Only now, maybe 27 hours or so after the disaster, or may I say one of the many disasters, can I write about the Boston Red Sox. Oh, how I could go on. But I have only been a Red Sox fan for 44 years, so there are many more than me that have suffered as the Sox found different ways to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory.
The most obvious example is the Bucky Dent grand slam in 1977 in the one-game playoff with the Yankees. Or was it 2 or 3 grand slams he hit that day? But we won't even go there. The disaster that rained down like fire and sulfur in the month of September, 2011, was the worst such month for the Sox since 1952. Even I am not that old, so this collapse was monstrous. The Sox went 6-18. They began the month in first place in their division, and when they lost that position they still had a 9-game lead over Tampa Bay for the wild card spot.
But blowing the lead in games ahead, as great as it was, was nothing in comparison to how they saw their season come crashing down to a merciless end, not only on the last day, but within one strike of going to the playoffs. Forgive me if some of my facts are not 100% accurate, as I can't bear to actually relive this tragedy by analyzing the gory details.
The best I can remember, Boston went into a rain delay against the Orioles holding a 3-2 lead in the 7th inning. Meanwhile, the Yankees we blowing up the Devil Rays 7-0. So in the bottom of the 8th, while the Red Sox could only watch on TV and wait for the rain to abate, the Rays scored 6 runs. Then, in the bottom of the 9th, with 2 outs and a 2-2 count, down to their last strike, the pinch-hitting lefty for the Rays yanks one over the right field fence for a game tying home run. So the Red Sox go out, after watching this comeback unfold, and hold their 3-2 lead until 2 outs in the 9th inning, then give up back to back doubles and a single to end the game.
Meanwhile, the Rays, this year's team of destiny, win in extra innings with a walk off home run to win the wild card spot. Season over for the Sox, finally. What a blood bath. I thought I had seen the worst the Sox had to give but this takes the cake. They did win two championships in the last decade, and their take down of the Yankees after being down 0-3 in 2004 was legendary. So it isn't as bad as being a Chicago Cubs fan, but I feel their pain, obviously.
But to not only have their worst September in 59 years, then go out in flames like this, is so ridiculous I really had to laugh. What else can I do? Such is life as a Boston Red Sox fan.
