Is the latest run by the Red Sox another setup? I watch night after night almost expecting doom. Solid pitching, timely hitting, good defense. Pinch me I may be dreaming.
I want to sum up my emotions regarding the Sox since the trading deadline. It has been like watching two different teams, I like the current version much, much better.
As we rapidly approach Labor Day weekend, the Red Sox are arguably the hottest team in baseball. I have been living in Manhattan for the past 4 seasons and it has not been easy. I wish I could learn by osmosis the confidence of a Yankee “fan”. I use this term lightly, however, as it cannot be too difficult to win year after year and sign the best available free agents.
Anyhow, I watch my beloved Sox night after night waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. I cringe anytime Manny crashes into the wall or Tek takes a foul ball off his knee or arms. I almost stopped breathing when Youk was writhing in pain after Dale “Green Light” Sveum sent him to his 2 week DL holiday. The running joke is that if Sveum was the Sec. of Defense he’d send everybody home.
We currently trail the MFY’s by 5.5 games with 6 head to head matchups still to come. Their pitching staff is in shambles, Quantrill, Gordon and Mo are their only serviceable pitchers. I like the way Arroyo has been throwing the ball, far better than his 7-9 record indicates. I feel good anytime Schill, Petey or Bronson takes the hill. I even feel confident with Mendoza out there…..something that was implausible only a month ago.
However, there is always that doubt that something bad is gonna happen. Maybe it’s true that the doubt is a self-fulfilling prophecy. I swear I drink faster when Keith “don’t call me a closer” Foulke is on the mound with his hitchy delivery. The 24 saves though I cannot argue with thankfully.
I watch most of the Rangers, A’s and Angels games from the West Coast on my Xtra Innings package. Joe Nathan lets me down twice in one week, once versus the Yanks, once versus the Rangers. I have come to the conclusion that even though A-Rod might have the most talent(a point I would argue….Pujols comes to mind), he is not the best baseball player in the game. How is it that every team he leaves immediately gets better. It’s like addition by subtraction.
I would much rather have Manny up than A-Rod and I will gladly take Youk and Mueller at third. I am stunned at how resilient this team has proven to be sans Trot and Pokey, Willy et al. I just fear another classic Sox let down. I hope this summer/fall I am proven to be incorrect.
In closing…I am trying my best to adhere to the NESN slogan of “Keep the Faith”….every night I religiously watch my DirtDogs….every night I pray for the best.