World Series Diary: Game #1

My writings on what will hopefully be an eventual Red Sox World Championship are dedicated the memory of Victoria Snelgrove. She was the young lady killed after the Red Sox defeat of the Yankees in ALCS Game Seven by the Boston PD's excessive use of force combined with the inappropriate actions of some overly zealous fans during the celebration. May her fate remind us of the delicate balance between being fans and being responsible for our actions and their potential effects on those around us.

What a whirlwind game to say the least. Leave it to our beloved Sox to find a way to blow a five-run and a two-run lead, then have Mr. October Jr. ping a baseball off Pesky's Pole to secure the victory in game one. Not the best played game from the Sox standpoint, but if you can have a sub-par performance from Wakefield (to his defense the wind was not conducive to the knuckleball), give up nine runs, commit four errors and still win; you really can't complain.

The Cardinals offense was every bit as good as advertised. Their ability to combine power with small ball was impressive. Still, I'm confident that the Sox can play better and their superior starting pitching should help. In addition, two of the best pitchers in the St. Louis bullpen are unavailable for the duration of the series, so knocking out their starters early will continue to play an important role in the series.

The pre-game introductions did provide a nice bit of irony and possible the ultimate sign of good karma. First off, The Yaz throwing out the first pitch was great, that guy has humongous shoulders! The big karma moment however occurred as the various coaches, assistant and trainers were introduced; the great Johnny Pesky was snuck into the line to add some history to the evening. I remember thinking, "Gee, wouldn't it be ironic if the right field corner played a roll in the outcome of the game?" Sure enough, Pesky's Pole allowed the Ortiz home run to sneak inside and the Bellhorn homer to ping off the webbing. While you can never doubt that talent and solid play contributes to a championship, a little luck along the way never hurt anybody.

Another thought I had during the game was the pure terror the top of the Cardinal lineup can inspire. Is it fair that Larry Walker is batting second? Is it fair that the 2-5 hitters: Walker, Pujols, Rolen and Edmonds; are probably the most ungodly collection of pure hitting talent assembled in one lineup in quite awhile? Not to mention they all have won or are capable of being gold glove winners.

Winning Game One meant a great deal my good, clean readers. If not for injuries to Carpenter and Kline in the St. Louis bullpen, this sucker would be a genuine toss up, without them, the Cardinals pitching staff is at a noted disadvantage. Still, game one would have been the trap game. Coming off a tremendous series against the Enemy, I'm sure it was in the back of everyone's mind that a letdown was certainly possible. It was a great relief to see the Sox play well and if anything, seem a bit over excited and over aggressive.

Three wins to go!

Who's Your Grand-daddy?!

Linda and Andy have a very nice pair of seats reserved at Fenway Park for the start of the 2004 World Series on Saturday. They'll be even with first base - just above the Red Sox dugout - literally behind the team they've loyally been behind for decades. Linda says they've emptied the bank account (happily) just to be there and experience this moment in the history of the very deserving, long-suffering throngs of Red Sox Nation. They did have a little pull to get those choice seats, however. Linda is Linda Ruth Tosetti, - granddaughter of, that's right, the Babe himself. And although she could probably have aced herself a couple of nice seats Bronx house that bears the family name, Linda is - and always has been - a diehard Red Sox fan. And let me also say that she and husband Andy are warm, funny, enthusiastic and completely unassuming considering they carrying on a tradition of American royalty.

Linda generously gave me a few moments of her time on the phone from her Connecticut home - just before history was made Wednesday night in Game 7. I could have asked her a million questions - and I'm sure Linda would have indulged me deep into the night, but I wanted to let her settle in with Andy and savor the game on TV, so here are the highlights of our conversation. I'm sure we'll chat again. By the way, Linda is a fan of our site, because she understands that YankeesSuck.com is an irony - and that it's all in good fun.

Linda's mom was Dorothy Ruth (Pirone), Babe's biological daughter. He adopted another daughter, Julia (Stevens) at age 13.

Linda: "My mom was raised on the farm in Sudbury (Mass.) - and, by the way - there's no piano in the pond. That's part of the legend. I hear they're putting the place up for sale. My mom had 6 kids and I'm the baby, which is nice now, of course. I can remind my sisters how much older they are after all the teasing they gave me over the years! We all grew up in Wallingford (Connecticut)."

YS: Where you always a big baseball family?

Linda: "We followed baseball, but none of us really had an appreciation of Babe Ruth or the game, really, until we were older. My mom didn't want to call a lot of attention to who we were. It was the era of the Lindberg kidnapping and Mom worried she didn't have the money to pay a ransom. She was afraid for us - but we all learned more about baseball and our family much later."

"I learn more about my grandfather every day. Different people who knew him or had talked to him will tell me knew things he said all the time. I feel like I know him now. Babe was really ADHD - although they didn't call it that back then - and that definitely runs in the family. One of my brothers used to wake me up in the middle of the night to play with him. I was always exhausted as a kid!"

Linda comments on the "Curse:"

"We have our fun but let me make it clear that THERE IS NO CURSE! My grandfather loved Boston. You know he finished his career there with the Boston Braves. If anything, the bad feelings were brought on by Frazee, who sold him to the Yankees in the first place. But I understand the frustration of Red Sox fans -- all these years. They're feeling pressure but it's not of my grandfather's making. The "curse" is part of baseball lore - and that's fine. That makes the game exciting, and it's fun - but when people start really believing in it, then it's a self-fulfilling prophesy. Think it and it will happen. I didn't appreciate it when Pedro said he'd like to drill my grandfather in the ass. That doesn't show a lot of respect. That kind of disrespect doesn't do anything for the game."

YS: Do you think Babe would have fit in with this rag-tag bunch of self-proclaimed "idiots?"

Linda: "Yeah - well, Boston ball is NOT for the faint-hearted. You never know what this team is going to do. And they're a bunch of characters - all so different. Babe would have liked that. You know, he was a big supporter of the Negro League. There wasn't a prejudice bone in his body, but the owners of the Yankees at the time tried to shut him up, tried to control him."

YS: Do you have a favorite player on the Sox?

Linda: I just like them all. But I would have to say I like Tek - he's a little bit of a rebel, a Thurmon Munson type. I've always like Trot, too. And Damon just has something about him. You see certain pictures of him - his eyes - he's like a caged animal! And Schilling - my husband calls him the "X-factor."

YS: Who do you admire on the Yankees?

Linda: "Well, like everybody else, I guess I have to say that Jeter is something to watch. His hands are everywhere! But I don't like some of the attitudes of the players - I don't like disrespect."

"But there's some miracle baseball being played on both sides of the rivalry. The teams are both titans - there are two dynasties here. It's wonderful to watch - but there are also bad fans on both sides. I say let's just play together nicely. If people would just stop the b.s. ..."

YS: Do you know the words to "Tessie?"

Linda: No! Send them to me so I can sing along! But they had the group (the Dropkick Murphys) at one of the games - and they explained the history of the song and all. This is what I like about John Henry and Tom Werner and all the Red Sox management: they're great, good guys. Really, really nice. Whenever I see them they welcome me with big hugs - because John Henry really respects the history of the game. I knew him before he was owner here in Boston. When he got involved with the team, I knew it would be just a matter of time before it became competitive. And they want to stay at Fenway. They're adding seats, doing what they can - but they want to keep it at Fenway and I respect that."

Thanks Linda - we'll look for you and Andy at Fenway on Saturday. And save a seat for your mom, brothers and grandpa, too. I think they'll enjoy the game!

Pujols: Star on the Rise

One of the most under-the-radar hitters in baseball is Albert Pujols. Since his outstanding rookie year in 2001, he continues to get better. His lifetime numbers are as follows

629 Games, 2363 At-bats, 500 runs, 787 hits, 189 doubles, 9 triples, 160 homeruns, 504 RBI, 304 BB, 279 SO, .333 avg, .413 OBP, .624 SLG, 1.037 OPS. These are outstanding numbers for a hitter. What is even more impressive is that he is only 24 years of age.

Jose Alberto Pujols was in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. At age 16, Pujols moved to the U.S. and his family settled in the Kansas City area. After graduating high school in Missouri, he made a name for himself in Maple Woods Community College. Pujols earned a baseball scholarship, and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1999 free agent draft.

Pujols got married on New Year's Day in 2000. Because his stepdaughter, Isabella, suffers with Downs Syndrome, Pujols is a supporter for Downs Syndrome research and is involved in the Downs Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis and the national society as well.

Even though Pujols is an outstanding player, he is an even greater person. As a Red Sox fan I am rooting for the Red Sox but it will be an honor for the Sox to play against such a good guy.

World Series 2004: Meet St. Louis

Fans of the American League may not realize who the 2004 Cardinals are. The best team in baseball with a 105-57 record are dangerous in the batting order from 1-8. Here's an introduction:

1. SS Edgar Renteria - Renteria's numbers have slighty declined from since his best career year in 2003. However, Renteria is a dangerous hitter and fielder. In 2003 he hit .330, drove in 100 runs, and had 13 homeruns. He won his third Silver Slugger award, and was the starting NL shortstop in 2003 All-Star game. He also won his second consecutive Gold Glove at SS. He is a considerable threat and should be kept off the basepaths. A member of the 1997 World Series Champions Florida Marlins, he is accustomed to a playoff atmosphere.

2. RF Larry Walker - The 16-year veteran has done his job for the Cardinals after the deadline. He is a very dangerous hitter and like Renteria has won 7 Gold Gloves. He also was the NL MVP in 1997. He had 49 homeruns, 130 RBI, 33 stolen bases, and a .366 BA. He has a strong arm in right field. He is a an outstanding hitter.

3. 1B Albert Pujols - He was the MVP of the NLCS this year. He had four homeruns and 9 RBIs. In the postseason he is batting .442, 6 homeruns, and 14 RBIs. He is the third player in major league history to drive in 500 runs in his first four seasons, joining Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. He is underrated on defense and the only award he has is the 2001 Rookie of the Year. If you do not know much about Pujols, he will teach you in the World Series. Each season, Pujols is becoming better.

4. 3B Scott Rolen - Another hitter with an outstanding season, Rolen owns a lot of hardware as well: The 1997 Rookie of the Year also earned a 1998 Gold Glove, and Gold Gloves from 2000-2003. He will most likely obtain his 6th this year when he had outstanding play after play throughout the regular season into the post-season. In Rolen's breakout season, Rolen had a .314 BA, 34 homeruns and 124 RBI. A hot glove and a hot bat.

5. CF Jim Edmonds - The team is full of Gold Glovers and Edmonds is another one of them. Another breakout season for a Cardinals player, Edmonds hit .301, with 42 homeruns and 111 RBI. His honors include a 1997 Gold Glove, 1998 Gold Glove, 2000-2003 Gold Glove. Edmonds will be adding another gold glove this year as he had an outstanding defensive year. Just another scary bat in the Cardinals lineup.

6. LF Reggie Sanders - Another veteran, Sanders may be the weakest hitter in the lineup besides the pitcher. He is average defensive left fielder and he only hit 4-21 in the NLCS with no RBIs. A weathered veteran, he brings leadership to the Cardinals.

7. 2B Tony Womack - An interesting story, March 21, 2004, the Boston Red Sox traded Womack to the St. Louis Cardinals for Matt Duff. Womack gives the Cardinals a guy to put at second base. Not a big threat but he can play the game right. He gets on base, steals bases and scores runs (91 in 2004). He can steal many a base with his superior running ability.

8. C Mike Matheny - Another defensize whiz, Matheny won a Gold Glove in 2000 and 2003. He also works well with the pitching staff.

9. DH John Mabry (projected starter) - A left field and right field veteran, he lost his job when Larry Walker joined the team. Mostly used as a pinch hitter for the pitchers since then, he will most likely take up the starting DH role.

Starting Pitchers: RH Woody Williams, RH Jason Marquis, RH Matt Morris, RH Jeff Suppan. The starters are the weakest link for the St. Louis Cardinals, however their records are deceiving because of their staggering run support. The rotation was never the favorite, and the Cardinals were picked to finish 3rd in the NL Central because of it. They get the job done and hand it over to their outstanding bullpen.

Relievers: RH Jason Isringhausen, RH Julian Tavarez, LH Ray King, LH Steve Kline, RH Kiko Calero, RH Dan Haren, RH Cal Eldred. Outstanding.Their ERA was 3.01 which was the best in NL. Isringhausen had a career-best 47 saves in 54 opportunities.

Bench: UT Marlon Anderson, UT John Mabry, OF Roger Cedeno, UT Hector Luna, C Yadier Molina, OF So Taguchi. The Cardinals bench is deep, flexible and effective. Luna has played five positions. John Mabrey plays four positions. Marlon Anderson had NL-leading 17 pinch-hits. Taguchi is a defensive replacement and a outstanding bunter. Their bench is better for situational hitting in the NL, however, they are useless in the AL. Boston uses its bench for defensive replacement and speed improvements. Therefore the bench's effectiveness depends on the park in which the World Series game is being played.

Analysis:

1B- St. Louis has the advantadge. Pujols is too good of a hitter.

2B- Boston has the advantadge. Bellhorn gets on and comes up with clutch hits. Pokey Reese is avalaible for defensive replacement. Tony Womack is mainly a runner, and not much else.

SS- Boston has the advantage. Edgar Renteria's numbers have dropped down since last year and was only hitting 2 for 24 in the NLCS. Orlando Cabrera batted .379 in the ALCS with 5 RBIs.

3B- Cardinals have the advantage. Rolen is outstanding with the glove and bat. After going 0-12 in the NLDS, he hit .310 with three homers and six RBIs in the NLCS. Defensively, he is outstanding. Bill Mueller can hit and will hit. He comes up with clutch-hits and is a different player than Rolen. In Game 4 of the ALCS, Mueller hit the game-tying single off Mariano Rivera.

C-Boston has the edge. Mike Matheny is very good at defense and works well with the staff. However, Jason Varitek means more to the Red Sox. He is the leader, is a switch-hitter, has power, is a solid defensive player and is a clutch player. He hit the game-tying sacrifice fly in Game 5 of the ALCS against Mariano Rivera.

LF- Boston's edge again. Reggie Sanders is an average defender and is weak with the bat compared to Manny Ramirez. Ramirez is an MVP candidate and led the league in homeruns with 43. His slugging percentage: (.613). He batted .385 with one homerun and 7 RBIs in the first round and went 9 for 30 in the ALCS without an RBI. He is criticized for his defense, but he is an above average fielder although gets wacky sometimes.

CF- Even but favoring the Cardinals. Jim Edmonds and Johnny Damon are completely different players. Edmonds is a power hitter and a defensive gem. While Damon is a speedy leadoff hitter who has had an outstanding season. He finally broke out of his slump on Wednesday when he hit a grand slam and a 2-run homerun. To be effective, Damon will need to get on base and be able to use his speed.

RF- Cardinals have the edge. Larry Walker is a three-time NL batting champion and a former gold glove winner. He hit .241 with two homers and five RBIs in the NLCS and is batting .273 in the postseason with four homers and 8 RBIS. Even though a former gold glover, he has slowed down since being on the DL for the majority of the first half of the season. Nixon has the edge playing in Fenway, because he knows how to play angles. Nixon has made several fantastic plays in the ALCS and has the edge defensively . Walker has the edge offensively. However, I believe
offense will be more important in this series and the Cardinals will
need him.

DH- David Ortiz gets the edge handed to him. No explanation needed.

SP- Tim Wakefield, Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe gain the advantadge for the Red Sox. The Cardinals starting pitching is nothing compared to the big game pitcher Schilling is. Tim Wakefield was the likely candidate to be the ALCS MVP in 2003, however we know what happened and he did not win it. The homerun overshadowed his performance. Lowe has continued to prove he is a big game pitcher. He pitched outstanding in Game 4 and Game 7 in the ALCS and outstanding in the ALDS in 2003.

RP-Another even. The Red Sox have an outstanding bullpen with RH Keith Foulke, RH Mike Timlin, LH Alan Embree, RH Derek Lowe, LH Mike Myers, RH Curtis Leskanic. And as mentioned before, the Cardinals had the best bullpen in the NL.

Steinbrenner's To Do List

Top 10 things George Steinbrenner needs to do this morning:

10. Avoid getting tears on final paychecks while signing.

9. Break Kevin Brown's other hand.

8. Change name of TV network to "No."

7. Begin eating heart out.

6. Steal and hide all of neighbors' newspapers.

5. Finally come out.

4. Order A-Rod more Vagisil.

3. Assign blame (stay away from all mirrors).

2. Pack bag for Florida.

1. Meet with Devil. Plead for one more year on Earth.

Just Fantastic

What can be said that hasn't already been said? I won't bore you with the obvious, but some thoughts while watching the greatest sports playoff series in history:

1) In recent memory, I can't think of a more astonishing sight than the
back-to-back-to-back camera shots of Brian Cashman, Billy Crystal and Alex Rodriguez. First, the sickening look on Cashman's face as he realized his team. and possibly his job, just went down the drain. Then, a forlorn Crystal watching, stunned, from his standard perch in Yankee Stadium. I've never seen an actor that real, that upset, in a candid moment on national television before. It was shocking to the system for a comedian, of all people, to be absolutely crushed. And finally, the death stare by A Rod. He went to the wrong team.

Incidentally, A Rod was a complete nothing in the series, as was Manny. Two non-factors. You would have thought they made the least money on the team. Except, that is, for Tony Clark.

2) We all know Tony very well. Any Red Sox fan watched him play many games in a Red Sox uniform. We should know this first hand--he's a great guy. And he's a terrible baseball player. In fact, I honestly can't remember a weaker player ever starting a playoff game. And the Yankees have a payroll of 190 million dollars. Tony Clark...190 million dollars. Something is very very wrong here. Torre made a huge mistake when he decided to go with Clark over Giambi on the playoff roster. Giambi commands respect and fear. He may have struck out most at bats, but he would have drawn some walks too...he's got a good eye and he still commands fear. You never know if he's suddenly going to find his old form. Tony Clark is about the least fearsome player I've ever watched play a baseball game. Nice guy, but he never should have appeared on the roster, let alone been a guy at bat in huge situations. I blame Torre for playing him and not pinch hitting Kenny Lofton or moving Miguel Cairo to first and playing Pedro-killer Enrique Wilson in Game Five.

3) How much would you pay to see a Clemens vs. Red Sox Game Seven at Fenway? The 1999 Pedro vs. Clemens ALCS game, the best sporting event I've ever been to and may ever go to, would look like a Devil Rays regular season game in comparison.

4) Finally, did you notice Johnny Damon's reaction when he cleared the bases with grand slam? Did you notice his reaction when he ran the bases after his second homer? I bet you didn't...that's because he had no reaction. Biggest hit in his life...one of the biggest in Red Sox history...and no reaction. You've gotta love a player like that. All business. The best reaction is no reaction. Act like it's no big deal...like you knew it would happen all along. Just fantastic.

A New History

To really sum up how amazing the last week has been, here is an excerpt from "The Bronx Zoo", a book by Sparky Lyle that covers the New York championship season of 1978:

Sunday, September 10 Boston

It's very hard to believe what's going on. For the fourth game in a row, we came out and started kicking ass and scored runs and hit the ball like I couldn't believe. Today we had 18 hits. We were ahead 5 to 0 in the second inning, and there was no way they were going to beat Figgie, and Goose, who pitched the last three innings. To sit there and watch it was really something. For five years I played with the Red Sox, and I've never seen a team come in and do that to the Sox. I think we even surprised ourselves. I mean, we came into Boston loaded for bear. We'd been hoping to win three out of four, and we got 67 hits and 42 runs, and they started making errors, and our pitching was solid, and after it was over, we were almost feeling sorry for them. Almost. Before we got here their momentum had been taken away, and we completely destroyed them. In every game by the time we scored the third or fourth run, they'd be standing around in the field with their gloves off, their heads down, as if to say, "Oh, Goddamn, I hope we get a little luck and get out of this inning giving them only five runs."

What took place in the ALCS was not on par with the Boston Massacre of '78, but it was just as good, if not better, from the perspective of a Sox fan. You can draw a lot of parallels between this excerpt and Game 7. You could see Jeter begging Vasquez for an out. You could see the Yankees gasping with all the trips to the mound. You saw Damon, with no BP, still hit two homers. It was a beautiful thing.

Everyone in New England can't help but be proud of this team. They proved me wrong by beating back adversity and showing enough character to be the first team to come back from an 0-3 deficit to win a best-of-seven. Nobody wanted to miss Game 7 because we've all in some way been waiting our whole lives for it. Now if they can only make history one more time.

Pinstripe Pride: Reaction From A Yankee Fan

As Red Sox Nation flooded Yawkey Way in celebration, it would have been easy for a Yankees fan such as myself to shout profanities at the television, break something in frustration, or unleash anger toward the Red Sox, but instead by emotions were that of pride.

Sure, the Yankees lost the American League Championship Series and our shot at the Fall Classic, and yes we blew a 3-0 series lead to our arch nemesis, but the bigger picture shows that the Bronx Bomber along with their fans have nothing to hang their heads about. The Yankees won their 7th straight division titles this year, they also caused just about everyone in Las Vegas to have heart attacks on the betting tables by going up 3-0 against the Sox. But we couldn't expect it to be that easy, not with this much at stake.

Even as a die-hard Yankee fan, at times you must tip your cap to your opponent, and while I will never root for the Red Sox a day in my life, winning four straight games against any team in the playoffs is quite a feat. The Yankees simply let this one get away, and while anger may be the most prominent emotion among Yankee players and fans, I see some good coming from this.

This series loss will make the Yankees a better team in the long run, having experienced such a tough loss such as this, they will remember the tastes in their mouths. It also takes a load of pressure off of the Yankees in the future, no longer do they feel they have to beat the Sox because we've never lost to them before. That is no longer the case, and now the Yankees can simply worry about baseball and winning. Some may think this rivalry may die out a bit because Red Sox will have nothing more to wish for, or complain about, but I feel this will make it stronger now that both teams have beaten each other and have experienced both sides of the table.

So as I embark on a day in which I'm sure comments will fly my way like debris on the field in game 6, I wear my Yankees cap with pride. On the same day the Yankees will be clearing out the locker and heading south for the winter, I am more proud than ever to be a Yankees fan. Sure the weather is not always nice outside, but I go out in the rain as well as the sun. It's how you react as a fan and a player in these situations that reveal your character and loyalty to a team, I think the Yankees handled it well last night, and so have I. So the champagne will have to stay on ice until next year, but there's plenty to walk tall about, and I'll do it with my pinstripes on.

Euphoria...But Still Work to be Done

Like everyone else in America (besides Yankees fans) I am basking in the aftermath of Red Sox 10, Yankees 3 in Game 7 of a historical AL Championship Series. The best response I have to the Yankees situation: Couldn't have happened to a better group of guys. They deserve all the torment they get because now they know what it feels like to be losers. But the job is far from finished for Boston.

There are still more ghosts to exorcise this Halloween season. Boston's World Series opponent is the St. Louis Cardinals. They are also part of the so-called "Curse," beating the Red Sox in Game 7 of the World Series in 1946 and 1967. It's eerie in some ways that St. Louis is the opponent as it gives Boston a chance to slay another demon, though one not nearly as big as the Yankees. Red Sox fans across America are extremely excited about the colossal victory over the Yankees because it erases the Curse of the Bambino. Yankee fans can now put away the Babe Ruth signs forever after the choke job by the A-Rod led Yankees. But that win does not erase the Red Sox World Series "curse." In order for that to happen, Boston must win the World Series. It's ironic that they get to do it against an opponent that has had their number in the World Series in the past. Also, the Cards are the team with the second most World Championships after the Yankees with nine. The Red Sox were able to disgrace the "Evil Empire" in all its glory. Now its time for them to conquer the Empire's little cousin, though the Cards aren't nearly as evil. Red Sox Nation must pull together for one more series to make it happen. Until the World Series is won by Boston, baseball fans everywhere will continue to believe there is a curse on the Red Sox franchise. The only way to put the "1918" chants to bed forever is to win and win now. Just ask the New York Rangers of the NHL. They finally won their first Stanley cup in 54 years in 1994 and the "1940" chant disappeared from the sports vernacular forever. If only the Red Sox can win and join the Rangers in experiencing that feeling of relief of being just another baseball team trying to win. The time is now Idiots. JUST WIN and don't be satisfied with slaying the Yankee beast. Somehow, with Curt Schilling leading this rag-tag bunch I don't think they are satisfied. An entire Red Sox Nation can only hope so.

Fashion Posing As A Fan

I'm not typically one to become easily agitated about trivial things. Life is simply to short to mire oneself in the day-to-day semantics that trivializes our affairs. That said, my defenses can be broken, and in honor of the gargantuan choking sound that the city of New York is making today, it is time to unleash my forked tongue upon the most hated of quasi-Americana traditions: the Yankee Hat. A quick precursor to the coming barrage, this argument can be applied to most teams, including by beloved Sox, however, in case your coma just wore off, the Yankees just choked bigger than any baseball team in history.

Ah,the Yankee Hat. To a true Yankee fan, it is a classy and effective way to simultaneously shield your eyes from the evil rays of the sun and show your allegiance to the Bronx Bombers. This is not for you. There is an epidemic across our great land and it is the Yankee Hat. Far too many dim witted dullards dawn their New Era Officials or their pink low top variety Yankee cap not because they are fans, but because they are sheep. Sure, most can tell you that the crossed N&Y on their hat is the symbol of the Enemy, but to them it's a fashion statement or a trendy thing to do. Much like the LiveStrong Yellow Bracelets, the Yankee hat is worn by those who are trying to gain some kind of social acceptance or to prove to others that they are with the in crowd and aware of the latest and greatest trend. Phooey. Call me old school, but if you want to wear the logo and colors of a team, you damn well better have a clue about that team. I cannot tell you the number of times I've heckled a Yankee Hat wearer or chanted "Let's go Red Sox" to a Sox hat wearer, only to have the person look at me like a deer in the headlights. Get with it people! Your representing a team and a rivalry, so you'd better prepares to suffer the consequences of crossing paths with a friend or foe.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is an epidemic of epidemic proportion! Something must be done to stop these people from causing an unnecessary amount of Yankee support from encompassing our land in a darkness that may never purged! Stop the madness, we must take the streets and rise against the Evil Empire - and their hats.

Until next time, "Philosophy is a battle against the bewitchment of our intelligence by means of language." - Ludwig Wittgenstein

The Home Field Controversy

Major League Baseball may be on the brink of another controversy.

While a scintillating postseason has put on the back burner talk of steroid use among baseball's elite, people may soon be discussing again the significance of the All-Star Game deciding home field advantage in
the World Series.

The problem arises if the St. Louis Cardinals win Thursday's Game 7 of the NLCS. They were owners of baseball's best overall record (105-57) and third-best home mark (53-28). They finished behind only the New
York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox in that category. Should the Cards make it, it would mark the first time the team with the best record in baseball did not have a home field advantage in the World Series.

Some say home field advantage is overrated. After all, the Red Sox just clinched the American League pennant after taking two straight at Yankee Stadium. And the Cardinals were far from being slouches away from home, as they did almost as well on the road (52-29) as they did at Busch Stadium.

But the unfairness may arise with the Red Sox being granted a home field advantage after finishing with seven fewer wins and having a much worse road record (43-38) than home mark (55-26).

Finishing a season with a league's best record has only limited advantages now. While it provides the best of each league home field advantage through the League Championship Series, home field is now
determined by other players playing on other teams, many of whom know the outcome of the All-Star Game may have no bearing on their own team because many teams are already out of the race by the season's midpoint.

The Cardinals, should they win the NL pennant, would certainly be the beneficiaries of a home field advantage. Coming home to Busch sure must have been nice after losing three straight to the Astros at Minute Maid Park. And the Cardinals earned that right through amazing regular season play. They deserved the right to have the final two games of any series at their place.

Allowing an exhibition game, which is not managed like a playoff game, to determine who will have an advantage in the World Series is ridiculous.

Why play that hard for a full season? The current All-Star Game format, while good for TV ratings, creates an air of underachievement.

Playing 162 games is a grind. Winning 100 of those is even harder and deserves its rewards.

But tell me...Why would a team want to fight and scratch and claw to make that mark if it does not provide ANY advantage when the chips are down?

Sources: Information from MLB.com was used in this column

Bruise On The Big Apple

MANHATTAN – The City that Never Sleeps became the City That Couldn’t Speak.

Leaving New York last night, my feet 10 feet off the ground after the improbable happened, I realized I could hear a pin drop. While the occasional screaming from isolated Red Sox fans echoed through the cavernous city, there was something just a little bit eerie about the scene.

After all, there was an air of invincibility about this town. Boston fans have always had a complex with New York. The dominance of the Pinstripers is not solely responsible. New York dwarfs Beantown. The lights are brighter. The buildings are taller. And there’s something a little bit intimidating about all of that.

Leaving the Manhattan bar where I took in the game, my first instinct was to yell into the darkness, as loud as I could. And I did. Frequently. I had to. I hated the Yankees. I had suffered long enough in my 25 years. I wanted to stick it to this town and this was my opportunity. I represented all of Red Sox Nation and this was the time.

As if with blinders on, I found every Red Sox fan on my sidewalk and exchanged handshakes, and congratulations, a grin permanently affixed to my face. We did it. We finally did it.

I chose to watch the game in New York this year because I made the unfortunate decision to take in last season’s Game 7 at a Boston bar. We all know how we felt after that, but the scene in the Beantown streets was exactly how I imagined Hell. Tortured souls in the middle of dark streets, just screaming and cursing at no one in particular. Yick! I don’t think I could go through that again. And I figured that even if the Yankees won while I was in hostile territory, at least I wouldn’t have my sorrows doubled by seeing other Fenway Faithful in pain. I could just go back to my girlfriend’s Hoboken apartment and just go to bed.

About half way back to my car, I passed one of many Yankees fans along the way. He was a shop owner, and was standing on the sidewalk to take in the scene. You could tell he had been through a hard day at work, his apron and clothes covered in stains. He proudly wore his Yankees cap, the only clean article he adorned.

I didn’t say anything as I approached him. Despite my inward inclination to shove it to every New Yorker, it has become somewhat of a habit to avoid certain hard-looking characters. Let’s just say he qualified.

I must have given myself away, though. Whether it was the smile on my face or the spring in my step I don’t know, but he definitely noticed it. Neither I or my girlfriend were wearing Red Sox paraphernalia.

"I guess you finally got us", he said.

"What’s that?" I asked, surprised by his tolerable demeanor.

"I guess you finally got us", he repeated, turning and shuffling back into his shop.

"That’s right", I said to myself. "We got you. You’re done. This city has been leveled."

But as I looked around after thinking that, it really occurred to me that there were a lot more fans like that guy. People wearing their Yankees shirts and hats, but walking around in stunned silence. Despite my own frequent obnoxiousness, no one got in my face. They didn’t glare at me as I passed them. They put their heads down.

They were defeated, and something was a little bit sad about that.

No one was in the streets crying foul about the series. There was no controversy. No umpire ruling that should have gone the other way. No dirty tactics.

The Red Sox just won this one. It was unthinkable that their proud Yankees could lose to Boston in such a profound manner. They should have won. They always win. Even we knew that!

But they didn’t this time, and they knew they had to accept it. It was clear that they finally got a little taste of what it was like to be a Red Sox fan. To come so close and to have just everything go wrong.

"Why did Tony Clark’s hit have to bounce into the stands?", their looks seemed to say. "Why didn’t the Yankees bunt against Curt Schilling?"

These were not the New York fans I had come to know. Or hate. What happened to the guy in the Yankee Stadium bleachers who threatened to bludgeon me with a metal cane if the Red Sox won Game 1 of the 1999 ALCS? Where was the promise to go home in a body bag? Or to get my face rearranged for showing my Red Sox pride?

Part of me just wanted to go up to one of these deflated fans and just give ‘em a light tap on the shoulder and say "Come on, the Yankees suck. Now you go. Say ‘1918’ or something. Come on."

While I was too excited to actually do something like that, part of me really missed hearing "Who’s Your Daddy?" belted out by 55,000 people.

After all, wasn’t part of the excitement of finally beating the Yankees the thrill of the chase? Didn’t we secretly enjoy the Yankees dominance because we knew it would make it that much sweeter when we finally DID beat them?

Be honest with yourself. The Yankees success and their subsequent obnoxious fans made this rivalry. It wouldn’t be anything special to beat the Yankees when they were a terrible team. It would be like the Patriots winning their first Super Bowl against the Arizona Cardinals.

No, these were not the same Yankees fans. They weren’t extra obnoxious. They were more like, well…us. Their team was human and so were they.

For now, the Red Sox move on. Sox Nation has a lot to look forward to, and one last demon to exorcise. We have to get our vocal cords ready for the most excitement the Old Towne Team has seen in 18 years. We’ve got to finish the job.

But to the Yankees fans: Get ready for next year. You know George is going to go ballistic and heads will roll. You know you’ll get Carlos Beltran and maybe even our own Pedro Martinez. You’ll be reloaded, for sure.

And while the amount of money the Yankees can spend is obnoxious, and while I know their fans will be back to berating us with obscenities, part of me really looks forward to it.

So rest up this offseason, Yankees fans. We got you this year. The tables were turned for once.

But let’s make it another Game 7 next year. What do you say?

Go Boston!

Go Red Sox 2004! KEEP THE FAITH!!!!!

Babe Loves Boston!

Red Sox 10 Yankees 3 — Final

Boston Loves "The Babe," and the Babe loves Boston. He must be a happy man today.

Lucky Sevens

I woke up this morning in a cold sweat and the dreadful feeling of déjà vu. I sat up in bed and tried to wrap my mind around what I was feeling. Then it clicked. A year ago I was tensed up like a long unmassaged muscle. I couldn't sleep or eat; it was all too much to take. Just outs away from breaking the curse and defeating the Enemy in the ALCS, the wheels fell off. We all know the story so there is no need to reiterate, but I imagine there isn't a Red Sox fan on the planet not thinking about the last game seven as we await tonight's opus. It‚s hard not to be content with being the first team to force a game seven after going down three games to none. Any other group of fans would be ecstatic —but not the members of Red Sox Nation.

We've been here before and it feels like absolute hell. We can see the promised land just beyond the open door and we can also see an ugly, hairy little gnome
dressed in pinstripes just itching to slam the doorright in our face. Last year the gnome was named Boone and this year it's yet to take a name. Three days ago
it we thought it might be named Matsui or Rivera, now it is starting to look like a Latin midget wearing a Pedro jersey smiling happily and beckoning us to run
through the door —or maybe I just REALLY need to sleep.

There really isn't much more to say. Game seven, Red Sox v. Yankees. We've come this far; we've battled back from the brink. Why not us? Is this the year? I
BELIEVE!

A-Rod - the Real Idiot

In the 8th inning of Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS, A-Rod pulled a dirty trick. After Derek Jeter singled home Miguel Cairo to make the score 4-2 Red Sox, A-Rod hit a nubber down the right field baseline.

Bronson Arroyo came to field it and Doug Mientkiewicz went to cover the bag, blocking the view of first base umpire Randy Marsh. Arroyo fielded the ball cleanly and put the ball in his glove and made an attempt to tag A-Rod.

Arroyo, while applying the tag, suddenly saw the ball bloop out of his glove.

A-Rod raised his left hand and slapped the glove of Bronson Arroyo. Thus, causing the ball to come out of his glove. The ball went down the right field line as A-Rod clapped his hands all the way to second. Jeter scored making it 4-3.

Wait a minute, A-Rod SLAPPED THE GLOVE? INTERFERENCE!!!!!

After a 20 minute delay, in which Torre, A-Rod and Jeter complained like little girls, the classy Yankee fans threw balls and debris on the field. Francona pulled his players off the field for fear of his players being hit by a projectile of some sort.

The MLB representative called in New York finest's dressed in riot gear.

Good job fans, you just humiliated the whole city of New York on a correct call.

When the game resumed, A-Rod was called out, Jeter went back to first and the run was taken away.

Player reactions:

``I know that line belongs to me and he was coming at me,'' A-Rod said. ``Once I reached out and tried to knock the ball, the call went against me. I should have just run over him.''

``That's against the rules,'' Kevin Millar said. ``If you want to play football, strap on some pads and go play for the Green Bay Packers.''

“"What A-Rod did was extremely unprofessional... no class... it was the most unprofessional thing I've ever seen done on a baseball field... Derek Jeter would have never done that. he's too much of a professional, A-Rod's not a real Yankee anyway, he's an idiot like Barry Bonds."
-Sox warrior Curt Schilling on Jim Rome (paraphrased)

Is new Yankee Website a sign?

Check out this brand new website. Is it a sign? YanksRule.com

Signs signs, everywhere a sign… it seems everyone is talking about signs that this is the year.

Also, today is Mickey Mantle's birthday he would have been 73 today. What does that mean? Is that a sign? He was born on October 20, 1931 and died August 13, 1995. Some fans are making a big deal out of this but what does it mean?

Here's a more ominous sign. When was the last time we had an influenza pandemic? 1918. A coincidence? I think not.

So go get your flu shot. Oops, you can't. Is that a sign?

Who else was born on October 20? How about Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) and Dr. Joyce Brothers. What could this mean?

GAME 7!

The Red Sox won 4-2 today as Curt Schilling pitched 7 outstanding innings. The win forces a Game 7 for the second year in a row for Boston and New York.

This is the first time a team has come back down 3 games to 0 to even up the series. Therefore, this is the first time the team had a chance to play in a Game 7.

"Why Not Us?" — Curt Schilling

Final - Boston 4 Yankees 2

History is made!

Zen & the Art of Bullpen Maintenance

I'm not a betting man. I work hard for the money I make and I derive no joy from giving it away to a corporation that makes games for me to play with odds
rigged in their favor. If I was a betting man though, I'd be the type to study the numbers and try to make bets based on the best possible information available.
Having watched baseball and playoff baseball since I developed the cognizance to understand what exactly I was watching, I've believed in one key factor that
inevitably determined the outcome of many a series: the bullpen. Not really the bullpen itself though, the true science is in the maintenance of your bullpen.

Any stooge with a clipboard and a laptop can manage their way through an 162 game season properly assigning starting pitchers in to an effective rotation and utilizing the proper relief pitchers in the correct situations, that is not impressive.

The true art of bullpen maintenance comes through in October. Managers earn their merits finding a way to get maximum efficiency out of the exhausted and
overworked warriors that reside behind the outfield fence. Many a manager has failed the test of the postseason and been left with the stinging memory of a
singular moment when they left a pitcher in one pitch or one inning too long.

Never more important is the art of bullpen maintenance than in tonight's Game Six between the Sox and The Enemy. Three games in Boston left both teams at the brink of collapse after two extra inning marathons and one of the longest nine inning games in playoff history. There is no fresh body at either's team disposal, but proper decisions by a manager and a little bit of sac from a pitcher will make all the difference in tonight's game.

So who has the advantage? Well on pure managerial skills you've got to give the nod to Joe Torre, but last night's box score holds a nifty little bit of information. Torre took a tremendous risk and threw his ace closer Rivera for two full innings of work. He played the cards correctly, hoping Rivera could finish off the Sox. The risk failed as Rivera blew his second save on the way to the Red Sox win in Game Five. The somewhat maligned Terry Francona on the other hand did an apparent marvelous job of not overextending any one pitcher and hopefully leaving something in the gas tank for the final two games of the season. Call me
nuts, but if tonight's grudge match comes down to the wire, it's all about which Zen manager mastered the art of bullpen maintenance.

Pedro Spits The Bit

I don't know if the Red Sox can come all the way back in this series against the Yankees and reverse 86 years of frustration, but I do know one thing: and that is that lost in all the revelry of this potential Red Sox comeback is the fact that one Pedro Martinez is no longer a dominant pitcher.

Once again last night Pedro came up short when it mattered most. For the fourth straight postseason start vs. the Yankees Pedro failed to win. As far as I'm concerned Pedro can take his outrageous contract demands and leave after the season. If the Red Sox pay him the $17 Million per season he feels he deserves they are truly nuts. Let him go to the Yankees. It's been nice knowing ya. Spend the money paid to Pedro on guys like Matt Morris and Carl Pavano. Let Pedro be another in a long line of Yankee hired guns who join the Evil Empire because they can't beat them. After last night, I've seen enough. Giving up a three run triple to Derek Jeter in a 2-1 game when you say you are the ace is inexcusable. And Red Sox fans have seen that act too many times. I've had enough. Pedro tries really hard but he isn't a dominant pitcher anymore, merely a good one. But good isn't worth $17 million a year. Pedro, you've given us some great memories over the years in The Hub. We fans will never forget what you did for us vs. the Indians in '99 with your arm falling off. But the bottom line is, it's over. You aren't the difference maker when you face the Yankees and that's what it all comes down to right now. Dominant pitchers pitch 7 or 8 innings of 3 runs or less baseball in the playoffs. Even in game 2 when you did that it still wasn't vintage Pedro. You can't do it anymore and its time for both parties to move on. Thanks for the memories but these days your mouth seems bigger than your arm.

SOX FANS ARE MADE, NOT JUST BOURNE

I moved to Boston in the fall of 2001. Having lived in Somerville during the summer of 2000, I knew exactly what to expect in this city. That year the Red Sox went 85-77. Walking up to the Fenway ticket office and grabbing tickets for any remaining games between the middle of June and the time I had to return to school wasn’t even an issue. Having grown up attending San Francisco Giants games at the stadium near the park that may nor may not still be called Candlestick Point; I grew accustomed to this aspect of ticket purchasing. I had been to Fenway before, but this summer I was older and able to appreciate the subtle intricacies of baseball more.

In August of 2001 a friend and I packed up his Honda Civic and headed to Boston. After three weeks of living like Gypsies and criss-crossing this great nation, we arrive in Boston. The second night here we headed down to a Bar near Faneuil Hall. After a few beers I looked around and knew I had made the right decision for this portion of my life.

That season the Sox finished 82-79, missing the playoffs once again. I only caught the tail end of that season, but fondly remember the disasters that were Darren Oliver and Frank Castillo. I had the pleasure of seeing Rickey Henderson playing left field in 45 degree rainy weather wearing a full body thermal suit and looking like he didn’t even know where he was. That night sticks out in my mind since the Bruins lost their first round series to the Habs and crushed the hopes of hockey fans all over the Northeast. Yet sitting there in Fenway, shivering and probably contracting pneumonia I truly enjoyed myself. Granted, the field level seats helped, but I knew I would be back.

Last season was a roller coaster ride that ended in heartbreak. Considering the way things are going through Monday afternoon, I don’t want to revisit that ALCS. Let’s just say that at some point during that season the Sox got to me. I can’t pinpoint the day, the play but I was hooked. I would watch nearly every game each night. My roommate Steve seemed to be in the same boat. We would watch the games in our lavish Brighton apartment, mock players on other teams and marvel in the unbiased fashion in which Remy and Orsillo would call every game
from above home plate.

I don’t recall the day tickets went on sale this year, but the following Monday I had a doctor’s appointment in the morning. This forced me to take the 57 bus to Kenmore and hop on the Green Line headed towards downtown. The appointment was uncharacteristically quick, which left me time to check out and see what tickets were still on sale. As I arrive at Fenway there were about 50 people in line
already. It was maybe 40, slightly drizzly and just cold. I had no gloves, no hat and a thin old fleece on. Going on to work at that point was not an option. I ended up with tickets against the Yankees in April, a Saturday day game against the Dodgers and game in July against the A’s. The A’s tickets were piggy backed, since I couldn’t even get two together. I lucked out with some good games but was so panicked that tickets would sell out while I was deliberating that I didn’t even know what games I had until I got to my office.

Regardless of how things go tonight and in the rest of the games of the ALCS, it was a great season. I have never seen a team that had such character, individuality and a feeling of togetherness at the same time. I can’t really say why I decided to write this. I think it came about as I was sitting at my desk around 11 this morning. I feel like a character played by Dave Chappelle in his brilliant sketch comedy show.

The last two and a half days are like a blur and my body can’t fully deal with it. I watched the game on Saturday night in a Philadelphia sports bar. Although the city is known as the city of Brotherly Love, I ended up in a heated verbal exchange with another patron simply because he walked by and made a side comment about the Red Sox always losing. This gentleman ended up asking both my friend and I outside, which we both politely declined in a most sophisticated manner. I felt as if he were personally attacking me with his casual comment. I
couldn’t just sit by idly and let it slide. So here I am. I have already read Bill Simmons’ latest column and even read most of his chat until the overlords at ESPN switched so only "Insiders" can read the transcript. Three hours to go and I honestly have no idea what to expect. I don’t want Tony Clark, John Olerud and Ruben Sierra celebrating in this city. These players should all be bench coaches
somewhere or playing golf right now. Instead they have each had enormous impacts on various games this October. This needs to stop.

I can’t wait until tickets go on sale next year.

P.S. Spellcheck attempts to change Olerud to "overdue." Overdue is defined as "Coming or arriving after the scheduled or expected time." Coincidence? I doubt it.

Red Sox 6 Yankees 4

The Boston Red Sox, led by a 12th inning home run by David Ortiz, avoid the embarrassment of a sweep and will go on to play later today when Pedro Martinez gets a chance to face his Daddy again. Pedro will face off against Mike Mussina.

Dominated

"Revolting," "embarrassing," "humiliating," "goofy," and "nightmare," were only some of the words uttered by the broadcasters of the Red Sox third game loss to the New York Yankees in the ALCS by a score of 19-8. From the first inning on, this night belonged to the Yankees. And now I’m beginning to believe, Babe Ruth.

The Bambino’s Curse. A silly myth? A ridiculous superstition? I’m not so sure anymore. Even if the Sox had scored 10 more runs, they still would have lost, but by a far more respectable score of 19-18. Is this a sign?

Sixty-one times in Major League Baseballs long history a team has lost the first three games of seven game playoff series. No team has ever come back from that deficit.

SEASON ON LINE FOR SOX TONIGHT

No more margin for error.

The 2004 campaign that began with Aaron Boone’s walk-off home run last October has reached its first do-or-die moment. Originally scheduled for Friday, Game Three of the A.L. Championship Series at Fenway Park is now set for Saturday evening. Depending on who you ask, Friday night’s rainstorms either gave the Red Sox an extra day to recuperate, or a stay of execution. Trailing 2-0 in the best-of-seven series after two tough setbacks in the House that Ruth Built, a loss Saturday would put Boston in an essentially insurmountable 3-0 hole.

Despite entering the ALCS rematch as the Wild Card winner, the Red Sox were regarded as the favorite by many observers. They enjoyed a stronger second half of the regular season, cutting a 10.5-game lead down to two at several junctures in the A.L. East race. The Sox registered an easier Division Series victory than their New York adversaries, vanquishing Anaheim in three-game sweep while the Yankees needed a pair of impressive comebacks to oust Minnesota in four. The Yankees’ starting pitching was considered shaky at best, whereas Boston’s depth and fearsome lineup had media and fans from both cities believing that, at the very least, the 26-time World Series champs would have their work cut out this time.

How quickly things have changed since Tuesday. Mike Mussina dominated the Red Sox through almost seven innings as the Yankees jumped out to an 8-0 lead in Game One. A pride-saving rally followed, but Mariano Rivera slammed the door and preserved a 10-7 win. The following night in Game Two, the guys in pinstripes took the lead before Boston recorded a single out and rode a stellar outing by Jon Lieber to a 3-1 triumph. Just like that. A couple of supposedly promising matchups turned into relatively easy defeats in the span of 48 hours. Both contests were technically close, with the tying run at the plate in save situations, but there is no question as to which team is superior, at least so far. Nobody was robbed here.

To say things look bleak would be an understatement. Consider the following facts:

- In the first six innings of the two games combined, the Red Sox are hitting .027.
- The team is hitting .224 overall, with just one hit from Johnny Damon and Mark Bellhorn combined. That won’t lead to a lot of RBI chances for Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz.
- Boston has never led in the series, and has only been tied in the top of the first inning of each contest.
- Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez, the pitching staff’s 1-2 punch, lost successive games for the first time this season. Schilling’s season is in doubt due to a dislocated right ankle tendon.

That’s a lot to stomach, enough for many to write this team off. Clearly, Boston’s back is against the proverbial wall. But the Red Sox are by no means out of this series.

Terry Francona’s squad beat Joe Torre’s in 11 of the teams’ 19 meetings this year, and won a couple of series against the Yankees since the All-Star break. Boston rallied from 2-0 deficits to win the 1999 Division Series against Cleveland and last year’s opening round battle with Oakland. They have three games coming up at Fenway Park, where they hit .304 as a team this year. The rain delay will give the Sox an extra day of rest, and allow them to start Martinez in Game Five (if necessary) in the Fens rather than in the Bronx, where he has been owned.

As we have seen so many times in baseball postseason history, one win can change the entire complexion of a series. A victory in Game Three will rejuvenate a team and bring it back from the brink. The roving gang of hooligans that comprises the 2004 Red Sox roster is not the type of group to be intimidated or distraught by the present situation. If anything, you can bet they are looking forward to the challenge.

Perhaps the torrential rains currently drenching New England will take on baptismal qualities for the Sox. Maybe there is one last magical run in store. As my friend Lucas said earlier today, if any team is capable of beating the Yankees three straight times at home, it’s this one. Lucas added as a side note, however, that he is no longer hoping for a Boston comeback, but praying.

They say that momentum is only as good as the next day’s starting pitcher. Never have those words rang more true. Bronson Arroyo takes the hill in Game Three against Kevin Brown. Tim Wakefield will start Sunday in Game Four for Boston, as the Yankees counter with Orlando Hernandez. What happens after that is anyone’s guess.

Will Boston survive the next three games at Fenway and travel back to the Big Apple on the Fung Wah bus for Game Six? No. The Sox travel in slightly better style than the $20-round-trip Chinatown enterprise.

Where Have All The Good Times Gone?

Here we are again. After a surprising sweep of the Angels (I picked Anaheim in four), the Sox have now dug themselves into a crater size hole against the defending AL Champs. Now, to top it off, they have lost Schilling for possibly the series.

I think the thing that bothers me most are the excuses. There was zero when Schilling pitched Game 1 in the Anaheim series. There wasn’t any talk of how serious it was then. But after he threw BP to the Yankees on Tuesday, out came all the expert medical opinions and the worry. Would things of been different had he won and still been hurting? I think so.

My point is this. If a team has a goal of winning a championship, and they are focused, nothing will stand in their way. I once again use the Pats to illustrate. They have a serious focus.

Take Rodney Harrison for example. He spent some time playing for a terrible football organization, the San Diego Chargers. He got his chance to play for the Pats last year and took it. He played great all year. But I think the thing that stands out the most is the Super Bowl. Many people are aware that he broke his forearm during the game. What impresses me is that he stayed in for a couple of plays after he broke it. He proved to everyone on the team how bad he wanted it. Both Eugene Wilson and himself ended up hurt and that is how Carolina made it close. The Pats ended up winning, but I’m willing to bet that there would have been no excuses if they hadn’t. Not from anybody. You win as a team and you lose as one. Tedy Bruschi pointed out that they don’t make plays as individuals for highlights. Instead they make plays as a team to win games. 19 in a row and counting.

The whole Yankee and Red Sox thing makes for good drama. Adding the Schilling injury and Pedro under the mango tree makes it even better. But in the end, all that is left for us is a winter full of debate. 86 years and counting.

A SOX FAN SUFFERS THROUGH GAME TWO

7:51 - I enjoy a late dinner with the Lovely Liz (referred to as "LL" from this point forward). A devoted fan, she relays the news that Curt Schilling may be shut down for the remainder of the playoffs due to the torn sheath around his ankle tendons. The imagery of tendons grinding against bone, and the impact of these particular ones on Boston's championship aspirations, cause us to utter a
collective "ouch."

8:15 - Joe Buck, the FOX play-by-play announcer, declares that the Yankee Stadium crowd will be "really excited" for Game 2. Not as excited as the man
standing immediately to his left, Tim McCarver.

8:24 - Jon Lieber sets the Red Sox down in order in the first inning. My predictions of a fast Boston start are put on hold, at least for now.

8:28 - While keeping one eye on the game, LL begins reading the news online. She informs me that Britney Spears will take fiancé Kevin Federline's last name
once the two are married. What a tramp.

8:30 - Amid the expected chants inquiring about the identity of his daddy, Pedro Martinez begins the bottom of the first by walking Derek Jeter and grazing Alex Rodriguez's hand with a slider.

8:32 - Jeter scores the first run of the game on a single by Gary Sheffield. After an unnecessary slide to the plate, Jeter hops up and pumps his fist in decidedly metrosexual fashion.

8:35 - LL informs me that a third Paris Hilton video is now circulating. What a tramp.

8:44 - Pedro escapes the first inning by striking out Hideki Matsui and Bernie Williams, then inducing a groundout from Jorge Posada. He looked good doing it.
Hopefully this will turn into one of those nights when his early nightmares quickly give way to mastery.

8:49 - Lieber, wearing #22, takes the mound to begin the second frame. Apparently it didn‚t take the Yankees long to give Roger Clemens‚ number away. The Red Sox get their first baserunner as David Ortiz walks, but the next three hitters go in order. I am just waiting for Buck to inform me that Lieber has a
no-hitter going.

9:05 - Martinez labors through the bottom half of the second. He surrenders a walk and a hit while running his pitch count to 46 (21 balls), but strikes out
Rodriguez to end the inning and keep the score 1-0. Whew.

9:09 - As if on cue, Buck announces that Lieber has not allowed a hit yet.

9:09 - Orlando Cabrera singles to left on the next pitch. Unfortunately, that‚s all Boston gets.

9:16 - Sheffield leads off for New York. Manny Ramirez nearly takes out Cabrera while chasing a pop-up in shallow left. O.C. manages to snare it in spite of the distraction, and Pedro gets Matsui and Williams to ground out for his first easy inning of work tonight.

9:24 - Ortiz comes to the plate with his .533 (!) postseason average. Surely he will either walk, or tie the contest with a titanic blast, I say. He pops out. Kevin Millar follows with a beautiful check-swing bunt right back to the pitcher.

9:27 - Finally, the first advertisement of the night for the upcoming FOX medical drama "House" appears. Each year during the baseball playoffs, the network
seizes the opportunity to hype a new show beyond belief, with no shortage of memorable, overdramatic punch lines in its trailers. The strategy worked well
for „24,‰ then failed with „Skin.‰ Who knows which category "House" will fall into. One thing‚s for sure, though - disease is not an illness, but a crime
waiting to be solved!

9:34 - Yankee fans continue to ask Pedro about his father‚s identity. Martinez issues another leadoff walk, then sets his adversaries down handily. After
four innings it‚s still 1-0, New York.

9:37 - I flip over to the presidential debate. While John Kerry talks about healthcare, George W. Bush smiles and blinks rapidly. Either the President is trying to send a message someone via morse code, or he is a cyborg. Not really sure which.

9:40 - McCarver says, for the third time tonight, that it‚s very rare to see a good starting pitcher work slowly. Never mind that Martinez and Lieber are dueling it out in a 1-0 game, or that postseason contests are notoriously slow. I need a drink.

9:42 - Viewers are treated to a nice interview with Lieber‚s dad, who traveled from Iowa to watch his son pitch. He‚s even wearing the Superman t-shirt that
has become his good luck charm. As the younger Lieber completes another perfect inning and heads toward the dugout, Fox pumps out „Kryptonite‰ by Three Doors Down. This does not quite measure up to Game One, in which a strange remake of Blue Oyster Cult‚s "Godzilla" was played during a Matsui highlight montage. Let me reiterate that. Not just Blue Oyster Cult, but a bizarre cover of that legendary ensemble. You have to hand it to the FOX staff for its ability to summon mainstream and obscure rock hits at the push
of a button.

9:44 - Jack Nicholson, a New Jersey native best known for his devout support of the Los Angeles Lakers (and his acting), is shown sporting a Yankees cap.
Evidently, Jack only cheers for franchises that have won several dozen championships. Must be nice!

9:48 - Rodriguez reaches on an infield single with one out. Sheffield fouls a ball off his leg and into fair territory, but Varitek - unaware that the ball hit Sheffield and the play is dead - picks it up and nearly decapitates Martinez in his attempt to gun down Rodriguez to second base. Pedro eventually strikes Sheff out with a nasty heater.

9:53 - Does A-Rod know exactly when a camera is on him at all times? Rather than looking intense, he appears like he is trying to look intense. I do