When the Sox started the season off 2-10, it was frustrating to see a team with so much talent and so much hype around it fail to live up to its expectations. Some fans were optimistic, some called for changes, some were angry and some were just straight up confused.
Then, once the Sox turned things around and went on a tear, it looked as if they could coast into the playoffs and potentially the Fall Classic. It seemed as if it was only a matter of whether they would win the divison or capture the wild card, not whether or not they'd actually earn a trip to the postseason.
But the team's 5-17 September makes those days seem like a distant memory. The team's pitching has struggled, the defense has been subpar and even the once terrifying lineup has fallen back down to earth after looking like one of the most potent lineups in the league's history for a better part of the season.
Simply put, no one saw these struggles coming, although perhaps we shouldn't have ruled them out given the team's slow start.
The Red Sox now enter a doubleheader with the Yankees on Sunday with a 1 1/2-game lead over the Rays in the race to capture the AL wild card. Tim Wakefield and John Lackey look to right the ship, but it won't be an easy task.
Sox fans have seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows over the years, so this season is essentially a microcosm of the franchise's history. Only time will tell whether this tale has a happy ending, but, for now, there's bound to be plenty of emotions flying around in Red Sox Nation.
For those in need of cheering up or those still trying to wrap their heads around the current situation, click here to see why the Red Sox are still well-suited for the postseason.
