Owwww

That one hurt.

If it had only been this SSS (Schilling Solo Shot), the Sox would have been alright. If only.

Ok, so it would have been one thing for the Sox to lose. But to lose for the second time in three days, in uber-dramatic fashion? They really could have cut their fans a little bit of slack.

Really, it’s Terry Francona who could cut Sox fans some slack. Both of the two Yankee victories over the weekend were pockmarked by questionable pitching decisions by Tito. Friday, it was leaving Hideki Okajima in for a second inning, then going to Jonathan Papelbon for a full six outs when he wasn’t mentally in the game. Yesterday, it was leaving Curt Schilling in the game because his pitch count wasn’t too high, despite the fact that he was approaching 100 and he was toiling in the eighth.

Didn’t Sox brass hang a former manager for an almost identical indiscretion with another ace? Some Grady guy with a Pedro on the mound?

Still, we digress. Certainly the season is anything but over. And certainly, the Sox are still in position to win the division for the first time in 15 years. A 4 1/2 game lead is significant with so little time left. But a 6 1/2 game lead would have been a nail in the coffin, all but ensuring that the race was over while simultaneously putting the Yankees’ shot at the wild card in serious peril.

Because Curt couldn’t take care of Derek Jeter in the eighth last night, he might get stuck facing him again.

It may not seem like it yet, but doesn’t it feel like that lost opportunity - the one that slipped through Boston’s fingers twice over the weekend - might just come back to haunt the Sox?

– Cameron Smith