Happy New Year
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL THE BASEBALL FANS..(INCLUDING YANKEE FANS). I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. I ALSO HOPE ALL THE YANKEE FANS WILL HAVE KEEP THE CHAMPANGE THEY ALL PURCHASED OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY TO CELEBRATE A CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON WILL STAY ON ICE FOR A DECADE OR SO!!!
A Fond Farewell
As we close the book on what was 2005, it’s hard to do so without taking a look back at a team for the ages, of course I am refering to the 2003-2005 version of the Boston Red Sox. With many of those on that team moving on either thru trades or free agency, and the Sox doing a roster make-over, I thought now would be a nice time to pay tribute to one the best Sox teams ever assembled. Throughout the seasons the Sox have given us some great teams to follow, if you are a child of the 70′s then no doubt you followed Pudge Fisk and Freddie Lynn, or an 80′s child like myself you could have cheered for the Dewey Evans, Jim Rice, Wade Boggs edition of the Sox, and even in the 90′s we spawned a team that had some spunk and personality with the arrival of Nomar and Pedro and co. To me though, no other Sox team before I think and after will ever be able to top this team. It started in the fall of 2002 with the arrival of new ownership and the hometown boy wonder Theo Epstien. The Sox signed free agents Bill Mueller, Kevin Millar, and of course Mike Timlin and Big Papi. Together with the pieces the Sox already had, they blended into a team that would become unforgettable.
Right from the start you knew something was different about this team. I’m not sure if was the way they interacted with the fans and the media, letting us see their calm and playful demeanor, whatever it was there was something about this team. They made a huge impact right away, embracing the bitter rivalry with the hated Yanks, and never seemed to be bothered by adversity or the dreaded curse. Never was this more evident than the 2003 playoffs. The Sox were down to thier last out, down 0-2 in the ALDS to the Oakland A’s, staving off elimination the Sox’s battled back taking that game and the next 2 to win that playoff series and propel them into the ALCS against the Yankees. Though over-matched and out spent by the Yanks, the Sox battled back from 2-1 and 3-2 series deficits to take it to a winner take all 7th game. In that game of course we know that it was not to be, but the Sox had set the stage for one of thier greatest seasons in 86 years.
What the Red Sox accomplished in the 2004 season will be forever remembered not just by Sox’s but true baseball fans everywhere. They overcame alot that year to make the playoffs, including the controversial trade of Boston icon Nomar Garciaparra. The Red Sox stormed into the playoffs and upset Al West champions in a 3 game sweep. Then of course we know what came next, and we know how they did it. So one more time, I would like to thank Kevin Millar for that lead-off walk in game 4, and Billy Mueller’s single off the great Mariano Rivera to drive in Dave Roberts, and of course Derek Lowe for taking his game to a place it had never been on those great 11 october nights. To the 2005 Red Sox, thanks for those two 17-1 wins over the hated Yanks, and thanks for doing what no World Series Champ had done in 4 years, make the playoffs the following season.
Dom Dimaggio
To appreciate baseball you have to be a student of the game and learn it’s stories and characters. We’ve all heard of the great centerfielders but Dom is one that has been lost in the shuffle. At first glance you see a guy that had a famous brother and a relatively short career that spanned 11 years. When you look closer at Dom’s numbers and his abbreiveted career and the fact that he missed 3 seasons due to fact that he was off fighting WWII, one hopes that the Hall of Fame Veterns committee takes at look at Dom and what he did in that short time.
Dom Dimaggio was signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1939, in 1940 his rookie season he hit .301 and scored 81 runs in 108 games, answering many critics who said he was signed because of his famous last name. In 1941 Dimaggio earned a regular spot as the centerfielder, he hit lead-off and scored 117 runs and made his first of 7 all-star teams. He went onto to hit .286 in 1942 with 14 home-runs and 110 runs scored. After the 42 season, Dom left the Sox to enlist in US Navy where he fought for 3 years during WWII. It can be argued that those 3 years during Dom’s prime would have been no less successful than the 11 he played. Dimaggio returned to the Sox in 1946 and helped them win the AL Pennant. He hit .316 that year with 73 RBI’s and helped lead them into the Fall Classic that year against the St. Louis Cardinals. Dom retired in 1953 leaving careers numbers that would make many a big league hitter jealous, finishing with a lifetime batting avg. of .298 with over 1600 hits. Dom is one of 3 players to average over a 100 runs scored per season for their career, and he still holds the Al record for putouts in a single season at 503. With everything that has gone on in baseball the last 10 years, and with everthing now HOF voters will have to take into account, it is now time for the Veteran’s Committee to take into not only Dom’s numbers that were cut short because of WWII, but all worthy candidates.
Johnny Be Gone
As I sit here and read all about Johnny Damon and his defection to the Yankee’s, I have to ponder several things. First off, did Johnny learn a curveball or fastball on his way out of Boston? If he didn’t, then so what, he just another in the long line of sluggers that George and co. love to collect each winter. Last time I checked there are no World Series won in December. Yes the Yankee’s dealt a blow to the Sox by signing Damon away from them, but they really did not address any of their own needs. As I recall last year the Yankee’s had long spurts during the season where they struggled to score runs, and had season long struggles pitching. So how have they fixed their pitching woes…by adding Kyle Farnsworth, when last we checked he was blowing a 5 run lead in the NLDS, and oh by the way he is Flash Gordon’s replacement. Even if the Yankee’s wanted to fix their pitching woes, it is too late for them this off-season. I guess they will start with last years rotation of Randy Johnson, and Mike Mussina, both of whom became social security eligble in the off-season. If I were a Yankee’s fan (and I thank God everyday I am not) I would put that champagne away for awhile. If the last 4 world series championships have taught us anything, it is that pitching and defense win, not slugging and choking.
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