The World Series: the Good, the Bad, and the Despicable

It is rare that on one night we get to see both what is good and what is bad in baseball.  As millions sat in front of their TVs watching the Red Sox on the verge of a second World Series title in 4 years, led by a valiant pitching effort from cancer survivor Jon Lester and supported by a loveable cast of characters — veterans and rookies alike — it could be said that all was right in the baseball world.  The right team was on the verge of winning the World Series — they were the best in baseball all year, and they showed it until the final out of last night’s game.  

And while I waxing poetic about all that was good and loveable about baseball, FOX cut to a special announcement from Ken Rosenthal on the field:  Alex Rodriquez was opting out of his contract with the Yankees.   Did A-Rod not realize that there was a World Series going on?  I know the man has never played in one, but are you seriously telling me that he and Bor-Ass couldn’t have waited one more day?  This player and this agent are what is bad about baseball.  Isn’t this a team sport?  Shouldn’t the glory and attention go to those who succeed and are able to call themselves champions?  Why must baseball fans be forced to pay attention to the every move of A-Rod during a game in which he has absolutely no part? 

I have to believe that A-Rod is a complete creep, and the biggest egomanic in all of sports (and I’m not alone).   Look at me, I am even talking about it, instead of gloating, which I would much rather be doing.  Forget the bad:  A-Rod is despicable, and I hope the Red Sox are smart enough to stay out of his crazy bidding war.  Our team works, our team wins, and the last thing the Sox need is to disrupt their mojo with a cancer in organization.  And that’s what this man is. 

Let’s resign Lowell, and I can name a million reasons to.  The only upside of the whole A-Rod thing is this:  I get to hear Yankees fans say a variation on one of the following statements: 1)  “Good riddance! I never wanted him on my team anyway” or 2)  “He was never a real Yankee and we are better off without him.”  While I think both statements are actually true, hearing it come from the same people who held A-Rod out to the world as the symbol of Yankee greatness, the proof that the best players wanted to wear pinstripes, and that with A-Rod, the World Series rings would fall into their laps — well, that just makes my day.  Ha!  I didn’t want to say I told you so, but I did. 

Can you hear that?  It’s the sound of the Evil Empire crumbling.  Get your lifeboats people!  This Yankee ship is going down! 

Now, I don’t have time for a full gloating “We Won the World Series” post, but I promise, that is coming later today.

Game 1 Bloodbath: Check

If someone put a gun to my head and said: “Pick one pitcher to start a game for you, and if the team wins, you live — if the team loses, you die,” you can bet all the juice in Giambi’s locker that I am taking Josh Beckett.

AP

What can you say about Beckett? He is undoubtably the premiere pitcher in baseball right now. Hands down. He pitches big games like he was born to do it. He is clutch, he is steady, and he is absolutely ridiculous. BTW, not since 1933 has a starting pitcher in the World Series struck out the first three batters in the series. Other records from the game last night? Most extra base hits in a World Series game (Red Sox with 10), most runs scored in a series game by the 5th inning, and most runs scored total in Game 1 of a World Series (13).

PS: for everyone who was at the Kinsale last night, Andy and I had a great time. I encourage every Sox fan in NYC to check the place out. Sara, Larry, Stu, Leith, Robbie, Chuck –we wouldn’t want to watch the games anywhere else!

PPS: I love a good turncoat. Say hello to the ultimate politician (and closet “American League” fan): Rudy Giuliani!

When asked about who he was pulling for in the World Series, Mr. Yankees himself, Rudy Giuliani said that he was going for the Red Sox (surprise, he was in Boston!). I tell you, Yankee fans can’t jump ship fast enough! Yankee fans who remain are in shock.

Seriously, can you imagine Matt Damon running for office and saying that he is rooting for the Yankees in the World Series (if they ever make it again — remember this is hypothetical) just because he is in New York at the time? No freakin’ way.

On to game 2! May the blessings of the bloody sock make it another bloodbath! Or, more realistically: Go Sox.

Oh, and I remembered to post videos of the Sox celebrating, and more importantly, the now world-famous Papelbon dance sequences. Check out the page “Paps is Lord of the Dance” in my pages list on the top right of the blog under “Welcome to Red Sox Nation.”

And Away We Go

AP Photo

So, barring any annoying weather-related delays, Game 1 of the World Series kicks off tonight at Fenway.  There are a lot of predictions floating around for the Series, and of course I find the most compelling arguments ones that end with “and that’s why the Red Sox will win the World Series.”  It will certainly be an exciting one, and I can’t wait to see what Beckett does tonight. 

I am kind of sad about Wakefield being off the Sox World Series roster — but, as Francona said, it is better to not play him when he doesn’t feel good, rather than risk a long-term injury that would affect him for next year.   I hope Wakefield realizes that he is part of the reason the Sox are in the World Series. 

Great article on Francona — can’t state my love enough for Tito.

Read Bill Simmons’ article on J.D. Drew’s $14 Million Grand Slam. 

Coming soon:  complete video of both of Papelbon’s dance parties.  Priceless stuff.  

Please, please, please, please, please let the Sox win tonight. 

Red Sox Win the Pennant and Why I Am a Loser (Part 2)

AP Photo

I think that I have now adequately digested what has happened, and am able to talk about the Sox winning the American League pennant.   If this ALCS did nothing else, it certainly gave Andy a glimpse of his future, watching me decked out in Sox gear, doing my own version of the Papelbon dance, and insisting that we blast “Tessie” after the final out.  The names I was called are too embarassing to be mentioned here, but rest assured that Andy thinks I am a total and complete nutjob.  He is totally right.

What is there NOT to be excited about?  This team looks sick right now.  Pedroia, Youk, Beckett, Paps, all of them look great right now.  And Ellsbury (whom I fear expressing too much love for lest I appear as some crazy pervie-babysitter type because he looks about 14 years old), who has been tremendous.  We all have to remember that this kid is a young rookie, and was thrown into the ALCS lineup for two do-or-die games at Fenway park.  And he hit and ran and fielded and gave us that pop we needed.  And that is why he is one piece of the future Red Sox picture. 

As we look toward Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday, let’s remember a couple of things.

1) the atmosphere at Fenway will be electric, and will be enough to rattle any opposing team

2) 8 days off is a LONG time

3) If the Red Sox don’t win, I will probably do something crazy like hum showtunes to myself in the botton of a coat closet after I eat an entire case of Devil Dogs.  But let’s not go to extremes yet.

I am so excited for this  team.  I am going to try to post regularly through the World Series, but for now, here’s some things for you:

**If you haven’t checked out The Kinsale Tavern on the UES in NYC yet, you’d better.  The food and atmosphere are awesome, and they have a ton of TVs to watch the game.  When we were there for the Friday night ALCS game, they even shut off the music so we could hear the call of the game.  I hope to spend alot of World Series games there this year, and encourage anyone looking for a great sports bar to check it out.  Lots of Sox fans there.

**The Sox Celebrate.  These photo galleries from Sport Illustrated and mlb.com are so great because they include crazy pics of Paps.

**Matchups and predictions

There will be plenty of time to make fun of the Yankees in the postseason, so I will save that until after the World Series.  For now, only positive energy!

Oh, and apprently, superstition is more common than I thought.

The Red Sox Win the Pennant! The Red Sox Win the Pennant! (Alternate Title: Why I am a Loser)

I just spent an hour trying to figure out how to get “Tessie” to play on this post, and it has been a dismal failure.  Hence the last part of my post title “Why I am a Loser.”  Am still recovering from the last 24 hours.  Sooooo much to talk about tomorrow.

Seventh Heaven

So the Sox did it. Forced the indians to come back to Fenway, and then last night, forced Game 6 of the 2006 ALCS. Interesting fact: the last ALCS Game 6 that Curt Schilling pitched was a little game you all might have heard of in 2004 when you-know-who had some blood on his sock and completely stunned the Yankees. Well, last night, it was apparent that Schilling thrives on situations of great stress and importance because once again, on the brink of elimination, Schilling shut it down for the Sox. The Indians looked helpless last night — both in terms of being able to scores runs, but also in allowing runs. So far against the Red Sox, the Indians’ two aces — Sabathia and Carmona — have looked very un-Cy Young-like. But I think we know who is getting that award anyway, right? Since there is so much to cover over the last few days, I am going to write this post in list form.

1) Josh Beckett.

Hands down, Beckett is the reason the Sox are in the playoffs, and the reason that we now have a chance to go to the World Series. This guy has been INCREDIBLE. Apparently, after sealing the deal in Games 1 and 5, Beckett will also be available in the bullpen for tonight’s game. This will be the last game of the season for someone, and you know that both managers won’t let it be them (which is why Sabathia will most likely be available in relief for the Indians). What’s even more amazing about Beckett, is that he pitched an ace at the Jake, even after the Indians signed up his ex, country singer Danielle Peck, to sing the national anthem. Coincidence? I think not.

2) J.D. Drew.

I know, I know. Anyone who didn’t watch the game last night is probably thinking, what could he possibly have done to get number two on the list this morning? Suck so bad that they actually took runs away from the Red Sox? Have Boras play right field because he just wasn’t feeling it anymore? Actually went number two in the outfield? Naysayers, listen up. With one swing of the bat, J.D. Drew erased (at least some) of the disappointment and hatred he has garnered among Red Sox Nation after his first season as Trot Nixon’s (sniffle sniffle) replacement. A first inning Grand Slam by J.D. set the tone of the game, and I think David Ortiz pissed himself he was so surprised.

3) Terry Francona. 

I already have nothing but love for this man, but last night sealed the deal for me. If Nobel had a prize for “Best Replacement in Center Field to Energize a Lineup in the Postseason,” it would go to Terry Francona for putting in Jacoby Ellsbury at center instead of Coco “I Really Stink Up the Place in the Postseason” Crisp. The lineup looked alive, Jacoby had an RBI and is lightning on the basepath, and I feel like even though Terry OF COURSE WENT TO ERIC GAGNE IN THE NINTH (it was an 8-run lead, but I always imagine Gagne will find a way to change that), the Ellsbury move was pure genius. Bra-vo, Tito.

4) Anyone in the lineup who ISN’T Big Papi, Ramirez, Youkilis, or Lowell

Well done, gentlemen. You finally realized that you are allowed to hit the ball well in the postseason. I don’t care what happened before last night, Dustin, J.D., and Julio, last night erased it all for me. Keep it up! Oh, and Tek, we still need to talk, but since you are the best pitch-calling catcher in the game, and the captain, I am going to let it slide. I can’t stay mad at you, Boo.

5) Manny Ramirez.

Ah, Manny. Always being Manny. And I love it. If I didn’t know that Manny was one of most (if not the most) hardworking people in baseball, I would hate him for his casual style and seemingly lazy attitude during the game. I would resent his laid-back approach. But I don’t hate it — oh no. I love it. I love the showboating and the baggy pants and the crazy hair and dirty helmet and doo rags and everything. There was a lot of buzz about Manny’s comments a couple of days ago about how it “doesn’t matter” if the Red Sox win or lose, because there is always next season. So many people were upset by that, saying you see, he IS lazy about the game. But anyone who knows better knows this: Manny, in his own, I-am-not-the-best-public-speaker-way, was trying to take the edge off the team, who at that point were facing an early exit from the ALCS. He was trying to remind them to take game by game, and to not let the big picture intimidate them. This has been Tito’s philosophy — take it game by game — and it works. And look what happened. My only beef about Manny: if I EVER see him hit the longest single in baseball history again, I will no longer find this Manny being Manny shit funny. Run it out!

6) Rolling the Dice-K.

Yikes. When we landed Matsuzaka, did we ever imagine that we would be more than a little unsettled about him pitching the most important game of the season thus far? I agree with John Farrell, who believes that Dice-K will surprise everyone with the game of his life. This is his shot at redemption. But there is that dark little corner at the back of my mind that freaks out when I think about it and only shuts up after half a bottle of red wine. Luckily, every single Red Sox pitcher except for Schill will be available to bail Dice-K out if need be. Oh, and maybe Roger Clemens is available. No wait, he’s playing golf right now. Hee Hee.