The Yankees won the division last year, too
Scattered thoughts ...
*First off, I'm watching USC at Arizona State as I type this. I was trying to put my finger on what seemed strange about the situation, then, finally, it dawned on me. The game is being played in Tempe. We're conditioned to seeing the place half-empty for Arizona Cardinals games. So this is what Sun Devil Stadium looks like when the place is full.
*As for the Red Sox, well, what can you say? Even if you add up all the little things that went against the Sox today -- like the non-call when David Ortiz was hit by a pitch, which took a run off the board when he was then retired and Manny then blasted a home run; and that ridiculous non-call when the second base umpire decided the infield grass is part of the baseline -- the Sox still lose this one pretty handily. Boston has let so many chances slip away this year that it doesn't deserve the division title. I have to admit I fell asleep and missed when all of a sudden ties were broken by head-to-head record in baseball, but, whatever. It would be fitting if the Sox won on Sunday and the two teams finished tied in the standings, since chances are these two teams will be hooking up again in a couple weeks anyway.
*If Curt Schilling doesn't come through Sunday, he better shut his trap for a long, long time. It is quite possible if Schilling did a normal rehab through the minor leagues coming back from his injury like everyone else instead of using real live major league games in a pennant race to get back into shape, then the Sox already have the division clinched and this weekend is meaningless.
*If you respect the game of baseball, you tip your cap to Mariano Rivera for coming back the way he did after he got written off the first week of the season -- by the Sox fans who gave him a good-natured razzing and the Yankees fans who booed him out of the Bronx alike. This year has convinced me once and for all that Rivera belongs in the Hall of Fame.
*Cleveland's game log since last Sunday:
Sun -- KC L
Mon -- Off
Tue -- TB L
Wed -- TB L
Thu -- TB W
Fri -- White Sox "B" squad L
Sat -- WS 'B" L
What's my point? If the Indians miss the playoffs and anyone starts that tired whine about big market vs. small, tell them to can it. Cleveland had command of the wild-card race, and had, by far, the easiest path of any team in the playoff hunt this week. If the Indians beat the 105-loss Royals last Sunday they'd at least be tied for the wild card right now. No one to blame but themelves.
*Next installment of Dispatches from Iraq goes up tomorrow.
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