[Suffolk Shippers]

I dont think you can say the Red Sox laid down for Oakland or anyone else. Lets look at the facts:

-Jon Lester diagnosed with cancer
-David Ortiz has heart issues
-Manny Ramirez has a bum knee
-Leader of the team, Varitek is out for a month with a bum knee
-only steady member of the bullpen is Jon Papelbon
-Curt Schilling pitched against Oakland with a pulled lat muscle
-Trot Nixon out with his injury
-Wakefield out 6 weeks

There is plenty of criticism for how the front office assembled the team (did they give up too much for Beckett? Why has Coco Crisp sucked?), and why they did a terrible job building a bullpen, but the above injuries cannot be pinned on anyone or anything.

I know the Yankees played without Sheffield and Matsui mostly the entire year, and deserve credit for staying in it. But that rash of Red Sox injuries far out weighs what the Yankees have faced. Thats not making any excuses for Boston or NY, its just the case. The Yankees are the better team in that division this year, no question about it.

Saying the Sox laid down though is wrong. I have watched quite a few of the games since all this happened, and the guys left are still out there battling every game and thats all you can ask.

Not to mention, that series against Oakland, the players were aware of Jon Lester's condition, where as the media/fans did not. To say that didnt weigh on any of them during those games would be lying. They are only human.