Bill Burt
BOSTON — Remember early November of 2007? Those were the days. You and your Boston Red Sox were sky-high. The Sox were in Denver and had won their second World Series title in four years.
Better yet, everybody, including baseball execs around the country, were talking about the Red Sox with envy. How Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Jonathan Papelbon and Jon Lester, all kids, all franchise players, were all under the Sox' control for the next half-dozen years.
Cocky? With the Yankees championship-less since 2000, that's not strong enough.
People who know baseball tossed around a word most aging New Englanders have never heard associated with their Red Sox — dynasty.
Haven't heard much of the "D-word" lately, have we? While most fans would probably point to the team closest south, the Yankees, as the reason.
They would be wrong ... by about 1,000 miles.
If Tuesday night's loss to the Rays proved anything, it proved the Tampa Bay Rays have become the Red Sox' biggest nemesis.
For the second time in three years, the Rays have officially (2008) and unofficially (2010) ended the Red Sox' season.
Why has this happened? Better yet, how?
"All I know is that (manager) Joe Maddon, from Day 1, even when we were the Devil Rays and we were losing, always told us we could compete with the Red Sox and Yankees. I don't know if we believed him, but he kept saying it," said Rays outfielder and Rhode Island native Rocco Baldelli, who played for the Red Sox last season.
"And now we are," he said.
Competing? How about shellacking?
After the meaningless Red Sox win last night, 11-5, they finished the season series 7-11 vs. the Rays. That really isn't surprising though. The Rays also won the season series in 2008 and 2009.
And let's not forget the incredible seven-game series win over the Red Sox in the 2008 American League Championship Series.
While they took a slight dip in 2009, finishing third behind the Yankees and Red Sox, they probably would have won the AL Central Division if that was their home.
But their home is the AL East, a home the Rays wouldn't trade.
"We never wanted to be in another division," said Maddon. "I believe we are the team we are because of our division. Once we learned how to come to hallowed grounds like Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, and won there, I believe our fortunes changed for the better. We are tougher because of playing teams like the Red Sox and Yankees as much as we do."
Imagine if the Rays were still the "Devil Rays," and were horrible. The Red Sox probably would've been an even-money shot to beat the Philllies in the World Series in 2008. And last year, well, would have been written off as a "mulligan" after consecutive World Series berths.
The future of this "rivalry" should be interesting. The Rays can't compete with the Red Sox in the salary department ($162,747,333 to $71,923,471 this year) because they just can't generate enough interest or income.
There is a good chance that speedster Carl Crawford (.307, 15 HRs, 75 RBI) will become a free agent next year. Haverhill's Carlos Pena, while a decent bet to return at a slightly reduced rate (he is completing a 3-year, $24 million deal), might cause some consternation in the Rays' accounting department, too.
"We will see next year what happens when free agency finally hits their team," said injured Sox All-Star Kevin Youkilis. "But you have to give them credit. I respect the Rays. They are a tough team. They find ways to win close games. They have great pitching. They improved their bullpen. And their offense has been sporadic.
"But they are going to the playoffs and we're not. You can see the maturity. Their younger players are getting experience. They play the game the way it's supposed to be played."
Even without Crawford, the Rays are in this for the long haul. They, like the Red Sox, have a foundation of young talent still in place.
You want a franchise player? They've got Evan Longoria. You want aces? They've got at least two of them in David Price and Matt Garza. You want up-and-comers? Remember the name Jeremy Hellickson, a pitcher in the Rays bullpen who might be better than Price.
But that's a discussion for another day. The Rays, now 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East, are conceding nothing.
"Our goal is to win the division, period," said Maddon, whose team still has seven games left with the Yankees. "Obviously, we want to get to the playoffs first. But we feel we have something to play for."
I love it.
Don't fret Red Sox fans. The Red Sox future still appears to be bright. But is "bright" good enough with the Yankees and Rays in position to be as good next year.
I hate to keep repeating myself every few months, but the Rays are for real. They aren't going away. And they, not the "dreaded" Yankees, might even be the best team in baseball in 2010.
E-mail Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.
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