OK, let's just say it. MLB does not want the Sox to win this year. Period. End of story. With the way that MLB has kept their tabs on the Sox over the past few weeks it reminded me of Sun-tzu's philosophy to "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."
MLB scheduled the Opening Day games in Japan smack dab in the middle of Spring Training. How many days did the Sox lose because of this trip? Don't tell me that an optional workout after an overnight flight, exhibition games against the Yomiuri Sushi Fighters and the Hanshin Kobe Beef Warriors, then two games against a minor league A's team is the same as grinding it out in the Grapefruit League.
Then, after an overnight flight back to the West Coast, yet another optional workout before playing a three game series against the Dodgers. The same Dodger team owned by Frank McCourt, who was screwed out of buying his hometown team and building a beautiful new ballpark on the waterfront (where seats would actually face home plate) by one of the producers of the Cosby Show. Oh ya, I forgot about last night's commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Dodgers leaving their loyal fans in Brooklyn to soak up the SoCal sun.
Between March 18th and the 28th, the Sox played only 6 games in three different times zones on two continents crossing the International Dateline TWICE! It's not going to get easier for the Red Stockings. After finishing their opening series against the A's on Wednesday, the Sox fly back east to face the Blue Jays before their home opener against a Tiger team that won 88 games, then a series against the Yanks (94 wins) before traveling to Cleveland (96) and New York. They also host Angels (94) later in April. After their travel day back from the West Coast before facings the Blue Jays, the Sox will only have 2 days off the rest of the month. The Sox end April and head into May with 16 straight games.
Who cares about the A's? They suck. Japan was a gift to them. With Billy Beane's "Moneyball" philosophy, the $40K appearance fees were sizable bonuses for both the A's players and coaches.
Oh, well!
1 comment:
I wonder if the whole "Red Sox Nation" international popularity is causing the MLB to try to feature them a little too often. Maybe if it's not a conspiracy to keep them from winning, it's just he MLB trying to maintain or increase the interest in baseball. Either way, it's an extremely unfair schedule.
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