There’s a fine, fine line…
Mike Timlin and Jon Lester - Photo by Kelly O'Connor. While writing this, I thought of this photo and decided to use it for this post. I'm not ready to write out why just yet.
…between disappointment and despair.
Am I bummed that the Sox lost to the Rays? Hell yeah. But that doesn’t erase anything the Sox did this year. Bottom line, for me, is that they entertained the hell out of me all season long and that they went down fighting.
In 2003, when they lost Game 7 to the Yanks, I was devastated. Cried myself to sleep. Couldn’t work the next day. Spent that entire day online with my friends crying and lamenting what happened. I feel none of that tonight. The Rays are a good team with some good guys over there. I have no “hatred’ for them so it’s all all right. I’d rather my team be going to the World Series, but it isn’t happening. While other fans stopped having a team to root for on September 30th, Red Sox fans only get shorted 7 games this season.
I’m really okay with that.
Jon Lester is being interviewed on NESN right now and he looks terrible. Not his usually Crabby self – really defeated. He shouldn’t be. I’m proud of how he performed tonight. After this season he’s had, he has nothing to hang his head about. Honestly? I don’t think any of them do. We got two more games than at the beginning of this week we thought we’d get this season. It’s downright selfish to be “mad” that the team isn’t going onto the World Series.
I hope there’s a good crowd waiting for them when they get back into Boston. They deserve that.
I won’t lie. I’m rooting for the Phillies. And I’ll watch every game. Hell, maybe I’ll even live blog one or two and use that fancy software everyone seems to be using. It’ll be a good time to test it – when I really have nothing vested in the outcome.
Thanks to everyone who has supported the blog in all its incarnations. I really appreciate it! As most of you know, I’ll be blogging every day even in the off-season, so keep on coming by!
And don’t forget to vote for me! (And thank you for that too!) :)
While I’m giving out thanks – thanks to the Red Sox. It was one hell of a fun season! Bring on Pitchers and Catchers!
Screw you, Lou.
Don’t know about Ps & Cs but Truck Day looks like 16th February. You heard it here first.
I’ll be around for Games 3 and 4 (Monday’s Labour Day here, for some reason, which lets me see your Sunday game) so I might get to see the Phillies clinch :)
Lou is dead. :)
Truck Day may be a little earlier next year. I read spring training games may begin as early as Feb 25 due to the World Baseball Classic (which I don’t like).
I thought I’d feel more disappointed last night but I’m okay with making it to the ALCS and pushing it to 7 games. What a difference 2 World Series and many post season games to watch makes in my whole attitiude!
I saw the goofy couple on TV last night, that sat in front of us for game two. I looked for you and Brenda, D1, but did not spot either of you.
The Phillies are a great team to route for. Hopefully they can take this series!
You know…I maybe Pollyanna here but I am not feeling that bad today. I just can’t discount the fact that this was an exciting season with some fabulous moments that made my heart race not the least of which was Game 5 which I had the privilege to be at.
We were beat up, dragged down, missing Mike Lowell, an effective Beckett, etc etc. and still we made it to game seven of the ALCS. I’m happy with that…I respect every member of our team. They did not throw in the towel…they fought to the end, and they deserve our thanks and praise.
I can’t believe how many people are planning Theo’s offseason already….do this…get him…get rid of him…blah blah blah.
Give it a break folks…take a breath and appreciate the fact that there were so many years when we didn’t even get to the post season and look what we have now.
I am not miserable today..
DB
Dori, that’s great to read! I, too, am not miserable and I’m actually looking forward to the World Series.
Our boys have nothing to hang their heads about. Nothing at all.
Red Sox fans rank in top 5 in professional sports
http://fanzak.com/fzrants/Best_Fans_Ever
Tru, I was sitting about 5 rows behind the guy with Sox fan with the Viking helmet on his head (I’m told TBS showed him during the game). I was two rows behind the Red Sox Nation Governor of FL (her jersey told me who it was).
My ears still hurt from all the noise last night.
Hi Cyn, I just wanted to stop by and say thanks for your (very generous) comment on my blog. You’re right, I am very, very pleased right now, and incredibly excited about the Series – though I can still hardly believe it if I’m honest!
I’m also really looking forward to resuming the new rivalry with the Sox next year = its going to take quite a lot of getting used to us being the defending AL champions though!
John
I have some questions I would like answered.
1. Does anyone think Ortiz is better than Ramirez?
2. Why didn’t Francona pitch hit for Veritek in the 7th inning? This is the kind of stuff that leads me and others to wonder how good a manager Francona is. I know he’s a good people person but his coaching tactics are questionable. The Red Sox were one or two hits away from a trip to the World Series. Why didn’t Veritek get pinch hit for??????
3. Since Veritek has become an automatic out is there any room on the team for him anymore?
1) A healthy Ortiz can hit just as good as Manny. At least for what we’d need from him. Hell, they’re BOTH getting older.
2) Who was he going to put in there? How would it have affected the defense? There weren’t a lot of options. I can’t fault him this one. And the man has two World Series rings. People who question how good a manager he is seem to forget what we had prior to 2004.
3) Tek has been declining, but I don’t see this year being a good indicator of what he can do. He had personal issues, he was sick an awful lot, there was a lot going on that HE wouldn’t use as an excuse, but it’s fair to do so. There’s also not much out there for top of the line catchers (I think I stole that line from KellyO!)…Sox want to offer Tek a couple of years at a “hometown discount”, that wouldn’t upset me at all.
There was no goat this season. The Sox went to Game 7 of the ALCS. There is no reason to look at this season and wonder where you can assign blame.