The Postseason Gold Standard

As the Chicago Cubs were about to be whacked by the LA Dodgers at Wrigley Field last night, I heard Dennis Eckersley, who is doing the TBS analysis in the studio with Ernie Johnson and Cal Ripken, bring up a subject that is near and dear to my heart, and the heart of every Red Sox fan out there.

He brought up the fact the Cubs are now in an 0-2 hole, and they must now look to the 2004 Red Sox, the only team to come back from an 0-3 playoff deficit to win a postseason series, for inspiration. (The Cubs have no room for error now, as the next loss eliminates them.) There was also a mention that the Red Sox have come back from 0-2 in the ALDS twice (against the Indians in 1999 and the A's in 2003), and some passing mention about the Yankees doing it in 2001 (the only team to lose the first two at home, which the Cubs just accomplished).

I NEVER get tired of the fact that whenever a team falls into a serious postseason hole in baseball (or hockey or basketball for that matter), the example of the 2004 Red Sox is always at the ready. It's the ancillary benefit of what the boys from Boston pulled off four years ago.

It will be mentioned from now until the end of my life, and beyond that. Their amazing comeback will grow in stature as the years pass. Just watch.

And the Yankees will also be mentioned in the same breath, and it will always be negative for them.

Too sweet.