Shades of 1978?

Posted by James Lincoln Ray Sep 24, 2007

It's shades of 1978 in the American League East.

Two weeks ago, I wrote that the New York Yankees lacked the pitching to catch the Boston Red Sox in the American League East. Well, maybe I was wrong. Shoot, if I had a crystal ball I would have bet the Cowboys heavy last night. But I don't, so, alas, I am both potentially erroneous and undoubtedly penniless.

I guess it doesn't matter that much because both teams will make the playoffs anyway, but it is worth noting that the Boston Red Sox, that great franchise from New England who induced one of the largest chokes in sports history when they defeated the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS, are themselves on the verge of blowing a 14 game divisional lead to the Bronx Bombers for the second time in 30 years.

If they do, that would be something. It will only cost them a home game in the first round of the postseason, and might subject the Sox to a tougher matchup, but that isn't the point, nor is it the import of the matter. The significance, of course, is that the Red Sox, who have been the Team Most Likely to Collapse at Any Moment for almost a century, had seemed to put such behavior behind them with their 2004 victory. If they lose this race, however, will the old negativity and expectation of failure return to Beantown, or will the team be able to bounce back to make a meaningful run at another title?

Regardless of how this plays out, it is what makes baseball great.