After sweeping the New York Yankees, everything was pure joy in the Boston Red Sox clubhouse.
Their record is 66-58 and they remain in a good spot when it comes to their playoff chances.
They are three games behind the Seattle Mariners for the third and final AL Wild Card spot.
The Tampa Bay Rays are five games up in the Wild Card standings and look like a lock to make the postseason, but things are tight after that.
There are 3.5 games between the Houston Astros (owners of the second Wild Card) and the Red Sox, with the Mariners owning the third WC slot and the Toronto Blue Jays (just half a game behind them) between the Astros and Sox.
Therefore, four teams are vying for two Wild Card positions in the American League and the Red Sox are one of them.
“This might have been the liveliest Red Sox post game clubhouse in years. Cora had started his post game interview in his office, there were two knocks on the door, Jansen opened it, apologized to the media, pulled Cora out for one more speech. Cora returned, showered in beer,” Red Sox insider Jen McCaffrey tweeted.
This might have been the livliest Red Sox post game clubhouse in years. Cora had started his post game interview in his office, there were two knocks on the door, Jansen opened it, apologized to the media, pulled Cora out for one more speech. Cora returned, showered in beer
— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) August 20, 2023
The Red Sox celebrated the sweep of the Yankees (who have now lost eight straight games) like they won a playoff series, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Before the season started, many experts and fans had Boston finishing last in the AL East.
Quietly, they continue to defy expectations, and they keep getting healthy.
They finally have an effective, consistent rotation with multiple quality pitchers: veterans Chris Sale and James Paxton, serviceable hurlers like Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta, and Kutter Crawford, and young sensation Brayan Bello.
They might not be favorites in the junior circuit, but the Red Sox are a competitive, well-coached team ready to fight for its place in October.
NEXT: Fans React To Today's Chris Sale News
