Saturday, April 10, 2004

Game 5 - Red Sox
No Sleep 'Til...Brookline

Toronto Blue Jays 10, Red Sox 5
Record: 2-3


The Sox played 13 on Thursday against the O's, then sat at the airport for 4 1/2 hours while their plane was being repaired (I have a mental picture of Tom Berenger and Wesley Snipes sitting on the tarmac in Major League), and didn't get home to Boston until 7:30 in the morning. Then, they went out and played like they were exhausted against the Jays, with the gassed bullpen (will the 2003 version of Mike Timlin please pick up a white courtesy phone, you're needed at Fenway Park) giving up 6 runs in the 8th and 9th to drop this one to the Jays. Dave McCarty, a backup firstbaseman and outfielder actually closed out the game for the Sox, a combination of a big deficit and an overtired relief corps leaving new manager Terry Francona no other option.

I might be tempted to head toward the ledge, but bad luck and bad timing are the real culprits in the Sox' early-season sluggishness. Yes, they're not playing well, but they're also undermanned and on the wrong end of some weird shit. Seriously, a plane breaking down following a 13-inning game followed by a 3:05 start? What the fuck is that? So, long story short: no worries, get through this month without completely imploding, trust in Pedro, Curt, Lowe, and Wake, and remember that the pennant's rarely won in April.

Thank God it's a long season.

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