Resilient Sox survive shaky staff

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What was I thinking at the outset of the summer when I predicted the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox wouldn’t even make the playoffs?

I was completely wrong, as I was two years ago when I wrote that the Red Sox and the New England Patriots wouldn’t earn trips to the postseason dance.

I should have known a team whose five-man starting rotation would combine to produce a 4.55 regular-season ERA would be able to make the playoffs.

On top of that, every starter had a dismal start over the last three weeks of the regular season when it was crunch time.

Matt Clement continued his brutal second-half nosedive Tuesday.

I should have known a team without a legitimate closer and consistent run-producing No. 5 hitter could still make the playoffs.

Then there’s the bullpen and its 5.17 ERA. Enough said.

What the Red Sox did this season was take a page out of the Patriots’ playbook.

They showed a resiliency, an ability to overcome a pitching staff comparable to the days of Billy Monboquette, Dave Morehead and Don Schwall. They also overcame injuries to ace Curt Schilling and closer Keith Foulke, and a lineup with just two power threats.

No matter what they do in the playoffs, the fact they earned the wild-card berth is a significant accomplishment.

What makes it even more noteworthy is the fact general manager Theo Epstein didn’t pull the trigger on tempting trades that would have provided a quick-fix solution for their pitching woes.

I’m sure the names sought by rival GMs in trades included promising youngsters Hanley Ramirez, Jonathan Papelbon, Dustin Pedroia and Craig Hansen.

They are the future of the Red Sox and the future is potentially much brighter than the present.

Husson, MMA should play

Bangor’s Husson College and Castine’s Maine Maritime Academy are 40 miles apart.

They compete in the North Atlantic Conference in every sport except football.

MMA is in the New England Football Conference and Husson, in its third season since reviving its football program, isn’t in a conference.

It’s time to begin their football rivalry.

It would be a natural. It would be competitive.

Both teams have plenty of Maine natives on their rosters and it would create a lot of interest.

It would be a game they would circle on their calendars.

Unfortunately, this probably won’t happen for several years.

MMA athletic director Jim Dyer explained MMA has eight New England Football Conference games every year and is locked into a nonleague series with Becker College (Mass.) until 2009.

That gives them nine games and they are allowed 10.

Football coach Chris McKenney said their 10th game is a preseason scrimmage and some of the players are involved in regiment training at the time.

“I can’t see us playing a 10th game,” said McKenney. “The scrimmage helps us get the kinks out [before the season opener].”

Too bad.

Personally, I’d like to see NESCAC teams Bowdoin, Bates and Colby join Husson and MMA in an in-state Division III conference like the old state series.

That will never happen.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.