BOSTON (CBS) - No question about it, this has not been a happy time to be a Red Sox fan.

Listen to Jon's commentary:

As recently as a month ago, the team looked like they were on cruise control for an excellent shot at yet another World Series title, their third in seven years.

But since then, catastrophe.

Not just way too many losses, but horrible losses, fueled by wretched fielding, consistently inept pitching, and an endless parade of runners left on base.

Like last night.

It's been bad, there's no sugar-coating it.

But today, I am the voice of optimism - for a change.

Red Sox fans should relax, at least, as much as humanly possible.

Baseball is a streaky game, and it is not unusual for a championship-winning streak to only begin after the regular season ends.

In fact, in nine of the last 13 seasons, a wild card team has made it to the World Series; on four occasions, that team has won it all, including the 2004 Red Sox.

Truly morbid Red Sox fans are indulging in remembrances of legendary flops of the past, but they forget that those sad stories were often preceded by impressive winning streaks.

After a horrible August swoon in 1978, the Sox won their last eight in a row to force the infamous playoff game with the Yankees.

The 1972 Sox had several impressive winning streaks before dropping three of their last five to lose the division by a half game.

All I'm saying is, the best, hottest teams in the regular season, even at the end of the season, don't necessarily wind up winning it all.

And teams that squeak into the playoffs can suddenly ignite.

So you can wallow in angst for the next week as the wild-card race concludes and erode your stomach lining, or you can join me in thinking positive, rooting hard, and hoping for the best, secure in the knowledge that as bad as things have been, they can turn on a dime.

Your call.

But I can guarantee you that if you try it my way, we'll extract a lot more enjoyment from these final games than those who don't.

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.