Will Boston Blow It- Again?

[Lucky]

Known for their history of slumping late in the season, the Boston Red Sox are at it again. They had lost 11 of their 14 last games, and today are only ahead of the Tampa Bay team by 1 1/2 games. It was nine just awhile ago.

It's going to be an interesting week. Boston plays the weak Baltimore Orioles, then the Yankees, and then the Orioles again. Whereas the Rays play the Yankees, Toronto, and then the Yankees again.

So Tampa has a harder road to go, plus starting behind. But Boston seems to love to collapse at the end of a great season. They lost to the Orioles this morning, and are winning the night game of a double header.

Team W L PCT GB

NY Yankees 92 60 .605 -

Boston 87 66 .569 5.5

Tampa Bay 85 67 .559 7.0

From mlb.com:

BOSTON -- "Playing significant games in September" has been a mantra among Rays players and management the past several years. Well, they don't get as significant as the 10 remaining on the team's 2011 slate.

After Sunday's 8-5 win over Boston, the Rays find themselves two games behind the Red Sox for the American League Wild Card spot. Tampa Bay (85-67) won for the 11th time in its past 15 games since Boston (87-65) held a nine-game lead on Sept. 2. The Rays have now won eight of their past nine games from the Red Sox, and they claimed a 12-6 advantage during the season series.

Should the Rays manage to earn a spot in the playoffs, they will make history. No team in Major League history has overcome as high as a nine-game deficit through Sept. 2 to earn a spot in the postseason.

[Lucky]

Despite beating the Yankees last night, Boston has succeeded in being one of the teams to have the worst collapse in baseball history. Earlier this month they had a nine game lead over Tampa for a wild card spot. Tonight they are tied with Tampa, having lost to lowly Baltimore yet again, while the Tampa team bet the mighty Yankees. Two games remain in the season. This is one reason I love baseball! It's exciting to the last.

[Lucky]

Even the very hot Jacoby Ellsbury is getting worried!

[Guest CharliePS]

And the Angels have three more innings to pull out a win against Texas, or their season is history. Even if they win this one--unlikely--they probably still have to win all their other games, and Boston and TB have to lose all of theirs--even more unlikely. (2 min. later) Ooops, they just scored--maybe I'll have to stay awake to the end of the game after all.

[MsGuy]

There's a bit of discreet mumbling among the talking heads on ESPN that the Yankees may be taking a dive against the Rays in order to oust the Red Sox.

[Lucky]

There's a bit of discreet mumbling among the talking heads on ESPN that the Yankees may be taking a dive against the Rays in order to oust the Red Sox.

I seriously doubt that is true. The Yankees are very competitive and want t win. If they were throwing it, why let Boston win Sunday night? More likely the umpire last night was on the take as he called some very dubious strikes on the Yankees, then went out of his way to start a fight with the Yankee catcher so he could toss him from the game.

[Lucky]

BLOWN!!! And what a night of baseball. The Yankees had a 7-0 lead against Tampa, Boston was beating Baltimore and headed for the playoffs. But Tamp[a came from behind to tie the Yankees, ending up winning it all in the 12th with a walk-off home run. Meanwhile, Jonathon Papelbon, Boston's best closer, was shutting down Baltimore...that is, until he too blew it and Baltimore came from behind to beat Boston, giving the playoff spot to Tampa, who started September NINE games behind Boston!

Oh, what a night!

[MsGuy]

UN FUKIN BELIEVABLE EPIC FAIL

Forty years from now Boston will still be bitching about Baltimore doubling in the tieing run on the last strike of their last out.

Hell of a night of baseball.

[MsGuy]

Boston's choke brings this scene from The Godfather to mind:

or maybe this one from Star Wars: