And the lead is now down to 1.5 (really 0.5 because of the tie-breaker.) Absolutely sickening.
On the post game show tonight, one of the broadcasters asked the manager whether the Red Sox are still trying to win the division. Francona prevaricated and offered a telling non-answer. He replied, "We're trying to win a World Series Championship."
I'm starting to think Boston wants to lose the division. Maybe the Red Sox would rather play Games 3 and 4 of the ALDS in Boston. Perhaps they'd rather have the pundits and fans declare them dead so that the pressure is off. That way, anything good that happens in October would be classified as exceeding expectations.
I'm ticked off because I really wanted the division title. According to NESN, no team has ever surrendered more than a 14 game lead in the standings. The 1978 Red Sox squandered a 14 game lead and this year's Red Sox team appears poised to "better" that record by coughing up a 14.5 game lead.
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