First and foremost I would like to congratulate the Tampa Bay Rays for an incredible season. They have nothing to hang their heads for, obviously not the outcome they hoped for after winning 100 games during the regular season and only winning one game in the series. It feels like a let down but they will be a great team for years to come.
The Boston Red Sox are heading back to the ALCS. What a team Chaim Bloom put together this offseason and throughout the season. Alex Cora is a top 2 manager in baseball and folks, he is not number 2. Whatever the man touches turns to gold. Not just this season but in 2018 as well. They have a team built for a long run this post season and I have no doubt they will match up with whoever comes out of the White Sox and Astros series. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend game three of this series and I was at game two of the 2018 World Series. The crowd at this year’s game blows the 2018 crowd out of the water. In case you missed game three it went into thirteen innings after the Red Sox blew a late two run lead. The stadium was still 95% full by the time Red Sox catcher Christain Vázquez hit the walk off two run home run to take a 2-1 series lead.
A little bit of Déjà vu happened in game four when the Rays climbed back into the game after an early 5-0 deficit. Sox fans’ minds start to think about a potential win or go home game five at the Trop. Vázquez, the hero from not even 24 hours ago said, “not so fast!” Vázquez starts the bottom of the ninth inning with a single to left field, Christian Arroyo played some small ball to advance Vázquez over to second with a sacrifice bunt, Travis Shaw rolls one over to a charging third base men and beat out the throw as Vázquez goes to second on the throw. Now, I do have to question Rays manager Cash as Shaw stole second with no throw and the Sox have the hottest hitter in baseball up in Kiké Hernández with a base open. Why not walk him to load the bases and hope for a double play ball the next at bat? The Red Sox put a pitch runner on third for more speed and the Rays elected to pitch to Kiké and he got under one to left field to score the series winning run. None of this would be possible without the outstanding relief performances from Garrett Whitlock in game four and Nick Pivetta in game three.
Now, I could go on and write about how 98.5 the Sports Hub hosts were wrong all year about the Red Sox. Or how all six Boston Globe writers said the Sox wouldn’t sniff the playoffs. How about ESPN giving the Red Sox a 14.7% chance to make the postseason? Maybe I could discuss Adam Jones of the Sports Hub saying no one cares about the Red Sox even though their numbers went way up in viewing this year and each home playoff game has sold out. But why would I waste my time with them? They will continue to talk nonsense and hope the Red Sox lose their magic. I believe in this team and if you can’t get behind them I don’t care for your reach of a take just to get people talking. It’s time for the Boston media to shut up and enjoy what is happening in this city. I’ll see you guys in the ALCS.
