Boston Red Sox: 3 reasons the bottom may have dropped out on Sox

The Boston Red Sox, after surging ahead 2-1 in the ALCS against the Houston Astros, have seen the bottom drop out on them since.

It was a thrill-a-minute ride with the 2021 Boston Red Sox until the past two games when the bubble seemed to burst on their playoff run and they crashed back down to earth.

This space had speculated that this particular club could be a “Team of Destiny”, and should have a motto of “No Fear”.

The Boston Red Sox on Monday had pounded out home runs, four to be exact, and yet another grand slam thanks to masher Kyle Schwarber in beating the Houston Astros 12-3 in Game 3.

Yet since Monday, the team has dropped two straight games at home, seemingly losing all the momentum they had built up during Games 2 & 3.

Now it’s back to Houston for the final game or hopefully two. Things seem bleak at the moment, but never count out these Sox.

3 reasons why the bottom may have dropped out of the 2021 Boston Red Sox

There are three reasons to point out that may be responsible for the current state of affairs of the Red Sox as they find themselves down 3-2 in the American League Championship Series.

First, the outcome of any series, especially when you play a team of the quality of the Houston Astros “ain’t over ’til it’s over” as the great New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra reportedly said.

He was right on target. No series, no matter how bad or good things look, is ever “in the bag” as they say until the final out in the series-clinching win is in the glove.

Anyone who was oblivious to the fact that the Astros were more than capable of bouncing back and winning it is either very young or didn’t witness the Red Sox/Yankees ALCS series in 2004.

In that magical year, the Red Sox were down three to nothing in their Series against the Bronx Bombers and looked to be “done and dusted” as they say across the pond.

Needless to say for those of us old enough to remember, the most amazing thing happened, the Sox won one, then another, then two more at Yankee Stadium, and won the series.

Then they went on to win the next series, as in the World Series against a really good St. Louis Cardinals team, somewhat making up for the loss to that same team in 1946. That’s history.

No series is over ’til it’s over and the Red Sox learned that the hard way. And never, ever take anything for granted on a team that boasts Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa as its top two players.

The 2021 Boston Red Sox played over their heads

A second possible reason is that the 2021 version of the Boston Red Sox wasn’t really that good of a team and over-exceeded their expectations all season long.

Don’t think there is any doubt about that since no one expected much of anything from this group. They over-achieved in a massive way even if they are eliminated by Houston in one of the next two games.

This team wasn’t expected to do very much and they were a terrific team to watch especially in the Wild Card game, the American League Divisional Series, and the opening games of the American League Championship Series, as well.

Again, they over-achieved by a mile. If they crash out of the Series in the next game or two, they were still terrific.

Anyone who says they thought they’d go this far at the beginning of the season is another Nostradamus and should be going to Foxwoods every day.

A third possible reason for the Boston Red Sox crash

A third possible reason for the bursting of the 2021 Boston Red Sox balloon in the series with Houston is the incident that manager Alex Cora made a concerted effort to try to ameliorate.

Eduardo Rodriguez pointed to his imaginary watch seemingly repeating a gesture made by Carlos Correa in Game 1. Not a good idea. Never do anything to awaken a sleeping giant.

Alex Cora immediately took Rodriguez to task for this. Yet, perhaps the damage was done. The Red Sox had enjoyed a psychological edge in the series since Game 2.

Cora knew how such a gesture could impact the series. But it was perhaps too late to make any difference.

From then on, the karma or atmosphere of the series shifted back to the Astros who then psychologically perhaps held the moral “high ground”. Who knows.

The fact is this, the Boston Red Sox were steaming along towards a possible World Series berth and it suddenly came to a halt. You decide what caused it.

In any event, the Boston Red Sox still have a chance to validate the speculation in this space that they are indeed a “Team of Destiny” and should have a motto of “No Fear”.

We’ll see Friday night and hopefully again on Saturday in Houston that they indeed are that team. If not, it was a terrific ride and we thank you, Boston Red Sox.