Red Sox Vs Yankees: Today's Game a Make or Break For Boston's Season

Last night's game in New York was painful to watch for members of "The Nation" as the once prolific Boston offense was held in check by another big time Yankees starting pitcher: Dustin Moseley.

This should come as no surprise to Red Sox fans. I mean, why shouldn't a guy with a career ERA over five and a career 114 strikeouts shut down the second highest payroll in baseball?

Moseley does have some talent, he was a sandwich first rounder 10 years ago. However, the lack of enthusiasm and camaraderie on this Red Sox team has forced them into an unfamiliar situation: win or start thinking about how to fix an uninspiring roster for next year.

The last two games really could not have set up better for Boston. The day after a big three-run victory cut the division lead to five games, New York's new punching bag, Lance Berkman, had struck A-Rod in the leg during batting practice, leaving him out of the lineup Saturday. That set things up for new ace Clay Buchholz to bring home another win against a depleted Yankees lineup, cutting the division lead even more. It was not to be, however, as C.C. Sabathia proved his worth and surrendered just two runs over an increasingly dominant eight innings pitched.

Despite this loss, Boston's goal to win the series was still a very real possibility, especially after the news of Yankees starter A.J. Burnett being scratched from Sunday's game. That forced the hand of Yankees manager Joe Girardi to push the little-known Mosely up one day to pitch against Sox veteran Josh Beckett. The Red Sox hitters looked uninterested in even trying to hit what was seemingly mediocre stuff. Many of them, most notably David Ortiz, looked like they thought so little of Mosely to even try.

Now, a dejected and unemotional Red Sox squad needs to somehow pull out a victory against Yankees All-Star Phil Hughes to avoid what would likely be a season-breaking loss to New York.

In the past, this task would be one for the team to rise up to and conquer. Those Red Sox teams seem to dead and gone, though. This team lacks the fire of the 2007 World Championship roster and can't hold a candle to the 2004 team in terms of heart.

A loss today would confirm what many of "Red Sox Nation" have believed for most of the year: this team doesn't care enough. Injuries aside, the lack of emotion on this team has been staggering. How can a team with Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, and Ortiz be as lifeless as Keanu Reeves' next role?

The last legs of a forgettable 2010 season rest on the left arm of Jon Lester, and with the two or three runs of support he is likely to receive, that arm needs to be sharper than ever.