Could Latest Red Sox Fight Lead to a Turnaround?
In sports, it’s really easy to find the negative behind a fight. Many will say it’s bad for the game, it shows a lack of sportsmanship, or it distracts a team from playing the game. However, to the Boston Red Sox, their latest bench-clearing scuffle may lead to some wonderful things as it has done in the past.
Sox fans keep trying to point out why Boston hasn’t been as dominant as they were expected to be. The number one reason has to be injuries. No one can remember a season in which a team lost so many starters. Some have argued that the Red Sox have lost the laid-back swagger that carried them to the World Series in 2004 and 2007. The Red Sox character and unity should not be questioned though.
Their resilience through their injuries has been spectacular. Recently as well, the team showed their passion and showed they have the fire as well as the team ran onto the field together in a recent game against the Cleveland Indians. Twice, the Indians intentionally attempted to nick Red Sox batters. This was after Sox ace Josh Beckett had struck Indians batter Shelley Duncan and Shin-Soo Choo, though he indicated it was accidental. The Indians obviously didn’t believe that, as in the very next inning Jensen Lewis clearly struck Adrian Beltre intentionally. The pitch went straight into the back of Beltre.
The Red Sox reacted as a team and ran onto the field as Beltre made a walk up to the mound. Beckett seemed to be the most furious. Several ejections were made, including Beckett, who had just pitched eight amazing innings, Jensen Lewis, and Indians third base coach Steve Smith.
Not only Beckett and Lewis, but Jacoby Ellsbury, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia and Mike Cameron were all assessed fines for their role in the incident as well.
Some may look at this as being bad for the Sox, but need those doubters be reminded of July 24th 2004? That game featured the famous brawl between Red Sox star Jason Varitek and the Yankees Alex Rodriguez. The teams followed suit by clearing the benches, and not only that but the fight provided the spark the Red Sox needed. They wound up overcoming a five-run defecit in that game and won with a walk-off home run by Bill Mueller. That turned the Sox season around as well. They went on to catch fire in the late months of that season and wound up winning their first World Series Championship in 86 years.
Now the fight this time around may not feature the club’s most hated rivals, but nonetheless, it may have bonded the team. They showed some passion and that competitive spirit in them. Fighting may not be the solution to problems, and it shouldn’t be looked for, but if it happens, and you have to show that you’re ready to stand up for your teammates, which is what the Red Sox did.
The Red Sox have a month and a half of their season left and they can still turn things around. Players are starting to come back from injuries and they’ll have a greater chance to turn things around with a healthy line-up.
All pitching aces are back, which perhaps the Red Sox greatest strength is. They have a deadly starting rotation with Jon Lester, John Lackey, Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Clay Buchholz. They really shouldn’t be counted out with a rotation like that.
Most importantly for the Red Sox, a fire may have been lit inside of them and provided the spark this team needed to make their push for a playoff spot.
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