Almanac Baseball: The Hunt for Red October

Early September and the first warm breeze of Spring has come and gone. The footy finals tantalise us with the prospect of a potential repeat of last year’s fairytale (the Tiges) or a return to the old order (the Cats or Swans) or even something like a grand final without a Vic club. All of this will play out this month. On the other side of the world something else is playing out and it is playing on my mind. Are the Red Sox good enough to go all the way in October?

 

After the All Star break the boys from Fenway seemed to click into gear. The pitching rotation was briefly bolstered with the return of David Price and the drafting of Doug Fister. The offense looked as dangerous as anything else in the majors. The wins started to rack up and a series against the AL leading Astros proved that the Sox could match it with anyone.

 

But in more recent weeks, the outlook has become gloomier. The rotation has been exposed with heavy scoring against all the starters. Even the previously una-Sale-able Cy Young frontrunner has bled runs. The normally reliable hitters have gone AWOL. Thank god for the young bucks like Nunez, Devers and Benintendi. What was once a comfortable break on the enemy from the Bronx is now just a few games. Even the bottom placed Blue Jays is making us look ordinary as the traditional September tightening of the AL East race looms.

 

Concern has not turned to despair yet. My favourite player, ‘Laser Show’ Pedroia, is back on the roster and in his first outing proved why he is the heart and soul of this outfit. The reality is that fluctuating fortunes can be found right across most of the 30 MLB teams but I am focused on the travails of just the one. I can still remember the joy of the 2013 World Series and the historic claiming of the title at Fenway (the Bambino curse breaking 2004 win and then the 2007 title were clinched away). I know there is still a good chance that can be repeated this year so the Hunt for Red October sails one – make that Sales on!