Being swept in a five-game series at home. Ouch.
While the game last night–late last night–was one of those epic thrillers worthy of baseball’s greatest rivalry, the rest of the series was just pathetic.
And as much as I was on the side of the Red Sox in the series just mercifully concluded, looking ahead, I say to their next opponent, treat ‘em like just another sinking ship, and kick’em when they’re down.
But, Buck(y) up, Red Sox Nation. Twenty eight years ago, the last Boston Massacre eliminated what had once been a 14-game lead. Much worse than this year, when you went into this series already (close) behind. And, still, 28 years ago, you fought all the way back to a tie on the season’s final day.
And to think that I thought 2004 had put an end to all that Bambino/Bucky (F.)/Boone stuff.
I actually got to see a Red Sox/Yankee game at Fenway in that 1978 season. A lot of Yankee fans came up from New York and the riot police were in big numbers at Fenway. Wish I could find that
scorecard…..
Seed planted by Jack Lazorko — 21 August 2006 @ 21:26
Twenty eight years ago, the last Boston Massacre eliminated what had once been a 14-game lead. Much worse than this year, when you went into this series already (close) behind. And, still, 28 years ago, you fought all the way back to a tie on the season’s final day.
I assume you know the many and vast differences between that 1978 team and today’s team. Boston Massacre notwithstanding, there’s no way for the 2006 Red Sox to come back, the way our team (and manager!) are constituted.
It’s been a sinking ship since early August. This beyond-dreadful series was the final nail in the coffin.
I also hope you know that that stupid “B” and “curse” nonsense is anathema to Red Sox fans, and it’s reeeeally past time to retire it. It was a nothing but a marketing gimmick (created by a certain curly-headed sportswriter to promote his own book (and agenda) ) in the first place. There’s entirely no need to continue to perpetuate it now.
In other news… I stopped by to say you might want to visit wmtc. There’s a lengthy discussion going on in comments, the subject of which has changed several times, and now touches on a favourite topic of yours. I’d love to hear what you have to say.
The post is called “differences”. If you scroll through the comments, you’ll see what I mean.
Seed planted by L-girl — 22 August 2006 @ 05:31
Yes, 1978 was different in many respects, not the least of which being that the new Yankee dynasty was only a few years old and the Red Sox had been to the World Series just three years earlier.
I stayed home from school the day of the single-game playoff and saw the whole sordid thing. Then I got to experience something similar (no, much worse, except that the playoff itself was a blowout) with the Angels in 1995.
On the “curse,” I thought it had been retired in 2004, much as the Angels retired theirs in 2002. But the way that game on Sunday turned sure did have some uncomfortable echoes!
Seed planted by MSS — 22 August 2006 @ 09:01
The silly curse couldn’t have been retired, because it never existed. No need for supernatural explanations. Perennial mismanagement, persistent racism and bad luck did just fine.
Oh man, did I hate the Angels in 2002! But seriously, is that team old enough to have its own curse?
Seed planted by L-girl — 22 August 2006 @ 09:52
Ah, come on, L-girl, a “curse” is so much more interesting than bad (or racist) managament! I mean, as if humans could make any difference in the outcomes of baseball games and pennant races!
As for the Angels, the list is long…
The 1995 lead was one of the biggest ever blown, and it happened not because the team chasing them caught fire (as did the 1978 Yankees or the 1951 Giants) but because the whole Angels team (except for Tim Salmon and Lee Smith!) suddenly forgot how to hit or pitch and played barely .250 ball for a month. They had the second best record in the league (to the Indians who went on to win 100+ in a short season) at the time.
Then we have the 1986 Game 5 (and then 6&7) loss to the Red Sox (which only set up the latter team’s own great fall a week or so later). Going back, the 1982 loss of the ALCS best of five after winning the first two. Within these games, tales of strange twists of fate abound to rival some of the best in Red Sox history. I mean, no gound balls between gimpy first basemen’s legs, but pretty good ones nonetheless.
We have the star outfielder shot and killed in a case of mistaken identity, and an absurdly long list of deaths by auto accident of promising young players.
I am sure I am forgetting something. But, for the length of time, it rivals the strange turns of fortune of any organization, including the Red Sox or Cubs. Some claimed the stadium was built on an ancient Indian burial ground. Whatever. Somehow, 2002 put it all to rest, with the greatest comeback on the brink of elimination of any team in World Series history! (Presumably it helped immensely that we were facing the Giants, who since moving to SF, have their own history of ‘almosts’.)
Seed planted by MSS — 22 August 2006 @ 11:43
Some nice baseball memories here. My partner suddenly realized his first trip to Fenway was 30 years ago today.
Thanks for your great comment/lesson over at wmtc! Thanks hardly seems adequate for your efforts.
Seed planted by L-girl — 22 August 2006 @ 17:53
Then we have the 1986 Game 5 (and then 6&7) loss to the Red Sox
Dave Henderson.
What a post-season that was. Some of the best playoff games ever.
Seed planted by L-girl — 22 August 2006 @ 17:54
On the 1986 postseason, I highly recommend One Pitch Away, by Mike Sowell. One of the best baseball books I have ever read. Let’s not let this thread pass without remembering the Astros’ near miss that year, too, and Sowell covers them all brilliantly, as well as following up what happened to the players later. (Donnie Moore, who coughed up the Angels’ lead in Game 5, killed himself years later and nearly killed his wife.)
The Astros have a record of futility much like the pre-2002 Angels.
As for Dave Henderson in Game 5, he did not even start the game, which makes it all the more amazing that he played such a central role in its outcome. First, he was almost the goat for Boston, desposting a catchable fly ball off the bat of Bobby Grich over the fence for the homer that put the Angels ahead. Then, of course, the home run with two out and two strikes in the 9th (which was one of several remarkable events in that inning). Then after the Angels tied it in the bottom of the 9th (which I find people often forgot), Henderson hit the sac fly in the 11th that wound up being the game winner.
The Angels then had two more chances to wrap up the series in Boston, but I think everyone knew they were beaten once Game 5 ended. 6 and 7 were not even close games.
Despite the outcome, I considered the fifth game of the 1986 ALCS the best game I had ever attended until Game 6 of the 2002 World Series. In fact, its only rivals for the “honor” were Game 1 of the 1988 World Series and the game late in the 1986 regular season that Angels fans will forever know simply as THE DICK SCHOFIELD GAME!
Seed planted by MSS — 23 August 2006 @ 08:21
[...] The Blue Jays finished ahead of the Red Sox in the East, and the Angels ahead of both in overall league standings. These were the orders of finish I expected at the start of the season, but I never thought the Red Sox would have to fall so hard and so late for it to happen, or that neither the Sox nor the Jays would be within ten games of the Yankees, or that the Angels would have to win three of four from the A’s in a meaningless season-ending series just to get as close as four games out in the West. At the start of the year, had you told me that an Angels team with this offense would win 89 games, I would have been thrilled, and would have figured it might be good enough for the division title. [...]
Scion grafted by Fruits and Votes » Blog Archive » Octoberball! — 05 October 2006 @ 11:56