So after the 14-1 thrashing of the lowly Indians, I once again asked what could've been for the talent-loaded roster. I envisioned a parallel universe in which it is also August 13, 2012. But in this imagined world, there are a few significant differences:
Bobby Valentine turned his former disguise into a permanent look, thus creating an alternate reality.
Ellsbury and Crawford were in the lineup at the start of the season. Ellsbury once again has put himself in the MVP discussion and Crawford is in the midst of a comeback season, currently batting .300 with 35 stolen bases.
Lester, Beckett and Buchholz have looked like their once-dominate selves all possessing 10+ wins and sub-4 ERAs.
Andrew Bailey never tore a tendon in his thumb and went on to win the closer role at the end of spring training. The offseason trade has paid its dividends as he currently sits third in the AL with 32 saves.
Dustin Pedroia avoided a debilitating thumb injury and currently leads the AL in batting average.
The RedSox have had their desired lineup together and healthy for most of the season.
David Ortiz and Adrian Gonzalez have combined for 60 homeruns, forming the deadliest 3-4 combination in baseball.
Kevin Youkilis and Bobby Valentine never butted heads. Will Middlebrooks is still stuck in AAA as Youk returns to being the on-base machine that was his former self.
What could all this mean?
The RedSox have seemingly put the whole chicken and beer fiasco behind them, as they sit atop the AL east with the best record in baseball at 75-41. The media applauds the hiring of Bobby Valentine and commend him for the stricter culture he has brought to the clubhouse. The RedSox are the World Series favorite as they lead baseball in runs scored and have the best 1-2-3 starting pitcher combination in the MLB.
The thing is, this hypothetical world is not ridiculous. Perhaps the likelihood of all these things working out perfectly as imagined is small, but it is certainly conceivable that at least a few of them could work out. Yet, inexplicably it seems that whatever could have gone wrong, has gone wrong. Even on a game-to-game basis it seems that our reprieve from being cursed was only temporary. The RedSox have been unable to win close games. A franchise defined by magical moments the past decade has only two walkoff wins all year. It just seems like something is missing from this team. The intangibles that allow a team (Baltimore) with a -41 run differential to be in the thick of the playoff race (while the Sox (+41) are unable to break .500), are nowhere to be found. Is it from lack of desire, or is it simply a case of bad luck? Whatever it is, it's maddening to think of what could've been.
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