Remember When We Expected the Worst?
Yes, it was an April series, but games in April count the same as they do in August. And while Yankee fans seem to be hanging their hats on A-Rod and Wang being MIA they seem to ignore that the Red Sox are currently playing with a struggling Beckett, a completely lost at the plate Ortiz, and a third string shortstop.
Reading reactions from around the internet I was struck by 2 recurring themes:
1. Red Sox fans now expect success and good luck against the Yankees. When the Sox are down, Boston fans stay positive. When ahead, Boston fans don’t fear a collapse.
2. Yankee fans now expect failure and bad luck against the Red Sox. The line “Why always against this team” is very common on Yankee websites.
Of course, that’s a large generalization, but the mood among fans has definitely shifted. We’re now going on half a decade of the Red Sox not only being competitive with the Yankees, but in many ways being the superior organization. Legions of new Yankee and Red Sox fans will only be aware of the ‘curse’ through reading history books and stories that begin with “I remember when…”.
Please Oh Please Oh Please
I’ve thought Mariano Rivera was slipping before, so I’m not saying he’s starting to show cracks, but the man can’t go on forever, so just maybe…
Rivera’s given up leads against the Red Sox before, but we’re usually talking a bloop hit here, a grounder through the hole there. Bay taking Rivera out of the yard to the deepest part of the ballpark is something completely different.
As Rivera said after the game, it was one bad pitch. But a mistake thrown at 90 is easier to hit than one at 94.
I want to believe.
Chicks Did Guys that Steal Home
After Ellsbury’s thrilling steal of home he came out for a curtain call. Listening to WFAN after the game a older woman* caller was disgusted and said the next time the two teams met Ellsbury deserved a to be hit with a pitch in retaliation.
After watching Yankees hitters come out to tip their caps after meaningless home runs more times than I can remember (and complained about) I have to believe the woman was either senile or Andy Pettitte’s mom.
*Older, a smoker, or both. Pick one.