Boston Embarassed in Second Straight Postseason
2009 ALDS Yet Another Setback for Fictional Red Sox Nation
Oct 12, 2009
A few years back, the Boston Red Sox won their first World Series title since Noah started work on his ark. After nearly three millenia without a championship, it was impossible – even for Red Sox haters – to be less than happy about Boston's win. The team wasn't that likeable and the World Series opposition was anything but stellar, but the Sox had finally won one, and thankfully, the world could stop being forced to listen to Ben Affleck and Bob Ryan cry aloud about the "special pain" of being a Red Sox fan.
A few weeks later, the nightmare began.
The Making of Red Sox Nation
Rather than exhibit class and tact and enthusiasm for their accomplishment, the team and its fans quickly became the most annoying squad in sports history. Sox fans crowed louder than any Yankee rooter ever had. Curt Schilling campaigned for George Bush. Boston management began its propaganda campaign about something called Red Sox Nation. ESPN became a thinly-veiled Boston sports channel.
But now it's over. Last year the Red Sox couldn't beat the Tampa Bay Rays, perhaps the weakest team ever to make a World Series. This season was even worse. The Sox had plenty of chances to defeat the Yankees for the American League East crown, but failed to do so. In fact, after winning the first eight games of the season series, they lost 9 of the next 10 games, which included a late-season sweep that destroyed any hopes of the Sox winning the A.L. East. So they settled for the wild card.
Angels Beat Red Sox in Three Game Sweep
And they got crushed, beaten, embarrassed and were ultimately tossed from the 2009 season by the far superior Los Angeles Angels. The Sox hit .158 and had a 5.76 ERA as a team. Their big five of Youk, Pedroia, Papi, Bay and Ellsbury were a combined 10 for 55. Papelbon blew a 6-4 lead in the top of the ninth inning in Game 3, sealing the Sox's season fate in a crushing manner.
You could almost smell the burning from all of those "B" hats being tossed down incinerators and into open fires across the "Nation."
Red Sox May Trade Papelbon
Now, Boston is talking about trading their closer, Jonathan Papelbon. This, of course, is standard operating procedure for the Sox. Lose because you aren't good enough and kick out your most recent "fan favorite." Nomar, Manny, Pedro, and on and on and on. Soon it will be Papelbon and Big Papi. Red Sox Nation. Looks like its going to be Red Sox City pretty soon.
