Many people in baseball circles bicker and argue over the concept of the interleague play, but every once in awhile the MLB gets it right. The people in the Chicago Cubs organization must have called their travel agents to double check the details of their trip this weekend as they will be heading to Boston for the first time since the 1918 World Series.
What a crazy and interesting history that has developed for both clubs since that championship match up almost a century ago. I hope the members of that Sox team celebrated the 4-2 series win a little extra because they could not have imagined the pain and suffering that would follow that famous year. And for the Cubs, little did they know, but that would mark the ten-year anniversary of the most futile run in major professional athletics.
Unfortunately, I was not around for that monumental victory, but I have been fortunate enough to witness the two most recent titles. One broke what seemed to be an irreversible 86-year curse of torturous misfortune, and the second validated the Red Sox' transformation from lovable losers to legitimate, modern dynasty and perennial powerhouse. The Cubs, however, have still been unable to shake that label that once plagued Boston and if the early season results are any indication, it looks as though the Cubs are doomed to wait yet another season.
If anyone would be able to relate to the Cubs' misery, the Red Sox would be able to offer some consolation, but I doubt there will be too many offering it up this weekend as Boston will be looking to add their continued struggles. The Sox have won six straight coming into the weekend and find themselves only 1 1/2 games out of first place in the AL East. Since their horrific 2-10 start, the Red Sox have been winning games at a .700% clip (21-10).
Despite their latest success, the Sox will certainly have their work cut out for them. Friday night offers a favorable pitching match up with Lester throwing against Doug Davis, but Lackey and Matsuzaka have both recently landed on the DL. This appears to open the door for journeyman Tim Wakefield and long reliever Alfredo Aceves to jump into an ailing Red Sox rotation.
It should be a good early-season test for Boston as they continue their pursuit of first place in the division. Either way, this historic series should be a lot of fun. The street vendors outside of Fenway have already joined in on the fun selling t-shirts that read: "The Green Monster. No Ivy On This Wall." Now that we've established our edge in the cleverness category, let's hope our hitters have the edge over Chicago and hit a few more balls over that wall and have them leave Boston with the same deflating feeling of defeat that they experienced all those years ago.
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