By Sean McAdam
CSNNE.com Red Sox InsiderFollow @sean_mcadam
NEW YORK -- Crisis? What crisis?
After the Red Sox lost for the third straight time, the sixth time in their last seven games, the eighth time in their last 10, and 13th time in their last 17 games, there was no indication of panic in the visitor's clubhouse at Yankee Stadium.
To the contrary, a few Red Sox players couldn't figure out why anyone would be concerned.
"We've got a two-game lead in the wild card right now,'' said Adrian Gonzalez before the Rays edged Toronto to pull within a game and a half of Boston. "I think when we get into the playoffs, whoever we play better watch out because we're going go in
being the underdog, especially the way we've been playing this month.
"We've got nothing to lose right now.''
Let's assume that the last part of Gonzalez's remarks were meant to be applied to the team in the post-season. Because right now, the Red Sox have plenty to lose -- including the American League wild card spot, their only entry to the post-season.
What was once a nine-game has been condensed to just 1 12 games. The Red Sox are assured of nothing, since they can't figure out how to win a game.
Boston Red Sox
Every time their magic number has been reduced since Monday, it's been because somebody else -- Tampa Bay, Los Angeles of Anaheim or both -- lost.
Gonzalez, in particular, seemed puzzled by the line of questioning from reporters.
"We're two games up with five games to go, four for the other teams,'' he said. "The odds are in our favor. We're not playing good baseball, but at the same time, we can come out (Sunday) and win two games and pretty much be a lock to be in the playoffs.''
Gonzalez's math is good. A doubleheader sweep Sunday would reduced the magic number to two, pending the outcome of Tampa Bay's game Sunday. The Sox would then have three games left to either win twice or win once and be helped by one more Rays' loss.
But what are the chances that the Red Sox, who have needed 10 tries to win their last two games, could win twice in the same day?
"All these things could turn in a matter of -- what is it -- 12, 15 hours?'' asked Gonzalez.
To Gonzalez's way of thinking, the Red Sox free-fall in September is merely a team going through a bad stretch.
"Teams go through bad stretches,'' he said. "The last time we went through this, we came out of it and we were the best team for two or three months. When we come out of this, we're going to be the best team and that's why I like our chances going into the playoffs.''
Reminded that the team had shown no signs of turning around after six losses in the last seven, Gonzalez cut off the line of questioning.
"We lost (10 of 12) at the start of the season,'' he said. "What's the difference? It flipped pretty quickly then, didn't it.''
Indeed it did. And when the Sox came stumbling out of the gate with their poor 2-10 start, Gonzalez was a calming influence, pointing out that he was confident the team would be in the middle of the playoff race in September.
And, so they are. But whereas the team had 150 games left following the 2-10 start, now there are only five. In the last two weeks, the Red Sox have looked like a car running out of fuel, sputtering, lurching toward the finish line, a race against themselves and time.
Perhaps if the Red Sox get to the post-season, they will indeed be a loose bunch, given a fresh start and playing without expectations.
But they have to get there first and that's hardly a certainty even if the math is (slightly) in their favor.
Gonzalez regards clinching a playoff spot as a matter of ''when.''
But for nearly everyone else who has watched his team cough up a comfortable lead and shown no inclination of reversing the slide, the whole proposition has much more of an "if'' feel to it.
Sean McAdam can be reached at smcadam@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Sean on Twitter at http:twitter.comsean_mcadam