For a team in the heat of a race to win a playoff spot, the Boston Red Sox present just about the least appetizing so-called ‘also ran’ opponent you could imagine.
Boston has had a tough season. Their choices of free-agent signings — Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez— last winter went sour almost immediately and the stopgap pitching additions like Wade Miley, Joe Kelly and Justin Masterson have been ineffective. Those choices cost GM Ben Cherington his job. John Farrell had to take a leave of absence to fight his own battle against lymphona, a battle that, thankfully, seems quite winnable.