It's that time of year again. When one loss sends the media and talk radio listeners into full hysterics. All of the sudden the Sox have "trouble" beating the Twins, even though we lead the season series 7 game to 4.
Columnists singing the praises of Guillen and the Sox all year are flipping faster than John Kerry losing a primary.
I think things are even worse when it comes to the Cubs. It must have been all those expectations at the beginning of the year. The papers sure will look stupid with their preseason articles on possible World Series pitching matchups between the Yankees and Cubs.
But let's have a reality check. There are over 60 games left. The Sox sit 1.5 games out of a playoff spot and the Cubs are 2 games back.
The Cubs have, without a doubt, the best starting pitching in baseball. Even if they continue manufacturing runs as often as Michael Moore tells the truth, the pitching should carry them to the playoffs.
As for the Sox, they will have a much harder time making it to the postseason without Frank and Maggs. I'd say their chances were slightly less than 50%. But I won't be surpised if they make it. And I'm not going to overreact to one loss in July.
In fact I won't overreact to 2 losses either. Johan Santana, who has been nearly unhittable for the past two months, goes up against our "ace" Freddy Garcia tonight. We could very well drop the first two games of this series.
But this Sox team has been extremely resilient and I expect them to come out fighting tonight. And whatever happens the rest of this series I expect that the six games these teams play in September to be meaningful for both ballclubs.