What Happens If the Red Sox Lose

The Red Sox got S-H-E-L-L-E-D last night by the team formally known as the Tampa Bay Devil Hens in game 4 of the 2008 American League Championship series. I know the Sox have had their back to the wall before, but in reality they stole game 1 �â'¬" scoring on a blooper that really should have been caught. Else, we may have been looking at a sweep, by a team that finally put it all together, that shed it's ugly step sister image and is now positioned to become American League Champion.

I'm sure that with the new crop of Tampa Bay Rays fans that have been coming out of the woodwork �â'¬" interestingly enough, I've been reading some puff pieces on people claiming to have been Rays fans from the start, way more than apparently could get tickets I guess (they were 12 of 14 in the AL for attendance this year) �â'¬" the interested reader can gain a perspective of what an AL Pennant may mean to the city. What I'm here to do is cast a little perspective over Red Sox nation about what the last 20 years (21 seasons) has looked like.

We pick up our story in the Summer of 1988 �â'¬" a season and a half removed from that fateful October evening in which Bill Buckner was left to play first base just a little too long by John McNamara. On July 14 and 9 games out of first place (at a time in which there was but two divisions), Mr. McNamara was fired and replaced on an �â'¬Å"interim�â'¬ï¿½ basis with third base coach Joe Morgan. Morgan as skipper proceeded to win 20 of his first 21 games and the Sox ultimately won the East by a game. But lost in the playoffs

In 1993, as I was getting ready to go off to school in a land far, far away�â'¬ï¿½okay, maybe 500 some odd miles, but it was really planets away�â'¬ï¿½the Sox were storming through July going 20-7. I left for school in August and every day would pick up the newspaper to see one more tick in the loss column, and falling in the standings. They finished 80-82.

In 1995, they were going about their middling ways, when my daughter was born. When she was about a week old, I put a souvenir Red Sock in her bassinette and that evening, they began a run lasting about 10 games in which they won. The evening it was removed from her bed �â'¬" anyone whose left anything in a baby bassinette for more than a week understands those perils �â'¬" they lost. They were never the same after.

Over these last 20 years, the Sox have been a good team, their post season opportunities enhanced greatly by the advent of the wild card. In the 13 year history of the Wild Card, the Red Sox have won the American League playoff entry 6 times �â'¬" almost 50% of the opportunities. No team has been the recipient of the baseball gods good graces more than the Sox. Of those 13 AL winners, 2 have won the world series; one of which was the Red Sox.

Rarely, though, have they been much more than a very good team �â'¬" 2004 coming about as close as they have to exceptional, and even then they were only the wild card. In fact, 2004's team is the most winningest of the bunch. The last time they won 100 games was 1946 (104 wins, and a World Series loss to the Cardinals). They last time they lost 100 games 1965. And for the record, there are a lot more 100 loss seasons under their belt than 100 win seasons.

Over the last 20 years �â'¬" excluding post season games �â'¬"they're 1812-1525 or a .543 winning percentage. Doesn't tell the whole tale though. When they've been good, they've frequently broken my heart. So close, yet never close enough. The record doesn't indicate how many times I've come away from an emotional investment to be crushed. So, the point: am I anxious and angst ridden about my beloved baseball team being down 3-1, and truly looking like they don't belong in the same class with the *cough* Tampa Bay Rays? No. What 2004 did was something rather unexpected. It didn't quell the passions of Red Sox Nation (i.e. me); in a lot of ways it made us (i.e. me) more rabid. Combined with a second championship last year, and I think what we (i.e. I) have got here is still as passionate, but somehow a little more complacent. You really can't win them all.

I love the Red Sox and have as long as I can remember. I also know, though, that sometimes you just get beaten by a better team. And over the last few years, we have had our share of highs. If the low is losing the American League pennant and failing to defend your world championship, there are far worse lows to have experienced. Particularly given the history of the Tampa Bay team.

I still have faith the Sox CAN win. I don't know that they will, I don't know that they won't. All I know is that if the Rays can win 1-more game, I will actually be okay with it. Until next season. Fact is if the Sox lose, they will have lost to a better team.