Sox’ biggest loss is their credibility

Fans historically have been resilient. New Englanders have had a deep feeling for baseball, the generational linkage that is played up so often, and, since 1967, the ballpark itself. The Red Sox assumed they would parlay all that into a joyous celebration of the “lyric little bandbox of a ballpark,’’ and they very well might do just that.

A frigid, snowy winter is a conceivable ally. In such an event, baseball would be a welcome concept once March rolls around. People might be willing to tap into the usual emotions and welcome back a sport that has been important here for more than 140 years and a team to whom fans have had an allegiance since it came into being in 1901, immediately outdrawing a National League team that had been quite dominant in the 1890s.

But will people simply hit the mental “delete’’ button after what they have just experienced? Why would someone invest emotionally in the 2012 Boston Red Sox, and never mind the financial aspect?

Don’t the Three Amigos have some ’splainin’ to do?

Over and above accounting for the one homer and eight RBIs during the final month, shouldn’t David Ortiz apologize to everyone for that shameful demonstration of selfishness, when he burst into Terry Francona’s pregame media briefing to moan about being deprived of an RBI by a scorer’s decision the night before?

Shouldn’t Kevin Youkilis take out a full-page ad containing a mea culpa to newly minted Comeback Player of the Year Jacoby Ellsbury for doubting his grit after Ellsbury broke ribs in 2010?

We are told that the center fielder was not exactly Mr. Congeniality among his clubhouse mates this past season. Who could blame him after what he went through the year before? He played in a fury, demonstrating his immense talent and peaking with a fabulous performance in the final weeks. Had Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, and John Lackey performed even 50 percent as well, one of them might be on the mound for an ALCS Game 6 tomorrow.

Fans understand that somebody has to win and somebody has to lose. No one - not even followers of the star-crossed Cubbies - understands that any better than a Red Sox fan who lived through such heartbreaks as 1946, 1949, 1967, 1975, 1978, 1986, and 2003 before being rewarded with the glorious events of 2004.