Surprise! The Red Sox are good!

"Brilliance thus far of Beckett, Schilling make Boston contender again."

Tony Demarco may not be responsible for the subheader, but if the Red Sox are contenders "again," then they'd have had to be non-contenders for some period of time.

That's how "again" works.

First, you were a contender. Then, you were not a contender. Now, you're a contender again.

It's like when you're rejuvenated. First, you're juvenated. Then, you're not juvenated. Then, you're juvenated again. Re-juvenated.


The Red Sox have won 90+ games four seasons in a row. The Red Sox have made the playoffs three years in a row. The Red Sox won the World Series two seasons ago. the Red Sox tied the Yankees last seasons with 95 wins.

Maybe Tony Demarco wrote this article in 1988 and missed his deadline.


"And — surprise — it is these changed Sox who are enjoying the better first month of the season."

As documented above, it's hardly a "surprise" if the Red Sox are good.

Also, look at the standings. The Yankees are in first place as the first month of the season comes to an end.

It's only percentage points, as both teams are three games over .500. But 14-11 is not "better" than 13-10.