Keller @ Large: How Red Sox Teach Us About Life

BOSTON (CBS) - It's the All-Star break for baseball, a good time to take stock of our local team and what they're teaching us about life this summer, whether they know it or not.

Obviously, one clear lesson of this season so far is that the good times only roll so far before the bad times take over.

Last year, everything that could go right for the Boston Red Sox did go right, and almost nothing went wrong. So far this year, what hasn't broken up has broken down.

This reversal shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone with life experience. While annoying to those of us who hoped for another year of glory, it has been reassuring in a way to learn that the deep-seated pessimism and resulting venom of many Sox fans is still latent, evident this year in angry calls for such dubious moves as trading David Ortiz and firing John Farrell. Good to know that with all the success of the last decade, we haven't lost our knack for self-loathing.

But I see my Red Sox coffee mug half-full, not half-empty.

We are still in it as long as we have good pitching. We are wisely playing the kids, a move that makes the rest of the season interesting even if we fail.

And above all else is the growing legend of Brock Holt, a once-injured nobody from nowhere who is becoming a big story because in an era of superstar worship and player specialization, he is a no-name who plays every position and does it well. And he has what may be the most onomatopoetic name in baseball.

So to anxious Sox fans everywhere I say, relax and enjoy the rest of the ride.

After all, Brock Holt is doing the driving.

Listen to Jon's commentary:

 

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.

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