Get swept by the worst team in baseball and suddenly the season’s over? Cripes, to read the tales of misery issuing forth from Red Sox fans makes you realize how spoiled everyone’s been over the past couple of years.
First of all, it should be patently obvious that Satan carefully crafts the MLB standings. It is inconceivable that the Yankees would not spend some significant portion of the season in first place. I haven’t got the energy to do the research but have the Sox ever won the division when the Yankees were contending? So that’s that. Truthfully, I’m happier to be gunning for the Wild Card. Keeps the guys hungrier. Better chance of going all the way. And besides, remember last season? Who led the American League East for most of the season? Then what happened? Remember the National League East at the same time? It is to laugh.
Listen, this team plays up to it’s opponents’ level. If you give them cream puffs they become eclairs. Give ’em a brick wall and they become sledgehammers. Nasty, pointy, mortar crushing sledgehammers. I expected to drop two out of three to the Royals. I expected to get pasted by the Rays. God have mercy when we face the fecking Blue Jays again. But play the Yankees? I’d lay even odds. The Orioles? We won’t get a sweep but will take at least a pair.
There are times to pack it in and leave the corpse to rot. The late innings of Game 7 in 2003. Hell, I went to bed. I could see in their eyes that they were beaten. I’m not sure they’ve got the thousand-yard stare yet this year.
It helps to love the Phillies when loving the Red Sox. Disappointment you can live with. As long as the beer is cold and the cheese steaks are hot and the game is on, life is good. And there’s always next year.
At least until after the All-Star break. Then there’s always next next year.