Tensions are running high heading into this weekend series with the New York Yankees. So high, in fact, that no clubhouse has been under such pressure to win a series than these players are this weekend. And while you may think that’s quite the exaggeration, remember that these Red Sox, multiple times in sole possession of the American League East lead, not only saw their division title lost to the hands of the hated Yankees, but also have allowed a wild card lead of 9 games at the start of the month dwindle to only 2 games. To put this into perspective, no team in the league’s history has ever (EVER!) blew a bigger league so late into the season. So when I say the pressure is on, I mean it.

It’s gotten so bad that die hard Sox fans were actually hoping for a Yanks series sweep against the Tampa Bay Rays earlier in the week, and so bad that when the games come on it’s hard to stomach watching them. So bad, even, that when Russell Martin, a first year Yankee with no history with the Red Sox states that he “hates the Red Sox” and will do anything to keep them from making the playoffs, the truth is that at this point he could probably go 50 for 50 in this series and still not do as much damage to the Sox as they’ll end up finding a way to do to themselves.

It wouldn’t surprise me to know that Sportscenter’s New England ratings have tanked in the last week, with most fans afraid to even catch the replays. And while there’s plenty of blame to spread around, for the pathetic display of September, its mostly been the pitching.

The entirety of the Red Sox starting rotation has an ERA above 6.00 for the entire month of September, the entire month! It’s gotten to the point that even as I was writing about the one saving grace of the past month, Jonathan Papelbon’s stellar performances, he up and blows a lead to the Orioles, costing the Sox the game. It’s gotten to so bad that John Lackey will officially go down as the worst Red Sox starter in history. And that’s not just my disappointment in him talking.

No Red Sox pitcher has ever had an ERA above 6.00 to finish a season pitching over 150 innings, so congratulations at being a colossal waste of money, Mr. Lackey, well done. But of course, he’s not the only one to blame, he’s simply following the remarkable example set by all of the other makeshift starters that the Sox have been throwing out there over the last month.

Over the course of the past month it’s been made quite clear that these Red Sox might want to get into the playoffs, they may even be losing sleep over the fact that they can’t seem to get a string of wins together, losing 16 or the last 21. They may be tearing their own hair out in stress for all we know, but the results will speak for themselves. If the Sox can’t find a way to salvage this season, it won’t only go down as the worst season in Sox history, but the worst collapse in league history.

So get it together guys! Sox fans don’t want you tanking what was a once-promising season because once we’re in the playoffs, all bets are off! The slate’s wiped clean and everybody starts over, some with a huge chip on their shoulder looking to get back at punks like Russell Martin. So just be sure to get there and make everybody remember that 100 win team that was supposed to be.