Despite the fact that they lost to the Baltimore Orioles, this time 6-4, the Boston Red Sox were actually able to pick up a ½ game on the Tampa Bay Rays. We do have the New York Yankees to thank for that, who by the way won the AL East crown, because they swept the Rays in a doubleheader.
So now with six games remaining in the regular season, the Red Sox lead the Rays by 2.5 games. And just for good measure, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have thrown their hats in as well and also trail by 2.5 games.
Fun times, folks, fun times. Or are they?
Sure we’re frustrated with the Red Sox now but can you imagine how the players feel. They were actually booed when they left the field on Wednesday night. I know I had a few friends there and I also know they wouldn’t boo them.
Rather than boo them, maybe they should have offered some support for the team as they head out to finish the regular season on the road in New York against the Yankees then in Baltimore against the Orioles. Wouldn’t your energy been better served doing that instead of wasting it with the booing.
I’m sure you’ve invested quite a great deal of time and maybe even some money as well. To me by booing, you’re just throwing it away. If you can afford to do, by all means go ahead. But for the rest of who have little to no money, I know I wouldn’t boo them. That’s not what true fans do.
Sure we’re all entitled to our own opinions. So mine is to stay behind this team to the end whether it be good or bad.
The Red Sox needed a big game from their horse in Josh Beckett on Wednesday night. And if it weren’t for hanging curveball to Mark Reynolds in the 7th inning, we probably would have gotten said big game. But instead, Reynolds took that curveball out of the park for his second home run of the game to knot the game at four.
The Orioles would add two more in the 8th and just like that Beckett’s big game was gone and so was another chance to increase their lead on the Rays.
Right now the magic number for the Red Sox to make the playoffs is five. So their mission over the final six games is simple. Go 5-1 and take matters into their own hands. Of course it would help if the Rays and Angels lost then because that too would reduce the magic number.
The local nine is off on Thursday as they’ll make their way to Big Apple later in the day. Hopefully, someone in the media or even the players on Twitter will tweet some pictures of the Red Sox rookies dressing up because this is the final road trip of the season.
We’ll be back in a short while with the pitching matchups for the weekend in the Bronx. But for now, enjoy the overnight links by click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
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Wild times [Boston Globe]
Mistakes eventually cost Beckett [Boston Globe]
Crawford was a real positive [Boston Globe]
Still a Ray of hope [Boston Herald]
Grappling with slide [Boston Herald]
Jason Varitek refutes Carl Crawford controversy [Boston Herald]
Parting boos only answer [Boston Herald]
Red Sox up in arms over losing [Boston Herald]
Sox lose three of four to Orioles [CSN New England]
Notes: Buchholz has stiffness, could pitch on road [CSN New England]
Beckett can’t right the Sox’ sinking ship [CSN New England]
Rapid Reaction: O’s 6, Sox 4 [ESPN Boston]
Video: Silver lining for Red Sox [ESPN Boston]
Josh Beckett can’t stop bleeding for fading Boston Red Sox [ESPN Boston]
Closing Time: Late-inning woes doom Sox again [Full Count]
David Ortiz is worried about present, not thinking about future [Full Count]
Carl Crawford ‘knows it looks bad now’ but still confident of playoffs [Full Count]
Video: Josh Beckett Says He Got Away With Pitches Early Against Orioles, But Paid for Mistakes Late [NESN.com]
Video: Terry Francona: ‘We’re Going to Have to Fight for Everything the Rest of the Way Out’ [NESN.com]
Red Sox Confused by Overall Poor Play, Searching in Vain for Answers [NESN.com]
Another game, another late collapse [Providence Journal]
Randolph has walked in Francona’s shoes [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Albers, Atchison are bright spots in ‘pen [Providence Journal]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSNNE, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the Baltimore Sun website. You can also check out our Bloguin brother, the Oriole Post.
Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.
Photo credit: Getty Images
