The Red Sox

I think it would be an understatement to say that the Red Sox have been struggling this past week. However, I think I speak for most Red Sox fans when I say "big deal!"

The Red Sox are still very much in contention. They are just two games behind the Yankees for the AL East with 9 games remaining between the two teams in head to head competition. They are also just two games back in the Wildcard race. They are still in very good shape but here's the kicker - if they do drop out of contention "big deal". Me and many Red Sox fans like me will have no trouble just turning our attention to the Patriots.

Boston fans have been very lucky these past few years with the Red Sox winning it all in 2004 and the Patriots winning three Super Bowls. Sportswriters still expect us to be ready to jump off the Tobin bridge after things like the Red Sox getting swept by the Royals but that's not the way Red Sox fans think these days.

In fact one of the most common mindsets you will hear around New England these days is that this year was supposed to be a re-building year for the Red Sox and that they've done very well to be in contention this late in the season. The Red Sox have been getting the young pitchers some experience and Willy Mo Pena is positioned perfectly to replace Trot Nixon in right field next season.

As far as the young pitchers are concerned - I think everyone knows what Jon Papelbon has done and how he's been positioned to take over for Keith Foulke who won't be back next season most likely. Jon Lester has gone 5-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 12 starts and looks like a solid #3 or #4 for next season. In the bullpen Manny Delcarmen, Lenny DiNardo and Craig Hansen have all gotten valuable experience and again I think I speak for most fans when I say that I would just as soon see one of the young guys instead of veterans Julian Tavarez or Rudy Seanez.

The Red Sox will have some young arms next season but also consider this - in the outfield the Red Sox will have Manny Ramirez in left, Coco Crisp in center and Willy Mo Pena in right. That outfield will cost about $25 million total ($18 million for Manny) an have an average age of 29-years old (with Manny being the old man at 35). The Yankees most likely have Hideki Matsui in left, Johnny Damon in center and Bobby Abreu in right. That outfield will cost $40 million and have an average age of 33-years old. I know that the Yankees have no trouble absorbing the extra $15 million that outfield will cost but that extra 4-years average age should be a red flag to people.

There's lots of baseball left for this season but I like most Red Sox fans will take it as it comes. You'll get no "won is us" if things don't go our way.