After arguably one of the biggest regular season breakdowns in recent history, the end of the regular season left Red Sox fans’ jaws on the floor and them crying out, “Hey that’s our spot in the A.L.” The Rays ultimate wildcard comeback in 2011 marks the second time the Rays have been at the center of a disappointing ending to the season for the Red Sox in the last four seasons. The other coming back in 2008 in a heartbreaking seven game battle in the ALCS. And now the familiar wildcard spot which the Red Sox have grown so comfortable with since 1998 has suddenly gone missing over the last two years. It’s bad enough with the overwhelming New York “Strip Steak” filling the Sox plate, now the Rays have to add their own little course into the already overcrowded mix.
Originally picked as a highly dangerous W.S. contender at the beginning, middle, and three-quarter turn of the season, the Red Sox experienced a more than forgettable September in 2011. With a ½ game lead over the Yankees, a comfortable 9 game lead over the trailing Rays and a 83-53 record as of September 1st, the Red Sox posted a stomach-piercing 7-19 record in the month of September to finish with a 90-72 record, one game behind the Tampa “we just did that” Rays. Heartbreak, for Red Sox fans fully expecting a 3rd W.S. championship since the dawn of the new century.
And now the guys in Red will be out for blood this season because the Sox haven’t missed the playoffs for three years in a row since 2002; a road Sox fans aren’t interested in revisiting anytime soon, especially with the success the franchise has seen over the past 10 years. With most of the same personnel returning, an absolution of their arbitration issues, and one or two tweaking add-ons to the pitching staff and possibly right field, the Sox should be a favorite once again.
The Sox have been keen at stirring up the off-season acquisition plot like the best of them. Their storied, youngest, and arguably most successful G.M. takes a b-line to Chicago after missing the playoffs for the third time in his eight year tenure. The franchise closer, Papelbon, is off and running to the N.L.’s big red machine, yet most of the line-up and starters will be back in 2012. Arbitration is a big issue for them as well, as they still have 8 players left to haggle with, including Elllsbury and Ortiz. Then, there’s the looming issue of getting another reliable starting pitcher.
Despite their unsuccessful ability to land another quality starter, which I’m sure to the pleasure of Sox fans, will come soon (Garza, Oswalt perhaps?); the Sox have filled the gaping void left by Papelbon with Oakland’s Andrew “I’m your green monster” Bailey. A smart and reasonable choice for the boys in red. Pair him with the best line-up in baseball for the first 5 months of the season last year, and a new quality starter, and you can count on the Red Sox being a shoe-in next year, until September strikes and the Tampa Bay Rays pull out their stinger.
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