Glimmer of hope

I don't know why I do it - but I actually got excited last night when the Sox took the 3-2 lead in the top of 9th against the Yanks in New York. Maybe because I love the Sox, maybe because I hate the Yankees, maybe I just wanted something to really root for after watching the Patriots get lucky against the Bills. But I felt pretty good. Then Papelbon got squeezed, the Yankees rallied, tied the score and all my excitement disappeared as I rolled over and went to sleep, certain of the inevitable loss that followed.

I'm not going to go on a diatribe about how they were still mathematically in it (they were) or get on my soap box about how this game was a microcosm of the season (it was) and I'm certainly not going to turn this into an over-the-top negative statement about the state of the Red Sox. (Just as an aside - did anyone else read that ridiculous article by Dan Shaughn"ASS"y in the Globe the other day. There is no ray of sunshine for that man. None. Everything has to be negative. Even a Mike Lowell appreciation night needs to become something negative with him. He seriously needs to take some happy pills or see a counselor or something. Issues - that's all I'm saying.).

Instead, I will use this moment to be happy. There is a glimmer of hope. College hockey starts on Thursday and the first game that counts is Michigan v. Mercyhurst in Ann Arbor on Saturday. And the Eagles pick up their sticks for an exhibition game on Sunday. So it can't all be bad.

A couple of weekend observations:

- Dave Shinskie is bad. I appreciate all he did last year, gutting it out to get the Eagles to an 8-5 record and a win away from the ACC title game. But he is not good. I hope Marcovetra or Rettig can put something together against the Irish this weekend but it doesn't look good. There is a lot of promise on the BC team but the main pieces are just so young and inexperienced that its going to take a season or two to get back where they were.

- The Atlanta Falcons may be for real. After trouncing their opponent last week, the Falcons went out and followed it up with a solid victory in New Orleans against the defending champions. Yes, they allowed a game tying field goal as time expired in regulation but in overtime they took advantage of the opportunity they were given and finished off the Saints. Makes me feel good to see Matt Ryan succeeding at the next level.

What could have been

I have delayed posting about the Red Sox because it has been so mind-numbingly frustrating all season. They are a good team. In fact they are a great team. For most of the year they have been one of the top 5 teams in the entire league. But they will not make the playoffs this year. Why? Injuries.

I know its easy to say that but simply take a look at the current roster and you know its true. They are producing in September and 6 games out of the wild card spot with a roster full of Pawtucket players. Nava, Kalish, Lowrie, and Lowell are all regular starters now. Two guys who were so far down on the OF depth chart to start the season that most people didn't even bother talking about them and and two IF's who many thought would never play in Boston again.

While 6 games seems like a lot, keep in mind the Red Sox own the 5th best record in the AL despite all this. If not for the fact that the two best teams in baseball play in the same division, the Sox would have a legitimate shot at the wild card. At this point, without a monumental collapse by either the Rays or Yanks, 6 games is just too much to make up in such a short amount of time. Even so, they have a chance to end the season with 90 wins and be the first team out of the playoffs. This would be done without a former MVP and MVP candidate in the line-up for large portions of the season. Not to mention the Ellsbury/Cameron outfield hole.

And the biggest crime in all this, Terry Francona will not win manager of the year. He won't because his team will not make the post-season and for reasons that escape me this pretty much disqualifies you from an award. I even had a die-hard Yankee fan tell me last week that Francona should win. That tells you something. To be able to consistently compete, night in and night out with the many make-shift line-ups he has had to put out there. To deal with the Ellsbury situation and still have a team that produces the second most runs in the majors is nothing short of amazing. I have respected the job Tito has done since coming to the Sox but this year might be his most impressive work yet. Is he perfect? Of course not, he makes mistakes like everyone else but he had made his team contenders when they have no right to be with the depleted line-up they've had.

The season is all but over for the Sox. Without making the playoffs, they've been good. But they good have been great.