NO NEED FOR ALARM
By Steve Marsi
"You still bet that you can harm me, but you won’t alarm me."
– Del the Funky Homosapien, "No Need For Alarm"
How quickly things change. The level of fan hysteria reached a season high Friday night after Boston’s victory over New York cut the Yankees’ lead in the American League East to 2.5 games, but three successive defeats (two to the Yankees and one to the Orioles) completely changed the landscape. With last night’s dramatic win over Baltimore, the region is surely looking up again. Whenever I think the fickleness of my fellow Sox followers has peaked, they prove me wrong. Yes, the Yankees (95-66) caused serious harm to Boston’s hopes for a division title last weekend, but Sox fans need not be alarmed because the bigger picture is still bright.
The Red Sox (90-60) have played terrific baseball since late July, transforming from mediocre underachievers to pennant contenders in two months. The battle may be lost, but the war rages on. Don’t panic, this bunch is here to stay. Here are seven reasons to be confident in Boston’s World Series aspirations:
The Single
Boston’s lead of 4.5 games in the Wild Card standings may not convey a sense of urgency, but last night’s game-winning hit by Mark Bellhorn was crucial. Thanks to eight shutout innings and 14 strikeouts by Curt Schilling, the Sox were one strike away from a 1-0 victory in the top of the ninth until Keith Foulke surrendered a two-run bomb to Javy Lopez. Forunately for Boston, Bellhorn salvaged the night with a two-out, two-run single to center that gave the Red Sox a much-needed victory. A clutch walk-off win can be instrumental in lifting team morale, particularly if it ends a three-game skid.
The Catch
The Red Sox lost two of three against New York, but Friday night at Yankee Stadium, Boston reaffirmed that it can handle "The Sandman," a.k.a. indomitable closer Mariano Rivera, scoring two runs off him in the ninth for a comeback win. But the biggest highlight by far was a defensive play from an unlikely source. In the sixth, Manny Ramirez turned in a play destined for the highlight reel with an immaculately timed, full-extension snare atop the left field wall to rob Miguel Cairo of a home run. It was one of the finest defensive plays you will see from anyone, let alone the enigmatic Boston slugger, and it kept the Sox within a run in a game they went on to win, 3-2. Were it not for the Jim Edmonds-like effort by Manny, a Yankee sweep would have been distinctly possible.
The Rundown
Monday night marked the worst Rundown performance since The Rock in last winter’s action flick of the same name. When was the last time you saw a runner on third base mistakenly think the bases are loaded and trot home after a batter walks with men on second and third? That’s what Baltimore’s Melvin Mora did before realizing his mistake halfway to the plate, but even more amazingly, he was rewarded when the Red Sox infielders collaborated to let him score. A longer description of events is not worth the effort. It’s true that such displays are usually reserved for Little League, but we should cut the guys some slack for this fluke. Clearly, they were stunned by Mora’s stupidity and unable to think straight. It’s understandable, and with this debacle out of the way it is unlikely happen again. Overall, team is playing great defense, which can make all the difference in low-scoring postseason affairs.
The Depth
Boston’s deep bench provides Terry Francona with a luxury few other contenders enjoy, especially in October as teams attempt to squeeze every ounce of energy from their roster to muster an advantage whenever possible. Pokey Reese and Doug Mientkewicz are Gold Glove winners at second and first base, respectively, ideal for use as defensive replacements in the late innings when the team is ahead. Right fielder Trot Nixon, a playoff standout last fall, has seen limited time this season but figures to be available more frequently down the stretch. Dave Roberts is superb as a pinch runner and reserve outfielder. The bullpen could also receive a huge boost if Scott Williamson can stay active. The righthander, who served as the team’s closer during the playoffs in 2003 and has looked sharp when healthy, is currently being eased into active duty. With all hands on deck in the postseason, Boston is a legitimate threat.
The Rotation
The Boston pitching staff has been in shambles over the past few days. Derek Lowe’s meltdown Saturday was a sight to behold, Martinez was knocked around the next day, and Tim Wakefield looked lost Monday, much like his previous few starts. Bronson Arroyo surprisingly looks like the team’s most consistent option after Schilling and Martinez. The Red Sox would love for all five to be pitching well as October nears, but the good news is that they can work around problems. Five-man rotations exist to keep the staff fresh for 162 games, but the playoff environment necessitates busting out the big guns early and often. Thus, the rotations shorten. A great example is the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks team that ended the Yankees’ championship run. To an extent that no team would consider during the regular season, Arizona relied almost exclusively on Schilling and Randy Johnson, with the pair sharing the World Series MVP award. The struggling starters can be exiled to relief roles if needed, or at the very least limited to starting games in which Boston is not facing elimination.
The Home Field
An A.L. East title would give the Red Sox home field advantage throughout the playoffs, a huge boost considering how they thrive at Fenway Park. Yet failing to secure the division crown and home field is not a matter of life and death. The last two World Series winners were Wild Card teams, and the visiting team took five of the seven postseason series last season, including Boston’s ALDS win over Oakland. Red Sox playoff success in 2004 will hinge upon starting pitching, situational hitting and not giving outs away in the field. Oakland (87-60) and Minnesota (88-60) are both formidable squads, but Boston can compete with either one regardless of who controls home field. Despite their highly-regarded pitching staff, the A’s have beaten the Red Sox only once in nine tries this year. The Twins have been winning in a similar fashion to Boston – combining pitching, speed and defense – only with a less potent batting order.
The Hair
The 2004 campaign has been turbulent and defined by change, but one secret weapon remains a constant – the team’s hair growth. As predicted, Boston is establishing a new benchmark for collective follicle output by one team. Meanwhile, 200 miles down I-95, George Steinbrenner’s Yankees adhere to their "dress code" prohibiting long hair and facial hair growth. My theory is that Boston’s team-wide aversion to scissors is rooted in a desire to become the antithesis of the hated Yankees (although you could argue that for the past 85 years, they have already achieved this). Regardless, their appearance may come in handy next month in creating simple distractions or causing opponents to collapse in hysterical laughter during key moments.
Here’s an easy quiz for diehards – match the player with his distinct style:
Player ’Dos:
1) Johnny Damon
2) Mark Bellhorn
3) David Ortiz
4) Trot Nixon
5) Bronson Arroyo
6) Pedro Martinez
7) Manny Ramirez
a) hockey hair
b) jheri curl
c) mohawk
d) cornrows
e) unruly, often-braided mop
f) Cro-Magnon man
g) strange, neither-beard-nor-sideburns facial growth
Answers: 1-f, 2-a, 3-g, 4-c, 5-d, 6-b, 7-e
