Despite loss, a great show
It's been quite a holiday weekend. Hot . . . humid . . . baseballs
flying over fences.
The first two days here were two of the greatest days of your life,
right up there with the birth of your children and the day you got your
driver's license. You walked around Yankee Stadium in your Sox garb and
hardly anyone bothered you. It was like you'd been granted immunity from
pinstripe harassment. You were even able to start a ''Let's Go Red Sox''
chant -- without inciting a beer-drenched brawl. You were able to do what
you've done in Baltimore, St. Petersburg, Montreal, Toronto, and Oakland.
You were able to take over an enemy yard and make your Sox feel almost
like they were playing at Fenway Park. It was a first at Yankee Stadium.
When things are going your way, nothing beats Sox in the City. Great
show. Great ratings.
Yesterday's 7-1 loss to the Yankees was not as much fun at the Stadium.
When Bill Mueller homered in the first inning, you were flexing your
muscles again. Your Sox had hit 11 homers in less than 19 innings over
three days and there were thoughts of a four-game sweep dancing in your
head. But Andy Pettitte reminded you that in the end, it's always about
pitching. Again you started to wonder if the Sox have enough in the
bullpen to make it happen this year.
As the Yankees padded their lead yesterday, taunters resumed baiting
you with the same old stuff. They dropped ''1918'' on you. Ouch. They know
how to hurt.
There's no doubt that daylight has enhanced your experience this
weekend. This four-game set has a ''Summer of '49'' feel to it. You almost
expect starting pitchers to go nine innings and players to leave their
gloves on the field between innings. Maybe Mickey, Whitey, and Billy will
go to Toots Shor's or the Copacabana at night.
Day games certainly make for less drunkenness and safer subway rides.
Great for players, great for you. There's time for dinner and a show after
watching Sox in the City.
Meanwhile, your team is within three games of first place and you have
Pedro Martinez taking the mound this afternoon. You have a chance to see
the Sox take three out of four and leave New York only two games out of
first place. Life is good.
You try to convince yourself that this year is different. You liked it
when Trot Nixon stood up to Roger Clemens after the Rocket hit Kevin
Millar Saturday. You liked what you saw out of Ramiro Mendoza. You like
the idea of Byung Hyun Kim as your closer, but you still are worried about
the flammable setup crew.
You see Sox general manager Theo Epstein in the seats behind the screen
at Yankee Stadium. He's one of you. You're heartened when he says the Sox
still are going to make some moves and have a surplus to spend.
You think maybe the Yankees are a little scared this time. They look
old and vulnerable, no? Ruben Sierra is their cleanup hitter. Karim Garcia
and Curtis Pride are corner outfielders. The Sox have crushed Clemens two
times in a row here (and you're still ticked about Clemens's wisecrack
about the Red Sox on ''Letterman'' after victory No. 300). Jason Giambi's
hitting .266. Robin Ventura looks like he's going to calcify in
mid-at-bat.
But then you worry. Yankees fans remind you that the Red Sox have been
trying to bash their way to a world championship for 84 years without
success. What's your answer to that? You know that if the Yanks beat Pedro
today, your Sox are four games behind again, back where they started
before those home run festivals Friday and Saturday.
Still, it's a good weekend. And not just at the ballpark. You've been
able to wear your Sox garb on the streets of Manhattan and dozens of times
you've exchanged random high-fives with other people wearing Boston stuff.
You never knew there were so many Sox people here. Maybe they never wore
their colors for fear of safety. Maybe they were just embarrassed.
No more. Sox in the City is the best show in town and based on what
you've seen in New York this weekend and you're just about certain that
this is the year. You never learn. It's what being a Red Sox fan is all
about.
By Dan Shaughnessy of The Boston
Globe.
This story ran on page D1 of the Boston Globe on 7/7/2003.
Copyright 2003 Globe Newspaper Company.