We bring this to light because we certainly didn’t know until this AP piece about this afternoon’s playoff rally at City Hall Plaza.

OK, so this picture is from 2004, but can you imagine how distracting and deflating it might be if it happens again, well, right now at City Hall Plaza?

The answer, of course, is The Standells, who recorded the piece in 1966, not knowing that it would be played after each Red Sox win in perpetuity. We’re willing to make an educated guess, however, that they’re hoping it’ll be played another, oh, 6-11 times this year.

Still, the question is prompted by The Standells’ appearance at this afternoon’s rally, and it’s role in the larger development of the AL Divisional Series. Sure, The Standells may be a fine band, and we know that The Dropkick Murphys, also scheduled to perform, are excellent. Just listen to Jonathan Papelbon’s theme of choice as he warms up on the mound.

The larger question is whether they should be playing a pep rally for a divisional crown. Sure, a team always wants to win the division, and perhaps should even expect to. But it’s hard to justify a grandiose celebration when there’s still so much baseball to be played.

The Red Sox stated goal every year is to win the World Series. They’re a large market team, one of the few that have no budgetary constraints to justify not putting an excellent team on the field year after year. They have deep pocket owners and a front office which seems to have a strong sense of vision, both for present and future, behind wunderkind World Series architect Theo Epstein. So why should the city be surprised that they win the AL East, even if it is the first time in 12 years it’s happened?

The answer, of course, is that it shouldn’t. And perhaps Boston isn’t surprised, but is rather just jubilant about the team’s success. On top of that, we’re willing to sign up for any situation in which Papelbon might be around alcohol or a microphone and do or say something crazy. He’s reaching that point in character-dom.

But the whole rally does seem a bit forced, doesn’t it? Particularly on a day when the Patriots are facing off at a supposed AFC contender in Cincinnati for an event that legitimately matter. A lot.

You remember this scene, right? We’re hoping for another one, and may get one, so long as today’s little celebration isn’t more distraction than motivation.

Not that we’re condemning the Boston front office or even questioning its judgment in going along with the pre-playoff rally plan. OK, maybe we are questioning its judgment, but we’re not going to condemn it. Yet.

If the Sox go out and look distracted or deflated in games 1 and 2 at Fenway? Then we will definitely condemn it. Harshly. Just wanted to throw it out there.

– Cameron Smith