Sweeney: This is an engraved invitation - get on the Revs' bandwagon now

Over the last two-and-a-half months, the Revolution have gone on a rather amazing run. You've read about it here, of course. You may have tuned in on match day, if only to sate a tiny bit of curiosity. You've noticed they are playing more free, taking advantage of space, and the goals -- oh thank you Lord, the goals; six straight without an answer from the opposition -- are filling the onion bag with regularity.

They are playing a brand of soccer -- an exciting brand of soccer -- that wasn't apparent to anyone before May 8. In fact, since that day, the Revs haven't lost a game in the league, which is now at 10 straight following Sunday's 2-0 win over FC Cincinnati, and they have gone 11 out of the last 12 in both the league and US Open Cup unbeaten. The last time they did that was five years ago, during their run to the MLS Cup Final.

They are, without a doubt, The Hottest Team In Boston — something that has nothing to do with the heat index.

So that leads me to ask: are you — especially you over there in the corner — getting on board the Revolution bandwagon?

Sure, I know what you’re going to say. You don’t really like soccer outside of every four years in the World Cup, or you turn your nose down on it entirely. That’s fair, and totally your prerogative. I respect that.

But let’s explain a few things: You really don't have an entertaining team to watch right now. The Celtics and Bruins are in hibernation. They won't play meaningful games again until October and November.

The Red Sox? Yeah, they are 11 games out in the division, three games out of a wild card spot… but they barely got a hit in Baltimore Sunday. There’s rumors of Jose Abreu — Great! Fantastic! Can he pitch? — coming to the Back Bay Fens. And Eck-Price II is a snoozefest.

And yes, the Patriots are back to work this week, getting ready to attack Banner No. 7, and there will be plenty for Bedahhhd to dissect with punt hang times and TB12 connecting with JE11 and discussions about when Sony Michel will be able to carry the ball again. But there will be days off, there will be an early-season meaningless loss, and there will be plenty of time for the Pats to get hot -- like always — after the Revolution season is completed in October, and maybe even early November.

Right now, the Revolution are the winningest active team in our neighborhood. They are a Boston team that is in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt, sitting seventh at the moment, above the line. If the season ended today, they’d be in, playing at Atlanta United and its House of Horrors. There’s still more work to do, though. 12 more games at the minimum, 16 at the maximum if they make the run all the way to the MLS Cup Final. There's going to be a tough patch coming up, with West leaders LAFC coming to Foxborough on Aug. 3, but with the way they are surging, there’s no way this team stays seventh. There's no way this team doesn't get a postseason game.

Now, the big question: Does this team win MLS Cup? I don’t think so — at least not this season. Maybe, maybe not. I think they are a few pieces away, including a third designated player, to get that particular job done, to add to the wonderful accomplishments of all our teams. Not winning this year's not an excuse to stop following this team, or jumping on and supporting them; did you stop following the Sox after yesterday? Of course you didn't.

But like I said, they are starting to play an exciting brand of football. They aren't the doormats everyone thought they were in the first two-plus months of the 2019 campaign. If they get to fifth place or better in the East,  there’s the potential to play continental soccer next season thanks to the expansion of the new Leagues Cup (top four teams in each conference who don't make the CONCACAF Champions League gets into the Leagues Cup and plays against Mexican sides).

MLS Cup may be a year away, maybe two — but if you’re not already on the Revs bandwagon, the time is now to get on. The club is winning again, and there is room for them in your sports-loving heart. In a perfect world, you could sit in the Fens, watching the Sox — with Brad Feldman and Paul Mariner in your ear for two hours. You can do that this Saturday during the tail end of the Sox-Yanks' marathon. Try it.

And that works the same in reverse, too: you can go to Gillette and have Joe Castiglione in your ear, listening to the Sox.

Seriously… the time is now. Get on the bandwagon, lift your scarf high. You're not going to want to miss it.