A possible headline summing up the Sox’ season is “Boston Again Finds a Way to Lose”. How many times have we seen the team get a lead and see it disappear within an inning or two? It seems that the Townies deep down expect to lose and even overreact when a victory seems possible. For example, when Pedro Ciriaco homered recently against the Twins in the eighth for a 3-2 advantage, the dugout exploded as if a World Series game had been won. Pedro was mobbed and even made a curtain call. Predicatably, Ciriaco’s homer became almost meaningless as Minnesota rallied to win.
As a longtime Pats fan, I went through many seasons when the team would play just badly enough to lose. One particular game at Foxboro against the Eagles in 1987 stands out. Since this is a baseball blog, I will not go too much into the details. Suffice it to say that the Pats entered the fourth quarter trailing by 21 points. Perhaps for the only time in his short career, third-string qb Tom Ramsey suddenly caught fire. Within 7 or 8 minutes he drove the team the length of the field three times to tie the contest. With less than a minute left, the Pats’ Johnny Rembert intercepted quarterback Randall Cunningham. Soon the ball was on the Philly 14 with just enough time for the winning field goal. A 31-yard kick was about to cap one of the greatest comebacks in team history. One problem-the kicker pushed it wide. Needless to say, New England lost in overtime.
The present day Sox team seems to lack confidence that they will win unless they have a 7 or 8 run lead. But a day after a blowout, they will lose 3-2 or 4-3. At this point in the season, they are heading for their worst home record in 46 years. How different from just a few years ago when the team would manufacture victories in Fenway like the famous Mothers Day Miracle in 2007.
It took ownnership, front office and coaching changes to make the Pats winners. But neither Ben Cherington or Bobby Valentine is going anywhere right now. For the present, players have to find it within themselves to avoid a long, long winter.
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