Red Sox Haven't Let World Series Go to Their Heads

Just to make sure no one thought last year's World Series championship had changed anything for Red Sox fans, the Sox folded this week and allowed Chicago to sweep them in the first round of the ALCS. I wasn't prepared to predict that Boston could come back to take the remaining three games in the series to go up against the Angels or the Yankees in the next round, but I did think they'd win at least one at Fenway. These guys played like they'd lost their hope. Did Wednesday's through-the-legs error by Graffanino bring back too many echoes of Bill Buckner and just cast a pall over the whole team?

This is not to take anything away from the White Sox. As I've mentioned from time to time on this blog throughout the year, the White Sox have been mostly playing well, so they deserve their shot. Their blowout win on Tuesday was their first post-season win at home since 1959 (which was back in the day before playoffs when league champions went straight to the World Series). Despite having the best record in baseball throughout most of the year, the White Sox were largely ignored, even by Chicagoans. Now people are paying attention, and if they go all the way to win everything, I won't be too upset about it.

But when it comes down to it, though, I'm a fan of those Boston Sox, and I can't help but feel let down tonight. Yeah, yeah, maybe next year and all that.