A Month for the Ages

A Month for the Ages:
Not counting the Bruins (because really, who does?) Friday, November 16th, will be the one month anniversary of the last time a major pro sports team in Boston lost a game. In that time, the Red Sox have won 7 straight, had a parade and been to the White House. The Patriots have won 3 games by a combined score of 125-55, and the Celtics new Big Three have gone 7-0.
With all apologies to A-Rod, I think it fair to say that the fans of Boston, not the once (and again?) Yankees third baseman, who are having the greatest month of any life (non-Hugh Hefner/Wilt Chamberlain class). And better yet, the next few months look like they could yield more of the same. The Celtics look like a 60 win team, the Patriots will probably go 19-0, and the Red Sox are looking like the early favorite to win the World Series next year. Do I sound like an insufferable Mass-hole yet?

Well it’s not all good. The Red Sox have announced that they will open the season next year in Japan. The last time a team did this, the 2004 Yankees started the season 10-11. That start was due in no small part to the stress of ending spring training early, traveling half way around the world for two games, only to return to the States to restart spring training. There is a silver lining to the series in Japan though. The Sox will get an extra start out of Josh Beckett as he’ll be able to start one of the games in Japan, and the season opener stateside.

In other news, Barry Bonds was indicted Thursday on perjury and obstruction of justice charges. Well Barry, you might not need to boycott the Hall of Fame, as you might not be invited. I wouldn’t get to excited to play ever again either, as you’re probably looking at a 50 game suspension from MLB if you try to play again.

Speaking of drugs, Ricky Williams got reinstated this week. How long can this last? The rest of the season…tops? Don’t get me wrong, there a lot worse things you can do, like HGH, or steroids, or a DUI hit and run where a person died, followed up with another DUI. But we’ll talk about how Leonard Little some other time. That said Ricky isn’t a guy you can count on, although the Dolphins at 0-9 don’t have much to lose.

As for teams with something to lose, Dwight Freeney pretty much seals up the Patriots perfect season. Without Freeney present to draw double and triple teams, the Colts pass rush is only average meaning the Colts would have to blitz to get pressure, and Tom Brady eats up teams that blitz. This could be a 2 touchdown win for the Pats if they meet in January. That meeting is no longer a given with injuries to Harrison and Freeney. I expect the Jaguars and the Titans to give the Colts all they can handle, and one of those teams will win. The AFC South will be the most interesting divisional race in the NFL the rest of the way.

This year gave us the perfect example of why the post-season should count for awards in MLB. C.C. Sabathia and Josh Beckett were dead even during the regular season. Any argument for either has to be biased. The post season should be the tie breaker. Had that been the case, Beckett’s dominant performance in the ALCS combined with the shelling Sabathia took from the Red Sox bats would’ve made the decision easy. The NL Rookie of the Year vote would’ve likely changed dramatically as well. For all Braun’s mighty swings, his Brewers fell from best record right out of the playoffs, while Troy Tulowitzki’s glove and bat helped the Rockies make their improbable run to the World Series.