I'm pissed. I can't eat. I can't watch the NFL right now. I'm missing a slew of great action too. Why? Well, that takes us into the Pats game from today. What is a regular season loss? How does it happen?
The New England Patriots knew there current NFL all time record of consecutive regular season wins was in great jeopardy when starting QB Tom Brady was lost for the season in the 1st game. Learning to cope with a loss, and probably 4 or 5 of them, would be a difficult task for all Pats fans alike. C'mon, they had not lost in the regular season since early December of 2006. Yes, that reads 2006.........21 months ago.
With that being said, the team finally lost a game. They actually got smoked. But it was the opponent and score that made it a bitter pill to swallow. The horrific Dolphins, a team that had lost 11 straight road games and a team the Pats smoked 49-28 and 28-7 last year. And those scores are closer than what they really were. When the Dolphins beat the Pats on that day in December of 2006, that would be the last loss since today. And also only the Dolphins 2nd win since that day! Meaning, the Pats were 21-0 since that loss and the fish were 1-20 since it! Amazing. Sure , the Pats were without their starting QB and RB, but they still got rocked. The team was up 7-0, but the Cassell rushing score was called back for a horrible call, one that may go down as pathetic as the fumble call in last week's Denver/San Diego game. The score was voided and on the next play Cassell was picked off at the goal line. Momentum gone. Game over!
The team is now 2-1. Yes, that's a one next to the dash. It looks and feels weird. But, give credit to the fish. They showed up as 15 point underdogs and ran the ball and put up yards. The Pats did not. A new streak will have to occur, but it'll have to wait 2 weeks as the team has a bye next. And they sorely miss Tom Terrific. Will the team recover and regroup? We shall see.
Almost forgot, the Boston Red Sox are in the midst of a pennant chase....................and it's not with the pinstripes. No it's the De............oops, I mean Rays. So let's take a quick look into the week that was, shall we? Do we have to?
The team entered the week one game back of the Rays. Even neater was the fact the two teams met each other to basically decide the AL East crown. Tampa was the scene............and get this, they actually had people in the stands, though many were, of course, Red Sox fans. In the opener, the Sox bashed the Rays as they walloped Kazmir en route to a 6 home run attack! Dice-K won again, further cementing his cause for 2nd place in the AL Cy Young contest. So, the Red Sox had the momentum and a share of the division lead going into Game 2. That's when things fell apart. They lost that game, as Beckett's 8 strong innings went for naught as they Rays tied it at 1 late in the game and then won in the last frame against stud Masterson. So, 1 game back. Looking with a microscope, the series finale was huge. It meant possibly whether the Sox would go to the World Series or not. Why? It's only 1 game right? Well, not really. With a win in the finale, the 2 teams would be deadlocked once again for the division. Plus, a BoSox win would tie the season series at 9 up and better the team's record within the division, both tiebreakers if the 2 teams stayed dealocked at season's end. To be frank, the game has magnanimous implications. So what happened? Well, the good guys got smoked. Good night. Division probably over. World Series hopes over..........probably. The team blew an early 2-0 lead and 2 homers from #34 as they fell 10-3. Wake did not have it, as you may well knew or guessed!
So the team left for Toronto knowing they were 2 back instead of even, and 3 in the loss column as well as with the tiebreaker in Tampa's hands. 3 back with a mere 10 days left!
North of the Border has not been a great place for the good guys as of late. But the team won a huge game a few weeks back, on a Sunday afternoon, an extra inning game that included a monumental shot for Jed Lowrie off Brandon League. The win was the biggest this year in my opinion. So maybe the win was a sign of things to come! But of course, Halladay and Burnett were scheduled to face the Sox again. Seems to happen every series in 2008 between the two. Burnett, well, he's okay, but control and durability are issues. Halladay is clearly the better pitcher. He's nasty. In the opener, the Sox won. And get this, it was a road game, and a 1 run game! Don't the good guys lose most of those. Yes, but not this time. Byrd matched Burnett, but the Sox bullpen was fabulous(no joke) in the 4-3 victory. Game 2, the Sox blew many, many chances and lost to Halladay. While most were watching the Pats stink up Gillette Stadium, the Sox won 3-0 behind Dice-K. He ends the season perfect on the road! So, maybe they sould move him up to pitch one of the first 2 games in La-la land vs. the Angels. That is, unless the Rays lose a few games on the road to the O's and Tigers. It's a definite possibility. There road record is sub .500, but who's isnt outside of the Angels. So it could happen. Meanwhile, Francona's boys have 7 games at home vs. the Indians and pinstripes. When the schedule came out, figured these would be tough games, they both made the post-season last year. But both are mediocre, and the Sox should roll at home as they usually do(unless it's the halos) and win at least 5. But we'll see, maybe coach will rest his players. Winning the division is everything though. If they have a real chance entering the weekend, they should go for it. Opening in Fenway against someone other than the Angels beats going on the road, twice. Ellsbury is getting hot! Drew is still injured. What a joke! He came with the injury prone tag and has yet to disappoint! Don't know if he'll play this week. On the opposite end, Lowell is hurt, but playing! Give him credit. Colon is eating, I meant staying, in his homeland. He's suspended, instead he should just wear suspenders. He is in bad shape and is the brunt of every joke at bars in town(the pinstripes are too) and can't help this team it seems. Lugo may return, hope so. I like him, sorta. Speaking of bad signings(Drew, Lugo, Schilling, Renteria..........I'll move on) Epstein supposedly signed a pact with the organization this week. Good news. Just wished he'd stop trading away young studs. Well, should be a great week. Gotta run, it's raining as this blog ends............or is it my tears?
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