I don’t believe in superstitions…although I do hit my dashboard when I go through yellow lights. And I don’t let myself to be separated by an inanimate object (street sign, tree, etc.) from someone I’m walking with. (Don’t ask — it’s apparently an old Mnookin family tradition that I don’t pretend to understand.) Oh, and during the ‘04 playoffs I didn’t take off the t-shirt I was wearing during Game 4, which only became really problematic when I went to the gym.*
So…when I didn’t post after Friday’s game, well, that was it until the series was over (or until the Sox lost). (Also, I’m supposed to be moving — or at least completing the purchase of some New York City real estate — which is fairly hectic.) (Another aside in an already parenthesis-happy post: how is it people decide what they’re going to be superstitious about? I had no problem changing my underwear in ‘04. And even though I saw Volver on Friday, I didn’t feel compelled to watch an Almodovar movie every day.)
Anyway. It felt like a damn good weekend.** Friday night was spectacular. Watching Manny punish a ball was a welcome sight. As was Drew, Lowell, and Varitek’s following rockets. As was the fact that the Yankees rotation is in shambles and that Torre’s being forced to abuse his bullpen even earlier than usual.*** As was Coco’s hot bat. As was Tek’s hot bat. As was Pedroia’s snag tonight in the eighth. As was Beckett’s performance, and his first four games (which are fundamentally different from his first starts last year; if you want to get all geeky about it, check this out). As does the emerging brilliance of Hideki “Darkman” Okijima (nickname courtesy of Peter Naboicheck via Gordo. As was…well, you get the idea.
Now everyone get some sleep. We’re going to do it all again next weekend.
* I wasn’t the only person who had some weird superstitions that October: John Henry and Larry Lucchino watched Game 6 in the living room of Lucchino’s Brookline house, and after they took a lead, no one was allowed to move.
** Still, let’s point out one tiny silver lining: the Sox had their three best pitchers and a fully rested bullpen. The Yankees had Andy Pettitte and a couple of Double-A schlubs. (And that’s only a slight exaggeration.) The series was at Fenway. And over three games, Boston outscored New York by a total of…four runs. Not much margin for error there.
*** I attribute the ‘o4 ALCS to four things: David Ortiz, Keith Foulke, Curt Schilling, and Torre’s Dusty Baker-esque abuse of Tom Gordon during the regular season.
When I was in Afghanistan, I grew my reddish sideburns to ridiculous proportions because I noticed that whene’er I got them cut, the Sox lost. I can explain the crazy return from a 0-3 deficit in the 2004 ALCS to my out-of-Army-regulation Irish manchops. Take that, Spankees!
Seth, on this Monday morning, the dawn of a day when the Red Sox have the best record in the AL, I thank you for the shout-out. Yes, this is Peter Naboicheck from Peter’s Red Sox Forever. And yes yet again….I was more surprised than anyone, a surprise nearing shock, when I read gordon Edes’ Saturday night email to me, saying that I should check out the Sunday Globe’s RED SOX NOTEBOOK. And lo and behold, holy you know what, the aticle about our emerging hero Hideki Okajima and his nickname, which I penned and hope will stick, THE DARKMAN, was hilighted by Gordon. I’m an everyday reader here, and I so thank you for the mention, a link directly to my blog.
Tonight, we go for 6 in a row against the reeling Jays. Thank you again….Peter Naboicheck, smack dab in the southern middle of RSN. Just where I love to be…….Red Sox Forever. Always……
Seth, on this Monday morning, the dawn of a day when the Red Sox have the best record in the AL, I thank you for the shout-out. Yes, this is Peter Naboicheck from Peter’s Red Sox Forever. And yes yet again….I was more surprised than anyone, a surprise nearing shock, when I read gordon Edes’ Saturday night email to me, saying that I should check out the Sunday Globe’s RED SOX NOTEBOOK. And lo and behold, holy you know what, the aticle about our emerging hero Hideki Okajima and his nickname, which I penned and hope will stick, THE DARKMAN, was highlighted by Gordon. I’m an everyday reader here, and I so thank you for the mention, a link directly to my blog.
Tonight, we go for 6 in a row against the reeling Jays. Thank you again….Peter Naboicheck, smack dab in the southern central RSN. Red Sox Forever.
Wait, I thought I was solely responsible for the ‘04 comeback. From Game 5 on each night I left work at the 5th inning. Did the dishes in the 6th, walked my dog in the 7th and 8th then joined my buddies by late innings.
From afar, there seems to be a wily, we’re-all-in-this-together character to the current team that was missing last season and relied on too heavily in ‘05. Good health always helps, too.
I quite enjoyed Waldman and Sterling knocking on Pedoria’s height not once, not twice, but three times and then he snagged that liner. Let the vertically challenged unite!
Woke at 4:00 am Southern Africa time this morning to catch the last few innings of Sunday’s game on mlb.com. The game was tied at 4-4 and the Sox fell quickly behind. I felt like it was my fault, but I couldn’t get back to sleep.
Imagine my relief when they pulled another one out of the fire. But it’s going to be a long season if they don’t do something about Willy Mo and Coco.
Sorry, but I attribute ‘04 to my moving countries on the 16th of October. I moved from London to Dublin on the 16th (missing the 19-8 horror show. From the 17th of October on I was watching outside the UK (watched the WS in Las Vegas at a conference) and everything was different - and better.
What, no mention of Theo and the Metamucil among the 2004 superstitions? That has to be right up near the top. Apparently he was running to the bathroom every half inning. Serious dedication right there.
Some observations about the Yankee series:
1) Of all the good things that happened, I think maybe the most exciting development is that Mike Lowell’s bat might be BACK. Not only last night’s show, but remember it was Lowell who kickstarted the current winning streak in game 2 against the Jays by homering off Ohka after the first 14 Sox were retired and the offence was looking feeble. It’s nice that we have a legit #5 hitter again with Drew, even better if we also have a dangerous #6 hitter behind him.
2) The fact we swept the Yankees is nice but as the wiser among us have noted, we had a huge advantage in the pitching matchups and still every game was difficult. But what was impressive was the way the team played and the grit it showed. Coming from behind, then preserving late-inning leads with clutch relief and timely defence.
3) Anybody out there still think it was a suspect move putting Papelbon back in as closer? Huh?
4) One guy who still looks bad: I don’t think Wily Mo Pena’s problem is lack of playing time, I think it’s his utter inability to hit good breaking pitches away from him. Yesterday he got a steady diet of them and he kept swishing at them haplessly. In a key situation, especially where we need at least a productive out, I would much rather see Alex Cora up there than Wily Mo.
5) For a good laugh, see in the Globe Extra Bases today the ‘Subway Squawkers’ rant by a Yankee fan about Torre’s haphazard use of his bullpen. Too funny.