Last weekend the fight bell rang when the Tampa Bay Rays swept the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field over a three game set as tempers flared in the final game. Boston’s three losses and an old fashioned backyard brawl capped a 10-game losing streak putting the Red Sox 8 games back of the Blue Jays for first place in the AL East. Add that with losing to one of their biggest division rivals, the Red Sox just plain out lost their cool and memory all at once.
Rays and Red Sox Fight
In the final game of the three game set, up 8-3, Yunel Escobar stole an unattended third base in the 7th inning because of the defensive shift that was on to try to stop Tampa Bay from scoring. After the steal, players from the Red Sox dug out started chirping at Escobar as he was standing on third. A mini scuffle ensued as both benches cleared. After all the dust settled and a few minor ejections, the game resumed and the Rays went on to win the game and sweep the series. Tampa played a great series and somehow the focus after the game was on the fact Boston took exception to what they thought was a classless play.
I am an old school guy who definitely believes in the unwritten rules of baseball, but this is absurd. First of all, a five run lead in the 7th of today’s American League game, is far from over. The DH rule has made it very easy for a team to hang a five or six spot in any inning. Secondly, the game was being played at Tropicana Field. That stadium is just a glorified popcorn stand. No lead is ever safe down in St. Pete! Escobar was not out of line for taking an empty base to try and extend their lead in a divisional game. And third, and most importantly, the Red Sox are being hypocrites plain and simple.
Last year in Game One of of the American League Divisional Series, against those very same Tampa Bay Rays, Boston stole second base in the 8th inning while leading 8-2. Say, what? You read that right. Boston was up by one more run, against the same team, and an inning later than the game on Sunday. That fact that it was the same two teams is what makes this down right hilarious. We all know that the East Coast biased television media will not take Boston to task over their behavior towards the small market Rays. It has to be the Yankees or Dodgers up against the Red Sox for there to be a fair trial.
I about fell in the floor when I saw this unfold. There wasn’t a single peep out of the Rays last October after the Sox were so aggressive with a larger lead. And it was the playoffs for crying out loud! If any should be sensitive it’s the team that gets embarrassed on national television with all eyes watching a playoff game . Not the team that is losing to a much smaller audience on Memorial Day weekend. The defending World Series Champions should be more professional and graceful in defeat. Wring the tears out of those Duck Dynasty beards and go out and compete harder the next game.
When it’s all said and done, it doesn’t mean that Boston’s team is full of jerks and Tampa’s team is up for sainthood. Yet some highlight shows would have you believe the opposite as they are reluctant to point out the obvious. This is a heated rivalry that has turned into to one of the best in sports over the last eight or nine years. Boston was definitely in the wrong on Sunday. And this will not be the end of these bench clearings. They better start bobbing and weaving and playing the Rocky theme. The next round is Friday night in Boston with David Price and Brandon Workman on the mound, Ding-Ding!
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