Has this been a much-maligned spring or what?

It is a sad story indeed when the Olde Towne’s most beloved team, the Boston Red Sox, has played second rate ball and the two teams that have the richest playoff histories, the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics, are destined to be teeing off on a regular basis by the end of April?

NFL draft talk is the hot topic du jour. The favorite subject of water cooler chatters and bar room regulars is whether the New England Patriots will gamble and select injured Miami Hurricane running back Willis Magahee with an early round draft pick.

Of course, there are Chicken Littles out there that want to dwell on the recent pathetic showings of the Bruins against the New Jersey Devils and/or the lack luster performances of the Celtics, who are currently slated to play the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the NBA playoffs. And what about the unstable state of the current Red Sox relievers, the infamous “bullpen-by-committee”? Pedro Martinez’s worst starting performance of his career will do nothing to alleviate the fears of Sox fans.

Hey, whattayagonnado?

The Bruins and Celtics are what they are: mediocre squads that are just good enough to make bloated playoff systems. If one looks objectively at the elite teams of both leagues, then it should become apparent that the two winter teams have no, I repeat, no shot of making any significant progress in the playoffs.

The Red Sox are in a slightly different scenario. The team has some serious offensive pop and that will lead to a fair amount of victories. Martinez and number two starter Derek Lowe will have solid seasons and the remaining pitchers should play well enough to allow the team to have a sniff of the postseason. Plus, the ownership may allow the youthful GM Theo Epstein to wheel and deal for some depth by mid-summer. So, it’s all good.

Boston sports fans should not be lined up to jump off the Tobin Bridge or the newly opened Zakim Bridge. The city should not be aching for a championship; after all, the Patriots delivered one a little more than a year ago.

Buck up, me hearties. The Bruins and Celtics may not be producing the fond playoff memories of yesteryear, and the Red Sox may or may not be playing fall ball, but the sky is definitely not falling. Besides, after the wacky winter that we’ve just experienced, it should be enough that we’re finally headed to some warmer days. Our local sports teams will do what they’ll do and be what they’ll be.