It is, in a word, terrible.
But all is not lost for baseball fans in Boston. Sure, the Red Sox are finished, but that Sunday afternoon meltdown seems like years ago. It's time to move on.
And just in time is this year's World Series. With the first pitch scheduled for Wednesday night, here are the top 10 reasons to stay tuned to this year's Fall Classic.
Honorable mentions: CC Sabathia swinging a bat, Mark Teixeira proving/not proving his worth, potential for a Brad Lidge breakdown and the possibility of a November snowstorm.
10. An October for the ages
If it seems like every game this October has come down to the final at-bat, you're not hallucinating. This year's postseason has been one of the closest in history, with 11 games being decided by one run.
The Phillies and Yankees are the two best teams in baseball, both boasting powerful lineups and effective closers (one a touch more legendary than the other). In their three interleague meetings this season, two were decided by one run, with one game going 11 innings.
This series could go seven games, and it could be very, very close.
9. It could be worse
Yes, Red Sox fans would undoubtedly prefer watching Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia and Jason Bay this week, but they can take solace in one thing: at least they're not Mets fans.
While it's not easy accepting your favorite team's elimination, imagine what the next eight days are going to be like for fans of New York's other team. Their cross-town rivals are in the World Series, as are their National League East foes. After one of the most disappointing seasons in Mets history, this lose-lose situation puts the cherry on top of the proverbial crap sundae for folks in Queens.
8. Digging the long ball
If you like home runs, you're in luck. Yankee Stadium yielded 2.93 home runs per game this season, tops in the majors. Citizens Bank Park saw 2.56 balls leave the yard per game, good enough for third in the bigs.
The owner of the longest homer in the Yanks' new building this year? That would be Raul Ibanez, who belted a Chien-Ming Wang pitch 477 feet in a 7-2 Phillies win on May 22.
Besides Ibanez (34 home runs during the regular season), Philly has Ryan Howard (45 HRs), Jayson Werth (36), Chase Utley (31) and Jimmy Rollins (21). New York features seven players with 20 or more homers: Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Nick Swisher, Hideki Matsui, Robinson Cano, Johnny Damon and Jorge Posada (with Derek Jeter’s 18 long balls just missing the cut). Souvenirs will be aplenty — even without Wang on the mound.
The Yankees might not have a chance to collapse — their building might fall before they do.
The Associated Press reported last week that ramps in the sparkling, $1.5 billion facility are cracked, drawing questions about the structural integrity of Yankee Stadium. The construction company that built the stadium is reportedly under investigation for faking or failing to perform certain tests.
It doesn't have much to do with the game itself, but an embarrassing stain on the Yankees is always enjoyable in Boston.
6. Bolstering Red Sox history
In a weird, strange and mostly uncomfortable way, a Yankees championship strengthens the Red Sox' championships of 2004 and 2007.
The dynasty-era Yankees were struggling throughout the decade while the Red Sox bettered the Bombers. If the Yanks win this year's World Series, history will look more kindly upon those Red Sox teams for going through the Yankees (2004 ALCS, winning the division in 2007) that won a World Series in the same decade.
No, it's not much. But it's something.
5. Monitoring McCarver
Watching a Red Sox game with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver commentating can be excruciating. Before any key moment, the pair would always be sure to mention Bill Buckner, Grady Little or some other catastrophic figure or event that's ripped your heart out for years.
But with no dog in the fight, you are afforded the opportunity to take notes on some of the gems delivered by McCarver.
A classic from the 2004 World Series: "I think Tim Wakefield would say that Tim Wakefield got to Tim Wakefield tonight."
What?
Oh, and just for good measure, Fox has hired Ozzie Guillen for its pre- and postgame coverage. A wording malfunction will be a distinct possibility all series long.
4. A-Rod vs. Howard
Alex Rodriguez has had a remarkable postseason, garnering him much attention from the national media.
Somewhat lost in the discussion has been the performance of Ryan Howard, who drove in runs in eight consecutive games before last Wednesday's 10-4 win in the NLCS clincher. Howard has 14 RBIs total, two homers, four doubles and a triple for a .742 slugging percentage to go with his .462 on-base percentage.
A-Rod's tear has been well-publicized, but seeing if it continues will be fun to watch. If he maintains his current pace, he could set the mark for most homers in a single postseason (he currently has five, while Carlos Beltran (2004) and Barry Bonds (2002) hold the record with eight).
If the tide turns against A-Rod and his production stalls, Red Sox fans can bask in the glory of another October disappearing act from their favorite blue-lipped superstar. That's something that's always worth watching.
Johnny Damon was once a God in Boston (literally). Now, he garners the same amount of respect from New Englanders as yesterday's garbage.
Imagine the very realistic scenario of Damon stepping up in Game 7 and launching a crucial grand slam into right field of the new Stadium. That twisting feeling in your stomach will be the combination of the pain of a fan scorned and the sweet, sweet memories of 2004.
Love or hate him, Johnny Damon is a big part of the life of Red Sox fans, and watching him play baseball never fails to be fascinating.
2. Who's your daddy?
Remember this guy?
One of the most memorable Red Sox in the history of the franchise has a chance to beat the Yankees in the World Series. And he'll get to do it in the Bronx, no less.
His history with the Yankees has many chapters: tipping his cap and calling the Yankees "his daddies"; declaring his desire to peg a certain Babe Ruth in the posterior; sending Derek Jeter and Alfonso Soriano to the hospital in the same game; introducing Don Zimmer to the Fenway grass; pondering who exactly Karim Garcia is; and the infamous events of Oct. 16, 2003.
Pedro seems intent on proving something to everyone. He'd like to prove the Mets wrong. He'd like to better his Hall of Fame resume. He'd like to beat the Yankees.
The man has been pitching with a purpose since joining the Phillies, and if there's one thing to be afraid of, it's an inspired Pedro Martinez.
1. Rooting against the Yankees
A Yankees loss is almost as satisfying as a Red Sox win.
The point is, if you had the stomach to watch the Yankees in the World Series, watching them lose was as memorable a baseball moment as any. If the Yankees, with their $209 million payroll and crumbling $1.5 billion stadium, lose this time around, it truly will be one for the ages.
It can never replace a World Series win for Boston, but in an October without the Red Sox, it's as close as Boston can get to celebrating.
