Back then is when I first used the term “death spiral”. I also referred to “circling the drain” quite often. We did predict that collapse. No reinforcements were added at the end of August that year and like this season, 2011 Sox had no competent starters. They just needed to win 6 or 7 games that September, but they lost day after day and the losses were obvious by the 3rd or 4th inning each night. It was excruciating. This season will be less painful, because we probably will spiral out of contention before Labor Day.