Littlefield On Sports: Sox Fans Fear The SI Jinx

03:58

March 30, 2011

The Red Sox' Clay Buchholz pitches in a spring game against the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP)

As if anyone in Boston needed the reminder, opening day for the Red Sox is just two days away. It used to be that Sox fans would start the season fearing the curse of the Bambino. This year, Boston has the Sports Illustrated jinx to worry about.

The magazine has picked the Sox to win the world series. That might sound like good news, until you consider the fact that Sports Illustrated has been wrong every year since 2000. Even worse, just one of its picks even made the series, while five managed to miss the playoffs altogether.

Should Red Sox fans be afraid of the Sports Illustrated jinx? Bill Littlefield, host of WBUR's Only A Game stopped by Radio Boston and offered this perspective:

"I don't think they should worry at all ... They've spent a huge amount of money up there in the front office. They've acquired all sorts of marvelously talented people. They're one of the few teams with a backup closer right now. What could possibly go wrong? So they'll finish fifth."

Guest:

Bill Littlefield, host, WBUR's Only A Game

This segment aired on March 30, 2011.