October 12, 2004
For those of you just tuning in, in 1918 Boston won the World Series for the fifth time, thanks largely to the pitching of a young Babe Ruth. Two years later Boston sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Since that time the Yankees have won 26 World Series in 39 appearances. The Red Sox have won none, losing in the seventh game of the series in each of their four appearances, including in 1986 thanks partly to the most famous/infamous play in baseball history (a bookend in many ways to what I would call the SECOND most famous/infamous play in baseball; Carlton Fisk's game winning home-run in game 6 of the 1975 World Series (perhaps you remember this one from Good Will Hunting). A bookend because although both plays are memorable neither one, really, affected the outcome of the series. When Billy muffed the play in 1986 the game was TIED. He makes it and maybe the Red Sox come back to win, maybe not. At any rate it was GAME SIX. They flat out lost game 7 the next day. In 1975, sure, it was as dramatic a homerun as can be, what with Carlton waving it into fair territory but, again, that was game SIX, the Red Sox went on to lose game seven.)
In more modern history, let's say the past two years, the Yankees and the Red Sox have met 45 times, including the post-season, and the score is 22 - 23. There have been walk-off home-runs for both sides, fights between players and players, players and coaches, and the owners themselves. One thing is sure: this series will be another one to remember. Will the Red Sox finally get the upper hand? Will the Yankees continue their reign? Time will tell.
A quick baseball primer, for the monkeys who have not been exposed, or who have heretofore not paid attention.
Some free online baseball games for you to kill time with until first pitch.
Some interesting George W. Bush related basbeall stuff
There is much more to say about this series in specific, and baseball in general but this is already WAY too long. But, in the interest of full disclosure: I am a lifelong Red Sox fan, and I live in the heart of Yankee Territory (New York City). The collapse in 1986, when I was 13, was the first time I had my heart broken, Aaron Boone's home run to knock the Red Sox out of contention a year ago was the most recent time I had my heart broken. Let's go Sox, this is the year.
the TVTim McCarver, and Joe Morgan is no Tim McCarver senator. And so help me I'm going to get tapes of this series and give it the full treatment to expose the myriad ways they go out of their way to talk smack about the Sox and pump up the Yankees. It's truly ridiculous. *pees on FOX logo* Anyway - thanks, I obviously needed to get that out. ))) dirtdirt, beauty job.holeRod gave that whole "What?? What'd I do?? Me?" bullshit face when they called him out after slapping the ball away so OBVIOUSLY. Now far be it for me to call the Yankees cheaters but . . uhh . . I remember when all the Yankees playoffs were officiated by umpires you hadn't seen all year with names like Lou "The Train" Cabrelli and Joey "The Cork" Pascucci. Nooooooo Yankees don't cheat . . .Yankees don't cheat . . . Like hell they don't! /set barfight on -punch