The 2010 Boston Red Sox have suffered an inordinate number of devastating defeats. To their credit, they continue to get up. They continue to keep fighting. They continue to deny the critics who declared them dead weeks ago.
But Saturday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays was the type that can absolutely destroy a baseball team that’s struggling for its playoff life.
In each of the many devastating losses the Red Sox have suffered this season, it seems like some critical player let the team down. Whether it was Jonathan Papelbon blowing a game, or Josh Beckett not holding a big lead, someone important let the team down.
On Saturday, Terry Francona had his turn.
Terry Francona is the best manager in Red Sox history, but even the best have bad days. Mariano Rivera blows an occasional save. Ted Williams probably struck out with the tying run on base at least once or twice in his career.
Saturday night, Terry Francona sent Clay Buchholz out for the eighth inning even though Daniel Bard was available and Buchholz had thrown over 100 pitches. Then he compounded the mistake by sending Scott Atchison out to start the 10th inning.
The ending was as predictable as Atchison’s fastball was flat.
It’s hard to remember a Red Sox season as tough as this one. Usually, when the Red Sox aren’t good enough, this is about the time fans come to that realization. There are few examples of seasons where the Red Sox were good enough, but lost anyway.
2003 comes to mind. 1978 comes to mind.
While the end of the 2010 season isn’t nearly as sudden and painful as those season, the last two months have just been a slow motion Aaron Boone home run.
This Red Sox team, as put together, was good enough. They might have been the best team in baseball. But injuries have killed them. Josh Beckett, John Lackey, and Jonathan Papelbon’s below-par seasons have killed them. Their weak bullpen has killed them.
On Saturday, their manager killed them.
The Red Sox still have enough time left to make a playoff run. They still have four games against the Rays and six against the New York Yankees. They’re still six games (in the loss column) behind both of those teams.
But that Tim Wakefield pitch is on the way to the plate and Aaron Boone has big eyes. It’s only a matter of time before it lands in the upper deck.
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