Pennant Race

Back when my mother would take the three of us to Ladies Day at Fenway Park, pennant races were really quite simple. There were 154 games and 8 teams; each team played the seven other teams 22 times; 11 at home and 11 on the road. Whoever was in first place went to the World Series. On occasion, a runoff was necessary if two teams were tied.  Back then, it always seemed that the Yankees were in first place. After the Red Sox won the pennant in 1946, the Yankees won it for 10 of the next 12 years [and the World Series after most of those 10 seasons.] Now baseball is a bit more complicated to understand with ever-changing schedules for its 162-game season, interleague play being an important variable.  

One thing is certain: now that we are in the home stretch of the 2025 season: the Red Sox are in the midst of the scrum.  Of course, no one knows who will actually win the American League pennant until various games are played leading up to the two final teams competing in a best of 7 series in October. The winner, of course, then faces the National League champion, as Election Day approaches. 

What were the causes of this great Red Sox turnaround? Was it the trading of Devers who would scowl in the dugout while sitting alone? Was it that Casas has been injured all season? Was it that Roman Anthony was as good as they said he would be, accumulating numbers rarely seen by a rookie? Fred Lynn may have been the exception. Indeed, Fred Lynn won both rookie of the year and the MVP in 1975. Roman was sidelined with an oblique injury, tragically.

Was it a coaching staff that was seasoned? Was it two sturdy veterans on the left side of the infield, one of whom, Trevor Story, was healthy for the first time in his entire Red Sox career and the other, Alex Bregman, who appears to have played an extraordinary role in helping the team come together.

Night games in Boston in October can be mighty chilly.  One thing I know is that October baseball takes longer and goes later into the night than some of us are accustomed to. The 2 ½ hour games of more recent years are really quite nice for those of us who get up before the sun!

Many will be wagering as to whether the Sox can make it all the way. I do not bet on sports or politics. The Red Sox being in contention is good for Boston and, I would argue, good for baseball.