Watching the Red Sox during the run-up to their big flop has been a frustrating experience. What can explain how such a thing could have happened?

• Too much and too often making such a sideshow about Big Papi’s retirement. Such repeated hoopla disrupts the team’s preparation for the job at hand. Many games did not start on time because of these ceremonies.

• Manager John Farrell and the team ownership should have been in control of this process and been aware of the negative aspects involved.

• Professional sports teams’ focus should be on readying the team for a productive postseason. This team lost complete focus in the last six games of the regular season, getting swept by the lowly Yankees, playing nonchalantly and losing two of three against Toronto, who kept their eye on the target.

Teams that remain in contention are maintaining their focus on the goal and have not been distracted and/or lulled into an overconfident and blasé attitude.

Congratulations to the Indians and Blue Jays for their attention to the job at hand. Sox fans deserved a more focused effort during the playoff season.

Larry Jensen

Scarborough