Another beauty from MLB.com

I was watching the Phillies vs. Cardinals on MLB.tv tonight. If you’ve ever watched a game on MLB.tv, you know that there are MLB.com headlines that flash to the right of the screen. All during the Phils game there was one headline that I wanted to click on. The teaser headline read, “Red Sox Dynamic as Frontrunners”.

I didn’t click on the story, because I didn’t want to chance interrupting my wireless connection.

But, after 14 innings the game finally ended. And then I clicked on the story. And, let me tell you, it was worth the wait.

From the first sentence, the story just grabs your attention.

They’ve never given themselves the thrill of a chase, these 2007 Boston Red Sox.

Um, okay. Except that after tonight’s Yankees win and Red Sox loss, the Bombers are now only 2.5 games back with 11 games to play. And, you know, it sure feels like the Yankees are chasing the Sox. And for New Yorkers, it is almost certainly at least a little thrilling.

Of course, the writer doesn’t stop there…

Backed by a new ace in Josh Beckett, a dominant closer in Jonathan Papelbon and an offense that is more timely than explosive, the Red Sox are looking primed to make this season almost a wire-to-wire job.

It’s very possible that the Red Sox will make this a wire to wire job. But I don’t think we’ve got too many Sox fans placing bets right now.

Assuming that the Red Sox don’t squander the comfortable lead they still held in the American League East as of Tuesday, they will finish out the regular season as possessors of first place for the final 166 days of the season.

Granted, this story was published on Tuesday morning, before the most recent Sox loss/Yanks win. But come on. How does one watch the Yankees take two of three from the Sox in Boston, with Papi striking out with the bases loaded to end Sunday’s game, then watch the Sox lose Monday to the Blue Jays and the Yankees crush the Orioles, and still walk away thinking that Boston’s lead is “comfortable”?

The article’s author, Ian Browne, must know something I don’t know. He must know something everybody doesn’t know. Because he’s the only one on earth crazy enough to think the Sox have the AL East wrapped up.

There are a lot of ways to describe how the Sox are playing these days. “Dynamic” probably isn’t the most appropriate word.

Tonight’s ESPN headline says the Sox are “Fizzling Down the Stretch.” The Globe goes with “Slumping Sox” and “Gagne Struggles Again.” Boston Dirt Dogs goes with “Eric the Dread”, “Behind the Eight Ball” and “The Incredible Shrinking Lead”.

I’d say that’s a little closer.