Romney, GOP leadership, urge Redsocks to get out of race

TAMPA _ Leading Republicans today called for the Boston Redsocks to abandon the AL East race immediately, saying the team's continued efforts to win games only hurts its chance of victory next year.

"We had at least a Wild Card, but now we have nothing," an embittered Karl Rove told NESN Saturday. "They need to get out of the race now and let someone else represent Boston."

Rove suggested that a team headed by Curt Schilling and Jason Varitek be reformed under the Boston banner.

"The fans would instantly recognize those names," Rove said. "Anything beats what we have."

Boston has suffered since early May, when manager Bobby Valentine suggested that every at bat by LF Carl Crawford was "a legitimate rape" of his $17 million contract.