Embrace the Race

Make no mistake, I am not condoning the hot horseshit brand of baseball the Red Sox have been playing since August turned to September but I am going to say, embrace the race.

Payrolls aside, when did the Red Sox become the Yankees? And by this I mean pompous frontrunners. The Red Sox throughout history have been the "workman-like" team while the Yankees spent to excess and bought the best available talent year after year. The Sox were rolling over competition, not just rolling steamrolling everyone and everything that got in their path. The best team in baseball from May 1- August 31.

But when did the Northeast Region, and Red Sox Nation collectively become the type of fans that wanted a playoff spot handed to them. Baseball is a war of attrition, the most grueling of all of the 4 major sports schedules, it may not be the most physically demanding on a game to game basis but the mental fatigue is bar none the most taxing.

I'll be honest, I can't think of anything better to watch than a baseball game with playoff implications. To see different players will themselves and their teams to victory fills me with an orgasmic rush that Ron Jeremy would be proud of. Just think of all the exciting moments within the last 10 years in the last week of the season and 1 game playoffs. Matt Holliday face planting into home plate to propel the Rockies into the playoffs and eventually in the World Series. The 12 inning epic between the Tigers and Twins two years ago that had Carlos Gomez flying around third base into home. How about the 1978 Yankees versus Red Sox Bucky Dent round tripper heard round the world.

The last week of the season is where some Champions are made, and the hometown 9 will most likely be playing in one of these momentous games.

Players that have been underwhelming the entire year get a chance for atonement over the next 4-5 days. Carl Crawford, the 142 dollar mystery man, has been abysmal but he could drive in a run and clinch a spot in October. John Lackey has been the worst pitcher in Red Sox history but he has a chance to be a hero, or a goat.

The National League also has a race that is very much alive between St. Louis and Atlanta. Atlanta has been reeling, much like Boston and St. Louis is coming on like a house on fire.

This is exciting, this is where baseball lore is written, this is where players can make a name for themselves. What do you think of when you think of Dave Roberts? Kirk Gibson? Joe Carter?

Playoff baseball is here and the tournament hasn't even started yet.

Embrace the Race.

Stay Tuned

Norton