have to listen to all that nonsense about the Curse again. Gag.