Never In It...Sox Swept by Cubs With 7-1 Loss to Cubs (Game 76, '08)

Javier Vazquez set the tone early with a complete misconception of the strike zone.  And while he pitched better in the second inning, the two runs put up by the Cubs in the first inning was an already insurmountable lead for a team that gets guys on and simply cannot get them in.  I'm not sure what the ultimate implications of the nightmarish weekend will have on the Sox, but I don't expect things to be a whole lot better in Los Angeles.  With the Twins sweeping the Diamondbacks, the lead is now just 1.5 games up in the division.  Say what you want about 'first place,' but this team doesn't look like nor perform like a first place team. 

This team is anything but a great team.  I'm not sure what they have to do to execute timely hitting, but their consistent inability to do this for three months makes me very skeptical they will start now.  In the past I have remembered these series to be competitive.  After the first game, they were simply not competitive whatsoever.  Javy and Jose gave them no chance to win.  Things could change at home next weekend, but again, I'm skeptical.  As with anyone, I simply have no confidence in a team that is consistently inconsistent.  I don't believe in this team, and will not believe in this team until they prove they can be believed in.  I'll always be a fan, but they haven't proven themselves to be good enough win with consistency.  They are in first place because other teams have not played well.  This is a mediocre team that cannot execute the little things with any consistency.  Teams like that do not win.  And unless this teams plays better, they won't either.  I'm not holding my breath.