Entering this weekend's three-game series at Yankee Stadium trailing the Bronx Bombers by 5 1/2 games, the Red Sox knew that winning the AL East would be a long shot. After Boston lost three straight to the Yanks, it's now impossible.
Despite the rough weekend, the Red Sox also realize that they hold a commanding lead in the wild-card race over the Rangers heading into the regular season's final week. Clinching a playoff spot is little more than a formality at this point: They could punch their ticket with a win and a Texas loss on Monday.
But for Red Sox Nation, there's still something uneasy about watching the Yankees celebrate a division title. Yet, after Sunday's 4-2 loss in the Bronx, several members of the Sox remained in the dugout to watch the festivities.
"I was just thinking about the game, how the game went and some situations we should have executed better and we never did, and that made the difference," said Boston designated hitter David Ortiz, who went 0-for-2 on Sunday with two walks. "Watching the season they had last year and watching the way they played this year, they deserved to celebrate."
The Red Sox witnessed the Yankees' improvement firsthand. After winning the first eight games of the season series against their rivals from the Bronx, the Sox have now been swept in the last two series at Yankee Stadium and have lost nine of 10 games overall against the Yanks. The season series ended 9-9.
"Like I told you … they'd figure things out," said Ortiz. "They've got a good team, and that's why they're celebrating today."
While the Yankees have been an astounding 49-19 (.721) since the All-Star break, the Sox have struggled at times, posting a less impressive 37-30 (.552) mark over that time.
Still, the Red Sox remain confident heading into the regular season's final week.
"I think that given the situation we were in, we're going to be celebrating something sooner rather than later," left fielder Jason Bay told MLB.com. "It wasn't like [the Yankees winning the AL East] was a stunning revelation that just happened. They just played a better series than we did, and it resulted in them clinching the division. Now we have to take care of our business and get ourselves a playoff spot and do the same."
Manager Terry Francona was already looking ahead after Sunday's loss. What was his grand plan as the Red Sox prepared to return to Fenway for the regular season's final seven games?
"Hope we win tomorrow [Monday]," Francona told The Associated Press. "That's normally what we do. Play. If you win, move on. If you lose, learn and move on. That's what our next chore will be."
And with the Blue Jays and Indians set to come to town over the next week, the Sox will hope to clinch their playoff berth and then set up the rotation for the impending playoff series.
But are there any lingering concerns among the Red Sox about their recent form against the Yankees, a team that could conceivably be waiting for them in the ALCS should both win their first-round series?
"As of right now, obviously they're the better team," said Bay. "You'd like to be the team that swept — no question."
But there's something different about the playoffs that renders everything that came before insignificant.
"Once the postseason starts, everything else is kind of thrown out the window," Bay added. "Once you get in the playoffs, everything being what it is in the playoffs, I think all momentum is stopped by then."
But the Red Sox have to make it there first.
